If 2020 couldn't get any more surreal, consider this:
- Today is Election Day and by all reports, the turnout of in-person voting coupled with mail-in, early voting and absentee voting will set a modern-day record. All in an environment where we're COVID-19 restricted and coping with social distancing, staying at home and quarantining.
- The presidential candidates are an incumbent that has called into question any ballots not counted today and a former Vice President whose home state is considered the key to this race.
- State races in places like Montana and Kansas are commanding national attention.
- Texas might actually flip into blue state territory.
- Retail establishments and businesses are proactively boarding up windows in major cities in preparation for the possibility of civil unrest.
- And, media outlets of all types are acknowledging their planned caution in prematurely calling state-by-state winners in the presidential race.
I've heard more than one colleague today say "this is my Super Bowl." While I understand the sentiment, this actually feels more like the Super Bowl and the former military draft lottery day all rolled into one. This Election Day has the visibility and interest of the Super Bowl with the anxiety created by whether your number would be called for military duty...and a four-year commitment. (Yeah, I know--one has to be of my vintage to remember draft lottery days. But, hopefully, you get the idea.)
What are your plans for the evening? I'm on cocktail number one and a fat Cohiba cigar in anticipation for a very long night and morning of channel surfing with my primary outlet being CBS.
If tuning in isn't in your plans, may I suggest curling up with a good political book of campaigns past or perhaps a movie about our democratic process?
- The Making of the President 1968, Theodore White
- The Boys on the Bus, Timothy Crouse (1972 campaign)
- Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 1972 (Hunter Thompson)
- The Trial of the Chicago 7 (Netflix)
- The Best Man (Henry Fonda; screenplay by Gore Vidal)
- The Candidate (Robert Redford)
- Shampoo (a cop-out given that the movie is set on the day of the '68 election; stars Warren Beatty)
- All the President's Men (Redford, Dustin Hoffman and the late, great Jason Robards)
- The American President (Michael Douglas)
- Primary Colors (John Travolta)
- The Campaign (Will Ferrell)
However this election ends, my hope is that we applaud the democratic process and use this as a turning point toward a more united democracy.
