Van Jones reacts to the election results

November 7, 2020 • 3:15 pm

Here’s Van Jones, author and correspondent, responding to Anderson Cooper’s request on CNN for his take on the election results.

I think many of us are barely holding in the tears right now. It’s not time for the nay-sayers to bring up the Senate, the lawsuits, the long road ahead. It’s time to finally let go of the anger and tension that we’ve held inside for four years. And that’s what Jones does.

h/t: Rick

39 thoughts on “Van Jones reacts to the election results”

  4. Sorry; like a gun-shy dog, I expect violence, and from 45, inciting violence and tantrums that will do as much damage as possible during the next dozen or so weeks.

    For four years I’ve heard people say ‘that’s just the way he is.’

    My comeback has been: ‘you hear the same response from a spouse who has yet to leave an abusive relationship.’

    1. And as terrible – no – even more terrible is the silence from Republicans in Washington. Trump is the way he is b/c he is damaged. There is a hole in him. But the silent, permissive Republicans pass for normal. The Enabler Party. The Complicit Party.

      1. The Vichy Republicans — the ones who pretended that everything would be okay if he’d just stop sending so many cringe-inducing tweets. Especially the ones who acknowledged before Trump secured the 2016 GOP nomination that he was a conman and a bigot and unfit to be president, but then fell in line behind any crazy thing Trump did or said once it became clear he had an iron grip on their base.

        1. I believe you’re thinking of Captain Louis Renault, Ken: “I have no conviction, if that’s what you mean. I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy.” The GOP grandees must be “Shocked! Shocked!” to discover that their president was a lying, self-serving idiot all this time.

          1. Louie redeemed himself at the end by agreeing to use the 10,000 francs he owed Rick from a wager to pay their travel expenses to go fight with the Free French garrison at Brazzaville.

            That could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

  5. How close we have come to losing this country should make a lot of people do some heavy thinking.

  7. It’s time to finally let go of the anger and tension that we’ve held inside for four years.

    No can do, sorry. The facts of the case remain: The USA elected him 4 years ago and 70m still voted for him this time round.

    The fact that a very slight majority got Biden through this time doesn’t change the fact that the USA is a terrible example to the rest of the world and also a shit stain on humanity. Nor does it change the fact that, if Trump isn’t in jail 4 years from now, he stands a great chance of being elected in 2024.

    That said, the entire modern democratic system is a failure. It is owned by corporations and the rich, run by politicians who don’t give a fuck about voters and supported by kool aid drinkers who think their vote isn’t meaningless.

    1. Oh, go away. The entire country is not a shit stain on humanity and your caricature of democracy is just that–a caricature.

      What would you like: North Korea?

      I’m sick of comments like this; go away.

    2. I will hold off prophesying until they admit me to Hogwart. But even if I did learn the art, people are said to react very badly to predictions of the exact date of death.
      Even if it is natural death or old age. This is obviously such a joke .I am sorry that my comment is not tipical (it’s all emotion today and “asthma”)

    1. Many people who take the first step of a thousand mile journey never complete it. As long as there are two diametrically opposed visions of what the country should be, recovery will never take place. The dispute is not over what should be the marginal tax rate for the very rich. It is over the fundamental nature of the country.

      In 1860 and 1861, Lincoln directed many conciliatory words to the South. In his first inaugural he said: “I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.” We know how much good that did him.

      I am not saying that Biden should not try at reconciliation. I can’t see how it will hurt. But passion cannot override reason. And reason says reconciliation will take longer than four years, if it is ever reached.

      1. But isn’t Lincoln’s attempt to reconcile the important part, not that the south did not. The same could be said now. Biden offers and the other side, whoever they are have to decide. Succession wasn’t the answer and neither was war. Trump was not an answer to anything because he had no interest in anything but himself and power. If those who voted for him do not understand that, it is their problem.

      2. But passion cannot override reason.

        Nay, let us hope reason can overcome passion and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

      3. “All this will not be finished in the first one hundred days. Nor will it be finished in the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this Administration, nor even perhaps in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin.”

        – JFK

  9. When I first saw this I thought it was Michael Steele, once head of the RNC, which would have been a good example for other Republicans. However, they may also be influenced by this genuine show of emotion…well, maybe not. They don’t seemed to be moved by anything except political survival.

  10. Gotta disagree with his last statement where he says that for the people who lost, it’s a bad day.

    No, it’s not… The people (voters) who “lost” will not pay more taxes or lose healthcare or lose any rights or have their lifestyle threatened in ANY WAY AT ALL.

    For the voters that “lost” this election, nothing will change…, nothing will get worse for them…

    1. Stop your hyperventilating trolling and hyperbolic ranting. Biden has promised to increase taxes on the wealthiest Americans. Please do name which country is your paragon of great government, that’s not democratic, against rich corporations and individuals, and welcomes people of all races and beliefs. I’ll wait…

      Take your misery elsewhere, there is no company for it here.

  12. There is a very good chance of the January 5 elections gaining the senate for Democrats. Given the enthusiasm now, I’m guessing a lot more voters will be inspired to register and vote for Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossof.

    2. I just gave them some money. I suspect, without much basis, that they have a better chance than most of the pundits think. With Trump a loser and not on the ticket, they might do quite well. I will keep my fingers crossed anyway.

      1. I have the same hope. And also gave some money. No doubt the first of many contributions over the next couple of months.

        1. I was very impressed with Ossoff’s opening salvo vs. the other guy (DeWitt?) in their last debate, and sent a small contribution on that basis. Plan to send more for the runoff. (Ossoff’s Runoff?)

    3. And, too, Ms ritaprangle,
      the current government of
      the State of California will select
      for the United States’ Senate
      the person to fill Vice President – Elect
      Harris’ seat there.

      Thus, ¡ Y E A ! ¡ a Senator … … Democrat !

      Blue

  16. For a musical accompaniment to those tears of joy, over something waited for for so long*, I recommend Sobbin’ Blues here by the (Danish) Peruna Jazzmen. It’s originally a 1923 King Oliver recording, but i think the tempo/cadence of this one really suits the occasion. If you don’t like it, at least wait for the slide whistle around 0:40.

    *I spent some of the afternoon putting up bunting over the front porch that I’ve had in waiting for over 3yrs.

  19. I saw this and was deeply moved, such a genuine show of emotion. It feels like the world has let out its breath.

    Hopefully here we’ll be able to get rid of our idiotic (putting it lightly) PM

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