This blog, "Common Time VT," has been my catch-all means for 'publication' of works of writing, be it academic or recreational, for a few years now. During the final two weeks of the Presidential election of 2016, I decided to establish a blog dedicated to political discussions and reflections. Instead of posting rabidly to Facebook-- as if any of my friends' minds hadn't already been made up-- I knew a blog could potentially reach a wider audience, and could serve as a venue for creativity. I knew too that, given the challenge of finding something interesting to say each day as the election crept closer, I ran the risk of getting exhausted, if not apathetic.
I found "FearAndLoathing2016" still available on Google's Blogger service. I took a photograph of two dead wasps on the windowsill of this home in the high desert, creating an original image to use as the blog's "brand." Below is a summary of each of my posts. Visit this blog here.
10/25/16: "Birth of a Blog"-- first post, written at the Wonderful House of Trinidad, Colorado.
10/26/16: "The Unable Danger of Curt Weldon"-- written in response to the former southeastern Pennsylvania Congressman's opinion piece in the Delaware County Daily Times.
10/27/16: "Bernie Sanders Joins the Suicide Squad"-- re-purposing an incomplete movie review to discuss Sanders' continuing relationship with the Democratic National Committee.
10/28/16: "Hillary Clinton's Nightmare at 20,000 Feet"-- on the impact of Comey's last-minute letter regarding the investigation into her emails.
10/28/16: "Presidential Debate Bingo"-- original debate bingo card, created for use during the final Presidential debate on October 19th.
10/29/16: "Stars and Stripes"-- original art.
10/30/16: "Rage Inside the Machine"-- Wikileaks, Snowden, and the impact of the Podesta emails.
11/1/06: "You Always Hurt the One You Love: A Short History of DNC Chairpersons"-- Donna Brazile, Debbie Wasserman Schulz, and the future of the Democratic Party.
11/2/16: "Greeted as Liberators: The Meme Wars of 2016"-- a final compilation and discussion of memes, and their recognition as a modern, "grassroots" political cartoon.
11/5/16: "Trump in Hershey, PA, and the Return of The Only Man Who Can Save America"-- reflections on one of Trump's final rallies, and speculation about the effect of Dave Chappelle's political statements and return to the public eye.
11/5/16: "Making Atlantic City Great Again"-- personal reflection and contextualization on Donald Trump's Atlantic City.
11/8/16: "For Those Who Can Hear the Difference: An Election-Night Art Project"-- the most complex of any post created for this blog, using collage and old record albums to challenge definitions of celebrity in the United States, as it contributes to our understanding of political candidates.
11/10/16: "Election Night Diary"-- notes, thoughts, and photographs from election night.
11/11/16: "First Meal in Trump's America"-- a return to the Wonderful House of Trinidad.
While my intention had been to post to this blog on a daily basis, I failed-- but not because I wasn't working on something, but because my self-imposed deadlines had no consequences (the posts about Trump's Atlantic City and the election-night art project were by far the most time-consuming). Two unfinished posts will be published here, eventually.
The role of individuals' voices will continue to play a large role in politics and society. Given the documented collusion between the Democratic Party and members of the Fourth Estate, as well as collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia, the citizen journalist is poised to assume great influence during the next Presidential administration. This blog never aimed that high, but it could have.
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