The following post is a post about politics on a blog that normally does not discuss politics because it’s something that this blog does not like to talk about, but I guess we need to talk about this because sometimes I need to let out that borderline misanthropic side that absolutely hates humanity for its constant stupidity. If you would rather not read about such things, then skip this post and move on to… just about anything else on this blog. There’s going to be a new review up later today on an old Atari game that’s more entertaining and happy than this post. Otherwise, please bare with me as I ramble about a recent political event.
Hello, there… it’s been a while since I typed out one of these Bite commentaries.
I suppose part of it has to do with the fact that I’ve very little to talk about that merit bringing this back or rather I’m saving the juicy stuff for the recently revived DTM Rambles video series, which are similar to these, but somewhat more lighthearted in tone and content… I’d like to think so, anyway. When it comes to these Bite commentaries, especially since I revived the feature a couple years ago, I want to reserve these for more “serious” talks and also for a tone that I otherwise wouldn’t share on the blog, especially when it’s highlighting aspects of the world that I normally wouldn’t be talking about.
This past week, the midterms were a thing… and naturally, there was a keen interest in how these would turn out. As someone affected by these tariffs and policies, you’re damned straight I had a keen interest in seeing where this goes. And now that the results are in the books, I can talk about the two years remaining in seeing if both parties in the binary American political system can produce two candidates that are worthy of the position of the most powerful office in our neighbor’s land or if I’m going to penning for another eight-year wait.
Two years ago, I did a Bite commentary entitled “The Four-Year Wait.” Feel free to give that a read if you wish because a lot of my feelings at the time still resonate today. But to give you a brief summary, I have been jaded with American politics since 2016 when the two best possible candidates for the presidency of the United States was a former First Lady of a controversial president and a real estate mongul and celebrity egomaniac who had been vocal about how things should be. My thought process at the time is that neither option were preferable and was thankful to NOT be stuck with a binary choice. Up here in Canada, if I wasn’t thrilled with the major parties and their platforms, I’d blow my vote on a minor party with no chance. Not because I support said minor party, but as a firm rejection of the major parties involved.
(Fun fact; in Quebec provincial elections, there exists a Nul Party whose sole purpose for existing is so that disenchanted voters can avoiding voting for any political party that they don’t believe in. Guess where I’ve sat these past few elections, but I digress.)
Now granted, four years ago, we were still under the leadership package of Justin “Babyface” Trudeau, a man who has proven to be as competent of a prime minister of Canada as Dave Meltzer has been competent in hiding his blatant bias for a particular style of wrestling based out of a particular country or promotion. To say that the current PM, Mark Carney, is a considerable improvement would be an extreme understatement, but I would also argue that anybody would be an improvement over Trudeau. Fortunately, Carney seems to be doing and saying the right things, enough to eventually solidify his majority government through a couple by-elections here and there.
I bring this up because in two year’s time, Donald Trump’s run as president will come to an end. There will be no third term for ol’ Donny Boy whether he likes it or not and Americans will be given two fresh new prospects. Naturally, for most folks, virtually anybody will be an improvement over Donald Trump, but I implore folks to aim higher. Being better than Donald Trump should not be the only thing that a candidate offers to the table; they also need to be somewhat competent at their job and exude the kind of confidence that could get someone to go, “Yeah. They’re qualified for the job. I’ll vote for that person.”
The other thing – and this is key – is to sell the candidate as the best person for the job. Do not shit on those who don’t share your views or those who are on the fence. None of this “If you’re not with us, you’re one of them.” That attitude is what gave you eight years’ worth of Donald Trump. That attitude is what pushed those on the fence to vote for the guy just to spite those who pushed them that far. The Democrats may have won a minor battle here, but they’ve still got a long ways to go and if they’re thinking that “being better than Trump” is all they need to earn votes when it actually matters, they’ll be fucked harder than they’ve ever been fucked.
I don’t give a shit whether you deserve it. What matters is whether you’ve earned it. If I feel a candidate has earned my vote, they’ll get it. Otherwise, I’ll vote elsewhere.
Earn the vote. Earn people’s faith and trust. That’s how you defeat the possibility of another Trump-like individual in power. Humans don’t like it when they’re spurned, because when they’re spurned, they react violently and irrationally. Democrats need to sell their candidate and not treat the undecided like unwanted vermin because that’s going to cause them to go the other way as a “fuck you” to those who pushed them that far, consequences be damned.
On the flip side of things, I’m sure there are some Republicans who would be more than happy to distance themselves from the Trump Train as it were and dial back a few things here and there. Hell, it wouldn’t surprise me if there were those who wish they had another Trump turn that isn’t going to happen. Either way, there’s a rebuilding process here that both parties need to undertake. And if they don’t play the cards right and come up with the two best possible candidates whose qualifications match the qualifications needed to assume power and not just be “better than Trump,” I may very well be writing the Eight Year Wait in two years time.
Please don’t make me write that commentary.
That is all I have to say on the matter.
Later.
