, she was vague. \u201cI don\u2019t think [Harris and Walz] can do any more\u2026 they are up against a tidal wave of ignorance.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nBernstein wore a vibrant red lipstick, purple Michael Kors sunglasses, and a patterned fanny pack. She spoke with passion, as if she were trying to persuade a crowd.<\/span><\/p>\nIn 2016, Bernstein stopped eating and could not read past the first page of a book. She lost 60 pounds. \u201cThat, in itself, was a very good thing.\u201d She said she used to be overweight.<\/span><\/p>\nThat seemed odd, especially since she mentioned her love for crossword puzzles and a library at home full of books, including a vast collection of biographies. Had there been a death in the family? An illness?<\/span><\/p>\nNo, it was that America had elected Donald Trump. His victory was \u201cbeyond what I could physically tolerate.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nBernstein abhorred Trump\u2019s victory in 2016 for a reason that hit her close to home. She was a career educator. She always taught her students to appreciate America\u2019s history despite its imperfections, and that they would be capable of changing the country for the better. With Trump on the ballot for a second term, she no longer thinks that\u2019s true.<\/span><\/p>\nIn our conversation outside the polling center and in a follow-up 30-minute phone call, Bernstein had plenty to say about Trump. Yet she never said his name.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\nShe was also plenty critical of the Democrats: \u201cI just have never understood why my party, the Democratic Party\u2026 have not risen to the extreme challenge of what we’re facing.\u201d She suggested that when the Biden administration came into office, they should have sent an \u201carmed regiment\u201d to Mar-a-lago to \u201chold him in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nShe\u2019s glad she voted, but not optimistic. \u201cI hold no hope for the election. I vote because that’s all I can do.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\nAbove: Rhoda Bernstein smiles after casting her vote during early voting. Photo by Kulsoom Rizavi \u2014 The 9th Street Journal\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Rhoda Bernstein looked rattled after she voted. She walked with a cane, but still on her own, an impressive feat considering she is 93 and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14150,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[392],"tags":[215,269],"class_list":["post-14149","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-elections-2024","tag-politics","tag-the-9th-street-journal","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n
Scenes from early voting: He who must not be named - 9th Street Journal<\/title>\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n \n \n \n\t \n\t \n\t \n