(no subject)

[chelseagirl]

We were sitting in the living room, having just watched ST:Discovery, and purchased M a computer (M has not had a proper one in many years and doing photoedits on one's smartphone is a bit limiting), and talking about what we wanted to do for lunch.

And we heard yelling outside, and my first thought was it was bit early for drunken brunchers. Then I said to M "put on the tv!!!" "No, I'm watching this movie." "PUT ON THE TV. THINK ABOUT IT."

And then we put on the TV.

I have not cried this much -- all happiness, of course -- in . . . well, forever. We are both still crying on and off this morning. And then we mostly collapsed for the rest of the day, M taking the couch and me shifting back to the bedroom, watching the news and checking our social media feeds. Because it turns out that a week of Election Day, four years of dystopian nightmare, is exhausting.

So now two days of errands and laundry and grading in one, and I do not mind in the slightest.

Was Biden my first choice? No. But having a decent human being, with policies and kindness, in that office, is going to be so, so much better. And Kamala Harris is a genuine step forward.

Comments

[nyctanthes]

Yesterday was a wonderful day to be a New Yorker.

:: hugs ::

[chelseagirl]

It really really was!

M recorded some of the jubilation outside when we first realized what was going on, and kept playing it over and over again.

[lunabee34]

*hugs*

Hurrah for us all!

[chelseagirl]

I know, right?

[corvidology]

We kept staring at each other for a while in utter disbelief, no matter how delighted we were!

Biden wasn't my first choice either but I think he was the right choice for now. I'm not sure any of the more radicalised candidates could have beaten Trump given the results we have.

[chelseagirl]

I think yes. Considering how "socialism" has been weaponized by the right, not even acknowledging what it is or isn't, just a scare term, we need to take smaller steps. And considering, sadly, that it took both the progressives *and* the Never Trumper Republicans like the Lincoln Project to make this happen with, as you say, Trump still getting as much support as he did at the polls . . . .

First, a return to sanity.

[corvidology]

It's going to take a long time for 'socialism' not to be a dirty word amongst most Americans because they identify it as the polar opposite of democracy instead of an issue with capitalism.

[kore]

Neither Biden nor Harris was my first or even second choice, altho I love Harris's historic achievement, but it just feels like we at least put the brakes on the slide over the cliff edge into hell and the relief is coming out as overpowering joy. From what I can tell the Democratic party is a HOT MESS, but it's always been a hot mess and at least we all did come together at the last possible moment to tell tyranny to fuck all the way off. Put Stacey Abrams in charge of the DNC toot sweet!

[chelseagirl]

Agreed about Harris and about Abrams.

I think the Democratic party is such a mess because it's not asking everyone to think in lock step (mixed metaphor, sorry, too tired), and is a coalition of so many viewpoints. Whereas the Republicans have had a purity test going for so long now, and you buy into the narrative if you want to be part of it. Not sure what to do about that.

Just happy to have sane, science-believing grownups set to take office.

[executrix]

Soviet-era joke: "How can you say there's no difference between Communism and Capitalism? Capitalism is the oppression of Man by Man, and Communism is the exact opposite!"

Both the Democrats and Republicans believe in defending the interests of Wall Street and big business, the difference being that the Democrats think there should be a world in 50 years for plutocrats to be plutocratic in.

[teragramm]

Yesterday was a happy day! It is a good time for America.

Joe wasn't my first pick either, I just wanted someone who could beat Trump and thankfully he did!

[chelseagirl]

Oh yes! I'll take the win.

[bethynyc]

Definitely a good day and I'm very relieved as well.

I do think that Joe Biden is the right president for this moment, especially with Covid and systemic racism and so many problems--we need someone who knows how our government works, and how it can work, to get things done.

He wasn't my first choice either, but I'm glad we could all get behind him for this election.

[chelseagirl]

Yes. We need to get to a place of consensus first -- if that's even possible -- or at least to a reasonable adult with social skills and a belief in science. Then hopefully the younger generation comes into place with more progressive values.

[trepkos]

I'm exhausted and I don't live there ...

[chelseagirl]

The American Election: our version of the World Cup. ;-)