- If your candidate loses, the next four years will not be as bad as you fear.
- If your candidate wins, the next four years will not be as good as you hope.
So, winners, please do not be downcast tonight, but do your best in the next four years to support a president who will need all the encouragement and prayers he can get. Losers, please do not gloat tonight, but do your best in the next four years to support a president who will need all the encouragement and prayers he can get.
Um, were you tired when you wrote this? Winners don't be downcast? Losers don't gloat? ;)
This is like the numbers thing. I read it and knew what you meant and didn't catch what Janet did!
Sarah
Actually, I meant exactly what I said. Last night will be the highlight of the next four years for the winners, and the low point for the losers. Those who are wise among them realize that.
People put too much weight on the power of the presidency. They blame the president for forces over which he has no control, and give him credit for merely being in office when something good happens. It was President Bush's supporters who were most bitterly disappointed during his tenure in office, just as those who voted for President Obama railed against him for not being the messiah they thought they'd elected.
Yes, it matters who wins the elections, and I think the election results are yet another sign that we are headed in a dangerous direction. In my lower moments, I fear we are France, we are Greece, we are Madame Ranevskaya. We continue to pretend that fiscal and ethical irresponsibility won't have tragic consequences. Hence the need for much prayer for our leaders and our country.
Our leaders could do a lot more to encourage responsible behavior than they have, and bad behavior comes on both sides of the aisle. I think Romney has the better ideas, and I wish the election results overall had signaled a willingness on the part of the country to turn to a more courageous path.
But if they really think about it, last night's winners will understand that the next four years can only be disappointing for them, as their chosen leaders fail to pull off the miracles they're hoping for; and last night's losers will realize that if times get better they benefit as much as anyone, and if times get worse worse they can at least blame it on someone else.
Pray - work - live - rejoice in the good - stand against evil - practice thanksgiving - encourage one another - hug your loved ones. Presidents come and go, but what is good and right remains the same.
"People put too much weight on the power of the presidency. They blame the president for forces over which he has no control, and give him credit for merely being in office when something good happens."
So true.
Sarah
I did understand what you meant, but I still think the way you wrote is was unclear. If "Last night will be the highlight of the next four years for the winners" then why do you need to tell them not to be downcast in the moment? They are at the peek of their excitement. If you'd told them not to be downcast over the next four years, I would not have questioned your construction.
And as to the power of the presidency, my favorite illustration of the European attitude was from a friend at music school when she stepped out into the rain and said "Raining again. Thank you President Bush." Now that's power!
You're right, it was far too confusing, as evidenced by the fact that it took me six paragraphs and an hour's work to explain it.
That's funny -- though people did find ways to blame President Bush for everything bad here as well, including stubbed toes and burnt breakfasts.
