A Historic Election
It will be a historic election regardless of who wins. If Harris wins, we will have the first women president in the history of our country. If #45 wins, we will have the first convicted felon president in the history of our country.
Only time will tell which direction our country will go in the next four years.
Open This After the Winner has been Determined.
Excerpts, from Mitch Albom’s Sunday’s Free Press column.
TO THE WINNER, AFTER TUESDAY’S ELECTION:
Congratulations. Now what?
Will you lead, or will you gloat? Will you shake hands, or will you point fingers? Will you kneel under the humility of the most powerful position in the world, or will you race to the highest point, shake a fist and say, “I’m in charge”?
Will you be modest if your victory was by a narrow margin, or will you insist that to the winner go all the spoils?….
Will you explore why so many people found you troubling, or will you simply dismiss them because of it?
….Will you serve your party, or the people?
TO THE LOSER, AFTER TUESDAY’S ELECTION:
Condolences. Now what?
Will you accept, or will you deny? Will you shake hands, or will you point fingers?
Will you encourage your supporters to rally behind the new leader…, or will you encourage them to revolt..,?
Will you claim fraud when there is none? Claim conspiracy without evidence? Condone violence if it’s done in the name of your defeat?
Will you say your opponent’s victory is the end of the world, or will you remind people that there’s a presidential election every four years, that the nation ebbs and flows, and always has and always will?
Will you take a high road and say now that the battle is over, America is better off coming together? Or will you stoke the divisions, keep searching for the negative, and rub your hands in preparation for charges, accusations and potential impeachment?
Will you serve your party or the people?
TO THE VOTERS, AFTER TUESDAYS ELECTION:
It’s over. Thank the Lord.
Now, will you accept, or will you deny? Will you gloat or will you glower? …Will you shrug off a defeat and say, “That’s how our system works”?
Will you shout, “Better together”? Or will you moan, “I’m moving”?
Will you protect family and friendships from the poison of partisanship?
Will you take down your lawn signs … Or will you leave them up to make sure everyone knows where you draw the line?
…If your candidate lost, will you accept that half the country wanted something else — and their desires matter same as yours?
Will you look back on the last few months and say both campaigns, at times, acted horribly? Or will you insist your side was justified in everything it said and did?
…Will you run to the comfort of TV and newspapers that think as you do, and soak in the acrid waters of one-sidedness?
Will you serve your party or the people?
Let’s Talk Some Sports
Lions: The Lions got their edge rusher to replace Aiden Hutchinson. Per the Detroit News, Za’Darius Smith got his wish, and the Lions got their edge rusher.
Detroit added the three-time Pro-Bowl defensive lineman on Tuesday from the Cleveland Browns in a swap that included a 2025 5th-round pick and a 2026 6th-round pick going back to Cleveland, according to reports by ESPN’s Adam Schefter and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport. The Lions will also receive a 2026 7th-round pick in the deal.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Browns have already paid $11.3 million to Smith, meaning Detroit is only adding $605,000 to its salary cap liabilities for 2024.
This leaves Detroit with a little over $27 million in cap space, which can be rolled into next season — a huge development for a team that’s looking to dole out another round of extensions to its core pieces.
Smith is under contract through 2026 and, according to Spotrac, he’ll carry a cap hit of $5.4 million next season. That’s a small price to pay if Smith can be the edge rusher he’s shown over the last handful of seasons. And if he’s not? The Lions have an out after this year. Detroit can cut Smith before next season without absorbing any dead cap.
Tigers: Per the Detroit News, the Tigers reinstated four players from the 60-day injured list to the 40-man roster Monday: Shortstop Javier Báez and right-handed pitchers Alex Faedo, Sawyer Gipson-Long and Brendan White.
Expect the Tigers to continue to figure out the role for Baez. If he can get healthy and become the hitter he is capable of being, he can be a game-changer. Otherwise, he will be the most overpaid ninth inning defensive replacement in the history of the game.
Michigan Basketball: The Dusty May regime started with a bang last night as Michigan shot nearly 70 percent for the game and forced 22 turnovers. Their fastbreak and ball movement was a welcome change from the last few years. Lots of scoring options and ball handlers. They will be fun to watch.
Quote of the Day: “I do think that our fans appreciated the way our guys played the game. That’s something that we talk about even late in the game. That unselfishness and spirit and passion that you play with, don’t ever turn that off. We told them before the game, this place probably will be half-full. By the next month, because of the way we play and the way we interact with each other and the way we represent Michigan, we want it to be full. We’ll give them a month.” Michigan basketball head coach, Dusty May
Orchid of the Day: Greg Kampe. Per the Detroit News. The 700 Club has its newest member.
In the season opener, Oakland men’s basketball grinded its way past Defiance College, 75-52, on Monday night at the O’Rena, where a crowd of more than 1,300 stayed afterward to celebrate head coach Greg Kampe.
The win was the 700th of Kampe’s career, making him the 10th active Division I coach to reach that milestone ― and just the third to win them all at a single school, joining his good pal Tom Izzo at Michigan State, and Gonzaga’s Mark Few. Oakland athletic director Steve Waterfield presented Kampe with the game ball following the win, and Kampe got emotional talking ― not about himself, of course, but all the players who’ve played for him at Oakland, all the way back to the Division II days.
Onion of the Day: Me, for thinking that Megyn Kelly would never endorse #45 after the way he treated her during the 2016 campaign. Silly me.
Question of the Day: Now what?
Video of the Day: Calls of the Game with Lions’ radio announcer Dan Miller. His excitement is contagious
Calls of the Game: Kerby Joseph’s pick-six sparks Detroit to win at Green Bay | Lions at Packers
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Now what? Believe the next President’s comments and promises he made during the campaign and the crowds that wholeheartedly cheered him on. Remember he said he intends to be a dictator on day 1 and many of his followers applauded enthusiastically. Understand that this election has shown the world who the majority of us truly are. Know that the fear, distrust and acrimony perpetrated daily has taken its toll on so many people who had hopes and dreams for their lives. Accept that hate and discrimination divides but does not conquer without consequences. Steel yourself against the potential coming storms. Be aware of unknown and unexpected changes that will impact daily life. Control the sources where you get your information from (when possible). Remember, “I’m your retribution.”
Embrace your loved ones and show kindness at every opportunity. Cherish friendships. I would love to live in a country that values all of its people unfortunately, it’s a dream that has turned into a nightmare. I am a Christian; therefore, I believe in truth. I pray for the nation and those who would attempt to destroy what we know (and take for granted) as Democracy. I pray for myself to remember to whom I belong, Christ Jesus, so that I will not succumb to fear. I must remember that no matter who is in control in this world, GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE!