Conan O'Brien talked about what every other talk show host talked about last night, because what else is there to think about right now? Our country is now at the mercy of a lying, misogynistic, racist, delusional, selfish egomaniac with a thirst for power and little else. And there is no getting off this crazy train, so we might as well talk through the ride.
Seth Meyers tried to be hopeful, Stephen Colbert didn't hide his feelings ("this suuuuuucks"), and Samantha Bee blamed white people. Conan chimed in to remind us of history and our privilege to vote:
Half the country is really happy. Half the country is somewhere between despondent and furious. I was struck by one thought today, we have been here before. We have had bitter, angry elections for 200 years. Jefferson vs. Burr. Adams vs. Jackson. Lincoln vs. Douglas. Alien vs. Predator. I'm trying to keep it light! The point is this is our thing, and the optimist in me chooses to be happy we have fair and free elections at all. In the last couple of years I've traveled to a bunch of countries where the people would give anything to have our system. In America, we get to pick who is going to ruin our country.
Everyone should feel grateful that we get to vote. And if we don't get our way, we have the chance to try again. Winston Churchill, one of my favorite people, once said, "Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried."
