The year was 2016. On election night, I was catching up with elected officials at local watch parties [Kids, “watch parties” were events where people would gather on election nights to watch returns before society was disbanded.].

That year, reliable polls indicated Donald Trump would lose handily, so I elected [see what I did there, using the verb, “elected,” but with the different meaning?! If you’re struggling with ongoing uncertainty about the election, that should bring you some peace.] to start at the Tarrant County Republicans’ watch party, which was at a theater in the Mid-Cities.

I interviewed members of the Republican Congressional delegation who said regardless of the outcome of the election, they would still go to Washington and do the work they were elected to do. They still had to pass laws and a budget and ensure sound foreign policy and what-not.

By starting there, I could be at the Democrats’ watch party when Hillary Clinton was declared the winner. While I was driving to the Democrats’ watch party a few miles away, however [and you may have heard about this], more and more states started going to Donald Trump, so by the time I got there, no one wanted to get on the dance floor to fox-trot with that cut out of Hillary Clinton near the stage.

Marc Veasey is the only Democrat in Congress in Tarrant County. You know what he told me? Regardless of the outcome of the election, he still had to go to Washington and pass laws and foreign policy and what-not.

What they didn’t do is mope and say the system is broken.

My first election was 2000. That one worked out great, too.

But as I continued my microphone shovin’ on election day this year, I was sure to remind random voters that I went to Ball State and Mike Pence once told me young people don’t vote.

In the case of this fella, we got to talking about how Trump/Biden was drawing headlines, but who’s gonna show up when you want the streets in your neighborhood repaved?! Trump and Biden, making some sort of hilarious Laurel and Hardy [or, dare I say, Perfect Strangers] situation? No, so you should also be involved in local elections.

More than 11 million people voted in the election this year in Texas, as Radio’s Alan Scaia reported this morning. That’s more voters than ever, but listen to me, that’s still only about two thirds of the registered voters in Texas.

I feel like substantially more than 66% of my associates are complaining about politics on Facebook.

You could have received a free button. What more motivation do you need?!

But I’m a poor negotiator: I learned the name of my city council person before I was even offered a button.

I’ve also been a registered voter 20 years, now, and still can’t remember which party is “red” and which is “blue” off the top of my head, so I use the terms, “Democrat” and “Republican.” Like a savage.

This morning, I talked with the Dallas County Republican Party. Their spokesman explained that questioning our decision to participate in the electoral process may be bi-partisan right now, but that beats the alternative.

At the risk of editorializing, I agree we do have the greatest nation on the planet. We are all Americans. Let’s hope it won’t take another attack like September 11 to remind us.

The heads of the Dallas County GOP and Democratic Parties also signed a letter with a bi-partian message gently encouraging everyone to cool out.

We also could use more Saxe. Loyal Scaiaholics will recall a discussion with the now-retired UT-Arlington professor during the mid-terms two years ago.

Plus, everybody should remain calm because the 2024 campaign ads will be starting soon.