Mostly it was a downer, and the missed opportunities not only by both major parties, but by the libertarians as well, are more memorable than any of the joyful moments, but there were a few highlights. Here are some that I remember, more or less in chronological order:
1. Sanders rally just outside my office. I didn't actually attend the rally because I didn't want to get caught in the traffic which was already heavy three hours before it started, but I went out and talked to lots of supporters and took a few photos before I jumped into my car and drove away before I got trapped. It was a good vibe and spirits were high.
2. The various spoofs of the primary debates, especially
this one.
3. Me taking my son to the primary voting booth with me, and getting to vote in the primary for Sanders. He was disappointed not to see Trump's name on the ballot but I explained to him that I'd have had to arrange that a few weeks in advance, etc. (It was the first time we had discussed anything even remotely regarding politics or candidates. I generally try to shield him from that stuff, but he's 11 now and I figured it was okay. It was actually somewhat rewarding to discuss the presidential race with him, although I don't think I'll make a habit of it.)
4. Johnson's aleppo moment. I had actually ruled out Johnson by then, but I thought it was kinda endearing. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big fan of legalizing recreational marijuana use, and have been since about 1981, but it's not what I'm looking for in a president.
5. Me getting to vote against Trump and Clinton in the general election. It was a beautiful day and I rode my bicycle to the Saint Thomas Episcopal Church that day. The whole block was buzzing, and I could tell it was a high turnout. For the first time in memory, I actually had to wait in line to vote, nearly ten minutes I waited before I got my ballot, but it was worth it. I also posted here about my interaction with the octogenarian poll worker, but I won't repeat all that here. Suffice it to say that voting for Bradford Lyttle was very, very satisfying, and learning that I was the only one in Lancaster County who voted for him was surreal and entertaining.
6. Overconfident Clinton people getting bitchslapped on election night. That was the best of all. I went to bed about 10 not knowing who would win yet, although I was surprised to find that some states weren't being called for Clinton so far. I can't say I detest her any more than I detest Trump, but her supporters were far more annoying during the lead up to the election, so I had a good, hearty laugh when I woke up early and find that she lost.
Bonus: Trump clearly doesn't intend to keep most of his campaign promises, which is definitely a good thing, since most of them were either unworkable or really, really bad ideas.
