Thursday
Given that we in the United States have been hearing about an impending “red wave” for months now—some pollsters were even predicting a tsunami or a level-two hurricane—last night’s mid-term elections have proved an immense relief to Democrats like myself. It appears that Christian nationalists, insurrection supporters, and big lie believers did not sweep all before them after all. At this point they are trailing in their attempts to win the Senate and have a fragile lead in House races.
In other words, much of what we experienced was “sound and fury, signifying nothing.” But rather than Shakespeare, I turn to a Longfellow to capture some of what happened. But first, here are a few more results from the election to set up the poem.
Quiet Kartie Hobb, who goes around assiduously doing governmental business, is currently edging out television personality Kari Lake, who goes around spouting fascist rhetoric. Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fetterman, with a record of helping the people in his community, has bested snake oil salesman Dr. Oz. Many of the 2020 election deniers endorsed by Trump were defeated by responsible politicians committed to making people’s day-to-day lives better. All of which is to say that Responsibility has been winning out over flame throwing.
Longfellow’s “The Brook and the Mountain” allegorically captures the encounter:
The brooklet came from the mountain,
As sang the bard of old,
Running with feet of silver
Over the sands of gold!
Far away in the briny ocean
There rolled a turbulent wave,
Now singing along the sea-beach,
Now howling along the cave.
And the brooklet has found the billow,
Though they flowed so far apart,
And has filled with its freshness and sweetness
That turbulent, bitter heart!
Sadly, I can’t imagine the GOP becoming any the less turbulent and bitter if the brooklet emerges triumphant. In fact, I still anticipate a few to deny that their opponents have won, despite getting more votes. Many continue to believe that the politics of hate triumph over freshness and sweetness.