Election Day Jitters

[Cavebear]

I'm getting the point where I can't watch political TV, read articles about politics in the Washington Post, or even listen to the news at night on radio as I go to bed. Everything is a bit repetitive, very uncertain, and the (weirdly close) election is just driving me crazy.

There are only a few "swing" States where a few voters in each will decide the election. And however I vote here in Maryland (a Deep Blue State) for President, it won't really matter. Senate and House, yes, so I will vote. But the Presidential choice matters more.

I wish it was November 6th and everything was settled for good or bad.

When I worked for a living, I had a pretty stressful job. Too much to do, and no help. I had to take anti-acid pills for years just to sleep at night. When I retired. all that stopped after a few months. But it is starting to return with this election. And I'm not talking about the results here so much (though I have a preference).

It is the utter craziness of the campaign and the likely consequences of thePresidential election that is bringing back the stomach upsets, the mental stress, and worries about the future of Democracy that are getting my back to anti-acid pills.

How are you dealing with all this? Are you just saying "what will be will be"? Are you awake at night worrying about it? Are you taking anti-acids? Or dealing with the last 2 weeks in some other way?

I just feel completely all worn out.

[Aegon]

I think most people should limit the amount of political content they consume. There's a point where it goes beyond being informed, and all you're doing is upsetting yourself about things that are largely out of your control.

[Dānu]

I've been feeling anxious about it for several months. For a news and politics junky, it's just another day at the office.

[mordant]

There are only a few "swing" States where a few voters in each will decide the election.  And however I vote here in Maryland (a Deep Blue State) for President, it won't really matter.

That is probably true here in NY state, but there are many important down ballot races here and elsewhere. Even if Harris is (1) elected and (2) finds the courage and will to make some substantive progress on various urgencies, she'll be much more effective with a majority in both houses, and over time, the more state / county / municipal level allies are in place the better also.

So if your state is deep blue, look closer at other contests -- educate yourself and I think you'll find things aren't as clear cut there.

I live in one of the only truly liberal enclaves outside of New York City for example, and even I have a scumbag Republitard for a congressman.

[Minimalist]

I've voted and there isn't much else I can do.

[pattylt]

Perhaps it’s surviving Nixon and Regan then the Bushes, my stress is minimal. I fear the same things as you do but, I did the only things in my power to do. I contributed to Democratic campaigns and I voted.

While I’m in a blue state, I’m in a red district. Boebert is now running in my district since she switched from the southern one where she was originally elected. I can only do so much and I did it. If the American people elect idiots to power there’s not much I can do about it other than not let the bastards get me down. Plus, I tend to be an optimist and plan on my team winning. If they don’t, then I’ll do what I can to oppose every stupid piece of legislation they bring forward. I’m not sure what that looks like right now.

[Fireball]

I too have to scroll past the click bait. It sickens me when I see what the chump and his political sycophants want to do. One of my sons thinks that Harris is a problem. He's 37 and votes independent. I told him to go ahead and vote for the chump if he deems Harris a problem. ffs. He's never voted for the chump, but his throwing out his discomfort over Harris/Biden/Clinton just cheeses me off. At least just don't say that shit. They can't be/haven't been worse than the chump. I'm already eating Tums like sweet-tarts and taking antacids. Can't that sorry sack of shit just code out, already? 

[Alan V]

I wish it was November 6th and everything was settled for good or bad.  

How are you dealing with all this?  Are you just saying "what will be will be"?  Are you awake at night worrying about it? 

First, chances are good that the election will not be settled by November 6th.  It likely won't be settled until at least the weekend after the election, like in 2020.

Second, I am seriously considering ignoring the news for the next four years if Trump wins.  As it is, when they show him talking on TV, I change the channel or turn it off altogether.  I let commentators filter him for me.

Third, if Trump wins I will assume that climate change is a done deal, because of the further delays which he and other Republicans will cause.  Too many Americans will have proven themselves to be too dishonest to meet the challenge in a timely manner.

Since I am now a misanthropist, I would actually be pleasantly surprised if Harris won at this point.

[brewerb]

Trump liking Arnold Palmer's dick was pretty funny. I see most of it as absurd, especially the 24 hours cable channels.

[Dānu]

The fact that the race is both close and highly polarized exaggerates the tension. Fortunately I'm not among those who think Trump is a legitimate threat to democracy.

[Cavebear]

I think most people should limit the amount of political content they consume. There's a point where it goes beyond being informed, and all you're doing is upsetting yourself about things that are largely out of your control.

Yeah, I'm just fearing some result that is out of the usual about politics. When Obama and Romney contended for the office, I had a preference. But I didn't have a "fear" about the outcome. Both were talented people who equally respected "government for the people" as they understood it. Both respected democracy.

But your point about "limit the amount of political content" is good advice. When things reach a point where I can't influence things in the slightest, I need to just sit back and see the outcome. Just focus on what I can do. Like plant some pansies in deck pots, play with the cats, clean the house, etc.

All I can do is accept what will happen in 2 weeks. What is beyond my control is really beyond my control. This is like watching a football game that I care about, near the end with the score close, and nothing I say or do matters.

[c172]

I feel oversaturated with the politics at times, but there's no anxiety. Earth is not going to crash into the Sun if Trump wins. I actually kind of like election night, watching the numbers do the number thing. Watched a couple of the Canadian equivalent in recent years, too, because I have family in Vancouver and as a kid, I was just a really big Canadaboo.

[Cavebear]

There are only a few "swing" States where a few voters in each will decide the election.  And however I vote here in Maryland (a Deep Blue State) for President, it won't really matter.

That is probably true here in NY state, but there are many important down ballot races here and elsewhere. Even if Harris is (1) elected and (2) finds the courage and will to make some substantive progress on various urgencies, she'll be much more effective with a majority in both houses, and over time, the more state / county / municipal level allies are in place the better also.

So if your state is deep blue, look closer at other contests -- educate yourself and I think you'll find things aren't as clear cut there.

I live in one of the only truly liberal enclaves outside of New York City for example, and even I have a scumbag Republitard for a congressman.

I'm a dedicated down-ballot voter. I even research local Board Of Education candidates (because some are real religious whackos and sometimes politics starts at the bottom). But even the up-ballot non-presidential candidates matter. Here in Maryland, the former ® Governor is fighting to be a Senator. I think he will lose to Alsobrooks (D) but that matters nationally. Also, I'll give Steny Hoyer 1 more term in office.

But Presidential Election Night is going to drive me crazy. I may just go to bed at 10 pm and wait for results the next day.

[Cavebear]

I've voted and there isn't much else I can do.

I'm voting on Election Day itself just to get another "I Voted" sticker, LOL!

[Cavebear]

I feel oversaturated with the politics at times, but there's no anxiety. Earth is not going to crash into the Sun if Trump wins. I actually kind of like election night, watching the numbers do the number thing. Watched a couple of the Canadian equivalent in recent years, too, because I have family in Vancouver and as a kid, I was just a really big Canadaboo.

My 1st aware election night was 1960 and I was just mostly curious about who would win.  After that, it began to matter to me who would win.  But in these later years, it matters more to as things are getting more partisan.  I now fear outcomes more than hope for them.

[Cavebear]

The fact that the race is both close and highly polarized exaggerates the tension.  Fortunately I'm not among those who think Trump is a legitimate threat to democracy.

We will have to discuss that elsewhere. Here, I am trying to discuss the fears and worries about the outcome (from either side) more than the actual winner. I hope you will understand I'm looking at the stressful effects on people. The mere contentions of the campaign is driving me nuts.

[Alan V]

I hope you will understand I'm looking at the stressful effects on people.  The mere contentions of the campaign is driving me nuts.

When I reach the point of getting jittery, I turn off the TV or stop listening to YouTube videos.  It's like drinking too much caffeine.

As it is, I also mute most of the political ads because most of them can't be trusted.  Certainly nothing Donald Trump says can be trusted.

[Inkubus]

...The (weirdly close) election.

Beautifully succinct. In a real world Donald Trump would be remembered as a rich wanker who made a complete arse of himself by suggesting he would run for president of the USA. But this is not the real world.

[Inkubus]

I wish it was November 6th and everything was settled for good or bad.  

How are you dealing with all this?  Are you just saying "what will be will be"?  Are you awake at night worrying about it? 

First, chances are good that the election will not be settled by November 6th.  It likely won't be settled until at least the weekend after the election, like in 2020.

Second, I am seriously considering ignoring the news for the next four years if Trump wins.  As it is, when they show him talking on TV, I change the channel or turn it off altogether.  I let commentators filter him for me.

Third, if Trump wins I will assume that climate change is a done deal, because of the further delays which he and other Republicans will cause.  Too many Americans will have proven themselves to be too dishonest to meet the challenge in a timely manner.

Since I am now a misanthropist, I would actually be pleasantly surprised if Harris won at this point.

If Trump wins there will be no more news. We will have party political broadcasts on behalf of the Republican Party.

[Inkubus]

I feel oversaturated with the politics at times, but there's no anxiety. Earth is not going to crash into the Sun if Trump wins. I actually kind of like election night, watching the numbers do the number thing. Watched a couple of the Canadian equivalent in recent years, too, because I have family in Vancouver and as a kid, I was just a really big Canadaboo.

If Trump wins our demise will be more agonizing and drawn out than the scenario you describe.

[Alan V]

Second, I am seriously considering ignoring the news for the next four years if Trump wins.  As it is, when they show him talking on TV, I change the channel or turn it off altogether.  I let commentators filter him for me.

If Trump wins there will be no more news. We will have party political broadcasts on behalf of the Republican Party.

My objection to the news is that I wouldn't want to listen to what Trump said and did for yet another four years. I was too relieved when I thought he was out of the picture the first time.

Trump would have to replace the members of the FCC with loyalists, and then he would have to fight all sorts of legal battles all the way to the Supreme Court.  I very much doubt that even his biased court would overturn such a fundamental right as freedom of the press.

This CNN article discusses the issues involved:

First Amendment attorney Ted Boutrous, who represented CNN in a 2018 lawsuit against Trump when correspondent Jim Acosta’s press pass was revoked, said that Trump’s comments should be taken seriously.

“At this point, I wouldn’t put anything past Donald Trump and his remaining hard-core loyalists,” Boutrous said. “He tried to strip the White House press passes from reporters he didn’t like last time around and tried to corrupt the Voice of America to be his own personal global megaphone.”

“If he can get a majority of his appointees to control the FCC,” Boutrous continued, “there is no telling what grievous injury he and they could do to freedom of the press and the ability of the networks and their affiliates to disseminate the news and actual facts to the American people.”

Rosenworcel – whose term at the FCC ends next June – sounded a similar note in her interview with NPR this week. Speaking of Trump’s licensing threats, she said, “We can’t let this be normal. If you want to maintain a constitutional democracy, you have to speak up for it.”

[SYZ]

This is totally absurd...

Republican lawmakers sow doubts about the election:

As Donald Trump makes widespread claims that the election
will be rigged, a handful of his allies are already questioning
this year’s voting. Their efforts could help lay the groundwork
to once again undermine the results, should Trump lose.

Representative Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, who helped Trump
try to overturn the 2020 election, is among those leading this
effort. He and a group of Republican lawmakers have filed a
lawsuit against their state’s government, alleging that its system
to verify ballots cast by members of the military and Americans
living abroad is insufficient. It’s one of about 100 cases filed by
Republican allies related to topics like voter rolls and non-citizen
voters. Election officials and other experts say that these claims
are meritless.

 —Excerpted from the NYT, 23 October 2024.

      

[brewerb]

I'm more concerned about our local/state political candidates and current legislative issues (abortion, taxes, school funding, medical mary jane, .......). 

Side note, as a rule I always vote to remove our local judges, good or bad, appointed for life is bullshit.

[Dānu]

I always feel a twinge of regret when faced with a slate full of supposedly independent judges whose entry I must leave blank because I know nothing about them.

[c172]

Yeah. My ballot didn't have judges, but school board seats, both K-12 and community college districts. I left university in 2000.