The night I dreaded

 

Our salmon celebration dinner

For weeks now, I’ve been so passionately concerned, worried, hopeful about the midterms, that I thought I couldn’t face election night. I considered going to bed at six and putting a pillow over my head. But Jordan announced we would have a celebration dinner to distract us, and to a large extent it worked.

I fixed baked potatoes in the British method that I’m so enamored of. To me, there are few things better than a baked potato loaded with butter and sour cream. No bacon tonight, because the strong flavor of bacon would not be compatible with the delicate flavor of the salmon. I had gotten a lb. of Scottish salmon on sale that was billed as buttery. And it was so good. Christian grilled it with rosemary and lemon, and he nailed it, cooking it just right so that it was moist and flavorful. Absolutely delicious. I had some haricot vert (those tiny French green beans) that I boiled and then quickly cooled. Great dinner.

It's way too early to comment on the election results. This morning Jacob came out to the cottage for something and asked when we would know. When I said probably two weeks, he was crestfallen. But I think that’s true—Republicans are set to challenge any and all outcomes, lots of states take a while to count mail-in votes—what we learn tonight, especially this early (8:30 CST) is definitely just the tip of the iceberg. Still, I am encouraged by some of the Democratic returns. Don’t want to say more for fear of jinxing the outcome. It will be a late night, but not for me. I’ll probably go to bed earlier than usual, just because I can’t stand the tension. Already the early results are flipping and changing.

But there isn’t the much talked about red wave—the media does it again, falls for the hype. An old friend, a former boss, asked me recently, on Facebook, why I feel so strongly about the border crisis, and I replied that I guessed it’s my humanitarian instincts. I am so blessed that I want others to share in that blessing, and I am horrified by the hardships the immigrants suffer.

And maybe that humanitarian aspect explains my devotion to the Democratic Party because I find them much more caring about individuals and the welfare of all, not just the rich. Democrats care about those of us who live on social security or depend on Medicare and Medicaid. In Texas, the governor has cut access to those federal funds, leaving many to live below the poverty line. Does he care? Apparently not.

I don’t want to get into a rant about Abbott here, though I could easily do that. But instead what I want to say in explanation of my liberal beliefs is that deep in my soul, I am offended by corruption, lies, deceit, all the things that have characterized the conservatives in this country in recent decades. I heard today that in his last rant, trump promised if president again he would imprison lots of reporters and execute drug dealers by firing squad within two hours of their arrest and send the bullet to their families. What kind of mentally ill man is this? Why is half the country following him and accepting such bizarre statements. It goes without saying he cannot do those things, but only a twisted, sick mind would suggest them.

Or the Republican reaction to the attack on Nancy Pelosi’s husband. Have these people no compassion? No feelings. Or take what trump said recently about John Fetterman, that his brain is mush. Those of us who care about people admire Fetterman for the progress he’s made since his stroke and for continuing his campaign in difficult situations. As a Facebook meme says, “In January Fetterman will be better. Dr. Oz will still be a fraud and a charlatan.”

I won’t belabor examples. It’s enough to say that I admire courage, honesty, and compassion. And I despise lies, selfishness, corruption (how many trump associates have gone too prison?), and deceit. I’m not talking history or economics, though it is a proven fact historically that the economy does better under Democrats. I’m not even talking international relations, although President Biden has done a masterful job of restoring diplomatic relationships that trump tore asunder. It’s not policies and politics—it’s the basic attitudes of the different parties. One dwells on anger, hate, and revenge—listen to Gym Jordan or Kevin McCarthy—and the other focuses on compassion, helping, solving problems, moving the country ahead. Listen to Biden’s dream for the future. What a stark contrast.

I know. My answer went far beyond the question I was asked. But I guess I wanted to share why I am so passionate. And whatever happens tonight, or within the next two weeks, I’m not changing my mind