Elections yesterday and tomorrow

Democrats celebrated victories in Tuesday’s U.S. elections, with potential implications for 2024. Trump’s absence from the ballot introduces uncertainty. Ageing remains a focal point, with scrutiny on both Biden and Trump. Making predictions is challenging, underscoring the intricate landscape of future elections.

I nstant reactions on Tuesday’s election is that it was a good day for Democrats and, importantly, less government in people’s lives because of the results of abortion issues on the ballot. Interestingly, less government used to be the Republican Party mantra. But that was in the old GOP.

Of course, the Democrats held the Kentucky governorship (and, birthed another immediate potential presidential candidate because that’s what happens to governors who win elections – they become the new flavor of the week), gained control of Virginia’s legislature, thus giving Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, a slap in the face to his agenda (and also finishing off the flavor of last week to run for President. Younkin is young though. There will be other cycles).

Many hurrahs are being given for what Tuesday means for the 2024 presidential race, but not so fast. Former President Trump’s name wasn’t on the ballot, so it’s hard to really know how this will play out a year from now. His base is, if nothing else, loyal and will turn out for him. Did those folks turn out yesterday?

That’s another thing, that New York Times poll over the weekend showed Trump ahead in key battleground states – take another poll today and you’ll see different numbers, just as you will until citizens actually cast ballots next November. They did cast actual ballots on Tuesday, and that day goes to the Democrats.

Sill there’s a lot of time to go, a lot of campaigning to go and a long way until the choice is binary: Joe Biden or Donald Trump. That’s a different question because those are the two probable choices. You need to pick just one.

Plus, speaking for myself, I can’t tell you how many times in my life I cast my ballot for the lesser of two evils. That may hold true in the presidential next year for many people.

But abortion clearly was on the ballot yesterday and won big time. Trump is the guy who, he’ll tell you, delivered the overturning of Roe v. Wade by putting three additional conservatives on the Supreme Court.

Now Trump, seeing how that issue is playing out, is saying Republicans shouldn’t be so strict on abortion and need to allow some reasons for abortions to be legal. A view not held by many who support him, like the Evangelicals.

One would assume the Biden campaign will, soon, be talking all about Roe v. Wade being overturned again and pinning responsibility on Donald John Trump, where it truly belongs. How will that play with all the other issues next year? Dunno. I don’t think abortion lessens as an issue, but it will be one among issues like the economy and jobs that will be more of concern on the ballot in a national election.

Which brings us to getting older. Republicans are doing a good job of painting Biden as too old and weak to be reelected, and ignoring the fact that Trump is younger only by three years.

Clearly, visually, Biden looks older largely because his gait is affected by a combination of arthritis in his back, neuropathy in his feet and the long-term effects of breaking his foot in 2020 while playing with his former dog, Major.

Trump’s face looks younger – that tanning machine works well except for the goggle area.

And Trump’s face looks younger – that tanning machine works well except for the goggle area. Seriously though, his health should be an issue too, based on his weight and eating habits alone.

And, yes, I too would love younger candidates next year, but that ain’t gonna happen.

My cohorts are 73 years old (okay, that makes me the same age, and I still feel pretty good). We all think we look the same as we did in high school, right? I'll let you in on a secret, we do not.

My mind seems to be working okay, the body less so but mostly that means I can’t reach the basket when I attempt a jump shot at the YMCA. Embarrassing, but I can live with it.

Biden seems to operate just fine as we watch him on the news and as he deals with huge issues like the economy and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

Biden seems to operate just fine as he deals with huge issues like the economy and wars in Ukraine and the Middle East.

That’s the job, though. Name a president that didn’t look years older after a term in the job. Problem is, Joe started older than any of those presidents.

For me, not comparing myself to a president or former president, the main thing I notice lately is my memory isn’t what it used to be. BUT I can still sing the lyrics from most hits from the 60s and 70s, not to mention Broadway shows you know (Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls) and some you may not remember (Milk and Honey).

Maybe I can be the flavor of some week?

GOING FURTHER

• Trump Leads in 5 Critical States as Voters Blast Biden, Times/Siena Poll Finds | New York Times

Sources:

▪ Text: This piece was first published in The Screaming Moderate and re-published in PMP Magazine on 10 November 2023. | The author writes in a personal capacity.

▪ Cover: Flickr/Gage Skidmore. (Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.)