by Alexander Manzoni, Elections Correspondent & Host of Manzoni in the Morning

Get well soon, Bernie Sanders.
You, and Ruth Bader Ginsberg.
The both of you: venerable, experienced political warriors.
The both of you: human, weak (of flesh).
The both of you: get well soon, the world is counting on you.
Or at least, a few of us are: the more economically and environmentally conscientious among our number.

Others have given up the ghost: 2016-era Berniecrats, the lovers of Jill Stein, Gary Johnson.
You (yes, YOU) helped elect a madman.
Today you’re saying that no one is qualified, everyone’s either racist or sexist and that you’ll sit another round of elections out, in protest.
An impotent impudent protest. Weak.
I find it akin to pissing against a gale force wind in the dark.
The world doesn’t have time for your pathetic gestures.
Your man-bun cultural sensitivities.
Nobody cares about what you heard on Facebook, last week.
We are in crunch time.

Time to vote.
Time to kick ass.
We cannot suffer another 4 years of this.
Whether it be from Trump, or Biden
(basically Trump lite, for moderate democrats, at this point).
KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF HER SHOULDERS, Joe. AND HERS, TOO.
TAKE A STEP BACK.
ANOTHER ONE.
ANOTHER…
You know who we don’t have to worry about being too much of a creep (I hope)?
Bernie. He knows who he is. What he is about.
He suffers no fools; he tells it like it is.
Like it should be.
Now if only he survives into perpetuity.
Let no cardiac episode or cancer claim him
while the Republicons are blaming him (and the other candidates)
for everything under The Sun.

Of course, that’s what we have come to expect, by now:
living in Trump’s World, by Trump’s Hand, under Trump’s Rules.
Tweeting like we never have before. Casting our wishes into the ether.
One side wants Bernie to die, one side wants him deified.
Remember that a man is merely a man.
Cults of personality, they do not serve the side of good.
What would you do if given another chance…at life?
Cancer survivor. Ruth Bader.
How about how well the healthcare system works
when it is someone important, so afflicted:
like she, Bernie Sanders & Alex Trebek.

Wouldn’t it be amazing if ALL of us could be covered
in case a tragedy so cleaves our lives asunder?

Medicare for ALL. They do it all over the planet.
Why can’t we get it, here? How are we so different?
We are not. And as long as people like Bernie survive,
we still have a fighting chance, to thrive.
There is no need for your life to fall by the wayside,
because of an accident, a simple procedure, a malignant tumor (or otherwise).

But Mr. Trump, Mr. Biden would object.
The only way I’m voting for you, Biden, is a last-ditch effort.
Because I know you will do whatever is in your power to steal the primaries,
like Hillary did to Bernie, nearly four years ago.
What do we know, as Americans? We always think we can do it better.
Yet we continue to sell ourselves short.

Do what you can to cast your vote, when the time cometh.
And they’ll do what they can to stop you, to confuse you, to cause you disillusionment and despair, make sure you don’t arise from the comfort of your chair, come Election Day.
Mixed messages in a mixed bag, that is what I glean from these democratic candidates.
Corporate versus Social. They want to make you think you are a Communist, for wanting the same social benefits as the American “heroes” of Wall Street.
Bail out the banks? Bail out this. Bail out that…
How about:
BAIL OUT THE PEOPLE?
Bernie, Elizabeth Warren, they are the only ones I trust enough
to do that.

What shall come to pass?
A perilous winding road stretches out over the horizon, into the breast of infinity.
We walk, thinking we know the path— thinking we know where it shall bring us.
But we don’t really know. All we know is that we should expect the unexpected.
We are destined— to do what?
It depends on where your priorities lie.
Republicon or Democrat.

You’re either out for number 1, or others.
Nationalism vs. Globalism.
But globalism, that means someone else also gets a piece of the pie!
‘Tis the price, thereof. What else do you want?
All for yourself. What the hell?
Greedy boy, Little Donny. He’s got all the toys gathered up in the corner.
And he’s kept them there for the entire duration of playtime.
Let us kick over his slipshod castle of blocks and Lincoln logs.
Take the pieces, make sure he and his friends never see them again, in one place.