Tucked in the celebrative and cartharic tones and images of last night were two speeches, one by Joe Biden, the president elect, and the other by Kamala Harris, the vice president elect. Both speeches were uplifting and substantive. If they suggested a return to normal, it was a new normal, structured by deadly pandemic, racial inequality, economic distress, climate disruption, and, not least, democratic possibility. Neither speech even hinted at a resumption of the pre-Trump “Glory Days.” No plan of action was offered for sure, but this wasn’t the occasion for it. That lies in the future and will be the handiwork of the new administration, the new Congress, and all of us. One job done, another one ahead of us.

I know of one very happy former president!

The nearly 75 million people who voted for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris belong on the honor role of this election. In denying Trump a second term, they denied him the immense and concentrated power of the executive branch of government for the next 4 years. The right wing extremist movement that Trump leads, we are reminded, still retains considerable power and influence notwithstanding Trump’s loss. While that is the case on one level, on another the loss of the executive branch and its associated powers not only puts a stop to an accelerated dive into full blown right wing authoritarianism, but also constitutes a body blow to their power and influence going forward.