PRESIDENTIAL VOTE SINCE 1900, DAVID’S VERSION

The presidential vote is tricky to gauge.

Some of the guys from 1900 on are cloaked in the fog of history.

While this isn’t some kind of ‘last word’ on the subject, it is a reflection of the voting mood.

Sometimes you just don’t know how things will turn out.

William McKinley has spans in his years of service that don’t add up, but he is on the winner’s side right up until the end.

I probably wouldn’t have voted for him.

Teddy Roosevelt finished McKinley’s last years in office, won his own term, then ran as a third party when his handpicked candidate disappointed him.

I would have voted for TR.

William Howard Taft was a big man with big ambitions. Being president wasn’t one of them.

A no vote on Taft.

Woodrow Wilson ran the show for two terms, more or less. His wife did some of the work. Some say she took over.

I would have voted for Wilson on his second term promise of no European war.

Warren G. Harding didn’t finish his first term.

No for Harding, David’s version.

Calvin Coolidge finished the end of Harding’s term, then won his own.

I would have voted for Silent Cal, famous for saying, “You never have to repeat what you didn’t say.”

Herbert Hoover took the fall for the Great Depression in his one term, fairly of not.

A no vote for Herbert.

 

An Uneven Presidential Vote

Last century began with the assassination of McKinley, followed by one term Teddy.

Taft seemed indifferent, Wilson had a stroke.

The Roaring Twenties began with Harding dying in office, and ended with Hoover’s dive.

Then here came the great FDR and the challenge to fix what he didn’t break.

I would have voted Franklin every one of his four terms.

Harry Truman is said to be the last president without a college degree. I’m not checking, but I like it.

He finished Roosevelt’s remaining years after his death, and won a term on his own.

WWII’s biggest general, Dwight David Eisenhower, took his turn at the wheel. Twice.

He’d have my vote each time.

Jack Kennedy, groomed as The Spare, rose to the occasion.

He’d have had my vote.

Lyndon B. Johnson finished Kennedy’s years and won a term before stepping aside.

He had my vote.

Nixon?

No.

Ford finished Nixon’s final years then lost to?

Jimmy Carter, my first presidential vote.

Ronald Reagan?

Two terms, neither with my vote.

Big George Bush, one term.

No vote.

Bill Clinton, two terms.

Two votes for the former governor.

Little George Bush, two terms.

No votes for George and Cheney.

Obama for two terms; got two votes.

Trump, one term.

No vote.

Biden, one term. One vote.

 

And Here We Are In 2024, David’s Version

What I hope to impart, illuminate, and reveal, is that over the years no one remembers who the skunks in office were.

Who were the scalawags, who were the angels?

But we have a good line on who’s who today.

Because of social media?

Or is it media in general?

Do you decide who gets your vote based on yard signs, twitter, Facebook, mailings, the evening news?

Does your vote depend who you think can do the job?

Here’s a quick review:

 

One candidate has already had the job and wants it again.

This candidate rose to prominence based on his TV persona where he was portrayed at The Boss, the last word, who gained fame for saying, “You’re fired.”

He was an attention seeking entertainer who grabbed headlines and viewers to the point of getting a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.

That would be enough for most people.

But there was more grabbing to be done.

He wanted to grab dirt in Ukraine, grab votes in Georgia, and grab the presidency on Jan. 6 with an insurrection.

You’ve got to admit, he has a good grip on people to ge them to do that.

 

The other candidate has risen through a more traditional process.

Their election wins and appointments to high office show their tenacity.

It shows they are up to the grind of living and working in the White House.

Instead of using the presidency as a personal stage to show fans you are exactly who you say you are, one candidate sees the work ahead.

What is the work ahead after this presidential vote?

A big part is finding a way to help people understand that America is bigger than one man, or one woman, and that one or the other of them wants to be on your mind.

If I wanted to be on someone’s mind all of the time I’d shit-talk, shit-post, make egregious claims, and have a good time doing it.

But, that’s not my notion of a good time.

To me, a good time is being around sons and daughters and granddaughters and grandsons and making plans for their future.

That future includes women who can choose their own healthcare, and men who stand up for them.

That future includes restoring truth, justice, and the American Way to ensure confidence in ordinary citizens.

It is a future devoid of nutty opinions from nutcases about the climate, science, and health.

One candidate has already shown their problems with science, health, and the climate.

The other candidate deserves your vote.