Politics XVI: Democracy In The Balance

[Marie De Salle]

Ah yes, cause that's what I think of when Donald Trump comes to mind: "his laughter, ingenuity, love of music and inspiration". Did she enlist ChatGPT to write this nonsense? Go away Melania. I wish I never had to hear about this entire family ever again.

[granolamom]

So granolakid told me that he and his twenty-something friends were sharing memes about wishing that the "attempt" was not a little more successful, shall we say. After saying that violence from any quarter is unacceptable, I asked if those friends would vote. Probably not, he says. A friend's daughter who is in the same generation said her friends don't read news, they just look at memes. To paraphrase President Obame, "Don't meme, VOTE."

[bookishjen]

Vance as VP scares the crap out if me. He's Project 2025 on steroids. Truly frightening.

And some dipshit on Twitter said she can trust Vance because his wife is hit. I just can't with these people.

[MrsOldManBalls]

I feel bad for Americans because everything about your politics and elections has got to be so exhausting. It’s never facts and information, it’s all hyperbole and drama. It’s like old school daytime soap operas.

[Spinderella]

At this point, I'm not feeling like it's 2020, I'm feeling more like it's 2016. I was nervous about his reelection, but not as nervous as I was when he first became president. I knew then it was the beginning of the end. It just feels so hopeless.

The Democratic party group in my area is planning a lot of things for the county and the specific neighborhoods that we all live in (drop off packets, send handmade postcards, etc.) and I want to volunteer to help, but the vitriol in this county and support of Trump is STRONG. They're so violent and aggressive, it makes me worrisome to get out there.

[cremetangerine82]

Trump hasn't called family of supporter killed at rally, wife says.

Of course Drumpf isn't going to detract from his own experience! Those who voted or supported for him in 2016 after he disparaged a Gold Star family should know the deal by now.

[millie7]

Jul 16, 2024 8:26:37 GMT -4 MrsOldManBalls said:

I feel bad for Americans because everything about your politics and elections has got to be so exhausting. It’s never facts and information, it’s all hyperbole and drama. It’s like old school daytime soap operas.

Oh, it’s not fun.

I’ve always loved history (I read history books for fun). But just because I love reading about interesting times doesn’t mean I wanted to live in them! Besides, my fascination with Nazi Germany and how that happened may have me prepared, but it’s not helping my emotional health.

Honestly, I don’t know how much more of all this I can take at this point. I refuse to watch the news half the time because it’s not good for my anxiety. My husband shrugs it off, saying he hates Dump and what he stands for, but “it’s not going to impact my life much.” That’s the thing. I fear that it will have an impact in some very big, unexpected ways.

It doesn’t help that I live in a red state with a former Trump staffer in the governor’s mansion. A group got out there gathering signatures to get an abortion amendment on the ballot. Not making them all ok — just clarifying some things and providing exceptions. A lot of medical professionals were behind it. They got tons of signatures — and the Secretary of State found a way to reject them. Our lawmakers have stacked the deck so there’s nothing to be done, even if a lot of people support something.

At least those of you in blue states may have some hope, seeing people fighting back and not absolutely stifled and deflated every time.

Moving to another country is getting more and more appealing.

ETA: I don’t condone violence. But I have been completely unable to drum up the tiniest crumb of compassion for that individual. Why? Probably because I have never glimpsed the tiniest sign he has a shred of humanity. I see nothing. No compassion. No capacity for good. Can’t bring myself to care.

[Carolinian]

I don't understand why people make comments and share memes but won't vote. I will crawl over broken glass to vote in November.

[phillipa]

At this point I feel like Major Kong riding the bomb. In 2016 I was freaked out, but now I've adopted a sense of very dark gallows humor about it all. Biden won't give up the candidacy because he's in denial about his age and his cognitive decline, and too many people in America hate the libs so much that they don't care what consequences happen to them, or the world in general, with another Trump presidency.

We're going to explode. Might as well enjoy the ride down.

[cubanitafresca]

I read a pretty good article this morning, "Get a Grip Democrats You Can Still Win" It's worth noting that the author of this article believes that Biden should step down and yet he still believes that Biden can win. So I feel like it's a pretty fair assessment.

I also read a comment somewhere (and lost it) where someone pointed out that yes, Trump is ahead of Biden. But Trump is at his ceiling. He's never gotten higher than where he is now. But Biden, a few points behind, is at his floor - he's never gotten any lower not after the debate, not after the assassination or any blunder. That gives Biden a better shot of improving and beating Trump. Trump has the same problem he's always had, his base just doesn't grow.