I just finished listening to the latest episode of the podcast Hell & High Water...this week with Jon Meacham. Always brilliant and insightful he has some interesting observations about the recent election. If you are as obsessed with politics as I am...it is worth a listen. https://therecount.com/podcasts/hell-and-high-water/episode/jon-meacham
Thanks! Love Jon Meacham…his voice was made for storytelling..can’t wait! Hope is thriving here in the hearts of many and I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of what we all have had to endure. ❤️
Thank you for yet another post that so articulately portrayed exactly my feelings and actions on the same days! I was so pessimistic, but when I woke Wednesday, I had hope! And it has carried me these last couple of weeks. I am in the US right now--Texas, where things don’t appear much changed from when I escaped. However, knowing that people who find themselves in such a fascist state have another safe place to go in this country is hopeful indeed.
I read with joy Nancy Pelosi’s speech yesterday. She is and has been my hero. She is a class act, the greatest leader in the history of the US House of Representatives, and a woman! I admire her for so much, but yesterday I admired her most for knowing it is time to relinquish power and let another generation carry on the process of democracy. She didn’t leave spitefully spitting and spewing and accusing. She is the picture of class and grace. She served her country valiantly. She is the reason I have hope.
I am with you in that I don’t think things will bend as far as they should during my remaining years but I do believe they will. one day. Our American country men and women do love freedom as much as we do and I think they finally have had enough of the reality show and see the danger presented to the rest of the world when America appears in chaos.
Thank you again for your faithful posts. I have so much hope and faith in the Gen Z voters. I think they will keep our ship sailing towards justice.
Your post today reminds me of the line in the poem by Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío: “Juventud divino tesoro” (Youth divine treasure). A sentiment echoed beautifully by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision yesterday to step down and allow for a new generation of leaders. As one who also obsesses on politics, I can tap into joy when I see Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist. And when I reminded by Arundhati Roy’s words that: “Another world is not only possible, she’s on her way. On a quiet day, we can hear her breathing.” Thank you Nancy.
Thank you again for such a thoughtful and “hopeful” post. I’m an African American man living in California (with plans of one day living outside of the US) who has always been hopeful of the potential and promise of America. I was raised that way by my Southern parents who grew up during Jim Crow. But I must admit, in recent years my hopefulness has all but diminished and mostly turned to apathy - and I hate that. Maybe with more results like we had with the recent midterms and the influx of young folks with new attitudes, I can regain some of that old hopefulness I once had. We’ll see. But for now I stand here with my arms crossed, one foot in America and the other outside, pessimistically observing but “hopeful” that one day I will feel like I belong here and this place is my home. Sad but true.
I worked in the polls last week. We had a number of young, and some not so young, first time voters. We also had a woman who was nearly 90 years old who hadn't voted in years and was too frail to come into the vote center so a ballot marking device was wheeled curbside out to her driver's car. Hope indeed!
Before the election I was so sure I was going to be depressed that I bought a pint of ice cream to share with my husband even though we are on a (so far) successful diet. We ended up eating it in celebration. Our House district flipped from red to blue, making NM totally blue in DC and Santa Fe. Our democracy is still not out of danger and many states are enacting extremely repressive legislation, but there’s reason to be optimistic. Now hoping the upcoming Republican House majority’s promise to pursue frivolous, vengeful investigations into Biden family and administration will receive the snarky ho-hum it deserves from the voters.
Thank you for a thoughtful post that articulates so much of what many of us are feeling. I still wish I could have relocated to Portugal, but it is not to be. We are living in North Carolina, in at least a purple area of the state. And both of our senators voted with all democrats in the senate to pass the marriage rights bill!! I was so pleased to see that and I pray it gets completed before this lame duck session ends. I am hopeful with the outcome of the election, and hope the DNC takes note of Michigan. We can - and should - use their playbook in every state. The difference would be enormous. As HCR says, if votes are counted fairly, the Dems will almost always win. Or have much more fair representation. Good luck on the building.
Ahhhh yes...hope. I, too, have it again. I thought it might never return. But I looked at the election results and breathed a sigh of relief. Kind of restores your faith in goodness and decency a little bit.
You again expressed my thoughts and feelings, in fact giving form to what I simply called 'anxiety'. Thank you, as always. Best wishes on the home building progress as we enter the wetter months.
Reading this obviously quite a bit past the election, but feel like we're terror pals (people who share the same terror/fear...is this a thing?)
We'd been worried for awhile after 2016, and made it our goal to GTFO the US before Biden's mid-terms. Glad as you are that it's not quite the rout predicted. But...the clown car, even bigger than before, is in full swing in the House, and I'm not sure how the US recovers from that. The Debt ceiling alone...
Watching from afar, we still cringe, and sigh, and throw up our hands, but the pain is a little more distant.
The debt ceiling concerns me as well as today our retirement funds are our major source of income. And with the knowledge that a US default would be felt around an already fragile financial world, there seems no safe place for investments. One wonders if these idiots will liquidate their accounts before defaulting and then buy back at the bottom just before “releasing the hostage”…this explains why congresspeople leave office so much richer than when they enter.
I am considering a move to Portugal yet I will continue to care about and vote in every US Election I am allowed. Moving does not mean I am walking away from the USA. I wrote *get out the vote* poatcards with Postcards for Voters and Activate America in 2020 and 2022. My husband and I are doing a bit of *scouting* over the next 2 weeks (Algarve, Cascais, and Silver Coast) and hope to find ways to meet and engage with fellow Progressive expats once in Portugal...maybe celebrate midterm results and raise a glass to Nancy Pelosi too!
In Arizona, many of us breathed a HUGE sigh of relief! Had the election-deniers won, we would have seriously considered moving to another state.
The problem, though, is that democracy won by a very narrow margin because of the millions wanting a different form of government. They are willing to elect unqualified candidates whom they know are unabashedly lying to them. The majority of which are not the nut jobs attending MAGA rallies - but regular folks. Neighbors, family members and so on.
In our family, political discussions are avoided like the plaque because the Fox News watchers won't listen to any counterpoint and it gets very loud, very quickly. And if we can't even discuss our differences, where do we go from here
I am also in Arizona and the margin of victory was much too narrow to have a huge sigh of relief. Throughout the U.S. all of those tight races (closer than 5%) prove the divide is massive. The AZ "Republican" candidates are not just unqualified--they are NUTS--and barely lost! It could have swung the other way very easily but fortunately Roe v Wade being struck down got the young out to vote. Our neighborhood has had Trump 2024 flags out since Biden won. Unless something dramatically changes in the next two years, I'm afraid it will be a nail biter in 2024.
No...Sun City West in NW Phoenix. We didn't even have a Democrat running against the Republican House candidate, which is very sad--the job is just handed to her on a silver plater.
I just finished listening to the latest episode of the podcast Hell & High Water...this week with Jon Meacham. Always brilliant and insightful he has some interesting observations about the recent election. If you are as obsessed with politics as I am...it is worth a listen. https://therecount.com/podcasts/hell-and-high-water/episode/jon-meacham
Thanks! Love Jon Meacham…his voice was made for storytelling..can’t wait! Hope is thriving here in the hearts of many and I couldn’t agree more with your assessment of what we all have had to endure. ❤️
Thank you for yet another post that so articulately portrayed exactly my feelings and actions on the same days! I was so pessimistic, but when I woke Wednesday, I had hope! And it has carried me these last couple of weeks. I am in the US right now--Texas, where things don’t appear much changed from when I escaped. However, knowing that people who find themselves in such a fascist state have another safe place to go in this country is hopeful indeed.
I read with joy Nancy Pelosi’s speech yesterday. She is and has been my hero. She is a class act, the greatest leader in the history of the US House of Representatives, and a woman! I admire her for so much, but yesterday I admired her most for knowing it is time to relinquish power and let another generation carry on the process of democracy. She didn’t leave spitefully spitting and spewing and accusing. She is the picture of class and grace. She served her country valiantly. She is the reason I have hope.
I am with you in that I don’t think things will bend as far as they should during my remaining years but I do believe they will. one day. Our American country men and women do love freedom as much as we do and I think they finally have had enough of the reality show and see the danger presented to the rest of the world when America appears in chaos.
Thank you again for your faithful posts. I have so much hope and faith in the Gen Z voters. I think they will keep our ship sailing towards justice.
Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans!
Your post today reminds me of the line in the poem by Nicaraguan poet Rubén Darío: “Juventud divino tesoro” (Youth divine treasure). A sentiment echoed beautifully by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s decision yesterday to step down and allow for a new generation of leaders. As one who also obsesses on politics, I can tap into joy when I see Greta Thunberg, the Swedish environmental activist. And when I reminded by Arundhati Roy’s words that: “Another world is not only possible, she’s on her way. On a quiet day, we can hear her breathing.” Thank you Nancy.
Thank you again for such a thoughtful and “hopeful” post. I’m an African American man living in California (with plans of one day living outside of the US) who has always been hopeful of the potential and promise of America. I was raised that way by my Southern parents who grew up during Jim Crow. But I must admit, in recent years my hopefulness has all but diminished and mostly turned to apathy - and I hate that. Maybe with more results like we had with the recent midterms and the influx of young folks with new attitudes, I can regain some of that old hopefulness I once had. We’ll see. But for now I stand here with my arms crossed, one foot in America and the other outside, pessimistically observing but “hopeful” that one day I will feel like I belong here and this place is my home. Sad but true.
I worked in the polls last week. We had a number of young, and some not so young, first time voters. We also had a woman who was nearly 90 years old who hadn't voted in years and was too frail to come into the vote center so a ballot marking device was wheeled curbside out to her driver's car. Hope indeed!
Thanks for working then polls!! You and the others you mention are inspiring!
Before the election I was so sure I was going to be depressed that I bought a pint of ice cream to share with my husband even though we are on a (so far) successful diet. We ended up eating it in celebration. Our House district flipped from red to blue, making NM totally blue in DC and Santa Fe. Our democracy is still not out of danger and many states are enacting extremely repressive legislation, but there’s reason to be optimistic. Now hoping the upcoming Republican House majority’s promise to pursue frivolous, vengeful investigations into Biden family and administration will receive the snarky ho-hum it deserves from the voters.
Thank you for a thoughtful post that articulates so much of what many of us are feeling. I still wish I could have relocated to Portugal, but it is not to be. We are living in North Carolina, in at least a purple area of the state. And both of our senators voted with all democrats in the senate to pass the marriage rights bill!! I was so pleased to see that and I pray it gets completed before this lame duck session ends. I am hopeful with the outcome of the election, and hope the DNC takes note of Michigan. We can - and should - use their playbook in every state. The difference would be enormous. As HCR says, if votes are counted fairly, the Dems will almost always win. Or have much more fair representation. Good luck on the building.
Ahhhh yes...hope. I, too, have it again. I thought it might never return. But I looked at the election results and breathed a sigh of relief. Kind of restores your faith in goodness and decency a little bit.
Thank you for sharing your insights and feelings of hope. So much needed as we dig our way out of this generations' near-authoritarian disaster.
You again expressed my thoughts and feelings, in fact giving form to what I simply called 'anxiety'. Thank you, as always. Best wishes on the home building progress as we enter the wetter months.
If I’m not mistaken, more women than is typical voted in the mid-terms.
Correct....and many didn't listen to their husbands
Another thoughtful and articulate post. I always enjoy your writing. A minor point; this sentence might benefit from a comma:
“ When Denise and I started dating her nieces and nephews…”
Oops…i want to make clear I never dated Denise’s nieces
Reading this obviously quite a bit past the election, but feel like we're terror pals (people who share the same terror/fear...is this a thing?)
We'd been worried for awhile after 2016, and made it our goal to GTFO the US before Biden's mid-terms. Glad as you are that it's not quite the rout predicted. But...the clown car, even bigger than before, is in full swing in the House, and I'm not sure how the US recovers from that. The Debt ceiling alone...
Watching from afar, we still cringe, and sigh, and throw up our hands, but the pain is a little more distant.
The debt ceiling concerns me as well as today our retirement funds are our major source of income. And with the knowledge that a US default would be felt around an already fragile financial world, there seems no safe place for investments. One wonders if these idiots will liquidate their accounts before defaulting and then buy back at the bottom just before “releasing the hostage”…this explains why congresspeople leave office so much richer than when they enter.
Nancy, just reading this today on Thanksgiving. Grateful for this and so much more…
Hope you and Denise have a beautiful and bountiful holiday season.
Loved and related to this post.♥️
I am considering a move to Portugal yet I will continue to care about and vote in every US Election I am allowed. Moving does not mean I am walking away from the USA. I wrote *get out the vote* poatcards with Postcards for Voters and Activate America in 2020 and 2022. My husband and I are doing a bit of *scouting* over the next 2 weeks (Algarve, Cascais, and Silver Coast) and hope to find ways to meet and engage with fellow Progressive expats once in Portugal...maybe celebrate midterm results and raise a glass to Nancy Pelosi too!
If you find yourselves in the Eastern Algarve please let us know. We can celebrate together!
We are in Tavira today yet car-less which may make an in-person toast challenging. What do you think?
Nonetheless we will be thinking of you when we celebrate Senator Warnock*s success in the Georgia runoff.
And we will give you a heads up when we are back *scouting* in this area. We LOVE it!
You are a 30 minute train ride from VRSA. F you come over we can tast together.
Celebrating Senator Warnock's victory today. When we return to Portugal I will give you a head's up earlier and find another hopeful reason to toast!
In Arizona, many of us breathed a HUGE sigh of relief! Had the election-deniers won, we would have seriously considered moving to another state.
The problem, though, is that democracy won by a very narrow margin because of the millions wanting a different form of government. They are willing to elect unqualified candidates whom they know are unabashedly lying to them. The majority of which are not the nut jobs attending MAGA rallies - but regular folks. Neighbors, family members and so on.
In our family, political discussions are avoided like the plaque because the Fox News watchers won't listen to any counterpoint and it gets very loud, very quickly. And if we can't even discuss our differences, where do we go from here
Listen to the Hell and High Water/ Jon Meachum podcast. He speaks to the % that matters
Thanks, will do!
I am also in Arizona and the margin of victory was much too narrow to have a huge sigh of relief. Throughout the U.S. all of those tight races (closer than 5%) prove the divide is massive. The AZ "Republican" candidates are not just unqualified--they are NUTS--and barely lost! It could have swung the other way very easily but fortunately Roe v Wade being struck down got the young out to vote. Our neighborhood has had Trump 2024 flags out since Biden won. Unless something dramatically changes in the next two years, I'm afraid it will be a nail biter in 2024.
This morning I read about the "Special Master" and sighed. Garland is so cautious...I fear charges will drag on till the next election.
Well said!
Sounds like you live in Cochise county...
No...Sun City West in NW Phoenix. We didn't even have a Democrat running against the Republican House candidate, which is very sad--the job is just handed to her on a silver plater.