“This is one of the happiest days of my life,” a business manager told me yesterday. I couldn’t but concur. I , too, was happy, proud and content to be an American — something I haven’t been for four long, dark years.
In their victory speeches, President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris struct the right notes about unity and hope. President Donald J. Trump’s “American carnage’ may have been fine for some when they were making oodles of money. But when everyone’s actually in American carnage, as we are with the coronavirus, systemic racism, a crashed economy and climate change denial, people want change. They want a leader who can create a vision for going forward together, communicate that vision and execute it. And that’s what Biden laid out Saturday night, while Harris in suffragist white gave women of color in particular a symbol of belief fulfilled.
In closing, Joe recalled that his grandfather used to say to him, “Joey, keep the faith.” “No, Joey,” his grandmother would add, “spread it.”
It’s interesting that people call the president-elect “Joe,” whereas narcissist in chief Trump is rarely referred to by his first name and has no nickname — well, at least none that is printable. Speaking of The Donald, we’re now in he climactic, “Sunset Boulevard” phase of the Trump Administration, with President Norma Desmond vowing to fight on for a vote recount in battleground states.
In the 1950 film classic “Sunset Boulevard,” narcissistic screen legend Norma Desmond (Gloria Swanson) can’t comprehend that her trapped lover Joe Gillis (William Holden) would want to leave her.
“No one ever leaves a star,” faded silent screen siren Norma says in the 1950 classic, unhinged after murdering her abandoning lover. “That’s what makes one a star.”
But actually people do, Norma. Already, relieved world leaders are jumping on the Joe bandwagon, including Trumpian pals like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who pivoted faster than a second baseman turning the double play.
Others have circled the lawnmowers, if not the wagons, around the current president, gathering improbably at Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia to, what, arm themselves with rakes, blowers and hedge clippers? (“We shall fight them in the copper beeches. We shall fight them in garden sheds. We shall fight them in the flower beds. We shall nevah surrendah.”) Still others are sharpening their résumés, if not their knives. This is something narcissists, who have no self-awareness, never understand. Since a narcissist loves no one but himself, those who must live and/or work with one can only exploit the situation. They must be more selfish than thou. Now that chicken has come home to roost. Do you think the Republicans care about the Trump presidency? Having gotten what they wanted, tax cuts for the rich and three Supreme Court justices for the conservatives, they picked up crucial seats in the House of Representatives and will probably retain the Senate. Plus, they can divorce themselves from Trump and take back their party, looking to Mitt Romney and John Kasich if they’re smart, (admittedly a big if), without having to lift a finger. It’s a win, win, win for them.
As for Typhoid Amy, Frat Boy Brett and the other Supremes, why should they waste time on Trumpian lawsuits when they have lifetime gigs? Do you think John Roberts — whose name is on that court and who has no love for Trump — is going to entertain bogus charges?
And what of Mitchie, who hasn’t been to the White House since August when it began proving to be a Covid-infested “House of the Seven Gables”? (Apologies, Nathaniel Hawthorne.) No doubt, reigning Senate Majority Leader McConnell will have to double mask that double chin and trudge up there to say what Sen. Howard Baker said to Richard Nixon back in the Watergate day — “Mr. President, you don’t have the votes.”
Mr. President, you don’t have the votes. “Time to Say Goodbye” as the song says — and concede gracefully and graciously.
For we have kept the faith. And now we’re going to spread it.