Keith Haymes
2 min readNov 6, 2020
Wondering why the ‘20 presidential election has been so difficult for many, here’s a reminder of what has contributed significantly to this reality saga about survival. Quick spoiler note: it’s about the candidate’s own.

Miami — As the 2020 election is on the verge of reaching preliminary president-elect status, at least for some version of quasi pre-litigation Phase 1, on Day 4, many of us have been sleep-deprived, and nearly ledge-worthy. But let’s not lose focus on where most of this intense election angst came from.

In the event that a more traditional, law-abiding president was confronted with losing a close election, they would be upset, sure, but likely begin polishing up their autobiography and planning their memorial library. Because, alas, losing an election is usually not the end of the world. Among those who have handled the setback with maturity and patriotism have been Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush, and Al Gore.

Though, this presumptively outgoing president seemingly fears some intense scrutiny of a sordid path of imprudent dealings, for reasons spelled out in classified reports, evident from apparent circumstances, admitted, and otherwise best known to him.

When his escape artist skills and advisors tell him that he must do all possible to not succumb to the wrath, he deems the stakes critical. So, as a culmination of the last four years, we the populace have accordingly been sucked into a national vortex of dread, due solely to the president’s spaghetti-swath of personal mayhem.

The scorched-earth, attack-all approach that ensues is effectively passed along to the American people like an exposure transmission. And, of course, this is not right, as Americans should be able to support or oppose a candidate, without having their emotions unwittingly twisted-up in the process. The voters should be entitled to express a simple preference for one politician versus the other, without being viscerally affected due to the self-serving purposes of any would-be public servant.

Even a passionate vote would ordinarily be expressed at a reasonable emotional level that does not engulf the nation, and world, with excessive vitriol. However, when the a political candidate’s self-created adverse threat-spectrum is astronomically above any prior nominee, America gets disproportionately swept-up into this reality show about survival.

For now, here we are. This incumbent has liked to say that some aspiring political candidates could not get elected dog catcher. Though, most dog catchers eligibles indeed go through a more rigorous vetting than did this incumbent, surely another prime area for fine-tuning in this experiment we call the USA of WTF.

First, we should understand that this measure of distraught is not our fault, whereas it is a misplaced malaise that has been inappropriately cast upon us. And, second, let’s hope we get more regulatory criteria and engagement rules updated asap, so that we are never enduring this level of wear & tear on the soul again. Not for this reason anyway. God bless.

Keith Haymes
Keith Haymes

Written by Keith Haymes

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Keith Haymes is a noted civil rights attorney and author, practicing in the areas of media law, governmental affairs and entertainment.