Yep—we’ll be here. I have decided that, no matter the outcome, I am taking the controls off my tongue. This should never have been close. Not by a mile. I hope to sleep because I have a long day tomorrow, but really: this should never have been close. Sexism and racism are ruling this country. Time. Is. Up.
It is the basic tenets of the election and of our country. As I write, we don't know the outcome but we "likely" do. If it is so, we are a racist + sexist society. The Caste system in which we are all steeped has poisoned us. How could there be a contest between a 1.) convicted felon (34x no less), a sexual predator, liar, and shitty white business man Vs. 2.) a competent, smart, honorable, forthright, experienced, black and asian woman. It is absolutely stunning to me where we are at as a society.
I think precision is important in times like this. A good portion, ok a majority of voters, seem to be ok with racism and sexism. But it's not the whole society. We need to know that so we can continue to hold our values and work towards our vision of what our society could be. Please. and now Good Night.
I had a long diatribe of criticism to express and it was directed against our trusty Democratic Party. It would have only made readers here disturbed. So I deleted it.
The Death of America is at Hand.
(From my collection of stories)
Falling into the Wrong Arms
The country had a relatively stable eight years under Barack Obama, not perfect but there was economic growth. However the aftermath of the Bush wars opened the doors of hell and the laws of unintended consequences dominated.
And it came to pass that as a new election neared in 2016, a creature walked to the stage to suspend reality and make enough voters believe that he would lead the nation to wealth and weapons for all.
Cajoled by this socially mangled, misanthrope who has perfected the fine art of the lie, bigotry and unfair tax relief for the wealthy, they naively followed this most foul leader off the cliff.
Wait. What am I doing here? Am I trying to present a logical reason why someone would not vote for Trump? That’s totally insane. That’s almost as insane as voting for Trump! Plus, having to go through all that socio-economic, psychological, and historical crapola is about as interesting as a Xarelto commercial. So, I’m going to reveal the cause of the disease that I am dubbing, “Trump Voterism” or simply, “TV”: a vicious parasite, mutated by toxins now allowed into our air, water and food by Trump’s relentless attempt to kill all of us by loosening our environmental regulations.
Not only does that explain the phenomenon, it also sets the stage for an entirely new series of blockbuster movies, all based around these parasitic mutants. Think The Purge meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Citizen Kane meets Tremors.
There, can we move on to examining why people do other stupid things, like falling off a cliff while taking a selfie?
I wash my hands. Finally. The striving and working so that everyone has a better life is in direct conflict with the fundamental ignorance in this Country. It is ironic that many of the people who voted for him will suffer the most and quickly. I don't even feel like examining the elements of how this could have happened.
As the mother of three daughters of child-bearing age, and the possibility of what could go wrong in a pregnancy, I agree that the people who voted for this monster will suffer the most and quickly. When they have a daughter whose pregnancy has gone wrong, and I don't wish this on anyone, when that daughter cannot get the vital emergency medical care she needs because doctors are afraid, when their daughters get sepsis, and are in a life-threatening position, that's when this might become a reality for them, for the people who voted for this. However, I do tend to doubt they will make a connection that they could have had any part in this.
This is massive part of the overall picture Joanna. When Medicare, Medicaid and the ACA dry up. When all the jobs and unions dry up again. When all those things the Democratic Party and the McCain have built disintegrate they will notice.
Agreed. I didn't want kids before, but I am DEFINITELY not having kids now. I live in a swing state - there's WAY too much uncertainty in our future for me to be comfortable getting pregnant. One year it might be fine, the next year, maybe not.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who did not vote for him and will suffer the consequences. I do hope that those who did will enjoy the finagling of social security (not the old folks stuff-yet), the rise in prices because the work that the undocumented workers did, no American seemed to want: agriculture, construction, landscaping, housekeeping, nannies. We will also lose all of the federal taxes some 90 billion dollars) that they have paid in the past. Where does trump think money for the government will come from: the rich are paying less, he just cut out a portion of workers who ARE working, the wasted money spent on housing and food for the 10-15 million illegals and I am sure money will be put back in his pocket with his golfing. I don't tariffs will help because that will only make prices rise.
I am in the place of washing my hands as well. As someone whose whole purpose and career is women's empowerment and caring for the oppressed, to see that 1/2 of them really don't want to be empowered and because beyond the racism and sexist, people care more about money than their own rights. But money will mean nothing. (and of course we all know this guy is really not better for the economy....but whatever). I am praying for the least amount of suffering, but if people...women specifically still want to live under the shackles of patriarchy I guess they spoke. You reap what you sow.
I recommend two margaritas at a long lunch with someone to pick you up at the end. Something I have not done since the 80's. I don't even remember paying the bill. I will be dressing in black for a while. I am too old for any other kind of protest. Wish I had something productive to add. I had almost forgotten how it feels to have the head spin. Thank you to all who have tried so hard, these many years, to wrench some meaning and understanding out of this all. Most especially, oceans of thanks to our talented Heather for her dogged dedication with trying to do just that for our population. She is a hero to so many. I only wish the outcome matched her extraordinary efforts. Hopefully this community of truth and meaning seekers can be its own reward???? Like so many of you, I am soooo sad...but also, as yet, not fully feeling the pain....until tomorrow. God bless you all, and may Mother Earth take care of you.
In addition to your Precision which I support and agree with I would like to add that this is not a time to try and find the voting segments who took us down this rabbit hole. We have no idea who voted for who and we can't make assumptions based on demographics that reinforce the idea that we have some right to do so in this country. Let's keep our composure and ready for a much different 2025 than we expected. And most importantly let's support one another and enjoy the holiday time that we have before next year to rest and recharge. Peace be with you and your family. Josh Seattle WA
You are exactly why the Democrats LOST. Who in the hell are you to talk down
to Black and Hispanic voters. Trump's win was fueled by double digit increases
in minority voters.
These are people disgusted by leftist like you who wrap themselves fake sanctimony.
What's racist is to OPEN THE BORDER and let illegals take minority jobs. What's racist is let CRIME EXPLODE. What's racist is to break the backs of minorities with CRIPPLING INFLATION. What's racist is trap them IN CRAPPY SCHOOLS focused more on indoctrination an education. What's racist is the force their daughters to shower and compete with biological men.
America gave you and your friends the middle finger last night and it was well deserved.
You're going to have to figure out how to participate in online forums in a more respectful and polite way otherwise you're just going to get alienated. And please don't feel your obligated to reply I'm letting you know that your style of engaging people right now is going to immediately lead you to not have access to this community. Takes the day off or something
James, you’re all over the place with your accusations. The border was the elephant in the room of. Biden has been a good steward of the office. As a life long politician, he should know that one bad issue like the border can sink an administration. Biden clearly didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of Trump by taking extreme action like an executive order or even the Insurrection Act to stop hundreds of thousands and millions. He was wrong. And the country has suffered for it with Trump victorious. Real bad. I’m going to benefit at least initially as my investment portfolio appreciates. I would rather not have this in exchange for a Harris administration.
We need to stop be so divided by social media and fake news. That’s like telling a clown not to apply face makeup like the one that will soon be recentering the White House. The US is already owned by the corporate community. But yesterday, we just gave cart blanch to the same community.
James A: Your response strikes me as a pitiable and ill considered backlash. There are many reasons that "we", in this group, might consider as explanations for why the Dems lost . Surely, they are all important to consider. BUT this is NOT the time to lash out and blame. Come to think of it, there have been many times in which I have wondered about your own motivations in this group and other times I have applauded your contributions. However, your timing here, at this time of deep grieving, makes all those negative questions loom once again. Just what exactly are your motivations? Personally, I applaud and am grateful for
all the hard work and dedication poured into the effort to rid the political landscape of charlatans and demigods. We just have to keep on keeping on.....with clarity, insight and determination. Destructive blaming is pointless, IMHO.
America just gave the Democratic party the middle finger. Th Democrats called Trump Hitler. They called black men sexist. They ridiculed the middle class. They used the FBI and DOJ to prosecute their plitical opponents. They censored and fired anyone who challenged on COVID. They opened border exposed America to crime. They lied about inflation. And on and on.
Not only did Trump win all the swing states. He made massive gains in NY, CA, IL, NY. Blacks and Hispanics have fled the Democrat
Boy we Dems are a vicious bunch, aint we, James? You seem to have all the answers. But we are NOT joking about grieving, hard as it might be to grasp. It is based on the obvious.....that an articulate, energetic, uplifting woman, poised to become a highly promising leader for America, but who lost to a character so compromised, communication skills and language so very challenged, who repeatedly demonstrated habitual dishonesty or perhaps "slippery veracity(?)", a man with a "serial liar's" morality, who demonstrated, time and time again, an inability to grasp even the simplest values this country holds dear. This man, this man exhibiting so many dangerous warning signs that even those closest to him in his last administration, such as General Mark Milley, saw fit to warn his country of the unprecedented dangers of tfg as president for another four years: "“We don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator. We take an oath to the Constitution and we take an oath to the idea that is America – and we’re willing to die to protect it.” This very man has won the backing of a majority of our fellow country men and women, an adjudicated sexual abuser, guilty of 34 felonious counts of fraudulent business dealings...and there are (or were) more to come...this man struggling with basic communication, with ugly divisive rhetoric and public rally antics that proved nothing short of embarrassing. This man, whose words and actions, at these rallies, proved inappropriate for the children of this country to hear, much less emulate.... this man proved MORE trustworthy to our population than an articulate, amazing woman whose resilience and dignity, quick intelligence and grace under pressure suggest a flexibility, quick intelligence and a capacity for leadership this country sorely needs right now! The grieving is for the state of the country and the views such as yours that would whitewash over the obvious to shape a narrative in such a way that the Dems are to blame for this outcome. Have you considered the complicity of the Republicans who refused to stand up to his illegal antics, or the MSM who sane washed his inanities, or ignored journalistic duties to articulate CLEARLY AND REPEATEDLY the dangers emerging from within that administration. Individuals who served with him...one after the other....took the brave steps of attempting to inform the country about the dangers to the republic. They witnessed first hand from within his administration alarming warning signs. People such as Joint Chief General Mark Milley: “We don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator. We take an oath to the Constitution and we take an oath to the idea that is America – and we’re willing to die to protect it.”, VP Mike Pence: “The American people deserve to know that President Trump asked me to put him over my oath to the Constitution. … Anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be president of the United States.”; AG Bill Barr: “Someone who engaged in that kind of bullying about a process that is fundamental to our system and to our self-government shouldn’t be anywhere near the Oval Office.”; SoDefense: James Mattis: “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us.”; Mark Esper:“I think he’s unfit for office. … He puts himself before country. His actions are all about him and not about the country. And then, of course, I believe he has integrity and character issues as well.”; Sec of State, Rex Tillerson: “(Trump’s) understanding of global events, his understanding of global history, his understanding of US history was really limited. It’s really hard to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t even understand the concept for why we’re talking about this.”; UN Ambassador Nikki Haley: "A terrible thing happened on January 6 and he called it a beautiful day.”; and HR McMaster: “We saw the absence of leadership, really anti-leadership, and what that can do to our country.”; John Bolton: “I believe (foreign leaders) think he is a laughing fool.”; National Security Adviser, John Kelly, Chief of Staff: “A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law. There is nothing more that can be said. God help us.”; and acting Chief of Staff: Mick Mulvaney: “I quit because I think he failed at being the president when we needed him to be that.” Then there was Anthony Scaramucci: "He is the domestic terrorist of the 21st century.” Chris Christie: “Someone who I would argue now is just out for himself.” And it goes on with many more telling reactions and so does the grieving. There are those who believe that basic truths and shared values must be upheld for the sake of a healthy democracy. Pence demonstrated that awareness with his one brave act after the insurrection. Few too Republicans chose to risk their careers to do what needed to be done as Liz Chaney did. It's enough to keep good men and women up at night! Yes, many of us are grieving. No joke. We take these things seriously. Stunning that it is not obvious. The complicity for this failure is shared across the board. No one comes out clean. LEAST of all....the Republican Party as it exists at this moment. Your "analysis" falls far short of even barely acceptable.
This morning as I try to process my shock and rage, I wonder if for the first time I can truly understand what it must have been like for Native Americans to watch their culture and place be desecrated, or for slaves to be purchased and treated as though they were not human and then to see it play out over the next few hundred years.
A friend just shared this passage in an animal rights group. We suffered a loss on our historical ballot measure to end factory farming in Sonoma County. But our work has just begun... I hope others find this inspiring too:
"So what do we do when the world is ending? The same things that so many of the giants on whose shoulders we stand did when their worlds were ending. We choose to face our despair — to walk towards it and through it —choose to take action, choose to build movements. We do it because we don’t know how it ends, because there are possibilities out there that we simply can’t see from here. We do it because every person organized and campaign won and fraction of a degree of global warming prevented will save lives. Because movements that believe are far more powerful than movements that don’t. And, yes, we fight because fighting is one of the ways we get to nurture our courage and generosity and hope and all those other fundamentally human traits that we treasure most — because our lives will be infinitely richer in that struggle than outside of it. We do it because it is how we get to truly live."
Ellen S Gibson -- Thank you deeply for your post, for your reminder of the very important past disasters. Shock and Rage and Horror rule our lives now. Maybe *further* shock and rage and horror. I am without words.
Excellent point,Ellen. I think a real truth about progressive thinkers is that they put themselves into others' places. They ask "what if that was the way I got treated?" Too many conservative thinkers are too wrapped up in self-pity. 😩😥
Unfortunately this is reality that racism has been the root cause to division and hatred however, we still have a long way to go before the results are in from this election. We probably won't know for a couple of days. I have hope and faith that Kamala will win. I haven't watched television. Just keeping myself busy and watching movies on Netflix. Tomorrow is another day.
I agree with your Scarlett O'Hara quote but I ask How many more days? - my heart is sinking. I've been watching movies on my little DVD player by the couch on the coffee table. Last night and this morning I cannot bear watching the regular news channels
Well, on this fateful election, I really blew it, big time. 😱 I will never trust my intuition again; simply wishful thinking on my part. 😢 Apparently, I am too old and out of touch with a belovèd America I no longer recognize. 😯 ¿Does anyone else here feel sick, literally sick? 🤢
I had the same thought, Ned. What I came to realize is that my intuition was thrown off by the fact that despite my best intentions I still live in a bubble. So, inside the bubble of happy Democrats our intuition was right.
As to our beloved America I have finally let her go. I too am physically sick. I also feel in shock which feels weird.
Yes, literally sick -- and all yesterday I harbored the feeling that Harris was going to win in a landslide. I could not have been more wrong or disappointed.
I thought Vice President Harris would win the popular vote by five-to-seven percentage points with well over three hundred votes in the Electoral College. Boy was I ever wrong. Bill Katz and Jon Rosen were right; I was wrong.
It's the popular vote that does me in (and now the charts showing the votes based on race and sex.)
I knew today was going to be tough, but I hoped it would be anxiety over the loss by the felon and what would be done in response, not concern over how our country was going to survive this presidency.
Well, time to mourn the likely collapse of our cherished republic. Then we fight to get it back. Life goes on and so must we. Now I know my statements sound bold; they are not. I am scared witless of civil conflict and getting blown away and sticking out and being vulnerable and all the other hurdles courage must surmount.
Ruth, I am trusting that the extra ounce of patriotism still inside of me will enable me to walk through my fear. It is strange, a failure like me who has not had much to live for, now has something to die for.
Yes, Ned. It seems very bleak right now when you look at what almost all of the pollsters called the "too close to call map."
Heather and most of her faithful readers have worked so hard to get out the word, but the oligarchs and the patriarchy are the real winners here. Obama was right about Citizens United.
And adding to our woes, it is likely that Alito, Roberts and Thomas will all retire and be replaced by younger Fascist Republican judges that will be on the court for the rest of our lives.
Well, that weapons training before I went to Iraq twenty years ago may come in handy after all. Push the country too far, and there will be a civil war. With all of Russian-linked bomb threats in Georgia, etc., we must not permit sluggish thugs with guns to run riot.
A wise friend of mine has said for the last few years that the civil war you predict has already started. After these election results, I believe him. We have hard work ahead of us and no time to lose.
"At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.
"I hope I am over wary; but if I am not, there is, even now, something of ill-omen, amongst us."
Ned, beautifully expressed. Thank you for the link.. Back in 2016 I had volunteered for Hilary at a campaign office in Berkeley, CA. On Saturday following the election, we all attended a pot-luck grieving party - I will never forget the anguish and despair on people’s faces. One last thing - we must be vigilant regarding the Senate and House - And Ailene Cannon will be the next appointment to the SCOTUS.
Thank you, Linda. There may be blood-shed but we will prevail. I am sure we are on opposite sides politically; rest assured that we will be on the same side of the barricade.
I thought I had little left to mourn; that sentiment proved to be pre-mature. Sister, I am crying with you. Though I am a conservative by temperament, I can not see how anyone could fail to see that, in every conceivable way and by every conceivable measure (i.e., character, strength, hope, etc.), Vice President Harris out-classed Trump, the classless boor.
Without a doubt!!! Thus, it makes certain medias' choices to "avoid endorsing" the clearly and profoundly superior candidate, all the more a betrayal of the American democracy and its people. I will never, in my life, pick up those papers again.
I am lucky in one respect; due to my mom being born in Poland I became a Polish citizen a few years ago. What absolutely guts me is that now I will be moving back to the place she left due to Russian tyranny in 1948. I do not recognize the America that votes for hate. I do not recognize the Jesus Christ the evangelical radicals say they follow. And I tremble to think of Trump accomplishing even half of what he promised to do.
If President Biden is gutsy, he has three months to smash the Red Army and transfer every weapon he can to Ukraine now in defiance of Congress. By acting for national security, the President's actions will enjoy presumptive immunity. So, he gets impeached by the nattering nabobs of narcissism. So fracking what?
So scared and just numb. Worried about Ukraine and Poland, our Constitution and Banking system, all the civil servant employees of the government… the list goes on. Was going to retire in two months, but not so sure now, will there be any social security payments anymore? So nauseous right now. Maybe Joe B can step down and at least let her be President for two months!
Boy, oh boy, girl, you and me both. I feel like a dummass who feels sorry for himself. Life goes on and so must we. Meet me -- conservative though I am -- at the barricades.
I feel exactly the same way. I've been calm right through yesterday. I was so sure that sanity would prevail. And yes, I feel literally sick. Sick in my body, sick in my soul.
Impossible to feel otherwise! But, I can't help but think of how Heather must be feeling right now? Almost too painful to consider and hoping my fears are completely wrong. I do want to believe, somehow, that her damned Yankee resiliency is already winding up for a swing back. My hope is that she is aware, to the bottom of her soul and the tips of her toes, that she has faithfully steered an ark, full of readers, over constantly rocky waters, for which, despite any outcomes contrary to collective hopes and dreams, we are all eternally and stupendously grateful. Bless her and the ship she rode in on.....
K., thank you for reminding me of Dr Cox Richardson's situation. I had not extended my sensitivity that far, since I was bizzy licking my wounds (i.e., a polite way to say feeling sorry for myself). 😢
Dr Cox Richardson and I do not see eye-to-eye on several things but one can not doubt her Big Mind and BIGGER heart. Heather has given it her all. 💔
Diligently has she attuned us to the eddies and ebbs of American history as they swirl, subtly or suddenly, into and through our lives and times. 💡
Prayers her -- and Buddy's -- way on the way via FedEx. 🙏
Yes, I feel exactly as you do, Ned. And I feel naive. I trusted that our beloved country could vote in a woman, and one of color. I live in the Boulder Bubble, after 45 years in a liberal part of liberal Vermont. I plan to re-read Isabella Wilkerson's CASTE, which I clearly ignored over the past three months.
Must check out that book. Riffing off your name, Kit, after the last twenty-four hours, I could use a twenty year nap. I still can not accept the reality not of a defeat but a clear-cut one. The margin was close to what I thought it would be, except, of course, I thought that Vice President Harris would be the winner.
Beats the scheiße out of me, Ellen. Even at this later hour, I am having trouble accepting the reality of what occurred. The win for Trump, however, was decisive -- almost exactly what I had thought Vice President Harris's would be.
As an erstwhile Republican, all I can say is that the current incarnation of the G.O.P. is a good purgative if I get food poisoning. The ignorati and neurotomatons as well as their nattering nabobs of narcissism and craven quislings in Congress reign supreme.
Kamala and Tim had a hopeful message but were up against Elon Musk who was able to influence several races.
Project 2025 is alive and well and just wait for many of the agencies like SS and Medicare to be run by Trump partisans. Civil servants will be replaced with incompetent MAGA boobs in every department. We need to be diligent to the tricks of the Heritage Foundation as the usher in Project 2025.
Elon musk is the poster monster for everything wrong with the stench courts Citizens United decision. EVERYTHING is now for sale including the information held by trusted citizens that has kept our nation safe!
I agree. I think Tr*** will remain the lying, annoying mouthpiece, but probably will be taken out by the 25th Amendment and JD will run the country by the Project 2025's book. I'm giving it 6 months before that happens.
Well the GOOD news is that the 25th amendment ultimately requires 2/3 of BOTH House and Senate to vote to sustain a VP "takeover" of the Presidency. As insane as it sounds if Vance and the GOP actually attempt this kind of a coup, I expect the Democrats will hold their noses and refuse to concur leaving Trump in charge.
This is true. It isn't good for Europe, either. The world has been moving to the right for some time now and it's frightening. We can kiss Ukraine goodbye, Putin will further devastate that country, then be an aggressor in other countries, the Balkans, Poland and on and on. It makes me sick. Russians interfered in our elections, the latest being the bomb threats all over PA, where people had to leave the poles and many did not return.
Indeed; however, I’m grateful for the victory in our state that Amendment 3 passed (resulting in reproductive rights), a $15 minimum wage increase passed, and you know the rest—there is still some sanity left in Missouri (aka Misery). Lots of good people willing to work hard for what’s right. I will keep optimistic because the alternative is just wrong.☮️💟
Are all the Lindas in Missouri? (I bet we're all of similar ages as well: the only people named Linda I know are clustered around my age [67]!) I am so nauseated right now it is hard to think. My health situation means I cannot leave the USA and Kansas City in particular, where there is one of only a tiny handful of advanced breast cancer centers in the world, so I have to stay and fight. And fight I will--but given the fascist turn, I think the USA is experiencing its "Germany in 1934" moment. And the rest of the world is going to suffer for it as well.
Oh no, I’m so sorry that you are dealing with breast cancer—glad you have treatment in KC that’s so curative 🩷! Yes, sometimes I have experienced Linda “clusters,” lol, but I’m 70 so take comfort you are younger. Thank you for making my point that there are so many great people throughout this state—are you aware of Jess Piper (north of KC close to Iowa)? She’s another example of what encourages me, too.
Yes, I feel like we’re in a nightmare that we can’t wake up from, but all I can do is what Michelle Obama said and that’s continue to do “something” and keep trying (the League of Women Voters chapters are fabulous here in MO, especially the KC group. LWVMO.org). Thank you for doing your part—your comments are excellent and we desperately need you! 🩷
Well, cancer management is the name of my game: no cure possible. Which has its advantages if one is very unoptimistic about this country. I would move if I could but my health care would not be managed in the same way elsewhere because the meds I am on are obscenely expensive (thanks Big Pharma) and so they are highly restricted in places with NHS systems. So even though our health system sucks for most people, I am ironically in a wedge where my care, which I pay a high premium for even with Medicare, has to be here.
Thank you for posting this! I've been watching the Amendment 3 dirty tricks (billboards, etc.) and am SO happy to see that the people as a whole did not fall for them. When I am in the depths of despair, I look for silver linings. This is one.
Then, I plan. As long as I'm alive, I will fight for freedom and democracy.
Use your intelligent tongue to engage your listeners at every opportunity! We have a dumbed down or numbed out population… or probably BOTH!
We’ve got to use every opportunity to engage… in even the simplest encounters… to encourage more insight and belief in community as place of goodness and belonging. If we really ‘loved our neighbors’ we would never VOTE for anything that would HARM THEM, or ourselves! Project 25 is full of dehumanizing actions that will be used to control all women. ALL WOMEN.
Which will spill over into every relationship with Men of every age.
Life for women has been mysterious & frequently painful because of social stigma controlling conversation even with the men who are our fathers and brothers.
Please READ ONLINE the plan for all women in our United States, as written in Project 25. (It’s online ).
Life is about to become very difficult in ways none of us in USA have ever experienced. We will need our families to support us, and our communities, emotionally, and literally at times.
Or maybe, right now, we just need to rant and vomit. I've been reasonable, understanding, and, yes, pretty positive **my whole life.** Just not today. Today I rage, I storm, I call down lightning from heaven. Tomorrow I'll figure out something to do.
The worst has happened. We now have a dictator with a team of powerful lunatics who will implement the most evil plan for our country. If you can point out the upside to this election result please do. I have a medically fragile disabled son. If RFK Jr. becomes the head of all things healthcare, the ACA gets repealed, my son won’t survive; that’s not hyperbole, that’s fact. If he removes the vaccine mandate, my son won’t be able to leave our home or he will die. Not hyperbole, fact. So being positive is a tough lift for me today.
I have worked in women's empowerment for 30 years. I feel I have nothing left to give. It's clear 1/2 of the women in the country don't want what we are selling. They feel more safe in the shackles of the patriarchy, and I give up. For my generation Gen X, who raised sons and that are Gen Z and taught them about honoring and respecting women clearly we have failed. Because they have had a racist and sexist leader (or would be leader who still had a grip on our society for the four years he wasn't in office) since they were children. I am disgusted. How will our communities support us when 1/2 of them think this shit is a good thing?
International News that can be very important if this Election is undecided for a long time, or if DJT wINS:
4-NOV-2024: It was reported on MSNBC that the North Koreans have sent to Ukraine between 10,000-12,000 Combat Troops... It has been reported that the Ukrainians have now commenced Combat Operations against them... This greatly expands the scope of the Ukrainian War...
In the Middle-East, Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoah Gallant who was a restraining force in Netanyahu's War Cabinet... The "Greater Israel Movement" as exemplified by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a Settler, is pushing for the forceful clearing of Palestinians from the West Bank, and Gaza, so that Israeli Settlers can seize the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank of the Jordan River...
Like DJT, Putin can be Feral as well.. Like DJT he is a Mob-Boss... Thus far, Putin has lost over 600,000 Troops in the Ukraine... He has asked North Korea for assistance... Putin, who likes to assassinate his perceived Enemies, may resort to the use of Tactical Nukes if he feels his Regime is threatened... This would definitely be NOT GOOD...
There are some very chilling authoritarian men folks playing with the world right now: Putin, Netanyahu, Trump, Musk, the Taliban and Hamas, et al. Their ruthlessness is fearsome.
Don't forget to mention Peter Thiel and his proxy next president, JD Vance, whenever trump finish crumbling. Then you'll have a regime like in Russia or Hungary....So much sacrifice to have a "more perfect Union" to have to end like this.😕
I can't 'like' your comment but agree with the likelihood that JD Vance is going to supplant Trump in relatively short order. I've no doubt that the choices for the president's cabinet will be selected by the writers of Project 2025 and their ilk and, with an R majority in the Senate, likely to sail through.
In the final analysis, HCR is correct in her book, "How the South Won the Civil War." The oligarchs managed to win the battle with their campaigns of disinformation. The oligarchs, using the KKK, aka MAGA, used "white Protestantism now, white Protestantism forever," (i.e., racism, misogyny) to carry the day. The repercussions will be cataclysmic for democracy here and around the world. I fear that we have lost the rule of law.
Richard we are in deep trouble indeed. And we are in trouble because, if the popular vote is anything to go by, Dems stayed home. Again. Which demonstrates that the Democratic Party is made up of whiners, misogynists, and egotists whose single issues revolve around their own navels and don't have anything to do with perspective. The early voting was massive but apparently it dropped off like a stone on Tuesday. And the politics of grievance, which has proven effective in the past, ruled the day. And an Update: I am right. Dems stayed home. Lucien Truscott has been mapping the voter turnout and just reported it on his substack.
Linda, the vote is very close. In most states, there is only a percentage point of difference. It will take days more to know for sure. Although I fear the outcome, Kamala Harris ran an excellent campaign, and I respect her very much. I share your dismay, but I don't think Democrats are all that bad.
Linda and Hope, I don't think democrats are whiners. And yes, Kamala run an excellent campaign but we lost. What happens is that democracy contains the seeds of it's own destruction. In a true democracy you respect, accept and allows your enemies to act and spread. That's what happened. You don't have that problem if you are fascist and that's why it's so hard to return to democracy when the enemies take over. You'll see.....🫤
Its a patriarchal system with two sides of the same coin. I agree with you 100%. To think (although I had hope it would be the beginning of the shift) that we live in anything different but a two-party patriarchal system and world is foolish.
It's the morning after, and I've just watched a little of Morning Joe. A few "whys" are interesting: Liberals never met a cause we didn't like. (Specifically, that's a comment on transsexual surgeries.) We've denigrated the fly-over, Deep South states for decades. (Remember this issue when Trump vs. Hillary's "deplorables", and when we use terms like racist and sexist.) The Trump campaign reached out to young men, while we ignored this demographic. These are a few of the whys, and they are not mine, but probably they made the difference.
I think younger voters don't value Democracy very much because of the absence of civics or lack of emphasis on equality in schools (think the competition of sports) and elsewhere. Authoritarianism seems just fine, as does the pursuit of wealth and technology. Younger white men see the power of Musk and other white male oligarchs—heaven forbid, even such men as Putin.
Hope, I'm still processing this catastrophe, so I'm not fully able to discuss it rationally. But two points in your comment resonate. Pundits referred to Trump's outreach to young men, but I think the appeal was broader. It was an appeal to ALL men, including young men, old men, white men, Black men and Latino men, most of whom responded favorably.
Exceptions are certainly here among HCR readers, but generally speaking, men of all stripes are terrified that the patriarchy which has controlled all cultures of the world since the beginning of time is being swept away by women. Women who are disobedient and assertive and determined to have their fair share of Life's rewards. These frightened men will fall behind and worship any man, no matter how vile, who promises to restore their power in the world.
Your second salient point is indirectly connected to the first. I agree that younger voters don't value democracy, mainly because they don't truly understand what it is because our education system has let them down. I don't blame educators; I blame greedy, self-serving parents and the politicians they elect, who promise them lower taxes and more say-so over their children's education. Parents are too ignorant and conceited to realize they are not qualified to decide what their children learn and don't learn.
Not all Cultures are Patriarchies... Many of the Indigenous Cultures are Matriarchies... I would postulate that many of the Young People that voted for DJT don't see much Hope, and are Absorbed in their Sedentary Virtual Lives as their Real Lives are Boring... DJT did Everything Wrong, and still Won... He was, is, supported by a Cast of Villains.... DJT is best understood as a Cartoon Character, a Mean, Nasty One... Haven't the Best Selling Movies of the past 20+ Years been Fantastical SuperHero Movies?... Isn't 'Virtual Reality' the Ultimate Mind Control?...
Nicely said, Dale. The same program also mentioned that Black men did not vacate the Dems, while Latinos of all stripes did. The commentator, a black man, said their vote was similar to other elections.
My comments to my children, grand children and friends this am, "I blame the filthy rich trillionaire oligarchs and the autocrat who can not be called to account. Timothy Snyder was right that ",Tyranny sneaks up slowly on those who don't tend democracy." Or som.e such. On Tyranny is a good read." And my friend Clarissa remindedu me that it's also the millions in the country who think/believe it's all about themselves, like the winey autocrat. And as she went off to work she said "with head held high." Me too, at 11 am! I'm trying to figurecout what I can do to still work toward Democracy as we envisioned it when we were working so hard to tend it. Head held high!
I started this day on my meditation pillow. I actually did not follow the news of the election because I had done all I could do … donated to the cause more than I’d ever done in my 73 years. Voted early. I try to be informed as I can anyway but “the news” has seemed difficult to actually read no or listen to. Substack and those I’ve grown to trust and filter the noise of the world have been my go-to. Thank you to Heather, to Jay Kuo, Robert Hubbell, Joyce Vance. I’ve not allowed myself to even glance at any “corporate” blather. The countless Americans that have campaigned on our behalf and been willing to step up …. We must, we must continue to believe in our constitution and rule of law and perhaps when all the votes are counted, will be as it should be. This should not have been close
Yes, the sins of the fathers visited upon their children, and their children’s children. And it started here with slavery and the genocide of America’s First People.
It is not at all incomprehensible. Despite his insane positions, he is a Latino and Allred is black. Given that Latinx voters across the country voted more for Trump than Harris on average, it is not at all surprising that they would vote for an incumbent Latino over a much more qualified black man in a state like Texas. And we have known for YEARS that there are a HUGE number of Trump women. This is sadly a consequence of something I wrote several weeks ago here (for which I got severely slammed by a number of commenters) that here we were all content in our progressive Democratic bubble and believing that the rest of the world (or at least most) were just like us.
Surprise. As I wrote back then, they are not like us and our conceit and unwillingness to acknowledge our differences and seek compromise would cost us.
I’ve said right along that for all the good Biden did, he screwed up massively with the border issue. If nothing else this sunk him and Harris. He take control and invoke the insurrection act or do an executive order. I was outraged what we allowed to happen at the border. Yet of course I still voted for Harris. And a side note, I don’t really care what happens to those who came in illegally. Send them back.
Not a "nothing". A US Senator. The same thing he was before this election. The tragedy is our continued willingness to ignore reality and our ability to stick our heads in the sand. I have been closely following electing for 50 years and Democrats make the same mistakes over and over again. This election is just further proof. Sigh...
That said, they were both scrappy fighters.. If they were here now in coporeal form they would be talking about what the next step is. They would be urging us to fight back AND, to do that with serious dedication, and commentary that spoke to 'oh, yeah..I'm still here. I may feel down, but I'm not OUT!
I was born there and grew up there. I used to love calling myself a Texan. I will never go there again nor call myself a Texan. Happy to live in another state now with less ignorance and hubris.
You have my sympathy. We in Florida will have six more years of « Red Tide Rick » Scott. You might remember that when he was chief executive of Columbia/HCA, the company defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, & other federal programs. The DOJ won 14 felony convictions against the company in 1997, which was fined $1.7 Billion dollars. He was forced to resign, with a retirement package of approximately ten million in cash & 300 million in company stock. Scott had invoked the 5th 75 times in his deposition.
There will be a next time. Unfortunately the damage done by then will be doubly hard to repair. By then our economy will be in shambles - again - and Democratic leadership will be more acceptable to the unemployed back to scrounging to pay the rent.
I am happy that I live in New England that continues to uphold the ideals and aspirations of the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Human Rights of all people.
I'm in NH and agree we deserve to be disowned. I am sick to my stomach, will not sleep tonight and will be unable to go to work tomorrow which I feel very badly about but it wouldn't be safe. Not only have we elected a horrible Republican governor - a new one! - but in my little rural town we have apparently sent 3 horrible republicans, one of whom is a pastor of some sort of whacky religion and believes most women to be evil witches (I'm not making this up; his sermons are on YT, James Guzofski) to the statehouse over 3 hardworking, honest democrats. I feel like all my skin has been peeled off and I can't possibly go out into the world again. Who are these people I share this town with that they would support such lunacy?
I think I'm having some kind of flashback because I'm terrified to go to sleep and wake up to the same shocking news I woke up to 8 years ago. My husband is leaving on a business trip and I know he's worried about my mental health. I am too. I've always been extremely level-headed, calm and reassuring to everyone else. I've never been depressed or terribly anxious. But I know in my bones that I cannot live through another 4 years of a Trump presidency. At 63, having worked through the pandemic as a nurse and a person who couldn't see her family for far too long, my resilience is dried up. And I am very worried that that are going to be millions of people feeling the same way and we do not have even close to the resources needed to help all of us.
I just can't believe this is happening, that more than half our country supports this man after everything and Vance is evil in his own way. It's the worst nightmare.
Millions of us feel the same way. Wish that was comfort but I feel surrounded by evil. They made no bones about evil intent. And Republicans cheated in more ways than we can count. Also, I donated more than I should have, so no money to keep donating for any cause. So much is at risk, and they are ready with Project 2025. Wish it weren’t so.
I’m so sorry. I feel sick too. That terrible foreboding you feel when you realize the world as you know it, is about to end. And what will come will be so difficult for you your kids & grand children & great grandchildren! I won’t be around that much longer. But they will. I worry for them.
You’re not alone- millions are feeling what you are tonight. I hope you find support and strength to carry on- we will need every one of us to find the way through this.
They are people. They are not gods or mystics. Just like all of us, they get up in the morning and stumble through another day. And just like us, they make mistakes. True, some of them are in fact evil, but most are not and hopefully at some point they may see the error of their ways. But even if they don't, I really don't think most of them see this the way we do (if for no other reason than most wouldn't do it if they agreed with us).
The problem is figuring out how to find common ground if that is possible. But maybe it won't be, at least not until some horrible disaster occurs that throws cold water on their stupor and wakes them up. This is what happened in Nazi Germany and it appears we as a country either didn't learn that lesson very well or we have forgotten it.
I agree, Jon. It's past time to stop demonizing and start listening. I was, and am still 100% for freedom and democracy, but this is a valuable lesson for each of us. We must begin to see "others" as people with needs and desires, and work toward acceptable compromises. This will be a huge challenge in the environment of hate that has been carefully crafted, but it's a challenge we must meet.
Respectfully, most of us have been seeing others as people with needs and desires; it's the very reason we vote to support LGBTQ+ people when we are note LGBTQ+ ourselves, people of color when we are white, immigrants when we are citizens, the poor and marginalized when we are privileged, the homeless though we are housed comfortably, women's rights though many of us are men, and so on. The people who elected Trump AGAIN are in a cult, not thinking clearly and cannot be reasoned with or the results would have been very different. Harris was a candidate very willing to compromise; too much in fact for some folks. To be sure, they now with full control of our government, will not budge a millimeter toward us.
Mad, I TOTALLY agree with that. Sorry if my post wasn't clear. My point was muddy as my thinking this morning has definitely been affected, but I absolutely understand that WE need to be the ones who try to figure out how to move forward. I know it won't be easy. Compromise never is.
Surpringly, i agree with your last paragraph! The magas care only about ‘me’, just like the amoral monster they elected! Will NATO go to war without US support to protect Ukraine from Putin’s massacre?
As the expression goes "they (NATO) got nuthin"...., at the moment, let alone "resolve", the Brits have brexit'd. Hope they (the Brits) are paying attention. - but, probably not.
I’m sorry, kinda losing faith in humanity here…the media; all members allowed chump to get away with everything. Can you recall any of them actually standing up to him?
When did the word lie become obsolete?
He didn’t misrepresent, it wasn’t misinterpreted or misguided. It was a big fat lie. Because he has lied his whole miserable life. This is where the print media let us down .
There has been a tremendous amount of sane-washing in the media and I'm laying a lot of theh blame at the feet of Merrick Garland. What a waste of an AG when we really needed someone with courage and determination.
I too have turned of all news for the rest of the night. I debated whether to distract myself by watching All the President's Men or the last moments of the film Secretariat and his 31 length win at Belmont. I chose that. Good night and thank you for common sense, Heather. It's not yet over and the sun will rise tomorrow. Sleep well.
Read Joyce Vance’s column. Bomb threats in Georgia by Russians and the RNC did not want voting hours extended. If that was the secret plan, heads should roll. DOJ—do not wait!
What DOJ? If Merrick Garland had done his job after January 6, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Too bad he didn’t make it on to the supreme court. Maybe we’d have someone in the DOJ with balls if he had. Look where his being “politically correct” has gotten us all.
You wrote this 6 hours ago. It is already virtually over. Trump has 267 electors and Alaska with 3 has yet to be called. Unfortunately it is pretty much over.
I’m not worried about the sun coming up. I hate to sound so cynical but it’s where I’m at. I’m in disbelief that this election is so close. That so many people can vote for such a despicable person and not see the danger to our democracy. I used to wonder how Hitler came to power. How more people didn’t stand up and do something. I am now seeing how it all unfolded. And the sun came up the next day in Germany. God help us. I hope I’m wrong and this turns out differently.
What I'm having a hard time grasping is that of the few forums I dared to peek into today that are all Republican saturated, they seem to think that THEY have saved us from a fascist regime. They think Trump is our return to democracy (also to "traditional values" whatever that actually means). That the danger was Kamala and the Dems and their identity politics and the "open border" (which if that were true we just, wouldn't have a border???) and the inflation and economy that the Dems have been LYING about. Also the fact that the Dems are some kind of shady shadow cabal and Trump may be repugnant but at least he's honest about it.
I can't get my head around it! Each side is saying the EXACT SAME THING about the other side. We are living in two different realities. My neighbor and I may as well be in different countries!
Thank you, Heather, for your “Manila Folders” idea from the chat today. We’ve done our work to advance democracy and now it’s out of our hands (unless we’re in the vote counting/certifying loop). You are right—regardless of who wins, we will still have a battle on our hands when it’s our circus and our monkeys.
I’ve seen all the election results I need to see. Regardless of who becomes the next president, the election results verify an incontrovertible fact: Within the margin of error, fully one half of Americans are racist, misogynist, fascist, or some combination thereof.
It's been 9 hours. I am feeling the opposite of kind. First, in order to be intellectually lazy, one must have an intellect. I'm seeing no evidence of such. Second, there have been plenty of headlines that should have given even the most devout cult follower pause. None of them paused. They blinked, burped and said, "I'm voting for the guy who's going to deport all the brown people and put men in charge of things."
Yep—we’ll be here. I have decided that, no matter the outcome, I am taking the controls off my tongue. This should never have been close. Not by a mile. I hope to sleep because I have a long day tomorrow, but really: this should never have been close. Sexism and racism are ruling this country. Time. Is. Up.
It is the basic tenets of the election and of our country. As I write, we don't know the outcome but we "likely" do. If it is so, we are a racist + sexist society. The Caste system in which we are all steeped has poisoned us. How could there be a contest between a 1.) convicted felon (34x no less), a sexual predator, liar, and shitty white business man Vs. 2.) a competent, smart, honorable, forthright, experienced, black and asian woman. It is absolutely stunning to me where we are at as a society.
I think precision is important in times like this. A good portion, ok a majority of voters, seem to be ok with racism and sexism. But it's not the whole society. We need to know that so we can continue to hold our values and work towards our vision of what our society could be. Please. and now Good Night.
And thanks to all that have taught and continued to teach and will continue to teach in the future.
I had a long diatribe of criticism to express and it was directed against our trusty Democratic Party. It would have only made readers here disturbed. So I deleted it.
The Death of America is at Hand.
(From my collection of stories)
Falling into the Wrong Arms
The country had a relatively stable eight years under Barack Obama, not perfect but there was economic growth. However the aftermath of the Bush wars opened the doors of hell and the laws of unintended consequences dominated.
And it came to pass that as a new election neared in 2016, a creature walked to the stage to suspend reality and make enough voters believe that he would lead the nation to wealth and weapons for all.
Cajoled by this socially mangled, misanthrope who has perfected the fine art of the lie, bigotry and unfair tax relief for the wealthy, they naively followed this most foul leader off the cliff.
Wait. What am I doing here? Am I trying to present a logical reason why someone would not vote for Trump? That’s totally insane. That’s almost as insane as voting for Trump! Plus, having to go through all that socio-economic, psychological, and historical crapola is about as interesting as a Xarelto commercial. So, I’m going to reveal the cause of the disease that I am dubbing, “Trump Voterism” or simply, “TV”: a vicious parasite, mutated by toxins now allowed into our air, water and food by Trump’s relentless attempt to kill all of us by loosening our environmental regulations.
Not only does that explain the phenomenon, it also sets the stage for an entirely new series of blockbuster movies, all based around these parasitic mutants. Think The Purge meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers meets Citizen Kane meets Tremors.
There, can we move on to examining why people do other stupid things, like falling off a cliff while taking a selfie?
I wash my hands. Finally. The striving and working so that everyone has a better life is in direct conflict with the fundamental ignorance in this Country. It is ironic that many of the people who voted for him will suffer the most and quickly. I don't even feel like examining the elements of how this could have happened.
Take Care everyone.
As the mother of three daughters of child-bearing age, and the possibility of what could go wrong in a pregnancy, I agree that the people who voted for this monster will suffer the most and quickly. When they have a daughter whose pregnancy has gone wrong, and I don't wish this on anyone, when that daughter cannot get the vital emergency medical care she needs because doctors are afraid, when their daughters get sepsis, and are in a life-threatening position, that's when this might become a reality for them, for the people who voted for this. However, I do tend to doubt they will make a connection that they could have had any part in this.
This is massive part of the overall picture Joanna. When Medicare, Medicaid and the ACA dry up. When all the jobs and unions dry up again. When all those things the Democratic Party and the McCain have built disintegrate they will notice.
Agreed. I didn't want kids before, but I am DEFINITELY not having kids now. I live in a swing state - there's WAY too much uncertainty in our future for me to be comfortable getting pregnant. One year it might be fine, the next year, maybe not.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who did not vote for him and will suffer the consequences. I do hope that those who did will enjoy the finagling of social security (not the old folks stuff-yet), the rise in prices because the work that the undocumented workers did, no American seemed to want: agriculture, construction, landscaping, housekeeping, nannies. We will also lose all of the federal taxes some 90 billion dollars) that they have paid in the past. Where does trump think money for the government will come from: the rich are paying less, he just cut out a portion of workers who ARE working, the wasted money spent on housing and food for the 10-15 million illegals and I am sure money will be put back in his pocket with his golfing. I don't tariffs will help because that will only make prices rise.
I know. I have been up all night grieving. And physically ill.
I am in the place of washing my hands as well. As someone whose whole purpose and career is women's empowerment and caring for the oppressed, to see that 1/2 of them really don't want to be empowered and because beyond the racism and sexist, people care more about money than their own rights. But money will mean nothing. (and of course we all know this guy is really not better for the economy....but whatever). I am praying for the least amount of suffering, but if people...women specifically still want to live under the shackles of patriarchy I guess they spoke. You reap what you sow.
I recommend two margaritas at a long lunch with someone to pick you up at the end. Something I have not done since the 80's. I don't even remember paying the bill. I will be dressing in black for a while. I am too old for any other kind of protest. Wish I had something productive to add. I had almost forgotten how it feels to have the head spin. Thank you to all who have tried so hard, these many years, to wrench some meaning and understanding out of this all. Most especially, oceans of thanks to our talented Heather for her dogged dedication with trying to do just that for our population. She is a hero to so many. I only wish the outcome matched her extraordinary efforts. Hopefully this community of truth and meaning seekers can be its own reward???? Like so many of you, I am soooo sad...but also, as yet, not fully feeling the pain....until tomorrow. God bless you all, and may Mother Earth take care of you.
In addition to your Precision which I support and agree with I would like to add that this is not a time to try and find the voting segments who took us down this rabbit hole. We have no idea who voted for who and we can't make assumptions based on demographics that reinforce the idea that we have some right to do so in this country. Let's keep our composure and ready for a much different 2025 than we expected. And most importantly let's support one another and enjoy the holiday time that we have before next year to rest and recharge. Peace be with you and your family. Josh Seattle WA
It's going to be a long night....
You are exactly why the Democrats LOST. Who in the hell are you to talk down
to Black and Hispanic voters. Trump's win was fueled by double digit increases
in minority voters.
These are people disgusted by leftist like you who wrap themselves fake sanctimony.
What's racist is to OPEN THE BORDER and let illegals take minority jobs. What's racist is let CRIME EXPLODE. What's racist is to break the backs of minorities with CRIPPLING INFLATION. What's racist is trap them IN CRAPPY SCHOOLS focused more on indoctrination an education. What's racist is the force their daughters to shower and compete with biological men.
America gave you and your friends the middle finger last night and it was well deserved.
You are an angry man. Clearly not someone who comes to bridge the large divide between the current parties. Too much time with fox…
I’m happy. Not sure about you?
America gave you the middle finger. You have to answer for the
Hitler claims, calling black men sexist, LYING about Biden’s mental health,
LYING about the polls, forcing girls to shower with men, opening the border
to crime, and crushing America with 25% inflation.
Again, stay away from misinformation. It doesn’t look good on you
You're going to have to figure out how to participate in online forums in a more respectful and polite way otherwise you're just going to get alienated. And please don't feel your obligated to reply I'm letting you know that your style of engaging people right now is going to immediately lead you to not have access to this community. Takes the day off or something
You aren’t censoring my speech. Respectful?
First I don’t care if you don’t like my posts. Too bad. Grow a pair.
Second I don’t recall you having a problem with Trump as Hitler, conservatives are racists crap? And all the delusional rantings of this site.
Did you tell anyone to tone it down after the assassination attempts.
I didn’t think so.
America gave a big middle finger to the democratic party last night. Time to grow up.
James, you’re all over the place with your accusations. The border was the elephant in the room of. Biden has been a good steward of the office. As a life long politician, he should know that one bad issue like the border can sink an administration. Biden clearly didn’t want to follow in the footsteps of Trump by taking extreme action like an executive order or even the Insurrection Act to stop hundreds of thousands and millions. He was wrong. And the country has suffered for it with Trump victorious. Real bad. I’m going to benefit at least initially as my investment portfolio appreciates. I would rather not have this in exchange for a Harris administration.
We need to stop be so divided by social media and fake news. That’s like telling a clown not to apply face makeup like the one that will soon be recentering the White House. The US is already owned by the corporate community. But yesterday, we just gave cart blanch to the same community.
Seig Hial.
Seig Hial.
Seig Hial.
James A: Your response strikes me as a pitiable and ill considered backlash. There are many reasons that "we", in this group, might consider as explanations for why the Dems lost . Surely, they are all important to consider. BUT this is NOT the time to lash out and blame. Come to think of it, there have been many times in which I have wondered about your own motivations in this group and other times I have applauded your contributions. However, your timing here, at this time of deep grieving, makes all those negative questions loom once again. Just what exactly are your motivations? Personally, I applaud and am grateful for
all the hard work and dedication poured into the effort to rid the political landscape of charlatans and demigods. We just have to keep on keeping on.....with clarity, insight and determination. Destructive blaming is pointless, IMHO.
Deep grieving? Is this a joke?
America just gave the Democratic party the middle finger. Th Democrats called Trump Hitler. They called black men sexist. They ridiculed the middle class. They used the FBI and DOJ to prosecute their plitical opponents. They censored and fired anyone who challenged on COVID. They opened border exposed America to crime. They lied about inflation. And on and on.
Not only did Trump win all the swing states. He made massive gains in NY, CA, IL, NY. Blacks and Hispanics have fled the Democrat
Boy we Dems are a vicious bunch, aint we, James? You seem to have all the answers. But we are NOT joking about grieving, hard as it might be to grasp. It is based on the obvious.....that an articulate, energetic, uplifting woman, poised to become a highly promising leader for America, but who lost to a character so compromised, communication skills and language so very challenged, who repeatedly demonstrated habitual dishonesty or perhaps "slippery veracity(?)", a man with a "serial liar's" morality, who demonstrated, time and time again, an inability to grasp even the simplest values this country holds dear. This man, this man exhibiting so many dangerous warning signs that even those closest to him in his last administration, such as General Mark Milley, saw fit to warn his country of the unprecedented dangers of tfg as president for another four years: "“We don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator. We take an oath to the Constitution and we take an oath to the idea that is America – and we’re willing to die to protect it.” This very man has won the backing of a majority of our fellow country men and women, an adjudicated sexual abuser, guilty of 34 felonious counts of fraudulent business dealings...and there are (or were) more to come...this man struggling with basic communication, with ugly divisive rhetoric and public rally antics that proved nothing short of embarrassing. This man, whose words and actions, at these rallies, proved inappropriate for the children of this country to hear, much less emulate.... this man proved MORE trustworthy to our population than an articulate, amazing woman whose resilience and dignity, quick intelligence and grace under pressure suggest a flexibility, quick intelligence and a capacity for leadership this country sorely needs right now! The grieving is for the state of the country and the views such as yours that would whitewash over the obvious to shape a narrative in such a way that the Dems are to blame for this outcome. Have you considered the complicity of the Republicans who refused to stand up to his illegal antics, or the MSM who sane washed his inanities, or ignored journalistic duties to articulate CLEARLY AND REPEATEDLY the dangers emerging from within that administration. Individuals who served with him...one after the other....took the brave steps of attempting to inform the country about the dangers to the republic. They witnessed first hand from within his administration alarming warning signs. People such as Joint Chief General Mark Milley: “We don’t take an oath to a wannabe dictator. We take an oath to the Constitution and we take an oath to the idea that is America – and we’re willing to die to protect it.”, VP Mike Pence: “The American people deserve to know that President Trump asked me to put him over my oath to the Constitution. … Anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be president of the United States.”; AG Bill Barr: “Someone who engaged in that kind of bullying about a process that is fundamental to our system and to our self-government shouldn’t be anywhere near the Oval Office.”; SoDefense: James Mattis: “Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people – does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us.”; Mark Esper:“I think he’s unfit for office. … He puts himself before country. His actions are all about him and not about the country. And then, of course, I believe he has integrity and character issues as well.”; Sec of State, Rex Tillerson: “(Trump’s) understanding of global events, his understanding of global history, his understanding of US history was really limited. It’s really hard to have a conversation with someone who doesn’t even understand the concept for why we’re talking about this.”; UN Ambassador Nikki Haley: "A terrible thing happened on January 6 and he called it a beautiful day.”; and HR McMaster: “We saw the absence of leadership, really anti-leadership, and what that can do to our country.”; John Bolton: “I believe (foreign leaders) think he is a laughing fool.”; National Security Adviser, John Kelly, Chief of Staff: “A person that has nothing but contempt for our democratic institutions, our Constitution, and the rule of law. There is nothing more that can be said. God help us.”; and acting Chief of Staff: Mick Mulvaney: “I quit because I think he failed at being the president when we needed him to be that.” Then there was Anthony Scaramucci: "He is the domestic terrorist of the 21st century.” Chris Christie: “Someone who I would argue now is just out for himself.” And it goes on with many more telling reactions and so does the grieving. There are those who believe that basic truths and shared values must be upheld for the sake of a healthy democracy. Pence demonstrated that awareness with his one brave act after the insurrection. Few too Republicans chose to risk their careers to do what needed to be done as Liz Chaney did. It's enough to keep good men and women up at night! Yes, many of us are grieving. No joke. We take these things seriously. Stunning that it is not obvious. The complicity for this failure is shared across the board. No one comes out clean. LEAST of all....the Republican Party as it exists at this moment. Your "analysis" falls far short of even barely acceptable.
Thank you, Terry.
I wish it weren't so but your silver lining is badly tarnished.
Bravo Terry. Your resilience is impressive and we more than need your folks right now.
This morning as I try to process my shock and rage, I wonder if for the first time I can truly understand what it must have been like for Native Americans to watch their culture and place be desecrated, or for slaves to be purchased and treated as though they were not human and then to see it play out over the next few hundred years.
A friend just shared this passage in an animal rights group. We suffered a loss on our historical ballot measure to end factory farming in Sonoma County. But our work has just begun... I hope others find this inspiring too:
"So what do we do when the world is ending? The same things that so many of the giants on whose shoulders we stand did when their worlds were ending. We choose to face our despair — to walk towards it and through it —choose to take action, choose to build movements. We do it because we don’t know how it ends, because there are possibilities out there that we simply can’t see from here. We do it because every person organized and campaign won and fraction of a degree of global warming prevented will save lives. Because movements that believe are far more powerful than movements that don’t. And, yes, we fight because fighting is one of the ways we get to nurture our courage and generosity and hope and all those other fundamentally human traits that we treasure most — because our lives will be infinitely richer in that struggle than outside of it. We do it because it is how we get to truly live."
Amen and god bless!!
Ellen S Gibson -- Thank you deeply for your post, for your reminder of the very important past disasters. Shock and Rage and Horror rule our lives now. Maybe *further* shock and rage and horror. I am without words.
Excellent point,Ellen. I think a real truth about progressive thinkers is that they put themselves into others' places. They ask "what if that was the way I got treated?" Too many conservative thinkers are too wrapped up in self-pity. 😩😥
Agree Marti. I am speechless and despondent this morning.
Same
Unfortunately this is reality that racism has been the root cause to division and hatred however, we still have a long way to go before the results are in from this election. We probably won't know for a couple of days. I have hope and faith that Kamala will win. I haven't watched television. Just keeping myself busy and watching movies on Netflix. Tomorrow is another day.
One step at a time. Look up.
Ditto that is my prayer. But not very hopeful.
I agree with your Scarlett O'Hara quote but I ask How many more days? - my heart is sinking. I've been watching movies on my little DVD player by the couch on the coffee table. Last night and this morning I cannot bear watching the regular news channels
If everyone who voted for Harris left the country, how would those fat white men hold the country together ?
The United States is moving into a very, very dark place. And clearly, Americans are way more dumb, racist, and misogynistic than anyone ever realized
Well, on this fateful election, I really blew it, big time. 😱 I will never trust my intuition again; simply wishful thinking on my part. 😢 Apparently, I am too old and out of touch with a belovèd America I no longer recognize. 😯 ¿Does anyone else here feel sick, literally sick? 🤢
I had the same thought, Ned. What I came to realize is that my intuition was thrown off by the fact that despite my best intentions I still live in a bubble. So, inside the bubble of happy Democrats our intuition was right.
As to our beloved America I have finally let her go. I too am physically sick. I also feel in shock which feels weird.
I can not afford to move. I am willing to fight.
Yes, literally sick -- and all yesterday I harbored the feeling that Harris was going to win in a landslide. I could not have been more wrong or disappointed.
I thought Vice President Harris would win the popular vote by five-to-seven percentage points with well over three hundred votes in the Electoral College. Boy was I ever wrong. Bill Katz and Jon Rosen were right; I was wrong.
It's the popular vote that does me in (and now the charts showing the votes based on race and sex.)
I knew today was going to be tough, but I hoped it would be anxiety over the loss by the felon and what would be done in response, not concern over how our country was going to survive this presidency.
Well, time to mourn the likely collapse of our cherished republic. Then we fight to get it back. Life goes on and so must we. Now I know my statements sound bold; they are not. I am scared witless of civil conflict and getting blown away and sticking out and being vulnerable and all the other hurdles courage must surmount.
Ruth, I am trusting that the extra ounce of patriotism still inside of me will enable me to walk through my fear. It is strange, a failure like me who has not had much to live for, now has something to die for.
Yes, Ned. It seems very bleak right now when you look at what almost all of the pollsters called the "too close to call map."
Heather and most of her faithful readers have worked so hard to get out the word, but the oligarchs and the patriarchy are the real winners here. Obama was right about Citizens United.
And adding to our woes, it is likely that Alito, Roberts and Thomas will all retire and be replaced by younger Fascist Republican judges that will be on the court for the rest of our lives.
Well, that weapons training before I went to Iraq twenty years ago may come in handy after all. Push the country too far, and there will be a civil war. With all of Russian-linked bomb threats in Georgia, etc., we must not permit sluggish thugs with guns to run riot.
A wise friend of mine has said for the last few years that the civil war you predict has already started. After these election results, I believe him. We have hard work ahead of us and no time to lose.
Well I am old and alone. I can go down fighting.
From President Lincoln's address to the Young Men's Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois (1837, almost one hundred, eighty-eight years ago).
https://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/speeches/lyceum.htm
"At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. It cannot come from abroad. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.
"I hope I am over wary; but if I am not, there is, even now, something of ill-omen, amongst us."
Ned, beautifully expressed. Thank you for the link.. Back in 2016 I had volunteered for Hilary at a campaign office in Berkeley, CA. On Saturday following the election, we all attended a pot-luck grieving party - I will never forget the anguish and despair on people’s faces. One last thing - we must be vigilant regarding the Senate and House - And Ailene Cannon will be the next appointment to the SCOTUS.
Thank you, Linda. There may be blood-shed but we will prevail. I am sure we are on opposite sides politically; rest assured that we will be on the same side of the barricade.
I’m crying
I thought I had little left to mourn; that sentiment proved to be pre-mature. Sister, I am crying with you. Though I am a conservative by temperament, I can not see how anyone could fail to see that, in every conceivable way and by every conceivable measure (i.e., character, strength, hope, etc.), Vice President Harris out-classed Trump, the classless boor.
Without a doubt!!! Thus, it makes certain medias' choices to "avoid endorsing" the clearly and profoundly superior candidate, all the more a betrayal of the American democracy and its people. I will never, in my life, pick up those papers again.
I am lucky in one respect; due to my mom being born in Poland I became a Polish citizen a few years ago. What absolutely guts me is that now I will be moving back to the place she left due to Russian tyranny in 1948. I do not recognize the America that votes for hate. I do not recognize the Jesus Christ the evangelical radicals say they follow. And I tremble to think of Trump accomplishing even half of what he promised to do.
Be careful dear: I predict that Putin is going to annex Ukraine and he's got his eye on Poland . . .
If President Biden is gutsy, he has three months to smash the Red Army and transfer every weapon he can to Ukraine now in defiance of Congress. By acting for national security, the President's actions will enjoy presumptive immunity. So, he gets impeached by the nattering nabobs of narcissism. So fracking what?
You are right on target.
You are correct.
My plan is to ultimately move to another EU country. We’re thinking Spain.
Poland is a magnificent place. Hope you get to Krakow. I would re-locate there in a Warsaw minute. Unfortunately, my savings are low.
So scared and just numb. Worried about Ukraine and Poland, our Constitution and Banking system, all the civil servant employees of the government… the list goes on. Was going to retire in two months, but not so sure now, will there be any social security payments anymore? So nauseous right now. Maybe Joe B can step down and at least let her be President for two months!
I like the idea of her becoming 47, making Trump 48.
Yes Ned, We feel very sick
Yes. And I feel now like I was a Pollyanna. That dates me because it was one of the first movies I saw as a child.
Boy, oh boy, girl, you and me both. I feel like a dummass who feels sorry for himself. Life goes on and so must we. Meet me -- conservative though I am -- at the barricades.
I feel exactly the same way. I've been calm right through yesterday. I was so sure that sanity would prevail. And yes, I feel literally sick. Sick in my body, sick in my soul.
Man, oh man, Ma'am, you described my trip down tremoring lane to a 'T' for two cha cha.
yes.
Yes. I began researching how to become a permanent resident of Canada this morning. I will not live among the racist misogynists of the US anymore.
Canada will likely not accept you unless you are young and have a good paying job waiting for you.
good luck.
Pretty much every one.
Impossible to feel otherwise! But, I can't help but think of how Heather must be feeling right now? Almost too painful to consider and hoping my fears are completely wrong. I do want to believe, somehow, that her damned Yankee resiliency is already winding up for a swing back. My hope is that she is aware, to the bottom of her soul and the tips of her toes, that she has faithfully steered an ark, full of readers, over constantly rocky waters, for which, despite any outcomes contrary to collective hopes and dreams, we are all eternally and stupendously grateful. Bless her and the ship she rode in on.....
K., thank you for reminding me of Dr Cox Richardson's situation. I had not extended my sensitivity that far, since I was bizzy licking my wounds (i.e., a polite way to say feeling sorry for myself). 😢
Dr Cox Richardson and I do not see eye-to-eye on several things but one can not doubt her Big Mind and BIGGER heart. Heather has given it her all. 💔
Diligently has she attuned us to the eddies and ebbs of American history as they swirl, subtly or suddenly, into and through our lives and times. 💡
Prayers her -- and Buddy's -- way on the way via FedEx. 🙏
Yes, I feel exactly as you do, Ned. And I feel naive. I trusted that our beloved country could vote in a woman, and one of color. I live in the Boulder Bubble, after 45 years in a liberal part of liberal Vermont. I plan to re-read Isabella Wilkerson's CASTE, which I clearly ignored over the past three months.
Must check out that book. Riffing off your name, Kit, after the last twenty-four hours, I could use a twenty year nap. I still can not accept the reality not of a defeat but a clear-cut one. The margin was close to what I thought it would be, except, of course, I thought that Vice President Harris would be the winner.
Yes, I feel sick. How can this have happened in this country?
Beats the scheiße out of me, Ellen. Even at this later hour, I am having trouble accepting the reality of what occurred. The win for Trump, however, was decisive -- almost exactly what I had thought Vice President Harris's would be.
https://nedmcdletters.blogspot.com/2016/05/letter-116-b-getting-historical.html
As an erstwhile Republican, all I can say is that the current incarnation of the G.O.P. is a good purgative if I get food poisoning. The ignorati and neurotomatons as well as their nattering nabobs of narcissism and craven quislings in Congress reign supreme.
Kamala and Tim had a hopeful message but were up against Elon Musk who was able to influence several races.
Project 2025 is alive and well and just wait for many of the agencies like SS and Medicare to be run by Trump partisans. Civil servants will be replaced with incompetent MAGA boobs in every department. We need to be diligent to the tricks of the Heritage Foundation as the usher in Project 2025.
Elon musk is the poster monster for everything wrong with the stench courts Citizens United decision. EVERYTHING is now for sale including the information held by trusted citizens that has kept our nation safe!
I agree. I think Tr*** will remain the lying, annoying mouthpiece, but probably will be taken out by the 25th Amendment and JD will run the country by the Project 2025's book. I'm giving it 6 months before that happens.
Well the GOOD news is that the 25th amendment ultimately requires 2/3 of BOTH House and Senate to vote to sustain a VP "takeover" of the Presidency. As insane as it sounds if Vance and the GOP actually attempt this kind of a coup, I expect the Democrats will hold their noses and refuse to concur leaving Trump in charge.
Better a boob than the devil incarnate.
Ah, but if the magazine take the House.......
If the MAGAs taste House......
Agreed 111%
This is true. It isn't good for Europe, either. The world has been moving to the right for some time now and it's frightening. We can kiss Ukraine goodbye, Putin will further devastate that country, then be an aggressor in other countries, the Balkans, Poland and on and on. It makes me sick. Russians interfered in our elections, the latest being the bomb threats all over PA, where people had to leave the poles and many did not return.
Indeed; however, I’m grateful for the victory in our state that Amendment 3 passed (resulting in reproductive rights), a $15 minimum wage increase passed, and you know the rest—there is still some sanity left in Missouri (aka Misery). Lots of good people willing to work hard for what’s right. I will keep optimistic because the alternative is just wrong.☮️💟
I think I'll move from Alabama to Missouri ....
You are welcome here! KCMO might be a blue island in a sea of red but we are a wonderfully vibrant place to be--and we have lots of fight in us!
Are all the Lindas in Missouri? (I bet we're all of similar ages as well: the only people named Linda I know are clustered around my age [67]!) I am so nauseated right now it is hard to think. My health situation means I cannot leave the USA and Kansas City in particular, where there is one of only a tiny handful of advanced breast cancer centers in the world, so I have to stay and fight. And fight I will--but given the fascist turn, I think the USA is experiencing its "Germany in 1934" moment. And the rest of the world is going to suffer for it as well.
Oh no, I’m so sorry that you are dealing with breast cancer—glad you have treatment in KC that’s so curative 🩷! Yes, sometimes I have experienced Linda “clusters,” lol, but I’m 70 so take comfort you are younger. Thank you for making my point that there are so many great people throughout this state—are you aware of Jess Piper (north of KC close to Iowa)? She’s another example of what encourages me, too.
Yes, I feel like we’re in a nightmare that we can’t wake up from, but all I can do is what Michelle Obama said and that’s continue to do “something” and keep trying (the League of Women Voters chapters are fabulous here in MO, especially the KC group. LWVMO.org). Thank you for doing your part—your comments are excellent and we desperately need you! 🩷
Well, cancer management is the name of my game: no cure possible. Which has its advantages if one is very unoptimistic about this country. I would move if I could but my health care would not be managed in the same way elsewhere because the meds I am on are obscenely expensive (thanks Big Pharma) and so they are highly restricted in places with NHS systems. So even though our health system sucks for most people, I am ironically in a wedge where my care, which I pay a high premium for even with Medicare, has to be here.
🩷☮️💟🩷
We are. They will.
Thank you for posting this! I've been watching the Amendment 3 dirty tricks (billboards, etc.) and am SO happy to see that the people as a whole did not fall for them. When I am in the depths of despair, I look for silver linings. This is one.
Then, I plan. As long as I'm alive, I will fight for freedom and democracy.
Use your intelligent tongue to engage your listeners at every opportunity! We have a dumbed down or numbed out population… or probably BOTH!
We’ve got to use every opportunity to engage… in even the simplest encounters… to encourage more insight and belief in community as place of goodness and belonging. If we really ‘loved our neighbors’ we would never VOTE for anything that would HARM THEM, or ourselves! Project 25 is full of dehumanizing actions that will be used to control all women. ALL WOMEN.
Which will spill over into every relationship with Men of every age.
Life for women has been mysterious & frequently painful because of social stigma controlling conversation even with the men who are our fathers and brothers.
Please READ ONLINE the plan for all women in our United States, as written in Project 25. (It’s online ).
Life is about to become very difficult in ways none of us in USA have ever experienced. We will need our families to support us, and our communities, emotionally, and literally at times.
It's not over don't panic. Please take a load off and be positive.
Or maybe, right now, we just need to rant and vomit. I've been reasonable, understanding, and, yes, pretty positive **my whole life.** Just not today. Today I rage, I storm, I call down lightning from heaven. Tomorrow I'll figure out something to do.
exactly. To be gaslit, spiritually and emotionally bypassing right now is not helpful at all. Just adds to my sacred rage.
I’m finding little to be positive about.
The worst has happened. We now have a dictator with a team of powerful lunatics who will implement the most evil plan for our country. If you can point out the upside to this election result please do. I have a medically fragile disabled son. If RFK Jr. becomes the head of all things healthcare, the ACA gets repealed, my son won’t survive; that’s not hyperbole, that’s fact. If he removes the vaccine mandate, my son won’t be able to leave our home or he will die. Not hyperbole, fact. So being positive is a tough lift for me today.
I have worked in women's empowerment for 30 years. I feel I have nothing left to give. It's clear 1/2 of the women in the country don't want what we are selling. They feel more safe in the shackles of the patriarchy, and I give up. For my generation Gen X, who raised sons and that are Gen Z and taught them about honoring and respecting women clearly we have failed. Because they have had a racist and sexist leader (or would be leader who still had a grip on our society for the four years he wasn't in office) since they were children. I am disgusted. How will our communities support us when 1/2 of them think this shit is a good thing?
You are absolutely right, Linda!
Don't forget to add the greed of oligarchs who want to do business as usual.
And don’t forget the huge doners and billionaires like McCormack – Try another brand next time you need salt, pepper, or spices.
Penzey's. Always Penzey's.
International News that can be very important if this Election is undecided for a long time, or if DJT wINS:
4-NOV-2024: It was reported on MSNBC that the North Koreans have sent to Ukraine between 10,000-12,000 Combat Troops... It has been reported that the Ukrainians have now commenced Combat Operations against them... This greatly expands the scope of the Ukrainian War...
In the Middle-East, Netanyahu fired Defense Minister Yoah Gallant who was a restraining force in Netanyahu's War Cabinet... The "Greater Israel Movement" as exemplified by Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a Settler, is pushing for the forceful clearing of Palestinians from the West Bank, and Gaza, so that Israeli Settlers can seize the Gaza Strip, and the West Bank of the Jordan River...
Like DJT, Putin can be Feral as well.. Like DJT he is a Mob-Boss... Thus far, Putin has lost over 600,000 Troops in the Ukraine... He has asked North Korea for assistance... Putin, who likes to assassinate his perceived Enemies, may resort to the use of Tactical Nukes if he feels his Regime is threatened... This would definitely be NOT GOOD...
There are some very chilling authoritarian men folks playing with the world right now: Putin, Netanyahu, Trump, Musk, the Taliban and Hamas, et al. Their ruthlessness is fearsome.
Don't forget to mention Peter Thiel and his proxy next president, JD Vance, whenever trump finish crumbling. Then you'll have a regime like in Russia or Hungary....So much sacrifice to have a "more perfect Union" to have to end like this.😕
I can't 'like' your comment but agree with the likelihood that JD Vance is going to supplant Trump in relatively short order. I've no doubt that the choices for the president's cabinet will be selected by the writers of Project 2025 and their ilk and, with an R majority in the Senate, likely to sail through.
In the final analysis, HCR is correct in her book, "How the South Won the Civil War." The oligarchs managed to win the battle with their campaigns of disinformation. The oligarchs, using the KKK, aka MAGA, used "white Protestantism now, white Protestantism forever," (i.e., racism, misogyny) to carry the day. The repercussions will be cataclysmic for democracy here and around the world. I fear that we have lost the rule of law.
Richard we are in deep trouble indeed. And we are in trouble because, if the popular vote is anything to go by, Dems stayed home. Again. Which demonstrates that the Democratic Party is made up of whiners, misogynists, and egotists whose single issues revolve around their own navels and don't have anything to do with perspective. The early voting was massive but apparently it dropped off like a stone on Tuesday. And the politics of grievance, which has proven effective in the past, ruled the day. And an Update: I am right. Dems stayed home. Lucien Truscott has been mapping the voter turnout and just reported it on his substack.
Linda, the vote is very close. In most states, there is only a percentage point of difference. It will take days more to know for sure. Although I fear the outcome, Kamala Harris ran an excellent campaign, and I respect her very much. I share your dismay, but I don't think Democrats are all that bad.
Linda and Hope, I don't think democrats are whiners. And yes, Kamala run an excellent campaign but we lost. What happens is that democracy contains the seeds of it's own destruction. In a true democracy you respect, accept and allows your enemies to act and spread. That's what happened. You don't have that problem if you are fascist and that's why it's so hard to return to democracy when the enemies take over. You'll see.....🫤
Its a patriarchal system with two sides of the same coin. I agree with you 100%. To think (although I had hope it would be the beginning of the shift) that we live in anything different but a two-party patriarchal system and world is foolish.
It's the morning after, and I've just watched a little of Morning Joe. A few "whys" are interesting: Liberals never met a cause we didn't like. (Specifically, that's a comment on transsexual surgeries.) We've denigrated the fly-over, Deep South states for decades. (Remember this issue when Trump vs. Hillary's "deplorables", and when we use terms like racist and sexist.) The Trump campaign reached out to young men, while we ignored this demographic. These are a few of the whys, and they are not mine, but probably they made the difference.
I think younger voters don't value Democracy very much because of the absence of civics or lack of emphasis on equality in schools (think the competition of sports) and elsewhere. Authoritarianism seems just fine, as does the pursuit of wealth and technology. Younger white men see the power of Musk and other white male oligarchs—heaven forbid, even such men as Putin.
Hope, I'm still processing this catastrophe, so I'm not fully able to discuss it rationally. But two points in your comment resonate. Pundits referred to Trump's outreach to young men, but I think the appeal was broader. It was an appeal to ALL men, including young men, old men, white men, Black men and Latino men, most of whom responded favorably.
Exceptions are certainly here among HCR readers, but generally speaking, men of all stripes are terrified that the patriarchy which has controlled all cultures of the world since the beginning of time is being swept away by women. Women who are disobedient and assertive and determined to have their fair share of Life's rewards. These frightened men will fall behind and worship any man, no matter how vile, who promises to restore their power in the world.
Your second salient point is indirectly connected to the first. I agree that younger voters don't value democracy, mainly because they don't truly understand what it is because our education system has let them down. I don't blame educators; I blame greedy, self-serving parents and the politicians they elect, who promise them lower taxes and more say-so over their children's education. Parents are too ignorant and conceited to realize they are not qualified to decide what their children learn and don't learn.
I think your comment wins as “best” for today (sadly).
Not all Cultures are Patriarchies... Many of the Indigenous Cultures are Matriarchies... I would postulate that many of the Young People that voted for DJT don't see much Hope, and are Absorbed in their Sedentary Virtual Lives as their Real Lives are Boring... DJT did Everything Wrong, and still Won... He was, is, supported by a Cast of Villains.... DJT is best understood as a Cartoon Character, a Mean, Nasty One... Haven't the Best Selling Movies of the past 20+ Years been Fantastical SuperHero Movies?... Isn't 'Virtual Reality' the Ultimate Mind Control?...
Nicely said, Dale. The same program also mentioned that Black men did not vacate the Dems, while Latinos of all stripes did. The commentator, a black man, said their vote was similar to other elections.
Democracy is given away freely.
Not freely my friend....it's going to be very costly.
No, it has gone.
Have you actually read Project 2025? They are ready and they even wrote it down.
It was freely handed over by the American voters.
I think it was not. Trump and entourage keep denying any attachment to it even any knowledge of it.
Except it was written by his administration, by his people.
Anyway, they don't need to deny it anymore. Its main purpose was recruitment.
Remember wjst you just typed in 180 days Ricardo
And the foreword written by his vice-president (president in waiting).
And you believed him?!!
My comments to my children, grand children and friends this am, "I blame the filthy rich trillionaire oligarchs and the autocrat who can not be called to account. Timothy Snyder was right that ",Tyranny sneaks up slowly on those who don't tend democracy." Or som.e such. On Tyranny is a good read." And my friend Clarissa remindedu me that it's also the millions in the country who think/believe it's all about themselves, like the winey autocrat. And as she went off to work she said "with head held high." Me too, at 11 am! I'm trying to figurecout what I can do to still work toward Democracy as we envisioned it when we were working so hard to tend it. Head held high!
I started this day on my meditation pillow. I actually did not follow the news of the election because I had done all I could do … donated to the cause more than I’d ever done in my 73 years. Voted early. I try to be informed as I can anyway but “the news” has seemed difficult to actually read no or listen to. Substack and those I’ve grown to trust and filter the noise of the world have been my go-to. Thank you to Heather, to Jay Kuo, Robert Hubbell, Joyce Vance. I’ve not allowed myself to even glance at any “corporate” blather. The countless Americans that have campaigned on our behalf and been willing to step up …. We must, we must continue to believe in our constitution and rule of law and perhaps when all the votes are counted, will be as it should be. This should not have been close
I plan to read some Marcus Aurelius, but I doubt I will pay attention.
Have a good night. I’m sick to my stomach but shall survive!
Americans who voted for Maga have betrayed the constitution. We will all reap the consequences of their sin.
And so will their descendents!
Yes, the sins of the fathers visited upon their children, and their children’s children. And it started here with slavery and the genocide of America’s First People.
Ditto. Figuring out all the ways to save money.
That's it in a nutshell - Survive.
Remember, we expected a red mirage, AND, a very close race. I remain hopeful...💙🇺🇸💙
Julie, unfortunately, those of us in Texas will have 6 more years of Ted Cruz.
That is just horrible!! Allred was a perfect candidate! I have decided that people are plain stupid and mean.
The Worst Part was that Ted Cruz got the Latino Vote... Now Are They Going To Self-Deport? Horrible....
That is incomprehensible. Like, it's incomprehensible that any woman voted for Trump. But, we know many did. I feel like we've all been gut punched.
It is not at all incomprehensible. Despite his insane positions, he is a Latino and Allred is black. Given that Latinx voters across the country voted more for Trump than Harris on average, it is not at all surprising that they would vote for an incumbent Latino over a much more qualified black man in a state like Texas. And we have known for YEARS that there are a HUGE number of Trump women. This is sadly a consequence of something I wrote several weeks ago here (for which I got severely slammed by a number of commenters) that here we were all content in our progressive Democratic bubble and believing that the rest of the world (or at least most) were just like us.
Surprise. As I wrote back then, they are not like us and our conceit and unwillingness to acknowledge our differences and seek compromise would cost us.
And it has.
No compromise with ignorance!
I’ve said right along that for all the good Biden did, he screwed up massively with the border issue. If nothing else this sunk him and Harris. He take control and invoke the insurrection act or do an executive order. I was outraged what we allowed to happen at the border. Yet of course I still voted for Harris. And a side note, I don’t really care what happens to those who came in illegally. Send them back.
We all HAVE been gut-punched!
I too live in CA & donated to his campaign, it’s so disappointing. Cruz is such a nothing!
Not a "nothing". A US Senator. The same thing he was before this election. The tragedy is our continued willingness to ignore reality and our ability to stick our heads in the sand. I have been closely following electing for 50 years and Democrats make the same mistakes over and over again. This election is just further proof. Sigh...
Ann Richards must be rolling over in her grave..
She flipped long ago. So did Molly
That said, they were both scrappy fighters.. If they were here now in coporeal form they would be talking about what the next step is. They would be urging us to fight back AND, to do that with serious dedication, and commentary that spoke to 'oh, yeah..I'm still here. I may feel down, but I'm not OUT!
Karl Rove used every dirty trick in the book to turn Texas stupid. Now it’s contaminated all of us.
I was born there and grew up there. I used to love calling myself a Texan. I will never go there again nor call myself a Texan. Happy to live in another state now with less ignorance and hubris.
That is just wrong
Wrong, insane, inexplicable…
You have my sympathy. We in Florida will have six more years of « Red Tide Rick » Scott. You might remember that when he was chief executive of Columbia/HCA, the company defrauded Medicare, Medicaid, & other federal programs. The DOJ won 14 felony convictions against the company in 1997, which was fined $1.7 Billion dollars. He was forced to resign, with a retirement package of approximately ten million in cash & 300 million in company stock. Scott had invoked the 5th 75 times in his deposition.
Shame to be a Florida and shame on those who voted for him.
💔💔
Just like the amoral djt!
Apparently Republicans in Florida like their felons, con men and crooks.
My condolences but we Tennesseans still have Marsha Blackburn
Seems most states have become Jim Jones devotees
I’m so sorry to hear that. Colin Alred is a good man.
We here in NC feel
Your pain and shame
💔
Unbelievable ...
Praying
There you go that's the spirit!!
Too stressful, too unfathomable that he’s doing so well. I am absolutely flummoxed.
Follow the money. 🫤
You are right. Our country has been sold to the highest bidder if the orange menace wins.
Now is not the time to throw in the towel. We must not give up. Stay positive and optimistic.
Rather be upset and fight harder next time.
That is a HUGE assumption. That there will be "a next time".
There will be a next time. Unfortunately the damage done by then will be doubly hard to repair. By then our economy will be in shambles - again - and Democratic leadership will be more acceptable to the unemployed back to scrounging to pay the rent.
Unfortunately you are right. I just didn't want to sound too pessimistic so early in the morning. I still have the rest of the day for that...🥲
I am happy that I live in New England that continues to uphold the ideals and aspirations of the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Human Rights of all people.
I'm ready to move from Alabama to New England!
Except for New Hampshire. Maybe we can disown them.
I'm in NH and agree we deserve to be disowned. I am sick to my stomach, will not sleep tonight and will be unable to go to work tomorrow which I feel very badly about but it wouldn't be safe. Not only have we elected a horrible Republican governor - a new one! - but in my little rural town we have apparently sent 3 horrible republicans, one of whom is a pastor of some sort of whacky religion and believes most women to be evil witches (I'm not making this up; his sermons are on YT, James Guzofski) to the statehouse over 3 hardworking, honest democrats. I feel like all my skin has been peeled off and I can't possibly go out into the world again. Who are these people I share this town with that they would support such lunacy?
I think I'm having some kind of flashback because I'm terrified to go to sleep and wake up to the same shocking news I woke up to 8 years ago. My husband is leaving on a business trip and I know he's worried about my mental health. I am too. I've always been extremely level-headed, calm and reassuring to everyone else. I've never been depressed or terribly anxious. But I know in my bones that I cannot live through another 4 years of a Trump presidency. At 63, having worked through the pandemic as a nurse and a person who couldn't see her family for far too long, my resilience is dried up. And I am very worried that that are going to be millions of people feeling the same way and we do not have even close to the resources needed to help all of us.
I just can't believe this is happening, that more than half our country supports this man after everything and Vance is evil in his own way. It's the worst nightmare.
Millions of us feel the same way. Wish that was comfort but I feel surrounded by evil. They made no bones about evil intent. And Republicans cheated in more ways than we can count. Also, I donated more than I should have, so no money to keep donating for any cause. So much is at risk, and they are ready with Project 2025. Wish it weren’t so.
I’m so sorry. I feel sick too. That terrible foreboding you feel when you realize the world as you know it, is about to end. And what will come will be so difficult for you your kids & grand children & great grandchildren! I won’t be around that much longer. But they will. I worry for them.
You’re not alone- millions are feeling what you are tonight. I hope you find support and strength to carry on- we will need every one of us to find the way through this.
It is awful, but please keep calm. Millions of us are in the same boat. You are not alone. 😍
I’m so sorry. What is wrong with people?
They are people. They are not gods or mystics. Just like all of us, they get up in the morning and stumble through another day. And just like us, they make mistakes. True, some of them are in fact evil, but most are not and hopefully at some point they may see the error of their ways. But even if they don't, I really don't think most of them see this the way we do (if for no other reason than most wouldn't do it if they agreed with us).
The problem is figuring out how to find common ground if that is possible. But maybe it won't be, at least not until some horrible disaster occurs that throws cold water on their stupor and wakes them up. This is what happened in Nazi Germany and it appears we as a country either didn't learn that lesson very well or we have forgotten it.
I agree, Jon. It's past time to stop demonizing and start listening. I was, and am still 100% for freedom and democracy, but this is a valuable lesson for each of us. We must begin to see "others" as people with needs and desires, and work toward acceptable compromises. This will be a huge challenge in the environment of hate that has been carefully crafted, but it's a challenge we must meet.
Respectfully, most of us have been seeing others as people with needs and desires; it's the very reason we vote to support LGBTQ+ people when we are note LGBTQ+ ourselves, people of color when we are white, immigrants when we are citizens, the poor and marginalized when we are privileged, the homeless though we are housed comfortably, women's rights though many of us are men, and so on. The people who elected Trump AGAIN are in a cult, not thinking clearly and cannot be reasoned with or the results would have been very different. Harris was a candidate very willing to compromise; too much in fact for some folks. To be sure, they now with full control of our government, will not budge a millimeter toward us.
Sorry Jon, but "we" are the ones who need to wake up.
Mad, I TOTALLY agree with that. Sorry if my post wasn't clear. My point was muddy as my thinking this morning has definitely been affected, but I absolutely understand that WE need to be the ones who try to figure out how to move forward. I know it won't be easy. Compromise never is.
Surpringly, i agree with your last paragraph! The magas care only about ‘me’, just like the amoral monster they elected! Will NATO go to war without US support to protect Ukraine from Putin’s massacre?
As the expression goes "they (NATO) got nuthin"...., at the moment, let alone "resolve", the Brits have brexit'd. Hope they (the Brits) are paying attention. - but, probably not.
💔💔💔
You are a isle of sanity in a sea of muck.
Lucky you. California is blue. But getting redder by the year. 😭
I’m sorry, kinda losing faith in humanity here…the media; all members allowed chump to get away with everything. Can you recall any of them actually standing up to him?
When did the word lie become obsolete?
He didn’t misrepresent, it wasn’t misinterpreted or misguided. It was a big fat lie. Because he has lied his whole miserable life. This is where the print media let us down .
Democracy has died in darkness.
There has been a tremendous amount of sane-washing in the media and I'm laying a lot of theh blame at the feet of Merrick Garland. What a waste of an AG when we really needed someone with courage and determination.
The people who voted MAGA don’t read legacy media.
Sleep well, and thank you. I switched off all news and am watching a Hallmark movie. I needed the distraction. Good Night
I too have turned of all news for the rest of the night. I debated whether to distract myself by watching All the President's Men or the last moments of the film Secretariat and his 31 length win at Belmont. I chose that. Good night and thank you for common sense, Heather. It's not yet over and the sun will rise tomorrow. Sleep well.
I binged The Diplomat
A good show to binge!!
I'm watching multiple hockey games on NHL Center Ice.
Smart.
The Sun is rising over Moscow, and Putin is eager to uncork the champagne.
He drinks only blood.
😭
Read Joyce Vance’s column. Bomb threats in Georgia by Russians and the RNC did not want voting hours extended. If that was the secret plan, heads should roll. DOJ—do not wait!
More cheating and dirty tricks than any can know. Coast to coast
What DOJ? If Merrick Garland had done his job after January 6, we wouldn’t be in this mess. Too bad he didn’t make it on to the supreme court. Maybe we’d have someone in the DOJ with balls if he had. Look where his being “politically correct” has gotten us all.
DOJ has been emasculated! The judge who sucked up to trump in the documents will be the new AG! Loose Cannon!
Rest easy professor. I am hoping that tomorrow morning brings the US a new path forward with the election of Kamala Harris
You wrote this 6 hours ago. It is already virtually over. Trump has 267 electors and Alaska with 3 has yet to be called. Unfortunately it is pretty much over.
Yes , I am cautiously optimistic it will however it might be a couple days before we know .
I’m not worried about the sun coming up. I hate to sound so cynical but it’s where I’m at. I’m in disbelief that this election is so close. That so many people can vote for such a despicable person and not see the danger to our democracy. I used to wonder how Hitler came to power. How more people didn’t stand up and do something. I am now seeing how it all unfolded. And the sun came up the next day in Germany. God help us. I hope I’m wrong and this turns out differently.
I wondered the same, but I have watched it unfold.
What I'm having a hard time grasping is that of the few forums I dared to peek into today that are all Republican saturated, they seem to think that THEY have saved us from a fascist regime. They think Trump is our return to democracy (also to "traditional values" whatever that actually means). That the danger was Kamala and the Dems and their identity politics and the "open border" (which if that were true we just, wouldn't have a border???) and the inflation and economy that the Dems have been LYING about. Also the fact that the Dems are some kind of shady shadow cabal and Trump may be repugnant but at least he's honest about it.
I can't get my head around it! Each side is saying the EXACT SAME THING about the other side. We are living in two different realities. My neighbor and I may as well be in different countries!
I just want the truth. I'm never going to get it.
Thank you, Heather, for your “Manila Folders” idea from the chat today. We’ve done our work to advance democracy and now it’s out of our hands (unless we’re in the vote counting/certifying loop). You are right—regardless of who wins, we will still have a battle on our hands when it’s our circus and our monkeys.
Have a good night. I have a huge knot in my stomach.
Sleep well, Obi Cox KeRichardson - and give us hope…!
Beautiful Obi-wan reference 🥰
Thank you Heather🩷
See you on the other side.
For all you do, Heather, thank you.
I’ve seen all the election results I need to see. Regardless of who becomes the next president, the election results verify an incontrovertible fact: Within the margin of error, fully one half of Americans are racist, misogynist, fascist, or some combination thereof.
the kinder version is that many of them are intelluctually lazy and have too short attention spans to read anything more than a headline.
It's been 9 hours. I am feeling the opposite of kind. First, in order to be intellectually lazy, one must have an intellect. I'm seeing no evidence of such. Second, there have been plenty of headlines that should have given even the most devout cult follower pause. None of them paused. They blinked, burped and said, "I'm voting for the guy who's going to deport all the brown people and put men in charge of things."
And I consider them enemies of my America. It’s more than political differences.
Greedy, stupid, brainwashed cult members
Aided by Fox and right -wing social media that have made hatred and fear their message.