Tonight is not the most important election in my lifetime

Progressives are touting today’s national election as the most important in their lifetime.

Not me.

It’s my 39th going back to 1946, the election of the 80th ‘Do Nothing’ Republican Congress which took control of Congress for the first time since 1932. Then they did what Democrats warned about in helping America transition to peace…nothing. Truman used the ‘Do Nothing’ Congress moniker to win the greatest presidential upset 2 years later.

But being a one year old, I don’t remember it.

No matter what happens today, it cannot top the damage wrecked by the Republican takeover of the presidency and Congress in 2016. For the only time in our 246 year history, we allowed a defective human being, dedicated to the destruction of American democracy, seeking perpetual rule for himself and his followers, to become president.

I use the word ‘allowed’ because the Rube Goldberg device known as the Electoral College, gave him the presidency tho he lost the popular vote by 2,868,686 votes.

For those unfamiliar with a Rube Goldberg device, see below. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rube_Goldberg_machine

Trump’s 4 years of governing and legislative chaos, including impeachment, were a harbinger to his violent, attempted coup to overturn his massive 7,059,526 vote loss to Joe Biden 2 years ago.

Tho the coup was thwarted thru magnificent police protection of Congresspersons facing death, and incredible luck, Trump and his coup denying party are not just walking the streets. They are pounding the streets to regain full Control of Congress, return Trump to the White House in 2024 to complete the task of ending the American Experiment in democracy.

Even a Republican takeover of Congress today cannot do the damage of 2016 since we have a democracy supporting president with a veto proof pen.

But should that happen, setting the stage for a return of the autocrat in 2024, all bets are off that the 2016 national election will be the worst ever.

GOP 'red wave' went south like Soviet communism in 1991

GOP predicted pick up of 60 House seats more likely 10 or less. Senate still in play. Only Senate pickup so far was by Dems in PA. The Wizard of Oz was should go back out of sight behind his curtain.

Abortion rights measures passing in Vermont, California, Michigan, and Kentucky, possibly also in Montana.

Cannabis made legal in Maryland and Missouri.

Much left to unpack but the GOP bloodbath avoided. Onward to '24.

After red Florida Tsunami, Biden should restart Cuban détente

One of the best things Joe Biden did as VP was support his boss’ 2013 détente with Cuba. Re-establishing diplomatic relations and committing to end America’s 53 year old embargo gave hope to 11 million Cubans that America’s dastardly economic war on Cuba would be ended.

One of the worst things Joe Biden did upon becoming president 8 years later, was to do a 180, continuing his predecessor Trump’s reversal of détente. It was a revolting pivot by Biden that had nothing to do with US national self-interests and humane treatment of Cuba.

It was due solely to electoral politics. With Florida’s 30 electoral votes, the fourth highest state total, Biden saw renewed Cuban détente as an impediment for Democratic chances in ’24. Trump’s Florida’s margins of 1.2% in ’16, and 3.3% in ’20, were not sufficient to deter Biden from dreaming of taking Florida, in part by pandering to the sizeable anti Cuban voting block there.

But Tuesday’s Florida vote was a virtual red tsunami. Gov. DeSantis and Senator Rubio overwhelmed their highly credible opponents by 19% and 16% respectively. Republicans won every state office and now have majorities of 85-35 in the state house and 28-12 in the state senate. Democrats in Florida have flat-lined.

Biden could personally go to Cuba, kick out the hated socialist rulers, return the country to United Fruit, and still get shellacked by the GOP candidate in 2 years. Knowing this, he should use his last 2 years to undo his cruel, heartless betrayal of the Cuban people. They were overjoyed at his election, assuming he’d keep his campaign promise to return to détente upended by Trump. He not only reneged on that promise, he ratcheted up sanctions on Cuba even further.

Biden could live to a hundred and not expunge the shame he brought on himself and America, sacrificing the economic well-being of 11 million Cubans to possibly win Florida in ’24. But there is never a bad time to do the right thing.

Come on Joe…say it’s so.