Why did we lose?

[AirmensMom]

I was going to reply to a thread that has now been removed. I went to all the trouble of writing my reply, so here it is:

She lost because of whiny-assed people who didn't get their pony and completely ignored the consequences of electing the orange fascist. She lost because of white people who really, really like racism. She lost because the churches in our country preach to their sheep that Democrats will go to hell over abortion and gay marriage. She lost because Putin, Comey, et. al. interfered. She lost because somehow emails were more important to people than bigotry, Islamophbia, sexual assault, bullying, and all the other deplorable things he-who-must-not-be-named stands for. She lost because people were too fucking stupid to realize that the reason that our government doesn't work is because of THEIR obstructionist Congress, which they largely voted back in. There are a lot of reasons why she lost. Mostly because of us, the voters, not her.

I was for Bernie. But I have read enough to know that they would have slaughtered him in the GE. They were going to hit him with shit after the primaries, and it would have stuck. The polling during the primaries meant nothing to the GE. I also watched every night of our convention and every debate. I learned about all the good that Hillary has done and would continue to do. I went from wanting to maybe vote for her, in a state that didn't matter, holding my nose, to enthusiastically casting my historical vote.

I am so over the idea that our candidate has to inspire people to vote. Vote for the country, damn it! The hatred for her was a result of decades of smears. Trump was teflon. Ridiculing the disabled reporter should have been the end of him. The real truth is that the horrible people voted for him and the not-so-horrible people who could have swayed it our way stayed home sucking their thumbs or decided that all the vile things he stands for are acceptable. Stupid white women (I'm a white woman, so flame away...) who relied on their neanderthal men to tell them who to vote for cast their ballots for someone who made sexual assault acceptable. They are the worst, in my opinion. They know nothing about trade deals or the economy and couldn't give a rat's ass about any of that. It's a sad commentary on our country that such shameful attitudes and behavior, coupled with absolute ignorance of governing beat an historically dedicated and qualified candidate.

I honestly don't know what the formula for us to win is. What I do know is that the things that won in this election are not things I will ever be able to get behind. Hillary was our only hope and we squandered it.

[Initech]

1. Hillary is not our only hope.

And we won the election, it was stolen from us. It was stolen from us by 35 years of attacks on Hillary. It was stolen by a bullshit email scandal and an FBI director who has his head firmly in his ass and committed not only an act of election fraud, but something that could potentially be treasonous. It stolen by foreign interests like Putin who had way too much influence in our election. Hillary isn't our only hope. There's someone out there who can beat Trump in 2020. Plus we need to be united in 2018. We have the chance to make Trump a lame duck president and we need to make sure that happens.

[AirmensMom]

3. Thank you.

For now I think she was our only hope. Not just because we would have had a much better president but because we might have had a better Congress.

My question is: How do we get people to vote in 2018 when they historically stay home for midterms? How did so many republicans get re-elected? When things go bad, the country tends to blame the Democrats who were anywhere within shouting distance of D.C. When they go well, they credit Republicans.

I don't mean to be so negative. I am just so disillusioned by how wrong I was about the character of people in our country. We had a hard enough time under our wonderful President Obama because of the evil Republicans in Congress. I am just as discouraged about losing the Senate as I am about Hillary losing. Yes, I am aware that she won the popular vote. Sometimes that makes me put on my tin foil hat.

[Initech]

10. I think we need to unite to stop Trump. That should be our #1 priority.

But the media is saying it's our fault for painting the republicans as the racist/ sexist / misogynist / white supremacist that they are cost us the election. I think that's bullshit. Even people in our own party have been buying into this meme. We need to keep showing those people for who they really are. We can't be brought down by emails when they keep getting away with racism, sexism, misogyny, white supremacy, and xenophobia on a daily basis.

[AirmensMom]

13. You are right.

The media is largely at fault for not telling the truth. Now they are normalizing all the vile things that we know are true about the orange turd and his followers.

I don't know how we can unite when we can't even agree on basic things. Hell, my own husband, who is a liberal Democrat and voted for Hillary, can't agree with me that even if you aren't all those things, voting any way other than for Hillary means you're at the very least ok with them. Anything else elects the racist/sexist/misogynist/white supremacist orange turd.

Could be that I'm a tad emotional about this, but I will gladly own what might appear extreme to some.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. We have become complacent...

We are far more worried about keeping what we have than we care about the future and what we could be.

[AirmensMom]

4. Yes, that is true, I suppose ...

Except that I can't wrap my head around any notion that we are guaranteed to keep what we have.

I am shocked by the number of people who don't vote, especially those demographics who had to fight for the right to vote. My mother never voted unless my dad dragged her to the polling place and told her how to vote. My grown daughters don't vote, no matter how much I talk with them about it. Some, not all, of my nieces vote. I feel like hitting my head against a brick wall would be more effective than trying to talk to people who think it just doesn't matter.

[TreasonousBastard]

5. That's the fear-- that we have no guarantees, so hold on to what we have...

Historically, union organizers have had tough times convincing workers that they should risk what little they have for the chance of a better life. And that's pretty much the problem we face. It's really a tough choice to make

It's a lot easier to not vote and make excuses that your vote means nothing anyway than it is to make, and then to defend, a choice. We'll be seeing a lot of Bernie Bros telling us it's not their fault Trump won since they took the "higher road" and would not lower their standards to vote for Hillary.

I really have no idea how we get better turnout. And more informed turnout.

[AirmensMom]

8. Anyone who dares tell me they didn't vote

gets a tongue lashing from me. They DID elect the evil one. There is responsibility for our inaction as well as our action.

As long as we keep allowing churches to preach politics without taxing them, and as long as we continue to weaken our education system, it will be difficult to have a more informed turnout.

[Guilded Lilly]

6. No definitive answer...

And no one answer will help get rid of the anger, anguish, frustration of our loses. The following is just this one woman's opinion:

The reason that guts me the worst is that Liberals tend to have souls and consciences. Conservatives and "alts" don't. For all their Bible spouting, they are the least spiritual beings in existence.

The Cretinous Blowhard got away with every foul action and vile words because his base IS base. They have no accountability or responsibility for their behavior, so no matter what was flung at or from their megalomaniac, lying conman messiah, it was not going to make a dent.

When you try to insult lowlife, you can't. When you try to shame them, you can't. When you try to reason with them, they spit on you. When you try to walk a higher path, they will crap on your shoes.

As for the seemingly sane, adult and responsible supporters of the Cretin and the Republican party, when you love money more than humans, you tend to misplace your humanity. A vote for a walking scumbag can always be rationalized away for love of cold hard coins over warm human decency. There is souless power in the cash.

However, these jagoffs know that they can wound people with consciences and souls by a mere glancing blow or suggestion of impropriety because their targets give a damn. It is the easiest and most effective weapon of the bully mindset. Giving a damn is the much harder win.

The day after the election I ranted mostly in email to my closest friends and family. I didn't post on the "waiting for DU" to return from the hacking ashes because I was just too emotionally distraught at the pain everyone was sharing.

But here it is anyway:

"Subject: What I won't be posting anywhere but My sentiments...exactly.

How do I feel?

Stunned, angry, scared, outraged , betrayed.

Stunned by the sheer self-serving ignorance of every voter pulling the lever, punching the chad, pressing the button for a hate-filled, Caesar complex, incompetent, unqualified, disrespectful, fake imbecilic oaf in the faux name of "anti-establishment change" while guaranteeing that a win for the cretin would plunge the vast majority of America backward in time into the soulless rule of an anti-humanity, solidly old political establishment party of greedy dollar-worshiping jackals.

Angry that the high road was once again obliterated by the choking dust of the low road.

Scared to the bone for every.single.person who is not a well off white male. We/they are screwed and always waiting for the next election cycle isn't going to mean shit if enough laws are changed to maintain the plummeting madness of now.

Outraged at the abject fear and hatred the populace spewed onto a strong, experienced, supremely qualified woman who played the same games with same rules as corrupted male politicians and survived thirty years of serving her country in every conceivable way that would have destroyed much lesser men with much bigger mouths.

Betrayed by people who refused to vote for the ONE approachable sane person who could have kept a slimy, loathsome con man lowlife punk out of mindlessly destructive power with a anti-people party behind him, but instead wrote-in sure fire losing names to "make a statement"...or didn't even have the courage and guts to vote.

And that is just how I feel off the top of my head, today. Day three."

[AirmensMom]

7. I wish I could rec that!

You put it so much more eloquently than I ever could.

That is exactly how I feel. Part of me is so numb that I can't articulate it. Stunned, angry, scared, outraged, and betrayed are the words I have used and perfectly describe how I feel.

Add to them feelings of dread and disgust. I can't even listen to NPR anymore because I don't want to hear that name. I don't care what they say about him. I just can't hear the name without feeling sick deep inside.

Thank you for your reply. I missed it when I was reading the DU page and am glad you shared it again.

[Guilded Lilly]

9. Thanks for the words of support, I'm so damn angry...

I have no idea when I will calm down. As soon as I get something in control (I deal with a very broad spectrum of public at my workplace so I must put on a cheerful face) something else really sets me off!

The levels of crazy and pain go deep. Blaming accomplishes nothing yet those feelings are strong and wide spread in my head.

Bastards. The lot of them (only a half laugh).
And yeah, I agree with you wholeheartedly-NPR in the car is not a pleasant experience any more. I rely on the classic hard rock stations to take me to a safer place!

[AirmensMom]

14. I get it.

I have all I can do to get dressed in the morning. Haven't been able to eat much, which is ok for a while. Thankfully, I can sleep. I normally have insomnia, but sleep is such a delicious escape and my body is cooperating for a change.

It will be a long time before I will be able to calm down. I have never been this angry before, and I have had plenty to be angry about in my lifetime.

I'm glad we at least have a place to come to.

[BlueInPhilly]

11. Social Media and plain puyness

Facebook and Twitter have become the tools of evil. Why hasn't Twitter suspended Wikileaks' account? At this juncture, it is plain that WL is nothing but a criminal enterprise fencing stolen information. Transparency my ass. And what can they do against bots who infiltrate every conversation?

As for FB, I can't even. Mark Zuckerberg lives in a land of unicorns while his creation has morphed into a monster and he is doing too little to stop the misinformation. I have kept out of FB ever since, because it has become a divisive forum amongst my closes friends.

Obama should be asking for the resignation of Comey now. Forget about fucking politics, he should clean the house NOW. He and Loretta Lynch should clean the mess and restore faith in the system. Everyone knows what Comey did was wrong, even the Republicans. And yet the only person who could do something about it is busy protecting his legacy. I love the man, and I'm proud of him, but the public repudiated him by voting in the person who questioned the legitimacy of his presidency every step of the way. The FBI bitch slapped him. Bitch slap them back. Appoint Garland now since senate did not perform their constitutional duty. What are they gonna do? Unappoint him?

But for fuck's sake, do something!

[AirmensMom]

15. Totally true.

I stayed away from Facebook for a long time and then only went back 2 years ago when one of our barn cats went missing. ll the rescue groups post there, so I had little choice. I only ever post political stuff, to the chagrin of my grown daughter, who has informed me that FB is only for kitten and puppy pics. Um ... ok. There is a secret group there where I can now go for support. I'm glad about that.

I have never used Twitter or Instagram. Don't care to.

There are things I agree that Obama should be doing and for some reason just doesn't do. I don't get how giving Comey a pass protects his legacy. I agree with you. I'd like to see him have a huge tantrum and clean house.

[Initech]

17. I agree 100%. What Comey did was inexcusable.

Actually it could be considered treasonous. The FBI needs to be put in place for what they did to the election.

[jmg257]

12. How many "stupid white women" do you think there were who only voted how their man said so?

Considering "Clinton only won among women with a college degree by a 51 to 45 percent margin" (per CBS exit polls),


I am curious to see how many women overall who didn't support her had no other reason than their lack of intelligence?

[AirmensMom]

16. I can tell you that most of the women in my area wouldn't know a political issue

if it slapped them in the face. I have heard from some of them that they "just don't like Clinton." No reason at all.

One of them asked me a few weeks ago what Hillary's healthcare plan looks like v. Trump's. I told her and she said Hillary's sounded much better. But she just doesn't like Hillary. This woman has 3 sons, ranging from about 16 to 21. She believes in choice. She believes in birth control. For her, those would be her issues. But she doesn't make the connection. Her FB page says she "Likes" Trump. She is one of the more intelligent and receptive ones in my neck of the woods.

[jmg257]

18. Understood - i know a few like that too...and a few 1 issue voters (religious types). cheers! nt