Has this election changed you in any way?

[shockey80]

It changed me. I now fear the american people for the first time in my life. Tens of millions of americans are going to vote for a guy who is clearly mentally unstable, emotionally unstable and vindictive as hell. A child can see this. This is mass self destruction.

For decades i have been saying the working people have lost their way. They voted against their best economic interests for decades. They voted for the rich and against the labor movement. It was sad to watch. They followed propaganda. Now they are pissed off blaming everybody for their problems. They think a lunatic like trump will fix their problems. The american people are close to ruining their way of life.

I believe clinton will still win this election. That will protect us for a while. It will not solve the problem of so many americans being so self destructive.

[semby2]

1. Nope

No. I've known about the danger of Republicans since Bill Clinton got elected. Trump has exposed it more widely for everyone to see. The press still refuses to acknowledge it.

[PJMcK]

9. The dangers that Republicans present

Republicans have been a danger to the United States and its people for longer than you indicate, semby2. I grew up in the 1960's and I can assure you that between Barry Goldwater and Richard Nixon, I knew I would always be a Democrat. In my lifetime, the only Republican president that was unquestionably all-American was Dwight Eisenhower.

[BlueCaliDem]

2. Not really. I've always known that Trump embodies the true Republican face and heart, even though

they hide it well from the public. I can only hope those with more than half of a working brain hear and see it for themselves. There'll always be nutcases in this country who'll hate on Democrats and Liberals although they don't know why (that's how stupid they are), but those who are still able to think straight will see the Republican Party for what it is and abandon it.

[kimbutgar]

3. Yes, America is scarred by this election

I never knew there was so much hate and racism out there until Cheeto whipped it up.

If for some reason he wins, I am deleting every one of my social media accounts. His deplorables will start witch hunts going after liberals. Sites like this will taken to task for criticizing herr Cheeto.
I have read and seen to many historical Documentaries which show similarities between Cheeto and Hitler.

[Sophiegirl]

4. I'm not so surprised about the hatred and racism

What really struck me during this election is the vast amount of willfull ignorance displayed by so many.

The dumbing down of America is on full display to the entire world.

[BigMin28]

59. I live in Texas

And not only are they willfully ignorant, they are proud of being so.

[Proud liberal 80]

5. It has reaffirmed what I already knew

That we have a large segment of this population that is racist, sexist, xenophobic, homophobic, etc or like Clinton correctly pointed out, "DEPLORABLE"

[HAB911]

40. I concur

[geek tragedy]

6. I've come to believe that it's morally defensible to be conservative but not

to be a Republican, as the GOP is an instrument of intrinsic evil.

[shockey80]

7. We have a propaganda problem.

The republican voters have been bombarded with propaganda for decades by the republican party and far right news media. Half of them could not pass a current events test. This has to change or we will all pay a price.

[Proud liberal 80]

10. Yep and they want to remain ignorant

1. They get up in the morning and turn on Fox and friends
2. On their ride to work they are listening to hate radio
3. They show up to work and turn on the radio to the same station they were just listening to and keep it on that station the whole day
4. At the same time they surf the internet all day visiting Drudge, Breibert, and Fox
5. On the way home they still have it on that same radio station
6. Get home in time for Fox News prime time line up

[CrispyQ]

13. Hate radio changed my mom.

I know ultimately you change yourself, but man, she listened to that shit day in & day out & in 18 months she was different. Then she started watching Fox news & well, you know the story.

[workinclasszero]

28. Yes right wing brainwashing 24/7/365

It will extinguish freedom and democracy at some point in the near future I'm afraid.

[unitedwethrive]

8. It has definitely made me more polarized.

In the past, I never liked the repub elites, but felt sorry for their masses that were so easily convinced to vote against their own self interest. Now, my feelings have become much more angry. I see their electorate for what they truly are - those who exemplify the worst traits of humanity. I am more motivated than ever to see the political destruction of those on the other side.

[CrispyQ]

11. I hope Americans realize that Trump is exactly what the republican party is.

He's the republican party without a filter.

[NoGoodNamesLeft]

12. Yes, although I am registered Independent and used to vote some Republicans

I will NEVER vote for another Republican as long as I live.

[Dawson Leery]

14. I hold deep contempt for the cultural right.

Religion, rough sports (football/wrestling, especially wrestling: most of the big coaches are big time religious nuts), working class males, ruralism, traditionalism in general. These Tories are holding us back, they are killing us.

Honestly, West Virginia can drop dead.

[relayerbob]

15. Not really

If you surrender to fear, then the bad guys will have won. Don't do it. These people have always been there and now the light has been
shined on them and we may be able to start addresssing these issues. Keep hope alive!

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

16. Yeah - just stunned at the degree to which they will just flat out make up stuff. No pretense

anymore of presenting some element of truth in their arguments, now its just flat out lies.... and the gullibility of significant no. of people wanting to believe those lies.

I dont know if the wedges that have been driven between me and my family ( sibs/ parents) will ever be repaired - I once thought I was willing to "agree to disagree," that I was adult and could accept a difference of opnion. Well its not "difference of opinion" anymore, it's difference of reality... they've fallen into cult thinking and Im not prepared to accept, or deal with cult thinkers in my life.

[sofa king]

17. Yes.

I've long suspected that America is in danger of becoming the Fourth Reich. Now I know it.

[shockey80]

18. The self destuction

I can already tell there are people here seeing what i am seeing. I am not sure if people understand how much trouble we are in. Not only are tens of millions of americans being self destructive, they are trying to destroy are institutions, government programs that make are lives better and the values that make us americans. They are doing this while they are saying, "Make america great again".

I weep for my country. Our only hope is the young people. I think they will come through in the future.

[Rocknrule]

19. It's made me lose respect for my dad for the first time ever

Last edited Sat Oct 29, 2016, 02:29 PM - Edit history (1)

He's proof that Trump was right when he said he could shoot someone and his supporters would still worship him. And he's a guy who supported W to the bitter end and now regrets it, but still supports Trump.

[LeftInTX]

20. It also made me lose respect for a loved one in my life.

It had me crying. Loved one hates Trump, but for some reason voted for him. I was deeply hurt.

He was life-long R who wasn't going to vote for Trump becuz he was so offensive. I don't know what happened.

[HipChick]

21. My main fear is that there will be another Trump like candidate 2020,2024

more acceptable, spewing the same rhetoric...

[workinclasszero]

30. It will be someone worse than drumpf if history is any indication

The deplorables always double down after a loss.

I shudder to think what rough beast will be the next leader of the republican/alt right party.

[Persondem]

23. It hasn't changed me so much as it just made me more vigilant, quicker to respond to the lunacy

that has been a growing cancer on the body politic of this country since 1980. I credit Reagan will be beginnings of the Trump malignancy, when saying "aw, shucks" and "there you go again" started passing for cogent debate responses.

Remember, Hitler and his brown shirts got their asses kicked the first time they tried to rise up. We must remain watchful to ensure that this current ugliness never rears it's disgusting head again on the national stage.

[LeftInTX]

24. The crazies have been out there since Bill Clinton

They were probably there with Reagan, but were "part of the system". Reagan was more or less part of the dirty wing of the establishment, so were the Bushes. When Clinton won the crazies came out of the wood-work.

I feel that the reason Trump was nominated was because there were 17 candidates. I would like to say the GOP is falling apart, but it isn't. It is as powerful as ever, but it has a bunch of power struggles going on. The power struggles in the GOP is why they got Trump.

[workinclasszero]

25. Yes because now I fully realize what a threat to freedom and democracy the republican party

truly is.

This party and the alt-right racist fascist theocrats that power it must be stopped.

If not they will plunge this country/world right back into the dark ages and that's a fact. It is frightening how many millions of brainwashed Americans out there now hate freedom.

[meadowlark5]

26. It has given me a very judgemental view of republicans

And I don't like that. I know it's generalized and sweeping and unfair. But I can't help but look at people at my kids school who I know are republicans, I look at friends I've known are republicans but assumed more moderate, or so I thought, and have a feeling of disgust of who they support and maybe who they deep down really are.

Not until this hateful orange buffoon came along and gave voice to this hatred and made them proud and loud in their discrimination did I feel quite like this. I couldn't imagine 4yrs of this

[RKP5637]

38. Trump, has ripped the mask off of republicans and it's now very clear what they are about. I avoid

republicans as much as I can. They are a disgusting lot, especially now that it is clearly revealed what they stand for, hatefulness, bigotry and endless greed. Those that remain republicans today clearly identify with the republican cult. Old time republicans, for the most part, were totally different. The new republican party is clearly an evil force in the US, a pox.

[meadowlark5]

43. The majority of my in law family are republicans

Mostly old guard repubs. They are having a hard time with this new, ugly Trump version. But some aren't like my MIL. So I have to work very hard to look past the republican stuff. My MIL champions Trump. She, on the surface is such a sweet old lady, but every election, I have a hard time understanding that judgement and bigotry that she holds in her heart. It is such a contradiction in one person.

So it presents a problem for me, as I'm sure it has for many, many family relationships in this country.

[RKP5637]

50. Some people have often told me "some" of the older republicans think they're still voting for

Eisenhower republicans, and often don't get it that those days are long gone. I have some friends in similar situations as you. It's extremely frustrating for them too.

[lastone]

27. It's made me hate republicans and all they stand for

Because they don't actually stand for anything except money and power. Fuck every last one of them.

[katmondoo]

31. I agree with you lastone completely

[RKP5637]

33. Agree!!! n/t

[Dem2]

29. Yes I am not going to let deplorables get away with their b******* anymore

If that gets me shot, then so be it, I don't want to sit quietly and let these f****** ignorant morons spout their bigotry and hate any longer.

[RKP5637]

32. The massive number of bigoted and hateful people in the US is astounding. It makes me wonder

greatly about the future of America and if there will even be a democracy in x years. I see Trump as America's version of Hitler. I never realized just how many crazies there are in the US. The lack of discretionary thinking by half of America is truly appalling and IMO frightening. I doubt there will be any sense of a democracy at some point in the US looking into the future.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

34. I've learned about "white privilege" on this site and, after...

... reading several of the descriptions of it, came away with the impression that some people are overlooking deep racism that still exists. It reminds me of someone being "penny wise and pound foolish" in regard to their finances. If they could be a fly on the wall and hear what I've heard...

[AmericanActivist]

35. It has not changed me. It has given me a deeper understanding of the

women who fought for decades for a woman's right to vote. I am grateful they kept up that fight and passed down the metaphorical torches that generations of women carried. I appreciate more than ever that women have the right to vote and exercise that right; if not for women voting, Trump might have access to the highest office in this land and the ability to destroy us all. This election has brought full circle the reality that women's rights are valuable and we must never allow them to be taken from us! I am not interested in going backward.

It has further convinced me that the historic Republican Party was hijacked long ago by extremists. For years, I have been waiting and hoping that traditional Republicans would fight to take their party back and oust these extremists. This election cycle I have seen and heard more Republicans than ever before speaking against Trump. I am grateful for these thinking Americans who put country before party.

One new thing in this election that has been astounding is Trump's lack of respect for the process, the office of President, and his abusive, sexist, chauvinistic view of women which his followers support, condone, share, etc. In fact, the Billy Bush Apprentice bus tape and the discussion regarding sexual assault that ensued was highly triggering for me as an abuse survivor.

[AmericanActivist]

36. And welcome to DU

[TeamPooka]

37. I used to differentiate between Republicans and their leadership & elected officials

I thought their elected officials were using them and misleading them and were the real problem.
That they played their rank and file for fools.
Now I understand it's the rank and file too.
That's where the real problem lies.
They're all bad.

[grossproffit]

39. As a woman, yes. It's taken me 36 years, but I've finally found my inner bitch.

And my inner bitch is PISSED!

Better late than never.

[retrowire]

47. inner bitch intensifies!!! nt

[Sunny05]

54. Amen!

[Lucinda]

41. I am more optimistic than ever. Hillary has an excellent track record of getting things done

working with those of seemingly disparate points of view.

And, despite the chaos in the GOP that allowed for the rise of Trump, there is a core of Republican voters who are tired of their elected officials, and their obstructionism.

[Akacia]

42. Yes it has changed me.

I am so saddened by the fact that some members of my family and friends are voting for Trump and don`t take the time to educate themselves about him. I am looking at them and our relationships differently! I do not want deplorable s in my life!

[Buckeye_Democrat]

45. I have a long-distance Jewish lady friend in Connecticut with...

... relatives in Florida who support Trump! She's also in shock because Trump reminds her of Hitler.

[get the red out]

44. What you said

And I am afraid now of being open about being a Democrat.

[retrowire]

46. yep.

I trust the democratic process less than I did before.

I know even more that the media is its own party.

I understand that people are victims of cults of personality and will shift their opinion on the stupidest things at the drop of a hat.

Politics in general have changed me to be much more cynical of people in general.

[run_mac_run]

48. Nope...I had already voted.

The GOOD news is that Trump has exposed the GOP for what it has always been - a party for racists and bigots.

[Buns_of_Fire]

49. I used to firmly believe that roughly one in four Americans were bleedin' idiots.

I now firmly believe that roughly one in three Americans are bleedin' idiots, and the trendline doesn't look promising.

[northoftheborder]

51. I have become depressed about the state of our democracy. Cause:

The fact that hordes of people are actively supporting and voting for a vulgar, lying, selfish cheat who will do anything to advance himself; who has no notion of "service" or knowledge of how this country and it's government works. These people could take down this nation if they continue to grow in number. They will still be around next year trying to throw wrenches at President Hillary Clinton and her efforts to make positive change.

[Agnosticsherbet]

52. I've learned that sexism runs deep and is as corrosive as racism.

If I list Clinton's accomplishments and record (even the bad) and not link them to her gender, I discover that no candidate we have ever had even come close. Her male opponent is considered superior by many because he has no record.

I'very seen every accysation against her, whether founded or unfounded vomited up fo reconsumption. (I'very seen thus from both the right and left) one defense given to her opponent is that things that happened years ago have no bearing.

She is treated with an entirely different standard, a harsher standard.

That has changed me.

[Liberal_in_LA]

53. Yes.

[Fla Dem]

55. Our hope is with the Millennials. They are the newest generation to enter the political stage.

So many of them supported Bernie, now they are coming over to Hillary. If this is our future, I say welcome aboard! You will never change the minds of the virulent right. They've always been there, the sexist, racist, homophobic anti-government, self centered rabble. It's just that Trump's campaign has brought them out of the shadows.

Millennials Finally Find Something to Love in Harder-Edged Hillary Clinton
Time
Sam Frizell @Sam_Frizell Oct. 25, 2016

It wasn’t the granddaughter stories or celebrity selfies that convinced Mary Alice Kukoski about Hillary Clinton.

The first-year college student at the University of Virginia was studying with a friend late last month when she took a break to watch the first presidential debate. There Clinton was, Kukoski recalled, wearing combative red and sparring with Donald Trump, calm, methodical and deadly.

“My beef with Hillary Clinton was that she was such a scripted politician,” said Kukoski, who voted for Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primary. “But she stood her ground against Donald Trump.”

“The debate was that badass moment where I thought, ‘If I wasn’t 100% with her before this, I definitely am now,'” she said.

More>>>
http://time.com/4543898/hillary-clinton-millennial-voter-support/

[Historic NY]

56. Its been a real nasty stinker.......

worse than 2012. I'm scared to see precious gains slip away. Have no doubt the GOP will roll back everything Obama has done. I've contributed almost to the limit. Its gotten so I rarely turn on the TV and can't stand to even hear Trumpkins.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

57. I predicted this crap.

[Martin Eden]

58. After GW Bush was re-selected I thought half the country was STUPID

Now I think 40% of the country is DELUSIONAL and/or DEPLORABLE.

It is a national shame that the likes of Donald Trump garners more than 4% -- or the electoral votes of ANY state.

[Jamaal510]

60. I learned a few things:

-Some people will believe what they want to believe about someone or something, whether or not the facts tell a different tale.
-There are people who use the "fact-checkers are bought off" excuse when defending their candidate's fabrications.
-Yes, it is possible for the notion to spread that even though candidate A has higher poll numbers or more votes, his/her supporters somehow happen to have less "enthusiasm".
-Never assume that seemingly uncontroversial concepts won't end up being twisted by malicious entities into something controversial.
-Certain people find it acceptable for hackers to steal information as long as they do it to a politician who they dislike.
-The news media doesn't do an equal level of vetting for all candidates.

[drm604]

62. Yes.

I've always known that there was a large undercurrent of fascism, racism, and anti-intellectualism in this country, but this election has brought it home in a big way. There's a branch of my mother's family (not her, thank God) that's always been kind of right-leaning. Even so, it's shocking to me that these people, who are so pleasant and friendly person to person, are Trump supporters.

I see the same thing among some of the people I want to high school with, and have since become reacquainted with on FB. They support Trump, share ridiculous anti-Clinton stories from fake news-sites, claim that Snopes is left-wing lies funded by Geore Soros, and defend ridiculous ideas like the idea that millions of people will somehow get away with voting 2 or more times next month.

It's made me aware of just how effective propaganda can be with a large segment of the population, especially when that propaganda is based on fear and hate.

I've also been shocked by the number of sincere, active, lefties who insist that they can't bring themselves to vote for Clinton. I'm not just talking about millenials. I'm also talking about some people in their 40s and 50s who surely understand about spoilers and voting strategically. Can't they see the danger that this country is facing? Can't they see that voting for Clinton is the only way for them to have an effective voice in stopping Trump?

[TahitiNut]

63. I've seen this coming but it's still a shock to me.

The despicable state of our body politic is so atrocious that I've equated it to malignant cancer or necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating bacteria). I cannot see it as anything other than terminal. I'm glad I have no children. I'm relieved that everyone in the family I grew up with is now dead. It's now a panacea to me that I'm in my 70s and don't have too much longer to suffer under it. If I were at all able to, I'd move to Canada or Germany and live out my last days warning them that the US is as big a threat to the world as climate change. I have never called myself a 'patriot' but have acted patriotically all my life, from initially planning a life-long career in military service (Coast Guard), to serving my country in Viet Nam, to being a whistleblower during my career in the belly of the Corporate beast and thus being career-limited. No longer. My country has become the "enemy" to what I hold dear. This election is a diagnostic test to see whether we can survive for just a few years at most, or whether there's any hope whatsoever that massive civil strife and nuclear annihilation can even be avoided. The deplorable condition of this nation cannot be exaggerated.

[Wounded Bear]

64. Solidified my disdain for anything Repub...

that's about all. They've been building up to this for decades, since before Reagan. There was a time that I would entertain, or at least listen to, a moderate Repub. They're pretty much all gone now. I've been anti-Repub in totality since Clinton-M, USA and have already voted enthusiastically for Clinton-F, USA as well as D's up and down the ballot.

[stone space]

65. No, not really.

[WcoastO]

66. No, we've been drifting this way for awhile now......

as the GOP became more radicalized, the Dems were pulled rightward, away from their Progressive roots, thereby lending legitimacy to the new GOP........giving credence to the fiction that we are a "center-right" country. The GOP has now nominated a Fascist as their candidate......It's who they are, it's just Trump doesn't hide behind behind dodgy language to disguise his intentions......he is the same as the other GOP candidates.......

Trump IS the GOP.

[calimary]

67. Welcome to DU, shockey80!

This election has provoked all kinds of conflicting feelings in me. There's an overriding exhilaration at the thought that one might actually live to see a woman elected President. I still find it remarkable that I lived to see an African-American President!

I feel an ongoing sense of resolve that Hillary will prevail. If I hadn't already voted, this latest email shit would not change my mind or my eagerness to vote In fact, now, it's PERSONAL. Now they've crossed the line. I feel more adamant than ever about standing behind her. Didn't think I could feel that more strongly than I did, but Trump & Comp bring that out in me.

I do also feel fear, though. I fear what the Trumpsters will do, what the teabaggers will do, what the 2nd Amendment people will do - if/when their side loses again. If WE win, that part will be scary. If THEY win, EVERYTHING will be scary! For me, that's worst of all, because if they win, winning will be seen as a validation of everything they did and said and stand for. It will tell them they were right, and reinforce all that bad behavior and anti-social violent acting out and bullying - it'll tell that side that they were right and that they did the right thing. THAT will become the campaign model. THAT will become the New Way. Because THAT's what wins. We've already seen increasing outbreaks of bullying manifesting in our schools since the rise of Trump. Teachers and administrators have reported that and studies have already shown that. It will reinforce AND reward bad behavior, and that, to me, is THE #1 biggest reason why they HAVE TO lose. And not only that, but imagine if we finally have a "president" who never bothered to release his tax returns. What precedent will THAT set as far as accountability, authenticity and transparency?

I hate to have to admit this, but I find it hard to disagree with the whole "deplorables" thing. I'm sorry. If after everything they've seen, and everything they've heard, they STILL think this sexist, racist, misogyinst, lying, thieving cretin is presidential material who will make all their dreams come true, and is in it for THEM and not for himself, they STILL trust the future of this planet to a climate change denier who has repeatedly asked "if we have nukes, why can't we use them?" then I have no hope for them. And yeah, I regard them as thoroughly deplorable. And worse.

[Iggo]

68. Not really. I've always hated misogynists and white supremacists.

I'm a little sad that there's so many more of them to hate now.

But there ya go.

[femmocrat]

69. Not really. I am surrounded by trumpsters, so they don't surprise me.

I know how deplorable they are. I'm not sure when they became the predominant culture here (western PA), but we have lived amongst them for over 30 years. I grew up in a democratic, union-workforce stronghold (until the mills closed in the 1980s) that recently had a huge rally for trump. These are the former "reagan democrats" who are now in trump's basket.