Finally, the wait is over. Joe Biden is President-elect, having carried Pennsylvania, which put him over the necessary 270 electoral votes. Winning Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia upped the total to above 300, so Trump’s empty threats to go to court have apparently sunk in, to everyone but him and his most head-in-the-sand supporters. After the cautious networks finally called it after four tense days, crowds across the country began dancing in the street, celebrating the fact that Trump’s nightmarish regime is nearing an end. In Paris church bells tolled, and throughout the world demonstrators toasted America’s election outcome, including Kamala Harris’ ancestral village in India. Progressive Democrat Doug Rees emailed George Van Til: “I could go on about Joe Biden’s links to the establishment. But when I saw those crowds dancing in the street, I had the feeling that something fundamental had changed in this country. Joe Biden should follow the path of the better angels of his nature and dare to be great.”
On MSNBC former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill admitted breaking out in tears watching people’s pure joy over the result. On CNN Van Jones broke down as he explained: “It’s easier to be a parent this morning. It’s easier to be a dad. It’s easier to tell your kids character matters. It matters. Tell them the truth matters.” The teary-eyed Jones hoped that the county could reset and finally get some peace.
More tears flowed that evening in Wilmington, Delaware, as Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris gave victory speeches. Especially poignant were mothers hugging young daughters. Harris took the stage to strands of “Work That” by Mary J. Blige (“Read the book of my life and see I've overcome it/ Just because the length of your hair ain't long and they often criticize you for your skin tone/ Wanna hold your head high cause you're a pretty woman/ Get your runway stride home and keep going/ Girl live ya life”). It’s a tribute to Biden’s character that he gave Harris the spotlight, and she shined, wearing white in honor of suffragettes and her black sorority pin and crediting civil rights pioneers – black, Latina, native American – on whose shoulders she stood. Her expression was incandescent as she exclaimed that while she was the first vice president-elect of color, she certainly will not be the last.
Biden literally ran onto the stage preceded by a medley of songs that included Tom Petty’s “I Won’t back Down.” Finally on the brink of achieving a goal that he has worked for decades to achieve and enduring family tragedies that would have destroyed many a man, he called for unity and promised to be a president for all the people, including those who supported his opponent, and to be a healer who will end the “grim era of demonization.” In closing he referred to the Catholic hymn “On Eagle’s Wings,” which, he said, brought him comfort when his son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015. He went on: "It captures the faith that sustains me, which I believe sustains America. And I hope I can provide some comfort and solace.” Then he recited these lyrics: “And he will raise you up on eagle's wings, bear you on the breath of dawn. Make you to shine like the sun and hold you in the palm of his hand.” Biden concluded: "And now, together — on eagle’s wings — we embark on the work that God and history have called upon us to do.”
As the Harris and Biden families filled the stage, a massive fireworks display ensued. As it neared an end, one could hear Coldplay’s “Sky Full of Stars,” Beau Biden’s favorite song, played at his funeral service (“you're a sky full of stars 'Cause you light up the path . . . in a sky full of stars, I think I saw you”). On Facebook I told Ray Smock: “Watching Kamala Harris' awesome speech, I thought of Barack Obama at the 2004 Democratic convention.” He wrote: “We are so proud to fly our flag again as a symbol of hope and pride, and with great respect to all who have fought for and defended our nation and our Constitution.” Dave got out his guitar, poured a glass of champagne, and performed the Rolling Stones’ “You Can’t Always Get What You Want ("But if you try sometimes, well, you might find/ You get what you need”). Tom Wade posted a photo of a red rose blooming below their Biden-Harris sign. As FDR’s 1932 campaign song stated, indeed, let’s hope “Happy Days Are Here Again.”
AWESOME
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