Swing states, swinging emotions and the day the 2020 election was finally called.

Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, 9:45 a.m.

As I watch and listen to CNN reporting on the vote count in Pennsylvania, where Biden-Harris has taken the lead, I feel two emotions in turns: anticipation and trepidation. 

Anticipation

In truth, whatever this emotion is, it’s swinging me back and forth between barely contained giddiness and retching. You know what I’m talkin’ ‘bout.

It’s been days now since Election Day 2020.

If (when) the Democratic ticket wins Pennsylvania, four years of rule by a liar, wannabe dictator and all-around despicable human being will come to an end in the United States of America.

I firmly believe another term for the current administration would lead my country even further down a path of tyranny. 

I’ve been using that word and its root a lot over the past few months, but it’s important to understand that I have not done so lightly. What has been happening in this nation has been horrifying in terms of dismantling of the norms and institutions of democracy.

I’m under no illusions that life in the United States of America is going to be great the moment Joe Biden is sworn in. 

I’m also under no illusions that nearly half of U.S. voters are going anywhere. As hard as people have fought to get Joe Biden and Kamala Harris into the White House over the past four years, or at least to remove the current president* from office, we are all going to have to work even harder to ensure Trumpism is not able to expand its power. 

The danger remains quite real.

We’re in for a prolonged struggle.

Trepidation

But for now, the counting continues.

I’m not a superstitious person… mostly.

I absolutely do not want to tempt fate by believing too soon that Biden-Harris will, in fact, win the 2020 election. 

It appears inevitable. I believe deep down it is going to happen. And yet…

I’m not about to be the one to jinx it.

Despite that, I have gone so far as to create a graphic that will be appropriate for the moment if (when) Biden and Harris become president- and vice president-elect. It’ll be at the bottom of this post.

Meanwhile, Wolf Blitzer says, “The election suspense intensifies…”

Exaltation! and Relief

Nov. 7, 2020, 10:49 a.m. CST

I just heard! Pennsylvania was just called!

President-Elect Biden! Vice President-Elect Harris!

Outstanding! Amazing! Vindicating! Perhaps even repudiating!

We have a long way to go, but for right now, the United States of America takes a strong step back toward decency!

Right now, I’m feeling two different emotions in turns:

There’s wild, defiant exaltation; perhaps a little of it comes through in the exclamation below.

But, like so many others, I’m mostly exhausted.

Relief.

It is finished. Despite the president and his GOP enablers still pushing what will be shown to be frivolous legal challenges regarding the integrity of the election in swing states, it’s over. 

Joe Biden will be our next president. Kamala Harris will be our next vice president.

One Last Kiss-Off

So that’s that.

And while it might be construed as petty or in poor taste, after everything Donald Trump has put the people of this nation through I feel justified in using his own words to say one final thing:

Mr. Trump – You’re fired!

Graphic that screams at @realDonaldTrump, YOU'RE FIRED! after the 2020 election.

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Black outlined graphic indicating copyright 2020 Martin C. Fredricks IV
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Martin C. Fredricks IV

Martin C. “Red” Fredricks IV here. I’m husband to an amazing woman who is also my best friend, dad to three outstanding kids, Fargoan (North Dakota, that is), proud introvert, veteran messaging strategist/copywriter, blogger (https://ivwords.com) nonprofit founder (https://theclimateknights.org/) and big-time reader. As they say, if you're gonna write good stuff, you have to read good stuff. A ginger, too - ergo the "Red" - although some of it's going white. Cinnamon-Sugar, I call it. Tattooed to boot; seven so far. At age 54, I'm stilling crankin' AC/DC & Metallica, but now and again I spin some Eric Church and Black Uhuru, too. I love hanging out with my (much) better half, spending time with our kids, writing, hiking, riding my mountain bike and reading.

2 Comments

bz · November 7, 2020 at 7:37 pm

Donald Trump – You’re fired!
Can i say it three times?

    Martin C. Fredricks IV · November 7, 2020 at 7:38 pm

    How about 3 million times! But, yes, three is the magic number. Sing it out my friend!

Let me know what you think!

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