Post Election Blues

When the Elephant Stirs: When they go red, we go blue

I officially joined Substack at the beginning of this week, and this is my third post—yes, post, not notes. Thanks to all who’ve signed on! There's a distinction I recognize, even if I'm still figuring it out. In the past week, I’ve primarily shared notes, wanting to avoid overwhelming my loyal subscribers with constant updates. I plan to keep my posts to once or twice a week, while notes will be my usual communication. The posts may even serve as summaries of those notes.

What a week to launch! The climax of the 2024 U.S. Election has dominated the headlines. At the start of the week, it seemed like everyone believed the results would be a nail-biter, potentially taking days to finalize. We were bracing ourselves for a scenario reminiscent of the 2000 election, complete with discussions about hanging chads.

We anticipated a waiting game, and given that U.S. Presidential races often drag on for two years, what’s a few extra days? As a political enthusiast, I keep key election dates in mind when organizing my calendar. I find myself thinking, "That dental appointment can wait; I’ll be up late following the Iowa Caucus results," or "I need to stock up on snacks for that barn burner Vice Presidential debate."

That Democratic convention just weeks ago? So much for the enduring joy, unity and inspiration that it brought to the moment, as they blame game and knife one other in the post-election era. And boy, are my eyes ever hurtin’.

These moments felt distant and almost trivial now that the most anticipated decision has been made. There’s a sense of post-election blues—no real excitement until wait for it... the Congressional Certification of Electoral votes - woohoo! - unless, of course, the Vice President comically stands up in the joint session and announces her rejection of the results. How wild would that be?

On election day this past Tuesday, I decided to use the inevitable and potentially neverending waiting period to focus on events closer to home. The coin toss aspect of the result, let us not forget, was universally regarded in the wait room. In Canada, we’re also grappling with our own political uncertainty, especially concerning Justin Trudeau’s leadership. As a Canadian cartoonist reflecting on the U.S. election, I used to think Trudeau would step down after the U.S. election results. Now, I’m not so sure that crossed his mind at all. And really, how much does it matter who the Americans elect, unless it impacts Trudeau’s plans for the mid-January inauguration?

Wednesday dawned with the surprising news of Trump’s convincing victory. I dove into my archives and posted a cartoon from 2016 that captured the mood of the day after Trump’s first win. Later, I shared another old cartoon after PM Trudeau congratulated Trump, which he repeated this week, rather wisely. It served as a companion piece to my coin toss gag, and on social media, I noted that anyone expecting the U.S. vote to influence Trudeau’s departure anytime soon was mistaken.

While it's easy to critique any winner after a contentious election, this victory—divisive as it may be—still reflects the people's choice. I believe in giving incoming winners, even Trump, a moment of grace, as elections are more about the voters' will than the candidates themselves. Some are calling it “The Greatest Comeback of All Time,” and while that’s up for debate, it’s undoubtedly a moment for the history books.

For now, Trump stands at the peak of his comeback, giving his critics a brief moment to catch their breath. Let him bask in this “Golden Age” period he promises like some merry monarch from the 1600s. But his honeymoon will be short-lived as he faces the monumental promises he sold to millions. Soon, he’ll have to confront the apocalyptic forces he vowed to tackle. There’s plenty happening closer to home to dissect in the meantime, and with Trump back, there will be ample material soon enough. My Wednesday cartoon was likely the most positive portrayal of Trump I’ve ever created, conveying high hopes for the President-elect.

On Thursday, I shared an old cartoon depicting outgoing President Barack Obama inviting President-elect Donald Trump to the White House, thereby upholding the tradition of peaceful transitions between administrations—a courtesy Trump notably skipped with President-elect Joe Biden. This week, it appears that outgoing President Biden will extend the same gesture to the returning President-elect Trump. This offers a small victory for Biden, who only weeks ago was lauded as a brave and decent leader for gracefully stepping aside in favour of a younger successor. Now, he faces criticism from the very same circles for not relinquishing power sooner. The great saint of the Democratic Party, Barack Obama, is getting his own grilling for being the chief architect, along with Nancy Pelosi in pushing for and designing the losing team against Trump.

For Friday, I drew inspiration from KC Green’s classic meme, “This is fine,” featuring a cartoon dog sipping coffee amid chaos. This image has become an emblem of coping—or pretending to cope—with disaster. Given Canada’s Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland’s recent reassurances that we needn’t worry about Trump’s return, I felt this was a fitting way to highlight the gap between comforting words and the high-stakes reality we face.

On Saturday, I wraped up the week marked by one of the most consequential elections in recent memory by returning to the election's impact on Canada, focusing on Pierre Poilievre, the wannabe PM. This should conclude my commentary on U.S. election related events.

What have we learned this week? Canada’s leaders would be wise to pay close attention to the shifting winds across the border. The U.S. election signals a powerful shift in voter priorities, a reminder that Canadians, too, are growing impatient with rhetoric that doesn’t align with their everyday concerns. The elephant next door is, indeed, stirring—and Canada cannot ignore its restlessness. As our own election looms, the Liberal government faces a critical choice: to refocus on bread-and-butter issues that impact Canadians’ daily lives or to risk being blindsided by the same wave of discontent that shook the U.S. Ignoring this would mean a missed opportunity to address the real issues Canadians are concerned about and, ultimately, a gamble with the nation’s economic and political future.

The pendulum is swinging, and whether we resist it or go with it, Canada must be prepared for the impact. This is what I’ll most certainly be focused on in our new reality, this so-called “Golden Era.”