Months (Years?) Too Late

…and still a half-measure. The other guy is also too old. My generation needs to get off the ballot.

I'm afraid history is repeating itself, this time with a geriatric with clear cognitive difficulties (that didn't hurt in 1984, though) versus a sociopathic narcissist with all the maturity and temper control of an underfed toddler. This cartoon is from 24 years ago, when I was thoroughly disgusted with both candidates — and didn't that work out well…

…but other, older history could still repeat itself:

• The Democratic National Convention is in Chicago
• The sitting Democratic President announced his decision not to run for reelection well past the end of "primary season"
• The sitting Democratic Vice-President (and most-probable Democratic replacement) is polarizing as much for "identity" reasons as policy or fitness for office
• The Republican Presidential candidate is a former elected member of the executive branch
• The Republican Vice-Presidental candidate is new to national-level politics and known for outrageous pandering/coded statements
• There's a foreign conflict dragging US interests in elsewhere that has drawn widespread international condemnation
• The economy is delicately balanced and overconcentrated among those who are aggressive passive investors (family trusts then, hedge funds now)
• The generation in political power is refusing to do anything gracefully, whether "step away" or "mentor possible successors"
• Election day is the fifth of November.

  Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
  Gunpowder, treason and plot.
  I see no reason
  Why gunpowder treason
  Should ever be forgot.

  (The irony that the nation that gave us that particular ditty — and inspired our own "treason" not quite two centuries later — had its own Election Day this year on 04 July, and threw the rascals out, is a bit much.)

It's not really 1968 any more. What could possibly go wrong?