I had no idea it would be this bad

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I didn't vote for Trump. I voted for Harris, I even took a few weekends to bike around exurban Pennsylvania to knock on doors for Harris. I had a brief surge of enthusiasm for Harris mainly because she wasn't Biden.

That said, this time around when Trump won, my reaction was... "meh, whatever, we'll get through it." Not the outrage like I had in 2016. A part of me felt like the Democrats kind of deserved to lose, the DNC has been so cringe and awful in recent years, and though I personally lean left, I felt like the Dems had overreached on a bunch of woke stuff that most Americans don't care about. That, and a bunch of people I know who are immigrants and people of color had soured on the Democrats and had become Trump-curious for a variety of reasons, and I didn't want to be one of those whiny white liberals who thought she knew better than anyone else. On top of it all, Trump 1 wasn't as horrific as I thought he would be, he was mostly embarrassing and clownish, but the economy hummed along. His foreign policy was dumb but didn't cause outright disasters just yet. All in all, 2017-2019 weren't terrible years for the average American. So I didn't join any marches or protests or sew any pink hats or rant on social media. I figured, well, he's pushing 80, he's kind of nuts and also just lazy, maybe he'll spend his whole term just golfing and tweeting and nothing will happen.

I had no idea how wrong I would be. How horrible things would get and so quickly. It's so much worse than anyone ever expected. I am truly afraid. Everyone is worried for their lives and livelihoods. Everything is bad, everything is a mess, it's so obviously an authoritarian oligarchy and it is no longer crying wolf. It's absolutely unbelievable. I thought American democratic institutions were strong enough to withstand a madman and his cult, but apparently not.

The constitution is literally a piece. Of paper. We imbue it with meaning.

That is the problem, along with Americans are too trusting and Americans think they’re owed something. You’re not owed clean water, fast internet, safe housing, medical help. There are people all across the globe who don’t have those things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Democrats just aren't appealing to anyone.

That’s overstating things given Harris lost by 1.5% despite such a short and flawed campaign and almost definitely not being who Dems would’ve nominated if there had been a real primary. “There would be a Dem in the White House if Biden had bowed out before the primary” is a simpler explanation than “Dems don’t appeal to anyone despite nearly getting half the vote.”

Biden could not have bowed out earlier given the need to not be a lame duck on the Hill or before the world stage and there isn't anyone but Harris who could have picked up the mantel and made a serious run at the white House without totally fracturing the party with a lame "mini primary" in August before the election.

Sure he could’ve. There was no “need” not to be a lame duck president; many before have done so. It’s not like he didn’t campaign as a “transition president” in 2020! He lied. (And fwiw I voted for him and Harris.)

I’m sick of people holding Dems to a different standard. So he “lied” (or changed his mind; people do that). BFD. Politicians make empty promises and lie all the time (whether they should be able to is a flaw in our system). Why do people ALWAYS point it out for Dems and are so disappointed by it. Newsflash: Trump lied his way through his first term. He lied his way through his campaign. And he lies every day in office.

Are you just ranting? I never said Trump doesn’t lie. I didn’t vote for him. I voted for Harris, and Biden before. Trump didn’t win only because Biden lied, but if Biden hadn’t lied and actually stepped aside before it was too late, the Dems win. Any loss should be a time of reflection to understand what could’ve changed the outcome. You can bury your head in the sand, but as a party the Dems need to learn from their many mistakes and not rely on the other side behaving themselves. They have shown they will not.

Perhaps if they had Bashear instead of Harris. Exactly how do you tell the sitting vice president, a woman of color, to step aside and what impact do you think that would have had on the democratic base of voters?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Democrats just aren't appealing to anyone.

That’s overstating things given Harris lost by 1.5% despite such a short and flawed campaign and almost definitely not being who Dems would’ve nominated if there had been a real primary. “There would be a Dem in the White House if Biden had bowed out before the primary” is a simpler explanation than “Dems don’t appeal to anyone despite nearly getting half the vote.”

Biden could not have bowed out earlier given the need to not be a lame duck on the Hill or before the world stage and there isn't anyone but Harris who could have picked up the mantel and made a serious run at the white House without totally fracturing the party with a lame "mini primary" in August before the election.

Sure he could’ve. There was no “need” not to be a lame duck president; many before have done so. It’s not like he didn’t campaign as a “transition president” in 2020! He lied. (And fwiw I voted for him and Harris.)

I’m sick of people holding Dems to a different standard. So he “lied” (or changed his mind; people do that). BFD. Politicians make empty promises and lie all the time (whether they should be able to is a flaw in our system). Why do people ALWAYS point it out for Dems and are so disappointed by it. Newsflash: Trump lied his way through his first term. He lied his way through his campaign. And he lies every day in office.

Are you just ranting? I never said Trump doesn’t lie. I didn’t vote for him. I voted for Harris, and Biden before. Trump didn’t win only because Biden lied, but if Biden hadn’t lied and actually stepped aside before it was too late, the Dems win. Any loss should be a time of reflection to understand what could’ve changed the outcome. You can bury your head in the sand, but as a party the Dems need to learn from their many mistakes and not rely on the other side behaving themselves. They have shown they will not.

Perhaps if they had Bashear instead of Harris. Exactly how do you tell the sitting vice president, a woman of color, to step aside and what impact do you think that would have had on the democratic base of voters?

You wouldn’t have had to tell Harris to step aside if there had been a real primary. The voters do that for you. And perhaps they would’ve selected a different woman or person of color.

[Anonymous]

The man presented no plans at all and tried to deflect Project 2025. All anyone had to do was read what that was and be terrified. All those people who showed up to support Harris knew.

[Anonymous]

The January 6th insurrection and accusations of voter fraud weren’t enough for you to know how bad it was going to be? Let alone all his threats over the next four years and then Harris told us…

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't vote for Trump. I voted for Harris, I even took a few weekends to bike around exurban Pennsylvania to knock on doors for Harris. I had a brief surge of enthusiasm for Harris mainly because she wasn't Biden.

That said, this time around when Trump won, my reaction was... "meh, whatever, we'll get through it." Not the outrage like I had in 2016. A part of me felt like the Democrats kind of deserved to lose, the DNC has been so cringe and awful in recent years, and though I personally lean left, I felt like the Dems had overreached on a bunch of woke stuff that most Americans don't care about. That, and a bunch of people I know who are immigrants and people of color had soured on the Democrats and had become Trump-curious for a variety of reasons, and I didn't want to be one of those whiny white liberals who thought she knew better than anyone else. On top of it all, Trump 1 wasn't as horrific as I thought he would be, he was mostly embarrassing and clownish, but the economy hummed along. His foreign policy was dumb but didn't cause outright disasters just yet. All in all, 2017-2019 weren't terrible years for the average American. So I didn't join any marches or protests or sew any pink hats or rant on social media. I figured, well, he's pushing 80, he's kind of nuts and also just lazy, maybe he'll spend his whole term just golfing and tweeting and nothing will happen.

I had no idea how wrong I would be. How horrible things would get and so quickly. It's so much worse than anyone ever expected. I am truly afraid. Everyone is worried for their lives and livelihoods. Everything is bad, everything is a mess, it's so obviously an authoritarian oligarchy and it is no longer crying wolf. It's absolutely unbelievable. I thought American democratic institutions were strong enough to withstand a madman and his cult, but apparently not.

The constitution is literally a piece. Of paper. We imbue it with meaning.

^^
Another reason people don’t trust Democrats.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading is all it takes to know it would be this bad.

This....I can't believe when people say they are surprised at what he is doing. It was all there and we all watched J6.

I’m well read on Project 2025 and other stuff and nope, did not think it would be so bad . Sorry i thought Congress and the most powerful law firms and universities in the world had a bit if a spine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I knew he hated black and brown people, but I didn't think he would try to erase our history and erase us in general. He wants us gone from the history books.

Yet, he just signed an executive order to fund HBCUs. The history of black people in America will never be erased.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I didn't vote for Trump. I voted for Harris, I even took a few weekends to bike around exurban Pennsylvania to knock on doors for Harris. I had a brief surge of enthusiasm for Harris mainly because she wasn't Biden.

That said, this time around when Trump won, my reaction was... "meh, whatever, we'll get through it." Not the outrage like I had in 2016. A part of me felt like the Democrats kind of deserved to lose, the DNC has been so cringe and awful in recent years, and though I personally lean left, I felt like the Dems had overreached on a bunch of woke stuff that most Americans don't care about. That, and a bunch of people I know who are immigrants and people of color had soured on the Democrats and had become Trump-curious for a variety of reasons, and I didn't want to be one of those whiny white liberals who thought she knew better than anyone else. On top of it all, Trump 1 wasn't as horrific as I thought he would be, he was mostly embarrassing and clownish, but the economy hummed along. His foreign policy was dumb but didn't cause outright disasters just yet. All in all, 2017-2019 weren't terrible years for the average American. So I didn't join any marches or protests or sew any pink hats or rant on social media. I figured, well, he's pushing 80, he's kind of nuts and also just lazy, maybe he'll spend his whole term just golfing and tweeting and nothing will happen.

I had no idea how wrong I would be. How horrible things would get and so quickly. It's so much worse than anyone ever expected. I am truly afraid. Everyone is worried for their lives and livelihoods. Everything is bad, everything is a mess, it's so obviously an authoritarian oligarchy and it is no longer crying wolf. It's absolutely unbelievable. I thought American democratic institutions were strong enough to withstand a madman and his cult, but apparently not.

The constitution is literally a piece. Of paper. We imbue it with meaning.

^^
Another reason people don’t trust Democrats.

LOL. Can't help making sh!t up. Please enlighten us, especially with Trump trying to jail people who speak against him. You know, ignoring the FIRST amendment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
All New Yorkers idolized Trump, INCLUDING brown and black New Yorkers, because DEMOCRAT TRUMP was one of their major DONORS.

New Yorkers have always disliked Trump, even when he was a Dem. That’s why he changed parties. New York society never accepted him and everyone else could also see through his constant business scams and fake success too.

This is just it. All the money in the world and buildings with his name on them could never really gain him acceptance from NYC society. Their ancestors put their names on libraries and museums. They donated to local universities. He couldn't really draw the respect of the regular New Yorkers either, with his antics. So he had to turn to politics to gain power then pay them all back for locking him out.

[Anonymous]

Trump won because of the deep intense anger Americans have toward their govt and lifestyles.

Trump won as a result of our societal dysfunction. We elected this nut job because so many of us became nut jobs.

It's political but also cultural. The reason it's going from bad to worse and will continue faltering is because society is rotting from inside out. We weren't strong to begin with or we wouldn't be in this situation. What country elects a felon?!!!? Unless it's a messed up country!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Reading is all it takes to know it would be this bad.

Everyone knew he was going to at least try to implement Project 2025. So far, he's been foiled at most every turn, but he sure is trying awfully hard to end our democracy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is everything I expected in 2016. I take no satisfaction in proving the people who called me hysterical and a conspiracy theorist wrong. Just another of a million examples of how women are ignored.

You were wrong in 2016.

And your hysteria created the opportunity for 2020 to happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Reading is all it takes to know it would be this bad.

Everyone knew he was going to at least try to implement Project 2025. So far, he's been foiled at most every turn, but he sure is trying awfully hard to end our democracy.

Are you kidding? Many of our federal agencies have been completely shredded, our foreign policy apparatus crippled and the data of every American totally compromised.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Democrats just aren't appealing to anyone.

That’s overstating things given Harris lost by 1.5% despite such a short and flawed campaign and almost definitely not being who Dems would’ve nominated if there had been a real primary. “There would be a Dem in the White House if Biden had bowed out before the primary” is a simpler explanation than “Dems don’t appeal to anyone despite nearly getting half the vote.”

This. MAGA likes to believe that he won by 25%, but he didn't.

I think a lot of Dems also don't want Trump or Republican lite. That would be a mistake. AOC is appealing to more than the Dem base. People wanted change.

People want economic change but they don’t want illegal immigrants pouring across the border or trans swimmers setting women’s swimming records. Dems need to tack left on economics - like AOC and Bernie - but tack right on social issues - like Seth Moulten or Tester - if they want to have a hope of winning a national election.