A tortuous end to a gruelling campaign
If anyone was hoping for a happy ending to the 2020 presidential election, they will be sorely disappointed.
Official results took longer this year, as traditional methods of in-person voting were partly replaced by mail-in ballots, in order to reduce exposure to COVID-19.
Election workers and officials have done an extraordinary job. They have performed heroically as they literally became political “front-line workers,” putting their own safety at risk in order that their fellow citizens could vote.
But at the end of the day, their work has been compounded by Donald Trump’s lack of understanding of election machinery and his own determination to win at any cost. There is nothing he won’t do to keep the White House and the tremendous power that comes with the position of president.
He would never be able to deliver a gracious concession speech, as John McCain did upon his defeat to Barack Obama. McCain overcame his personal disappointment and sought to heal the country’s wounds, while also celebrating the election of the country’s first Black president.
At this point, it is almost impossible for Canadians to understand. For four years, Trump has turned the world upside down and the truth inside out. Joe Biden has received the highest number of votes ever accorded to a presidential candidate, yet nearly half the country still voted for Trump. It all came down to the Electoral College and the number of states each man won.
The hard truth is that Trump is the mad mascot of a strain of deeply held beliefs of white supremacy, the legacy of slavery, rugged individualism and a “survival of the fittest” mentality — all characteristics that are particularly heinous as the world struggles with a deadly coronavirus.
These beliefs are bolstered by the infamous Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which states “the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.” Making matters worse, Trump asserted the right to interfere in prosecutorial and judicial independence, which protects democracies from the arbitrary exercise of power. In his mind and in the minds of his supporters, the ends justify the means.
Trump will remain in the White House until Inauguration Day on Jan. 20, allowing him time to cause as much damage as possible. A key indicator to watch will be the actions of the Republican party and their operatives, Senators Mitch McConnell and Lindsey Graham. Will they steamroll ahead with legislation, or will they pause to await the new president?
A second indicator is the length of time that some states may be embroiled in lawsuits. Trump’s famously litigious nature has quickly risen to the fore, as he sent legal teams to several states to question the voting process. On election night, as he proclaimed himself the victor well before all votes were counted, he also rambled about taking an undecided race to the Supreme Court — in spite of the fact that he is prevented from a direct appeal to the top court. Given the composition of the Supreme Court, it is unclear what might happen if a case winds up in their hands.
As if litigation and political manipulation are not enough, civil unrest remains a deep concern. During the campaign, Biden asserted that Trump kept pouring “gasoline on the fire” of violence. So far, protests have been largely limited to vote-counting stations, but unrest could quickly turn to violence. It is highly unlikely that Trump will make any kind of plea for calm; he’s more likely to once again bring out his dog whistle for the Proud Boys.
Biden has already said he will represent every American as president. In a speech on Nov. 4, he said “once this election is finalized and behind us, it will be time to do what we have always done as Americans: to put the harsh rhetoric of the campaign behind us.”
One can only hope that Trump is listening, but don’t hold your breath.