What the People wrought
The People have wrought their will upon the nation. I pray that God saves us from the People.
The New York Times didn’t call Wisconsin until 5:45 a.m. this morning. That is the state they picked to put Trump across the 270 line. But it wouldn’t have mattered. Trump also carried Pennsylvania, and (it’s not called yet) Michigan and Arizona. The Blue Wall fell big. Not only that, Trump also won the popular vote by nearly five million. So we won’t be hearing too many “kill the Electoral College” arguments. The people’s will was writ large across the country: 312-226. Not quite a landslide, but definitive in every way.
What to say? There’s not much in the way of strategy, or cleverness, here. Sure, New York Judge Juan Merchan could advance Trump’s sentence for his felony convictions, and try to put the president-elect in prison so presumably he could not take the oath on January 20, 2025. Does anyone think that would work?
We have yet to hear from Vice President Kamala Harris. This is very reminiscent of Hillary Clinton in 2016: supporters gathered at Howard University never saw their candidate; Harris didn’t speak or show up. The crowd went home, tearfully, quietly, sadly. I suppose Harris has no choice but to concede the election, but not concede the “fight” against Trump. What is she fighting? Or more accurately, who is she fighting?
Over 70 million Americans voted for Donald Trump. They want him as their president. They want him to lead. They will not get what they want, but they will get Trump.
A few questions bubble up in my mind. Like I wrote yesterday, I don’t care who wins, or who won. The country will not break asunder if Kamala Harris had won. It will not break asunder under Trump. I’m fairly convinced of that. I won’t get into the analysis of why more people did not vote for Harris: she underperformed Joe Biden by over 7,000,000 votes, or over 9 percent. I’ll leave that to the political wonks to cover, but I do think it might have something to do with Joe Biden’s selection as nominee, then the magic carpet pull to swap in Harris at the last minute. I suspect many will blame Biden for this Democrat debacle.
And it is a debacle for Democrats. Republicans will control the House, the Senate and the presidency in 2025. In 2026, we all expect a giant wave to sweep those gains away, but for two years, it’s MAGA all the way down.
My most troubling question is: is it better to be a disobedient Christian, and be governed by disobedient Christians, than to be a heathen, governed by heathens? Or perhaps, are we to be Christians governed by heathens pretending to be Christian? Many Christians—leaders are not immune—abandoned the precepts of Christ, put down their crosses, to follow Trump and his insults, invective, and threats.
But the People decided that Trump was who they want. One person can be a rational actor, or an irrational, ignorant, superstitious bully. But People are a herd of self-serving impulses, when left to their own devices. People can be led to incredibly noble acts, to achieve giant, worthy causes. But they can also be led to worship a golden calf.
My gut told me this is what the People wanted. The Trump signs 30 miles from Washington, D.C. The snarky eye-rolling even by liberals at the Harris campaign. The feigned ignorance of the border and our immigration mess. The propping up of Joe Biden when it became obvious his mental state was deteriorating. My gut told me the People were willing to ignore many of the same issues with Trump—age, infirmity, confusion—because four years of Trump, in gauzy memory, wasn’t so bad (except for COVID).
I thought perhaps the People were sick of Trump, by the numbers. I thought perhaps my gut was telling me wrong. No, the People have wrought their own idol and have placed it at the pinnacle of power.
Four years of sky-screaming and chaos. However, let’s see if Trump 2.0 can govern at all. If Ukraine can remain an independent country. If we don’t fall in love with Russia (which peppered Georgia’s polling places with bomb threats yesterday). If we don’t forget the plight of Israeli hostages and starving Gazans. I am hopeful that Trump’s instincts still function, and that he might handle some of these thorny issues without plunging the world into darkness. But I am a realist about it.
Democrats don’t have the horsepower right now to even think about impeachment again. But I’m sure they’re plotting. I’m sure there will be a thousand whistleblowers ready to talk to the media when Trump takes office. I wonder if there will be more assassination attempts before the inauguration. I wonder if the District will allow anyone in to attend that event. An empty mall staring at a fortress, with Trump speaking to nobody, would be a petty, but possibly necessary, parting gift from the Biden administration.
My main task right now is to remain a Christian—an obedient Christian. I believe Christians can and should listen to the voice of God. Not just reading what the Bible says, though that’s foundational, but to listen to the Holy Spirit speaking through prayer and obedience. I will pray for Donald Trump. I will pray for his safety. I will pray for his mind, and his family. I will pray that he is touched by the same power that saves souls and bodily resurrected Christ.
I will pray that a spirit of love for neighbor and fellow humans takes root in the country. I will pray the people will turn the other cheek when faced with evil—even evil coming from the very movement the People just thrust into power. I will pray that God will do something sovereign and miraculous.
The People have wrought their will upon the nation. I pray that God saves us from the People.
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I had an enjoyable 2 hour plus wait in line to vote yesterday at my old high school. It was so very like old NH. I navigated with folks I did not know, but living in the same town for so long we knew many people in common. No talk of politics. Conversed with people I know and like of all political stripe. Was like a mini old home day. If the same think happened across the country, then we need to accept the judgement of our fellow citizens, and hope for better days forward.
Best and most unfortunate words you've written, Steve.