Why are so many people trying to manage other people's feelings this morning?
Look: there is plenty of reason to be happy about last night. We took back the house, which will have very real and very important consequences in terms of policy, in terms of spending, in terms of the 2020 elections, in terms of oversight of trump and his whole corrupt administration, and so on. We won seven (maybe more, depending on late counts and recounts) governors houses, which will have very real and very important consequences nationally (when it comes to the 2020 elections) and for the people in those states. We did well down the ballot, too. Much happened last night that was good.
There are also reasons to be hurt about last night, particularly if you live in places like Florida or Texas, where hopes were high and came crashing down last night. (Still holding out hope for Florida, but ...). Or in places like North Dakota or Georgia, where the GOP strategy of voter suppression appears to have worked as intended. Or in places like Missouri or Oklahoma, where even when you're used to disappointment it can be discouraging to see our fellow citizens worst instincts win the day yet again.
If you're excited about last night, then by all means you should celebrate! Be happy and enthusiastic. Take heart that there are many people here on DU who are happy, too, and that you can find community here and elsewhere with those who share your joy and who will, like you, take that joy and turn it into motivation and hard work for the next two years to make sure that our victory in 2020 is even bigger and even sweeter! There is plenty of space on the board to celebrate, and even plenty of space on the board to discuss and debate exactly why last night's results were so encouraging. But maybe keep in mind that there will also be people who aren't yet as happy, and maybe telling them how to feel isn't the best use of your time and positive energy.
If you're feeling a bit less enthusiastic about last night, then by all means you should mourn and vent. Take heart that there are many people here on DU who also have mixed feelings, and that you can find community here and elsewhere with those who share your disappointment and anxiety and outrage and who will, like you, take that energy and turn it into motivation and hard work for the next two years to make sure that we wipe out all ambiguity in 2020. There is plenty of space on the board to mourn, or even to discuss the pros and cons of last night's results. But maybe keep in mind that there will be others who are justly enthusiastic and drawing energy from last night, and maybe telling them all is lost and last night's victories are meaningless isn't the best use of your time and energy.
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I'm sending love to those of us who reside in Texas, Florida and Georgia. 