Tonight, we wait, as returns from this year’s election are about what we expected. In-person ballots cast today are weighted toward Trump, while the uncounted mail-in and early ballots are expected to favor Democratic candidate Joe Biden. Tonight, few states except the rock-solid Democratic or Republican states have yet been called by the Associated Press.
While I sit here writing this, I am trying to remain calm knowing that the mail-in ballots are still being counted and hoping that the orange monstrosity will not prevail. It’s hard, trying to maintain a level of calm but it’s necessary. Like many of you, more disturbing to me is the fact that we, obviously, live in a country where kindness doesn’t matter, care of your fellow human is lacking, and morals, well they seems to have been left on the side of the road for the street sweepers. That so many people voted for Trump is crushing. What have we become? When Biden is elected (remaining optimistic), where do we go from here as a fellow citizens? The sliver of light in my heart is knowing that there are people, like all of you, who do care, who have morals, and will continue to fight for the soul of our nation. Yet, I must be honest, and this isn’t easy for me, I have decided that I will never be able to look at those who voted for and support Trump, including family and close friends, the same. Their support and vote says what is truly in their heart and they won’t be able to convince me otherwise. So, to my friends here in this community, continue to have hope as we get through these next couple of days and breathe.
As a boy I was raised on a farm in North Dakota, went to our Lutheran church every Sunday, graduated from high school, joined the Navy like my older brother and father before me, then went college. I wasn’t a perfect student, citizen or Lutheran. But I always, always tried to be a good person. I wasn’t always successful, but I tried to follow my values of decency, respect for others, compassion and empathy. Most of all I’ve always been proud of my country, my patriotism and time in Vietnam. But now it’s like everything I’ve ever believed in has been thrown out the window. Those values and beliefs completely destroyed. Destroyed, not only by family, old friends and neighbors, but by large swaths of our country. I don’t know what to do or where to turn. For me, I question my faith in God, if there ever was one. I have no faith in my country, our democracy and it’s now every man for himself. I will keep fighting for what is right, but I expect it’s a lost cause in a sea of GOP individualism destined to destroy anything and everything that does benefit their individual desire.
It is sickening so many Americans voted in favor of disease, hatred, injustice, violence and coercion; the indecency of it clearly illustrates how little many voters know and care about the principles outlined in our constitution.
Trump has just lit the fuse tonight, with his claim that he won and the vote counting in the states he "won" should stop (though it should continue in Arizona, so he can "win" like he was "winning" there earlier).
The great crisis is now upon us. If he can pull this off with the courts the Republicans have corrupted, he can achieve his original goal of destroying the country (all the "failure" and all the "wrong decisions" were a feature, not a bug - he was elected to destroy the country).
Quoting from Richard Hofstadter's "The Pseudo-Conservative Revolt" from 1954:
The pseudo-conservative, Adorno writes, shows “conventionality and authoritarian submissiveness” in his conscious thinking and “violence, anarchic impulses, and chaotic destructiveness in the unconscious sphere. . . . The pseudo conservative is a man who, in the name of upholding traditional American values and institutions and defending them against more or less fictitious dangers, consciously or unconsciously aims at their abolition.”
We are now at the most dangerous point in the history of the American Republic.
I find it incomprehensible that so many Americans are CHOOSING hate. I went to bed hopeful because of Biden’s lead last night, even though it was modest, thinking that it would surely build by the time I looked again this morning. The numbers this morning showed a similarly modest lead. Then I read the comments here and discovered that trump is doing exactly what many of us feared by calling victory before votes are fully counted. Like so many others here have already said, I despair that so many Americans are voting for hate. The entire middle and southern sections of the country are solidly red on the news maps, only the coasts are blue. I don’t understand (and I apologize in advance for my language) how so many Americans can be so stupid as to vote against their best interests. The solidly red areas are the ones most negatively impacted by the current regime but yet they ask for more. It’s mind boggling. I cannot quite wrap my mind around moving to another country but I equally cannot wrap my mind around living in the United States of trump. Stunned beyond all belief and expectation.
Heather, thanks for the recap. I must admit this is playing out as I expected. I think most of us imagined this even if we didn't say it. I am throughly disappointed in a Country that chooses bluster and cruelty over compassion. It appears all the bad actors will stay in place to continue to rule over us. Last I checked, we left the Senate in the hands of the Republicans. This will prove to be lethal. I shake my head and wonder why this is happening, but the truth may well be that the majority of the Country really doesn't care about their fellow neighbors, friends and family. I gave them too much credit. Regardless of how this will ultimately end, we lost.
Unless Dems are successful in down-ballot elections, adding not just to House and Senate seats but also to state legislatures where Republicans have gerrymandered Dems out of political existence (such a Wisconsin), nothing will get better. Indeed, it will get worse. The fact that the House was supposed to be proportional in its representation, but now is no longer; that the Electoral College skews the vote to such an extent that a criminal like the Cheeto can deliberately try to game the system; that a criminal like Moscow Mitch can retain his control over the Senate--which will result in a Biden presidency being cut off at the knees--all tells a story.
We are not a Democracy. We are not even a legitimately representative government. And the voting public is largely under-educated, ill-informed, and confused about how government works. Florida voted for the Cheeto but passed a $15 an hour minimum wage. That means that Florida doesn't understand what the Cheeto stands for. What this suggests to me is that we are dealing with a large swath of the American people whose racism and sexism also overwhelms any notion of patriotism. Because in my book no true patriot would vote for That Man.
I did not know there were So many Americans that lack Any sense of a moral compass..But Now that is crystal clear..What a huge disappointment!!!..So many voting for Trump!
Basically then, the truth is that the United States of America is not a Democracy and never has been. And, this catchword, this lie is why so many young men of my generation have died or been maimed in useless wars from Vietnam onward as they fought against “Communism” to instill “Democracy” in other nations. (Not to mention that I had a Selective Service card in my wallet 3 years before I could put a Voter Registration card there). The truth is, our system is flawed and needs to be fixed.
Even after hearing your talk today and reading tonight’s message, I despair that Trump will find a way to prevail, and get another term to complete the destruction of our democracy. I am 70 and can’t fight as I might have a decade ago. I may not be around to see that my daughters and granddaughters make it past what I foresee may in their future.
We were disappointed that the results so far don't seem to suggest a national repudiation of the past four years. So many Americans want this drama s***show to continue?
I refuse to believe that Trump's authoritarian gambit will work. States are following their laws. All the votes will be counted, perhaps even the 300,000 that DeJoy hasn't delivered. If I'm wrong and Trump prevails, democracy and America as our ancestors conceived it are dead. Plan accordingly.
By the time you read this, Heather, you will know that shortly after you posted, Trump claimed victory at a large gathering (sans masks, of course) at the White House! I don’t know if you will get the full take on this outrage on Wednesday, because no station should replay that “s - - - show.” It was outrageous nonsense. He rambled through all the states that he has won (the ones not yet called), said this election was a fraud, said people need to stop voting(!), said “they will fight this,” but he is going straight to the Supreme Court, and on and on. Fortunately, at least CNN and MSNBC cut away after about 5 minutes and said that they had a responsibility to call out Trump’s lies. I am kicking myself for not turning off the television before I watched this travesty. I am now totally ramped up in a white hot rage.
A couple of you asked me to check in with you after my day working the polls in Florida in deep red Pasco County. So here are my thoughts. Yesterday was tough. There were maskless voters, some with an attitude. But the really crazy thing was that we had 5 poll watchers throughout the day, 2 Republicans and 3 Democrats. It was the Dems that were awful, questioning every decision we made (for example not offering a provisional ballot when the voter had absolutely no valid registration anywhere) and complaining to the supervisor every time they disagreed with something. Now I am looking at the littered landscape of our country and wondering what the hell happened? Where were the the independents that were supposed to tip the election to Joe? Why did suburban women still vote for tRump? And how did we not take more Senate seats? I’m depressed beyond belief.
Hi Heather and friends, regardless of the final outcome after all ballots are counted, I am still shocked (but not surprised) that so many people turned out to vote for Trump. I am afraid that similar to 2016, I am in echo chambers where it is clear his behavior is despicable: I thought four years was enough to build up evidence of his incompetence. When he neglected to publish a platform or discuss any substantial issues on the campaign, I assumed most people would think similarly: that a plan with Biden is better than no plan. That Republican leaders distanced themselves and did not bring their constituents with them, says to me there is a lack of faith in leadership at all levels. I love reading your posts, but I think I need to search for (and listen to) the problems that caused millions of Americans to want to tear up the system at any cost. I do not believe millions of people were manipulated by the media, or that Trump-fanaticism alone could be so prevalent. Did Biden's message to get us "back on track" signal to people that we would go back to accepting a system that reinforces discrimination, injustice and opaque politics? Is the unpredictable future with Trump better than life before 2016? I think I need to start asking: how have Trump's actions appeared as the backdrop in the lives of his supporters? (instead of my own)
While I sit here writing this, I am trying to remain calm knowing that the mail-in ballots are still being counted and hoping that the orange monstrosity will not prevail. It’s hard, trying to maintain a level of calm but it’s necessary. Like many of you, more disturbing to me is the fact that we, obviously, live in a country where kindness doesn’t matter, care of your fellow human is lacking, and morals, well they seems to have been left on the side of the road for the street sweepers. That so many people voted for Trump is crushing. What have we become? When Biden is elected (remaining optimistic), where do we go from here as a fellow citizens? The sliver of light in my heart is knowing that there are people, like all of you, who do care, who have morals, and will continue to fight for the soul of our nation. Yet, I must be honest, and this isn’t easy for me, I have decided that I will never be able to look at those who voted for and support Trump, including family and close friends, the same. Their support and vote says what is truly in their heart and they won’t be able to convince me otherwise. So, to my friends here in this community, continue to have hope as we get through these next couple of days and breathe.
I do not know how to live in this country alongside so many people who have voted for a despicable authoritarian.
As a boy I was raised on a farm in North Dakota, went to our Lutheran church every Sunday, graduated from high school, joined the Navy like my older brother and father before me, then went college. I wasn’t a perfect student, citizen or Lutheran. But I always, always tried to be a good person. I wasn’t always successful, but I tried to follow my values of decency, respect for others, compassion and empathy. Most of all I’ve always been proud of my country, my patriotism and time in Vietnam. But now it’s like everything I’ve ever believed in has been thrown out the window. Those values and beliefs completely destroyed. Destroyed, not only by family, old friends and neighbors, but by large swaths of our country. I don’t know what to do or where to turn. For me, I question my faith in God, if there ever was one. I have no faith in my country, our democracy and it’s now every man for himself. I will keep fighting for what is right, but I expect it’s a lost cause in a sea of GOP individualism destined to destroy anything and everything that does benefit their individual desire.
It is sickening so many Americans voted in favor of disease, hatred, injustice, violence and coercion; the indecency of it clearly illustrates how little many voters know and care about the principles outlined in our constitution.
Trump has just lit the fuse tonight, with his claim that he won and the vote counting in the states he "won" should stop (though it should continue in Arizona, so he can "win" like he was "winning" there earlier).
The great crisis is now upon us. If he can pull this off with the courts the Republicans have corrupted, he can achieve his original goal of destroying the country (all the "failure" and all the "wrong decisions" were a feature, not a bug - he was elected to destroy the country).
Quoting from Richard Hofstadter's "The Pseudo-Conservative Revolt" from 1954:
The pseudo-conservative, Adorno writes, shows “conventionality and authoritarian submissiveness” in his conscious thinking and “violence, anarchic impulses, and chaotic destructiveness in the unconscious sphere. . . . The pseudo conservative is a man who, in the name of upholding traditional American values and institutions and defending them against more or less fictitious dangers, consciously or unconsciously aims at their abolition.”
We are now at the most dangerous point in the history of the American Republic.
Unprecedented" is an understatement.
I find it incomprehensible that so many Americans are CHOOSING hate. I went to bed hopeful because of Biden’s lead last night, even though it was modest, thinking that it would surely build by the time I looked again this morning. The numbers this morning showed a similarly modest lead. Then I read the comments here and discovered that trump is doing exactly what many of us feared by calling victory before votes are fully counted. Like so many others here have already said, I despair that so many Americans are voting for hate. The entire middle and southern sections of the country are solidly red on the news maps, only the coasts are blue. I don’t understand (and I apologize in advance for my language) how so many Americans can be so stupid as to vote against their best interests. The solidly red areas are the ones most negatively impacted by the current regime but yet they ask for more. It’s mind boggling. I cannot quite wrap my mind around moving to another country but I equally cannot wrap my mind around living in the United States of trump. Stunned beyond all belief and expectation.
Heather, thanks for the recap. I must admit this is playing out as I expected. I think most of us imagined this even if we didn't say it. I am throughly disappointed in a Country that chooses bluster and cruelty over compassion. It appears all the bad actors will stay in place to continue to rule over us. Last I checked, we left the Senate in the hands of the Republicans. This will prove to be lethal. I shake my head and wonder why this is happening, but the truth may well be that the majority of the Country really doesn't care about their fellow neighbors, friends and family. I gave them too much credit. Regardless of how this will ultimately end, we lost.
Unless Dems are successful in down-ballot elections, adding not just to House and Senate seats but also to state legislatures where Republicans have gerrymandered Dems out of political existence (such a Wisconsin), nothing will get better. Indeed, it will get worse. The fact that the House was supposed to be proportional in its representation, but now is no longer; that the Electoral College skews the vote to such an extent that a criminal like the Cheeto can deliberately try to game the system; that a criminal like Moscow Mitch can retain his control over the Senate--which will result in a Biden presidency being cut off at the knees--all tells a story.
We are not a Democracy. We are not even a legitimately representative government. And the voting public is largely under-educated, ill-informed, and confused about how government works. Florida voted for the Cheeto but passed a $15 an hour minimum wage. That means that Florida doesn't understand what the Cheeto stands for. What this suggests to me is that we are dealing with a large swath of the American people whose racism and sexism also overwhelms any notion of patriotism. Because in my book no true patriot would vote for That Man.
I did not know there were So many Americans that lack Any sense of a moral compass..But Now that is crystal clear..What a huge disappointment!!!..So many voting for Trump!
Basically then, the truth is that the United States of America is not a Democracy and never has been. And, this catchword, this lie is why so many young men of my generation have died or been maimed in useless wars from Vietnam onward as they fought against “Communism” to instill “Democracy” in other nations. (Not to mention that I had a Selective Service card in my wallet 3 years before I could put a Voter Registration card there). The truth is, our system is flawed and needs to be fixed.
Even after hearing your talk today and reading tonight’s message, I despair that Trump will find a way to prevail, and get another term to complete the destruction of our democracy. I am 70 and can’t fight as I might have a decade ago. I may not be around to see that my daughters and granddaughters make it past what I foresee may in their future.
We were disappointed that the results so far don't seem to suggest a national repudiation of the past four years. So many Americans want this drama s***show to continue?
I refuse to believe that Trump's authoritarian gambit will work. States are following their laws. All the votes will be counted, perhaps even the 300,000 that DeJoy hasn't delivered. If I'm wrong and Trump prevails, democracy and America as our ancestors conceived it are dead. Plan accordingly.
By the time you read this, Heather, you will know that shortly after you posted, Trump claimed victory at a large gathering (sans masks, of course) at the White House! I don’t know if you will get the full take on this outrage on Wednesday, because no station should replay that “s - - - show.” It was outrageous nonsense. He rambled through all the states that he has won (the ones not yet called), said this election was a fraud, said people need to stop voting(!), said “they will fight this,” but he is going straight to the Supreme Court, and on and on. Fortunately, at least CNN and MSNBC cut away after about 5 minutes and said that they had a responsibility to call out Trump’s lies. I am kicking myself for not turning off the television before I watched this travesty. I am now totally ramped up in a white hot rage.
A couple of you asked me to check in with you after my day working the polls in Florida in deep red Pasco County. So here are my thoughts. Yesterday was tough. There were maskless voters, some with an attitude. But the really crazy thing was that we had 5 poll watchers throughout the day, 2 Republicans and 3 Democrats. It was the Dems that were awful, questioning every decision we made (for example not offering a provisional ballot when the voter had absolutely no valid registration anywhere) and complaining to the supervisor every time they disagreed with something. Now I am looking at the littered landscape of our country and wondering what the hell happened? Where were the the independents that were supposed to tip the election to Joe? Why did suburban women still vote for tRump? And how did we not take more Senate seats? I’m depressed beyond belief.
Hi Heather and friends, regardless of the final outcome after all ballots are counted, I am still shocked (but not surprised) that so many people turned out to vote for Trump. I am afraid that similar to 2016, I am in echo chambers where it is clear his behavior is despicable: I thought four years was enough to build up evidence of his incompetence. When he neglected to publish a platform or discuss any substantial issues on the campaign, I assumed most people would think similarly: that a plan with Biden is better than no plan. That Republican leaders distanced themselves and did not bring their constituents with them, says to me there is a lack of faith in leadership at all levels. I love reading your posts, but I think I need to search for (and listen to) the problems that caused millions of Americans to want to tear up the system at any cost. I do not believe millions of people were manipulated by the media, or that Trump-fanaticism alone could be so prevalent. Did Biden's message to get us "back on track" signal to people that we would go back to accepting a system that reinforces discrimination, injustice and opaque politics? Is the unpredictable future with Trump better than life before 2016? I think I need to start asking: how have Trump's actions appeared as the backdrop in the lives of his supporters? (instead of my own)