R.E.M. – These Days

If you are not on social media much, or your algorithm isn’t like mine, you might not be aware that Michael Stipe has been pretty busy lately. A couple of weeks ago he was with Jason Isbell in Pittsburgh for a GOTV rally with Doug Emhoff. Earlier today he was in Atlanta with Jon Bon Jovi at a Harris/Walz event, where you could see Tim Walz and Doug Emhoff in the audience, living their best lives.

The last time I watched a presidential debate was probably in 2008. Maybe I watched one of the Obama v. Romney debates but I don’t think I did. Debates for a primary could be worth it but the format is awful and everyone would be better served by just going to the candidates websites and reading their policy positions. So I had no intention of watching the first debate between Biden and Trump this year. I didn’t (still haven’t) see the train wreck performance that sent everyone panicking. What made me panic was everyone calling for Biden to step down. I was fearful that there’d be a messy and damaging scramble to head up the ticket. I worried that Trump’s people would challenge the validity of whoever ended up as the candidate if Biden dropped out. I felt like the only person who could legitimately take over at that late stage was Kamala Harris, who at least would be able to continue to use the money that had been donated to the campaign since her name was already on the ballot. But I was not confident that the people pushing for Joe to leave were coming to that same conclusion. I had the impression they wanted some kind of open convention and it scared the crap out of me.

Michael was one of those people calling for Biden to get out of the race. He was posting stuff on Instagram and I was increasingly anxious about it. One day he put out a poll asking if people thought Joe should bow out. I was quite sure he wouldn’t see my reply but I felt compelled to respond and I said, Kamala is the only one who can take over, do you realize that, and do you really think that counties in swing states that wouldn’t vote for Hillary will vote for a Black woman? Really?

Needless to say, he didn’t reply. I think any celebrity on social media must get flooded with so many messages that they probably have DMs turned off. I watched the chorus grow louder and louder for Biden to get out of the way and I got more and more anxious. Not that I wanted Biden to be the candidate, I just wished he had said he wasn’t running months earlier. He was too old, Gaza was a nightmare, and people did not want to rehash 2020. But replacing him felt so risky.

When the news broke that he not only dropped out but also endorsed Kamala, I thought, ok, let’s see if that carries enough weight to make the Ezra Kleins and George Clooneys step back. I did not expect the speed and force with which she took control of the situation and got all of the delegates that had pledged to support Biden, to throw their votes behind her. The difference in the campaign, the energy and enthusiasm, it is night and day. I can’t begin to imagine where we all would be right now… I don’t even want to think about it. I can admit that the people begging Joe to pass the torch were right and I thank them for being brave enough to say so.

It turns out that Michael had met Kamala and Doug at a restaurant in 2018. She came over to him and introduced herself by way of explaining that her husband was a big fan. If you haven’t seen any of the clips from any of these events where Michael has appeared, it is so obvious that Doug is still star struck. And now he’s got Tim Walz beside him, also just pinching himself. No shame, Tim. None at all.

We are still in the fight of our lives. It makes me insane that the whole country, the world, is at the mercy of a few hundred thousand people across seven states. All of us are so scarred from 2016. But a condensed campaign (can all campaigns just be three-months long, please!), that is smart, sharp, and leaves it all on the field, is giving me hope despite the times.