Response to Grocott

Dec 7, 2020
Dec 7, 2020 Updated Apr 13, 2025
18

Editor,

This is in response to Matt Grocott’s latest contribution (sic) to our public discourse (“Events of November” column in the Dec. 1 edition of the Daily Journal).

(18) comments

Patrick Henry Dec 7, 2020 6:37am

Hi Mike, good luck moving on without half of the country.

Ray Fowler Dec 7, 2020 7:06am

Hello, Mike

I am somewhat flummoxed... and I hope Matt will see your letter and make a comment.

I went back and read his column. I didn't see where he describes winning an election after trailing early. But I don't follow San Carlos elections that closely and perhaps your recollection is correct.

I took Matt's column to say that early results usually are the final results. That's why he apparently thinks that swing state final results (Biden win) typically would not follow early results (Trump winning). Maybe. Maybe that's why Matt remarked that after trailing in an election early, it would take a miracle to reverse the trend, but the miracle did not happen. Again, I hope Matt can clarify this point.

When an election is challenged, it's probably natural for the supporters of the candidate with the lead to become impatient. They feel their guy or gal won, so everyone should just start moving forward. But Matt summed up the post election back and forth with one word: patience. I agree with him. Let's be patient and let the process work things out.

Terence Y Dec 7, 2020 8:41am

Mr. Aydelott, by that same token, you and other people who believe Biden won the election can scream into the wind and stomp your feet all you want. The election is not over, no matter how much you try to bully others. Patience, Grasshopper.

Rel Dec 7, 2020 2:11pm

Ray and Terrence, you say exercise patience. Patience for what? If you mean the type of patience Trump is exercising, then that type of patience could be needlessly costing Covid related lives. That patience, by not allowing inclusion in intelligence briefings could endanger lives abroad. If you mean patience in declaring the election, by all recent norms observed by obviously defeated aspirants, especially in a landslide (by Trump's own definition), then impatience is not to be observed in a election when it destoys our standards of a democracy.

Mr. Grocott states he will never belive 80M people voted for Biden as simply not credible. I, too, have credibility issues. How could 73M people knowlingly vote for an impeached, lying, incompetent, mentally ill conman after observing his 4 years? It does indeed strain credibility.

Tommy Tee Dec 7, 2020 3:26pm

Rel--100%! By the way-Biden won Georgia today for the third time.

Ray Fowler Dec 7, 2020 3:28pm

Hello, Rel

I may have missed something... it would not be the first time. I'm at a loss... what is the nexus between Republicans filing court motions related to the election and COVID?

As far as intelligence briefings go... I can tell you this, if an overseas crisis develops on Jan. 19, President Trump will pick up the phone and ask, "Where is the Navy's nearest aircraft carrier?" Then, on Jan. 20, if a crisis develops, President Biden will pick up the phone and ask, "Where is the Navy's nearest aircraft carrier?" The response is the same because the intelligence doesn't change even when the monograms on the executive bathroom towels may change. So, can you give an example how lives abroad are being endangered? As an aside... I'm not a Biden fan but remember... he spent more than 35 years in the Senate before serving two terms as vice president. I'm guessing someone with that experience is pretty well versed in geo-political issues.

Which leads me to your claim that our standards of democracy are being destroyed by "obviously defeated aspirants." Again, while I'm no Biden fan, I accepted him as president-elect two days after the election and have not wavered from that position. Please explain how is our democracy being destroyed.

Finally, given the enthusiasm of the Republican base and Trump's better performance with minority voters, does it really strain credulity to learn that over 74 million persons voted for him?

Rel Dec 7, 2020 5:21pm

Ray, in response to your inquiry of how our democracy is being destroyed, in this instance, Trump. Nations around the world look to the example of our peaceful transition of power as a great tribute to democracy in action. Trump, by refusing to concede to the obvious tarnishes this process to the level of a third world banana republic. Aside from democracy issues, it, once again, shows us Trump to be a classless act and a poor loser.

Ray Fowler Dec 7, 2020 7:12pm

Nations around the world... hmmm... well, no matter what happens between today and Jan. 20, you won't get democracy or anything like it in China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, Somalia, Uganda, and the list goes on... OK, but what about nations like Turkey, Thailand, Oman, Nicaragua, Belarus? Oh, that's right... they're run bu dictators, too. So, not only will countries with authoritarian regimes not be affected by our political situation, can you name a country... just one... that will slip from democracy to a dictatorship because of the drama associated with our election? Moreover, I have visited some of those third world countries you referenced, and no matter what happens between today and Jan. 20, we are not at risk of falling to their level.

Poor loser? Hmmm... what would you call four years of "he's not my president!" and "impeach, now!" and "Russian collusion!" from the left? Or it's the Russians, it's Comey, it's sexism, it's the media, it's Bernie, it's Barack from the defeated candidate in 2016?

Patience.

Terence Y Dec 7, 2020 4:36pm

Rel, I believe you fall into the “other people” category I referenced in my below response to Mr. Aydelott. Patience, Grasshopper. And regarding someone who destoys (sic) our standards of a democracy, look no further than Treasonous Obama.

Rel Dec 7, 2020 5:26pm

OK, Terrence, I'll bite. What is it in you to decry opponents to your position as "grasshopper"? I'm missing the connection.

As to destroying our democracy, can you provide on solid bit of credibility with a link or facts concerning the subject and Obama?

Jorg Dec 7, 2020 8:50pm

Rel: I do understand, kind’of, that Trumpsters don’t want to overburden their meager little brain cells by reading or watching informative TV channels, like MSNBC or CNN. But, don’t they even watch Trump on TV? It should be so obvious for anyone that Trump has totally lost it, if he ever even had it. What a rambling, self-centered, out-of-touch with reality idiot?! He has destroyed so much through his incredible incompetence, made such a laughable moron of himself around the world, that it should be obvious even for the most intellectually challenged Trumpster that he should no more be backed blindly. No wonder he is scared out of his mind now! Even he understands that he’s in a heap of trouble once he loses the protection of the US presidency come Jan. 21, 2021. How is it possible not to grasp that?

Rel Dec 7, 2020 9:20pm

No, Ray, I will not exercise patience, especially when it is not warranted. I will not allow even the appearance of evil to go unchallenged by being among good people doing nothing. As far as I am concerned, Trump is evil by the evidence of his actions. He has been an admitted sexual predator, an adulterer, a consistent liar, a narcissist who has placed himself before the country and a rightfully impeached person. And yes, Trump is being a poor loser which no amount of your "whataboutism" will negate.

Terence Y Dec 7, 2020 10:46pm

Rel, your TDS-rant provides a great example of screaming into the wind and the stomping of feet that I wrote about. Your lack of patience won’t change the fact the election isn’t over, either. Please get a hold of yourself. Maybe lessons from someone like Master Po would help. Or download the Talkspace, or similar, app.

Patrick Henry Dec 8, 2020 6:47am

Kettle meet Pot - anything you say Rel

Ray Fowler Dec 8, 2020 7:44am

Rel

Everyone is entitled to their opinion... no worries. But if your opinion is that the current situation endangers lives overseas... I simply asked "how?" If your opinion is that the current situation puts democracy at risk overseas... I simply ask "where?" If your opinion is that the current situation will destroy our democracy and turn us into a third world country... I simply ask "how?"

Sorry, I didn't get to this last night...

Wilfred Fernandez Jr Dec 8, 2020 6:32pm

Hello Mr. Fowler,

I have not recently seen a comment from Tafhdyd. Do you know if he is okay?

Ray Fowler Dec 8, 2020 8:26pm

Wilfredo! my friend...

It looks like a light day for the intelligentsia who roam these hallowed halls... not much activity. I just checked to see if Rel had responded tom my last set of remarks.

No, I have not heard anything. I'm assuming Tafhdyd is OK. Everyone certainly hopes so...

We'll see him slashing and burning us conservatives before the week is over.

Wilfred Fernandez Jr Dec 8, 2020 11:15pm

Mr. Fowler,

Thanks for the update on Tafhdyd, such that is known. Intelligentsia indeed. The influence on some of those in this thread corroborates the proverb, "the pen is mightier than the sword".

The good fight provided by the legal wrangling on behalf of President Trump is quite intriguing and for me, a delicious partial pay back for the last four years. Either way it ends, I look forward to the final outcome. If the money backing the D.N.C. prevails or President Trump somehow pulls another rabbit out of his hat for the middle class, our nation will thrive. The trade deals are done, our Federal courts are sufficiently rebalanced, troops are coming home and for now, progressive agitators are financially satiated.

I hope your health concerns remain controlled.

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