Break It Down!

Yesterday was Election Day, and I decided I would amuse myself by viewing the Fox News Election Night coverage. Fortunately for me, the key races, the ones at the top of the coverage, New Jersey and Virginia Governors, and New York City Mayor, were over relatively quickly. A fourth race, Attorney General for the Commonwealth of Virginia received a fair amount of coverage, as well. And finally, a ballot initiative in California was, due to geography and time zones, the evening’s finale.

The Virginia race was called before 8 p.m., the New Jersey race ended before 9 p.m., and in New York, where polls don’t close until 9 0’clock, the race was over before 10 p.m. Three races, three wins for Democrats. Normally, that notation would be followed by…and three losses for Republicans. However, over at Fox News, where they appear to take these things personally, it seems fair to say three L’s for Fox. If Virginia’s AG race is included, the sweep expands to four.

As I watched, much of the commentary was decidedly infused with negative energy and characterizations. While most of the harshest verbiage was reserved for Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Socialist Mayor-Elect of New York City. Several  Fox commentators were hellbent on channeling their favorite overlord…I mean President, and they couldn’t resist labeling Mr. Mamdani a Communist. They had other less flattering things to say, of course, but suffice it to say, this is the same crew who led the charge to take mega umbrage when Hillary Clinton referred to a large swath of Trump supporters as deplorables. I wonder what that makes the supporters of the guy they call a Communist? Communists?

That is one of the ways in which Trump supporters distinguish themselves. They apparently do not believe the standard to which they hold others, applies to them. They have taken their cues from a President who has changed the rules, and where he hasn’t been able to change the rules, he’s bent them, and where bending them was insufficient, he often defied them. Numerous court decisions have been required to sort it all out. In too many instances, it comes down to the Red Team (Republicans) and the Blue Team (Democrats).

That brings us to a fifth item on the ballot; California Proposition 50. Make it 5-0, or 0-5, if you prefer. The Golden State ballot initiative was called instantly when polls closed. Across the country, Democrats won numerous other races of note, including in Georgia, and in Pennsylvania. The most ardent Democrats may consider this a flat-out repudiation of Donald Trump. After a decade of the Trump political era, I do not believe it’s nearly that cut and dried. Rather, I am of the opinion that TrumpWorld got caught up in the hype they created.

Trump placed a spotlight on every conceivable problem, and then he boasted he would solve each and every one of them…on day one. Nine months in, deportations are up, but so is unemployment, so is the price of food, so is the price of housing, and I could go on. In other words, many of the same issues that ushered in Trump 2.0 in 2024, ushered in Democratic Governors in New Jersey and Virginia, a Democratic Socialist Mayor of NYC, a Democratic AG in Virginia, and in California, an initiative to allow citizens to vote on a new redistricting plan, all opposed by Trump, and more than a few talking heads at Fox News. Today, it is a near certainty that the Trump-Fox coalition is “Seeing Red: Feeling Blue!”

I’m done; holla back!

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For more detailed information on a variety of aspects relating to this post, consult the link below:

Seeing Red: Feeling Blue