Will Democrats look back in regret for attending Comrade Trump's inauguration?

[kentuck]

How many will say they wish they hadn't done it?

They say hindsight is 20/20.

In my opinion, it is a matter of judgement. No Democrat should give credibility or legitimacy to someone so threatening to our society and our democracy. He has earned no respect.

I really don't want to hear Democrats say in the future that it was a mistake to give legitimacy to such an indecent and unprincipled person. Anything that builds up Trump is bad for our country.

[HopeAgain]

1. The peaceful transition of power

Many feel that this is bigger than Trump. They say they are going to attend out of respect for the American system, the peaceful transition of power and the reverence of democracy, not out of respect for Trump.

That may not be a popular view on here, but I'm not in the position of having to make such difficult decision and don't judge those who decide either way.

[Cattledog]

3. What does attending have to do with "peaceful"?

This also assumes we are in a "democracy".

[vi5]

2. I'm more concerned with what they do AFTER the inauguration..

Attending a ceremony or not is less important to me than them fighting him every step of the way and calling him and the Republicans out on their bullshit every day, and fighting for progressive values.

Whether they quietly sit in a seat for a ceremony on a particular day will have less of an impact on history of judgment of their actions than how they choose to do their actual jobs once he is in office.

[HopeAgain]

4. Exactly n/t

[bettyellen]

8. Yep- the sum total of their actions matters most. Fed up w bullshit demands of purity .....

And praise over purely symbolic actions.
Same people holding up pitchforks to HRC stopped when they realized it's very likely Sanders will attend. Funny how that works.

[sarah FAILIN]

5. I think the whole "peaceful transition" is bs considering how he won

The entire election was manipulated by a foreign power and I can not respect this. There is no legitimate transfer of power to me when the man manipulated the voters with falsehoods to win and there is collusion with our enemy.

No way would I want to be there for any reason.

[nini]

6. I will not be watching

but I can only imagine the looks on the faces of those who do out of respect whether I agree or not.

It'll be stink eye central for a bit.

[trof]

7. They lend 'authenticity' to his administration by attending.

And I don't know why they would want to do that.
He shit all over the Bushs.
He shit all over the Clintons.
And I really thought Jimmy Carter had more integrity than this.

I am terribly disappointed in all of them.
Apparently they think it's "the right thing to do".
It. Is. Not.

[kentuck]

9. It will only empower him more...

in my opinion.

He should be confronted at every turn. He should be made weaker, not stronger.

Those that attend the event indicate that they are willing to compromise with him and he takes that as a victory. It has nothing to do with a smooth "transition of power".

[trof]

10. I agree.