A Peculiar Institution

[georginasand]

"Humor is also a way of saying something serious" ~ T.S. Eliot

Recently Barack Obama and John McCain spoke at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial dinner. It's an annual white tie affair at the Waldof-Astoria hotel in New York to raise money for Catholic Charities, and it is all ways a stop on the campaign trail. (See requisite West Wing episode of the same title.) Although Mr. Smith showed support for candidates of both parties, he was a Democrat himself but supported Landon over Roosevelt because of the New Deal, the dinner has not always been a cheerful place for politics. This is where Democrats and Catholics have come to blows over whatever issues they are coming to blows over these days, and where George W. Bush began his career of cringe worthy quotes with the infamous "some people call you the elite, I call you my base" comment about the attendees of that years gala. And let's face it, he may have had a point, it's a white tie gala for rich New Yorkers at the Waldorf Hotel.

But this year, in the midst of an election at an intensity level not seen since "Jefferson and Burr, supporting terrorism since 1801," the air was a little less tense. Both Obama and McCain made eloquent, insightful speeches that involved poking fun at themselves, each other, and the campaign process as a whole. Statements included “My only fault is that sometimes I am just too awesome” from Obama, and “Oprah Winfrey called him ‘the One’ I just call him ‘that one’” from McCain. The audience laughed, they both laughed, Hilary Clinton looked a lot less tired, they played off each other’s jokes, there were no short tempers or hurt feelings.

 

This is peace for our time. My roommate just commented that the polls open in less than 48 hours. So go, vote, vote for whom ever you want, vote for Nadar or Donald Duck, exercise your democratic rights and responsibilities. “To those whom much is given, much is expected” and as a nation we’ve been given a lot.

 

So here is what I expect. This country is in danger like it hasn’t been in since the Civil War. When the polls close on Tuesday half the country will be overjoyed and half will be beside themselves, and there will be very few in the middle. Whoever wins has a task of Herculean proportions ahead of them. Which is not to say it cannot be done, as other president has pulled us out of trouble like this before. But for the sake of whoever wins can we please, for just a few weeks, months come together behind who ever it is who wins. We complain that candidates are never who they really are on the campaign trail, and as harmful that dishonesty, can’t we perhaps hope that they can be better in reality than campaigning, can’t we give them the chance to  prove that they can uphold their oath to “preserve, protect, defend” the Constitution before we go fanatical on them.                                                          

 

I am all for dissent, the 1^st Amendment, as frequently as it is misinvoked, is among the dearest. And I have no objection to abandoning a president who can’t do the will of the people. But we cannot expect our President to run a country that will not even try to support him.

 

So come Tuesday, vote, watch the returns, participate in a political discussion that is unprecedented in scope and intensity, and thank Gd that you can. Remember that no matter who wins we stand on the brink of history, and all in all have a lot to be proud of. But also listen to how others are reacting and remember that who ever wins we’re stuck with him for the next four years (Really, it could be worse, we could have a president for life). It is really hard to run more than one country at once, the least we can do it give him one country to run, one people to govern.

 

I remain,

Georgie