I’m with @futurebird here:
https://sauropods.win/@futurebird/110934294830188426
…and two specific memories come to mind:
The first: NPR reporter Mara Liasson did a private Q&A with MPR employees (where I worked at the time) just after Bush v Gore was decided. I asked her a question to the effect of “Why has the press suddenly pivoted from neutral skepticism to acceptance of the results? Why now? Why not earlier, or later? Why leave earlier parts of the process open to critical scrutiny, but not the SCOTUS decision?”
1/
@inthehands Man, that election was heartbreaking - and I didn’t even live in the US anymore, let alone take part in the vote. I was in a school exchange in the US in 87/88 and have been following US news and politics ever since. Was glued to CNN all night in Germany, following the news from Tallahassee. What awful, frustrating memories. The profanities I shouted at the TV…
@finestructure
In a way 2004 was worse. It was like, “Wait, people know now, and they still •want• this?!”
@inthehands @finestructure 2004 was awful. I was flying from NYC back to Berkeley on election night and the mood was … ugh.
@steve @finestructure I’d been canvassing for Kerry, so…yeah.
OTOH, I had the fortune in 2008 of being at the big MN state party for the Obama campaign when the networks all called the election, and I have never experienced before or since a wave of euphoria passing through a crowd like that.