Reflections...one week

Several months ago, in the heat of the Presidential Campaign, a conversation at a family dinner boiled over.  After a rather embarassing few minutes in an upscale restaurant, we all hastily parted company.  I,  the following day sent the following DM.

First, apologies for my contribution to the possibly confusing or ending to a nice dinner.  We are all wired differently and I had no idea that your emotions would rise to dominate a dinner conversation.  I , obviously in error,  assumed that you, like myself, did not have a personal identity involvement with the election story.        Perhaps my age explains that, to me, it’s more like sports fan ship, nothing that personal. So be it. However,  hoping for a mending of our relationship,  I will try again ,this time in dispassionate narrative,  to explain that the polarized camps are really very similar in their motives.  So therefore:

1. There is wide consensus, and I think you and I agree that significant change in the national culture is needed and necessary. 
2. Regardless of the administration in power, over much of your adult life, society has moved to embrace ever more liberal policies and societal norms. 
3. Starting with Obama and continuing through Biden, this liberal trend has accelerated in pace such that the foundation has weakened and normal civilization is at peril. 
4. Our common wisdom normally aligns with “forward” not “backward”, but, when the road ahead seems ominous, a rational creature, turns around. 
5. Accordingly, I think we agree, that an overwhelming percentage of people are in a “turn around” state of mind and under normal conditions would overwhelmingly support a conservative/retro agenda. 
6. However, for reasons that are very unclear, the imminent leadership decision is anything but “normal”. 
7. You said it yourself, we have only a choice between two very flawed prospective leaders
8. One with an autocratic/oppressive instincts and one with a child like infatuation with seeing reality in pure fantasy mode. 
9. Isn’t it obvious that everyone is supporting the “least horrible” prospective leader.
10. Put in NFL simile, do we renew the contract with aging vanilla QB that led us to a 3-13 season, or do we trade for a felon prone hotdog that might get us to the Superbowl 
11. My sense is that, put that way, it’s close call….if you’re gutsy go with Trump and stand up and take your chance…..and if your cautious vote for Harris and keep you head down until a new cycle offers a better leader
12. It’s easy for me to say, being male and old; what the hell, let’s go for it, but
13. The future belongs to the following generations and perhaps we should just tread water and let them choose from a better crop
14. Anyway, as fate crystallizes the terrible options, you and I Will hopefully make the best of it and keep our focus on the wellbeing of those loved ones yet to blossom. 

Yes, thinks calmed by morning, family civility returned, and by Nov the then confirmed "my president", actually improved family cohesion.  (The left is skilled at accommodating).  Now, five days into "term 2", the MAGA forecasting is history and we are seeing the first "truth".  Here's hoping we all don't choke on this new "strong man" regime.