One of these people is absolutely, positively going to be in office come next January.
Along the way the geeky but not terribly profound thought occurred to me that (as I’ve always liked to think anyway) the Democrats are like Apple in this election, and the Republicans like Microsoft. Apple delivers true innovation while Microsoft plays copycat and catch-up. But despite offering what the people really want and need, Apple usually loses to Microsoft and whatever appeal it offers. (Really, I don’t know. Why do people like Microsoft? And why do they think the Republicans represent their interests? Unless they count themselves among the select group of Americans who think people making $4,999,999 a year aren’t rich and are even more self-centered than that would suggest.)
But then another thought occurred to me. A non-partisan thought (for once). History is going to be made in this election. History has already been made of course, but nominating someone who’s not an old white guy is not so new (1984, anyone?). Having someone who’s either non-white or non-male (or both, but Oprah’s not running this year, and I don’t mean that to be as glib as it sounds) actually win election to either office, president or vice president, is something that’s never even been close to happening before (again, 1984?). But it is definitely going to happen this year. There will be an African-American president. Or there will be a woman vice president. One of the two of these things absolutely is going to happen this year.
Wow. Of course I have a preference. And I suspect that accusations of racism and/or sexism are going to be flying for the next couple of months. But in the end, history is going to change, and we don’t even need a flux capacitor to do it.