Unfortunately the way our system works we convert a few tenths of a percentage of the vote in a few states into a massive transfer of authority. So, the country spoke and the words it said were?
The words the country spoke last night were very simple. We rebuke politics as usual and want something different. We are tired of Washington the way it was and the infighting.
I don’t think it’s that simple. Why did so many incumbent Senators stay in power? Apparently most Americans are not tired of sending some of the same people to Washington.
Shocked. But not a surprise. If there is one takeaway from this election is that we failed to listen to each other. Putting aside, if that is possible, all the rhetoric and hateful things said, I continue to believe that we must first seek to listen, understand and respond with dignity. A segment of our country has spoken. Whether we wanted to hear it or not, they are mad and many are hurting. I am not certain the response is now for us to move forward because I do not know what forward means. But, if we are to come together as a nation, I defer to those who believe in reconciliation. As for affordable health care for all, reaching out to those who are disenfranchised, welcoming people to our shores who hope for a better life, fairness to women…these are just a few of the things I will continue to support. I am determined to not let despair take over my thoughts and actions.
Hugh said this beautifully; as a Trump voter (not my first choice from the party, but I voted for him in the general) I want the exact same things as he does:
“As for affordable health care for all (Obamacare achieved the opposite), reaching out to those who are disenfranchised (keeping them locked in poverty robs them of their humanity), welcoming people to our shores who hope for a better life (legally), fairness to women (goes without saying, who doesn’t?)……these are just a few of the things I will continue to support (as do all Trump supporters, unless you believe the media narrative, which Wikileaks proved to be the DNC narrative). I am determined to not let despair take over my thoughts and actions (if you truly want all of the above, keep an open mind and see if you aren’t pleasantly surprised in a few years).
“Fairness to women” includes the right to control our own bodies. I volunteered 15 days at polling sites in SW Florida and the vitriol directed at me by hundreds of Trump supporters about abortion was appalling. I was called a baby killer dozens of times. I was also called a pedophile twice. For the record, I am neither.
I spent a number of hours with a “proud boy”, who was really an ‘immature” boy. His shocking lack of knowledge (he confused the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the Civil Rights Act of 1866) was stunning. He is part of a cult. An armed cult, as he repeatedly reminded me.
I did have normal conversations with several Trump supporters who were woefully unaware of what Biden and most Dems stand for. This tells me we need to communicate better and promote our ideals through a wider variety of media. The Democratic Ivory Tower that is MSNBC, needs to move out of their safe home offices and see what is happening outside the cities, especially NYC and DC.
Trump was an abomination. He shredded norms, laws and decency in this country. He was extraordinarily gifted at identifying our fault lines and exacerbating our divisions – the opposite of leadership. If he had promoted masks (as simple as that) he would have been reelected. That said, I think we needed him to prove just how fragile and racist this democratic republic is in order to be able to take a stab at fixing it. And I guess we needed covid-19 to show just how ineffective a leader he is.
Move over Boomers. We have had more than enough time in power. It is time for us to step aside and let a younger more diverse crop of leaders assume leadership roles. They are raring to go.
It appears that Trump and his followers were right when they said that Washington was not listening to them and was not aware of or did not care what they were thinking or wanting or needing. That is why the leaders in both parties (as well as most of the media and the pollsters) badly missed how huge numbers of people were so fed up with PAU (politics as usual) that they were willing, indeed eager, to vote for such a questionable person. Maybe Congress should not stay in session 350 days of the year but take three or four mandatory recesses to force Congress members to return to their States where they are more likely to test the mood of the voters.
In fact, Trump’s negative characteristics were apparently seen by many as actually being assets in some ways because they clearly demonstrated that Trump was willing to flout certain cultural rules in order to achieve his goals and that was seen as proof that he would also be willing to flout certain political rules for the same purpose.
So now that we know he is capable of turning things upside down, the question is whether he can he direct his efforts as President to meaningful projects and go after them in unconventional ways that will bring the support of a majority of elected Congress with him.
His election calls into doubt the entire liberal agenda of using the Federal government to address so many “issues” and adds strength to the apparent desires of many in this country to deny that these problems even exist or to acknowledge their existence but to ignore them or to agree that something needs to be done but to leave the solutions to the purview of the States, and let the Federal judiciary to sort out any conflicts. It denies that many issues are so national in scope that they require national solutions.
This is not good news for those who are concerned with climate change, energy policy, education, or health care where many (who roared yesterday) want to use the “marketplace” to decide what is to be done, if anything.
This was an election that demonstrated that when people believe that big government is sitting on their faces and smothering them, they will have no hesitation about biting the offending butt as vigorously as possible.
Perspective and context are in order here. First, Hillary earned SEVEN million fewer votes than Barack Obama did, while Trump earned the same number of votes as Mitt Romney. That tells us that if you demonize your opponent often enough, it will suppress his (or her) supporters significantly, in this case by 10%. Trump wins the battle, but he is far from winning the war, primarily because he won the battle by sewing seeds of dissent amongst the electorate. Second, if you nominate a candidate who is unable to battle the opponent on equal terms, you will be placed at a significant disadvantage in terms of winning the battle, much less the war.
The next battle is how the Freedom Caucus and Establishment Republicans in the Congress will reconcile. Then, how will the Dems in the Senate caucus? Will they follow the paradigm of McConnell’s filibuster, or will they cooperate with their opponent? The Freedom Caucus, Trump’s political ally, is against every executive order Obama issued. A move by Trump to get a Democratic-style infrastructure works bill introduced, probably in the Senate, is the first battle to watch for. It won’t reconcile in the House, unless the Dems break tradition and ally themselves with Establishment Republicans, handing Trump the Presidency through 2024.
Issues also in play – transition, cabinet, govt. healthcare, immigration reform, trade initiatives, climate change negotiations, defense treaties, Supreme Court, defense spending, etc.
Please, folks!
Watch “/the Social Dilemma” on Netflix!
It delineates how we have devolved into divisive, hate-filled camps through social media. It’s a documentary by Tristan Harris that lays out how shockingly easy it is to hook users into deeper and deeper conspiracy theories–and how difficult it will be to climb out of them–nigh impossible-unless we want to save our democracy which is in extremis right now!
Micah Sifry said:
Unfortunately the way our system works we convert a few tenths of a percentage of the vote in a few states into a massive transfer of authority. So, the country spoke and the words it said were?
Richard said:
That’s what we have to figure out.
Cindy Margolies said:
Well said.
Cindy Margolies said:
My comment was in response to Richard.
I think the message is alot of people are hurting out there and feeling ignored.
Richard said:
That too is one of the important messages.
Justin Stoyer said:
The words the country spoke last night were very simple. We rebuke politics as usual and want something different. We are tired of Washington the way it was and the infighting.
Elizabeth said:
I don’t think it’s that simple. Why did so many incumbent Senators stay in power? Apparently most Americans are not tired of sending some of the same people to Washington.
Richard said:
That is clearly one of the important messages.
Hugh said:
Shocked. But not a surprise. If there is one takeaway from this election is that we failed to listen to each other. Putting aside, if that is possible, all the rhetoric and hateful things said, I continue to believe that we must first seek to listen, understand and respond with dignity. A segment of our country has spoken. Whether we wanted to hear it or not, they are mad and many are hurting. I am not certain the response is now for us to move forward because I do not know what forward means. But, if we are to come together as a nation, I defer to those who believe in reconciliation. As for affordable health care for all, reaching out to those who are disenfranchised, welcoming people to our shores who hope for a better life, fairness to women…these are just a few of the things I will continue to support. I am determined to not let despair take over my thoughts and actions.
Richard said:
Indeed.
Anon-2 said:
Hugh said this beautifully; as a Trump voter (not my first choice from the party, but I voted for him in the general) I want the exact same things as he does:
“As for affordable health care for all (Obamacare achieved the opposite), reaching out to those who are disenfranchised (keeping them locked in poverty robs them of their humanity), welcoming people to our shores who hope for a better life (legally), fairness to women (goes without saying, who doesn’t?)……these are just a few of the things I will continue to support (as do all Trump supporters, unless you believe the media narrative, which Wikileaks proved to be the DNC narrative). I am determined to not let despair take over my thoughts and actions (if you truly want all of the above, keep an open mind and see if you aren’t pleasantly surprised in a few years).
Denise Candea said:
“Fairness to women” includes the right to control our own bodies. I volunteered 15 days at polling sites in SW Florida and the vitriol directed at me by hundreds of Trump supporters about abortion was appalling. I was called a baby killer dozens of times. I was also called a pedophile twice. For the record, I am neither.
I spent a number of hours with a “proud boy”, who was really an ‘immature” boy. His shocking lack of knowledge (he confused the Civil Rights Act of 1964 with the Civil Rights Act of 1866) was stunning. He is part of a cult. An armed cult, as he repeatedly reminded me.
I did have normal conversations with several Trump supporters who were woefully unaware of what Biden and most Dems stand for. This tells me we need to communicate better and promote our ideals through a wider variety of media. The Democratic Ivory Tower that is MSNBC, needs to move out of their safe home offices and see what is happening outside the cities, especially NYC and DC.
Trump was an abomination. He shredded norms, laws and decency in this country. He was extraordinarily gifted at identifying our fault lines and exacerbating our divisions – the opposite of leadership. If he had promoted masks (as simple as that) he would have been reelected. That said, I think we needed him to prove just how fragile and racist this democratic republic is in order to be able to take a stab at fixing it. And I guess we needed covid-19 to show just how ineffective a leader he is.
Move over Boomers. We have had more than enough time in power. It is time for us to step aside and let a younger more diverse crop of leaders assume leadership roles. They are raring to go.
Bonnie Johnson said:
Richard, Pegram and I are in shock also, but concur with all your friends and their well stated thoughts.
Land Wayland said:
It appears that Trump and his followers were right when they said that Washington was not listening to them and was not aware of or did not care what they were thinking or wanting or needing. That is why the leaders in both parties (as well as most of the media and the pollsters) badly missed how huge numbers of people were so fed up with PAU (politics as usual) that they were willing, indeed eager, to vote for such a questionable person. Maybe Congress should not stay in session 350 days of the year but take three or four mandatory recesses to force Congress members to return to their States where they are more likely to test the mood of the voters.
In fact, Trump’s negative characteristics were apparently seen by many as actually being assets in some ways because they clearly demonstrated that Trump was willing to flout certain cultural rules in order to achieve his goals and that was seen as proof that he would also be willing to flout certain political rules for the same purpose.
So now that we know he is capable of turning things upside down, the question is whether he can he direct his efforts as President to meaningful projects and go after them in unconventional ways that will bring the support of a majority of elected Congress with him.
His election calls into doubt the entire liberal agenda of using the Federal government to address so many “issues” and adds strength to the apparent desires of many in this country to deny that these problems even exist or to acknowledge their existence but to ignore them or to agree that something needs to be done but to leave the solutions to the purview of the States, and let the Federal judiciary to sort out any conflicts. It denies that many issues are so national in scope that they require national solutions.
This is not good news for those who are concerned with climate change, energy policy, education, or health care where many (who roared yesterday) want to use the “marketplace” to decide what is to be done, if anything.
This was an election that demonstrated that when people believe that big government is sitting on their faces and smothering them, they will have no hesitation about biting the offending butt as vigorously as possible.
Jim Cooke said:
Perspective and context are in order here. First, Hillary earned SEVEN million fewer votes than Barack Obama did, while Trump earned the same number of votes as Mitt Romney. That tells us that if you demonize your opponent often enough, it will suppress his (or her) supporters significantly, in this case by 10%. Trump wins the battle, but he is far from winning the war, primarily because he won the battle by sewing seeds of dissent amongst the electorate. Second, if you nominate a candidate who is unable to battle the opponent on equal terms, you will be placed at a significant disadvantage in terms of winning the battle, much less the war.
The next battle is how the Freedom Caucus and Establishment Republicans in the Congress will reconcile. Then, how will the Dems in the Senate caucus? Will they follow the paradigm of McConnell’s filibuster, or will they cooperate with their opponent? The Freedom Caucus, Trump’s political ally, is against every executive order Obama issued. A move by Trump to get a Democratic-style infrastructure works bill introduced, probably in the Senate, is the first battle to watch for. It won’t reconcile in the House, unless the Dems break tradition and ally themselves with Establishment Republicans, handing Trump the Presidency through 2024.
Issues also in play – transition, cabinet, govt. healthcare, immigration reform, trade initiatives, climate change negotiations, defense treaties, Supreme Court, defense spending, etc.
Nancy Cedar Wilson said:
Please, folks!
Watch “/the Social Dilemma” on Netflix!
It delineates how we have devolved into divisive, hate-filled camps through social media. It’s a documentary by Tristan Harris that lays out how shockingly easy it is to hook users into deeper and deeper conspiracy theories–and how difficult it will be to climb out of them–nigh impossible-unless we want to save our democracy which is in extremis right now!
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