Well, we’ve survived to The Day despite being pelted with toxic muck for lo these many months. And we’ll survive, and even manage to thrive, no matter whether cat poop or gravel wins the presidential race.
We are in peril no matter what happens, but despite the hysterical claims, this will probably not turn out to be the most important election in our lifetimes (H/T BSC). Well, unless Hillary wins, gets drunk, and goes nuclear. But chances are if she does become Madame President (as Newsweek so handily proclaimed) she’ll be too preoccupied fending off impeachment and indictment to do her worst.
Politically, the best we can hope for is that the political elites, the crony capitalists, the entrenched lawyer-lobbyists, the snotty commentariat, and the connected wealthy will get a sock in the eye that will send them reeling. Last month when I ruminated on the possible advantage of a (spit) Clinton victory, I scarcely even agreed with myself (and the LF Commentariat clearly didn’t agree with me, either). But it may be that Hillary vs a wall of R. opposition may be the best possible outcome.
That said, I admit I’d give a secret cheer if Trump blew her away today.
I stole today’s headline from the very best line I’ve read in all this season’s political commentary. Scott Adams wrote it: “The fight ends Tuesday. After that, let’s try to be useful. No matter what happens.”
And that’s the bottom-line truth, isn’t it? No matter whose statist, uber-authoritarian ass gets planted in the Oval Office, it’s our job as the Freedomista Remnant to continue to be steadfastly useful. To ourselves. Our families. Our community. Our online friends. And the cause of individual freedom. We’ll go on doing that because it’s who we are. Because it’s what matters no matter what the political classes do.
We’ll do all the things we’ve been doing. We’ll prep, we’ll advocate, we’ll educate. We’ll teach new shooters. We’ll monkeywrench. We’ll organize. We’ll build community. But in the wake of this election we have the opportunity (and perhaps a responsibility?) to do more. No matter which statist triumphs tonight, the country is going to be filled with millions of people more scared, more confused, more angry, more lost than they were before. Sure, a lot of these people are just going to fixate on election results, feel cheated, and cast about for another political savior. But they’re also going to understand they’re now more personally vulnerable than ever. Eventually a lot are going to realize that no politician, and no “system,” can ever save them from tyranny. When they’re ready to save themselves and their own freedom … we’ll be here.
So today I’m asking you: How do you think we can be useful after Election 2016 is finally flushed down the sewer? What will you personally do (if anything) to pick up some potential Freedom Outlaw allies? What do you think we, The Remnant, can do (for others and for the cause of freedom) now that we might not have been able to do as our fellow Americans cast all their hopes onto Trump or Hillary? Your thoughts?
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A friend of mine named, Lisa, posted this challenge last evening and I accepted. I thought I’d share it here:
“I can’t even think or hear another word about this election! It’s a circus. It’s full of corruption, evil and lies… so I am giving you all a challenge!!!! Vote… But… Your Mission is to be so busy loving your life that you have no time for Hate, Regret, or Fear. Give compliments… share smiles..help change someone’s day by doing something nice…bring joy and choose happy… Can you do it? Please share what you did… niceness matters , kindness counts!”
This goes right in line with something my Dad taught me, to not be a better person as that bitterness will consume a person, making them quite miserable.
That’s beautiful, rochester_veteran. Thank you and thank your friend Lisa.
Another good blog, Claire.
I don’t know what to do to be useful at this moment but it will be a good goal. I like your freedomista recos.
Love, gratitude, kindness, usefulness. This is how we should try to live every day.
On this day, every two years, I listen to the Bonzo Dog Band to remind myself that it doesn’t really matter. https://youtu.be/CjJLTslWp_Q
Good reminder, Laird. I just gabbed that link and will be happily listening, myself.
And I’ll be sending it to a few people I know.
Madam President
Well, I know what a “madam” does, so yeah. it fits.
I have a hunch today’s election results will blow everyone’s expectations out of the water. I don’t know which way. I just think those who think they know what’s happening, don’t.
“I just think those who think they know what’s happening, don’t.”
That’s my suspicion, too. The polls have been crazy inconsistent and the MSM seems disinclined to look at things like likely voters (http://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2016/11/wow-hillary-support-crashes-reuters-likely-turnout-poll-36-percent/) and the “enthusiasm gap.”
People are waiting in line 12 hours to get into Trump rallies, which are being held in giant auditoriums, while Hillary and Kaine are having trouble attracting anybody to their gatherings. Literally anybody. Kaine’s drawn “crowds” of fewer than a dozen. Hillary gets 30, 40, maybe a couple hundred at most.
Heh. I thought I was the only one still listening to the Bonzo Dog Band.
On topic, I liked what Glenn Reynolds had to say in his USA Today column: Look outside politics for heroes. http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2016/11/07/zaevion-zenobia-dobson-heros-politicians-glenn-reynolds/93396922/
“And, for that matter, as we face one of the uglier elections in recent history, one that bids fair to leave whichever half of the country loses feeling grimly unhappy, remember that while our politics may be toxic, America is not. Though politicians on the left and right foster division and despair, because that suits their interests, all over America ordinary people — well, extraordinary people, really, just not politicians or celebrities — are doing their best to make things better.
Look for the helpers. They’re out there, if you can see them.”
Beautiful article, Brad R.
Brad R., Glenn took that “Look for the helpers” straight from Fred Rogers. 🙂
I did vote today, because of some citizens initiatives on the ballot up here in Maine (mainly to vote no on background checks).
I don’t feel it matters too much who wins we just need to keep on living our lives.
I voted a week ago so today is just a day to wait for the results which I believe the Bonzo Dog Band already had about right.
I will be getting more people to the range and promoting to friends & family who are willing to listen about them getting prepared for the coming acts of this ongoing play of life. Which IMHO we all have a part in whether we like it or not .
If this play turns out to be a tragedy (as a betting man that is where my money is going) it is my intention to make as much of it a comedy as possible even if the laughter is only in between my own ears.
Keith, indeed, Glenn Reynolds credited Fred Rogers in the article.
I’m new to this site, so please forgive me if I’m preaching to the choir. In view of the peculiar turns in our economy and the political gaming, it seems to me that the most constructive thing we can do is to re-invent ourselves at the local level (local being your community, neighborhood, etc.). Make sure that everyone has enough to eat regardless, clean water, a reliable power source, and so on. Not a perfect solution, but perhaps it will all help us weather whatever comes more successfully.
Ah, the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band. Talk about getting in the Wayback Machine and turning it up to eleven . . . Thanks, Laird. 🙂
Heh. I thought I was the only one still listening to the Bonzo Dog Band.
Never heard of ’em. But at least now I know where Death Cab for Cutie came from.
But I do like their style.
(In case anyone is wondering what that’s about)
I had to venture out among the dangerous hordes of v*ters today… but I survived. I only encountered one that I knew of: a guy wearing a shirt that said “VOTE!” underneath the “Schoolhouse Rock” Bill who wanted to be an excuse to murder people…. I mean, a “law”.
Anybody else watching the election results come in? I can’t help it; this is as exciting as when I was a little kid trying to stay awake to cheer on the Democrats. Hillary might yet pull this out, but so far neither she nor the pundits must by liking the results. And that’s an understatement.
Trump leads in FL, MI, and OH (though all remain too close to call). Even the NYT is now giving Trump a bigger % chance of winning — after starting the evening giving the odds 80-20 to Clinton.
OMG, can you imagine the hysteria among the elites if tonight were to turn out an R-party sweep of president, Senate, and House?
The NYT now gives Trump a 69% chance of winning the presidency. Majorly hard to believe.
The thought of Trump + an R-party sweep of both legislatures kinda scares me. But then, not as much as everything about Clinton scares me. Mainly, I just find this whole business old-time exciting. And I do love seeing the Clinton Crime Family and all of elite cronydom get a grand comeuppance.
Dow futures wtf down, they are expecting a Trump win looks like.
Repubs have House anyway, check on .hRC if she manages to pull it off.
Here’s another take on that earlier Hillary Photoshop, based on tonight’s developing election results:
https://twitter.com/SPMurphy67/status/796199689737670656
“Ding, Dong, the wicked witch…”
But Trump will have both houses of Congress and can do a lot of damage.
I figured a mixed Congeessional picture would keep either elected one in check. Having Congress the same party as any Potus is bad for us all, a mandate to do lots of small bad things or a few big bad thingsIMO.
But he is less likely to start a nuclear war, should be the prime reason to vote against the witch.
The NYT just finally called PA for Trump. 264 electoral college votes and more to fall his way. Ding dong, the wicked witch … indeed.
I agree that Trump’s scary, especially with an R Congress (even if they actually hate his guts). But at least we’ve got less chance of ending up in a nuclear war.
And think about this: The entire Clinton Crime Family has now fallen — and will fall farther, maybe even fall as far as they deserve. The entire Bush dynasty is now irrelevant.
“The people” have spoken. Maybe millions of them don’t really have a clue what they’ve spoken for. But they’ve spoken. And the MSM, the pollsters, the coastal elites, the snooty commentariat, and a whole lot of other hot shots, fat cats, and pompous celebrities are reeling.
So,
bets on what happens now that the “stupid party” has a “mandate”?
Is it going to be Leviathan level stupid???
Confident it won’t be especially libertarian coming.
(The witch, well, any other witch I might have sympathy for.)
And the MSM, the pollsters, the coastal elites, the snooty commentariat, and a whole lot of other hot shots, fat cats, and pompous celebrities are reeling.
I heard a prediction from one of them that the racial harmony engendered during the Obama administration would now evaporate.
Right. They all have PTSD.
This is our #Brexit!
Best quip about the election I’ve seen so far:
“This is what happens when Madonna threatens to blow people”
https://twitter.com/JoeDeVitoComedy/status/796242142503010304
I hope he has Putin in the White House for tea after Inaugural Day.
To paraphrase (Jefferson? Madison?), I feared Hillary, I worry about Trump but I don’t fear him to destroy us.
We sure don’t need a wall, though, and the climate will do what it is doing regardless of what the Donald thinks. Will be interesting to see if he gets mired or co-opted by career cronyists or actually does something for the dispossessed.
I figured a mixed Congressional picture would keep either elected one in check
Actually, we do have a split government. The Republicans control the House and the Senate, and The Donald controls the White House.
I think we do need a wall. And it’s doable. D.C. isn’t that big, even if we’d probably have to include a couple of NOVA counties to keep Virginia happy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7qQ6_RV4VQ
Scott Adams has an interesting take on the election. And since he’s been right about Trump for over a year I think his ideas are worth considering.
http://blog.dilbert.com/post/152955248046/i-answer-your-questions-about-predicting-president
Good piece, Laird. And good line: “I ask Trump supporters not to gloat too much. Be good to your fellow citizens. Be inclusive. Be useful. The country needs you at your best.”