Chit-Chat: The Feels

[CM-BlueButterfly]

I'm opening this topic so that we can keep the regular Chit-Chat politics free but there's a place to share your feelings.

With that said, feelings are complex and there's a range of them. We're all dealing with them in different ways, still, they're all equally valid, so, please recognize and respect them. 

If I see gloating, accusations, personal attacks or anything along those lines, I'm going to shut the topic down again. 

 

[tearknee]

My feelings tonight:

[tearknee]

The GOP has won the Senate so... "Advice and Consent" provision in the Constitution means that President Harris will be hobbled in who she can appoints to the Cabinet and etc.

The peril of a constitution written before political parties existed.

[Anela]

My state lost Sherrod Brown. We really need to find a way to leave this place. 

[nokat]

That this evil person got votes. I'm watching studio Ghibli, because it always makes me feel better. 

[JustHereForFood]

The world is going mad.

[Annber03]

Everything I want to say would be a string of curse words at this point. 

Hope you're happy, people who decided to be all precious with your votes or who felt this guy deserved another chance after the hell he's put us through. I'm just so out of sympathiy and fucks to give at this point. I don't understand how the hell this is happening. 

[oliviabenson]

Most of the states voted red. I'm just going to bed. I have no clue why people are picking him again.

[Lisa418722]

As someone who is about 10 or so years from retirement, with a couple of pre-existing conditions, I'm very depressed.
 

Edited November 6 by Lisa418722

[Annber03]

My sister's got some health issues she's dealing with, too. I'm genuinely scared for what this will mean for her. 

I'm also thinking about my niece, and the world she's going to have to grow up in. 

God, I hate this. 

[HerkyJerky]

TBH, since the race was so close, it’s not surprising that Trump won, but what IS surprising is that as of right now Trump is winning the popular votes by 5 million people! He didn’t do that in 2016 or 2020. WTF??

[Annber03]

For as long as I live, I will never understand the hold this guy has over people. 

[Soapy Goddess]

28 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

My sister's got some health issues she's dealing with, too. I'm genuinely scared for what this will mean for her. 

 

What about the health issues of people over the last 4 years? Stress works both ways. 

26 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

For as long as I live, I will never understand the hold this guy has over people. 

Policy vs celebrity

[Ancaster]

I called it a while ago - way too many people who couldn't stand the idea of a female woman of color being in charge.  And who believe the endless lies and don't educate themselves properly.

Edited November 6 by Ancaster

[Annber03]

5 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

What about the health issues of people over the last 4 years? Stress works both ways. 

Policy vs celebrity

And yet the same people who are awed by his celebrity are also the ones talkng about how celebritees need to stay out of politics. You'll pardon me if I can't take their critiques all that seriously. 

Aso, I'm not talking about stress. I'm taking abotu health issues that she might not be able to afford to take care of anymore, depending on what happens to people's healthcare. 

One party wanted to protect people's basic civil and human rights. The other doesn't. No, it does not work both ways. The two scenarios are not comparable. They just aren't. 

[Anela]

15 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

What about the health issues of people over the last 4 years? Stress works both ways. 

Policy vs celebrity

That includes the health issues of everyone. Not just Kamala voters. 

[Palimelon]

Quote

For as long as I live, I will never understand the hold this guy has over people. 

These are the same people who think God sent us a guy who cheated on his first wife with the woman who would become his second wife, cheated on his second wife, then cheated on his third wife with a porn star, and are willing to buy bibles from him.

Also people who think a guy who went bankrupt multiple times has good ideas for the economy.

Quote

people who decided to be all precious with your votes

To be fair, you can't blame it all on them.

[Anela]

I think the conspiracy theories helped in places like North Carolina. The lies that people weren't going to get the help they needed. 

[Soapy Goddess]

6 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

And yet the same people who are awed by his celebrity are also the ones talkng about how celebritees need to stay out of politics. You'll pardon me if I can't take their critiques all that seriously. 

Aso, I'm not talking about stress. I'm taking abotu health issues that she might not be able to afford to take care of anymore, depending on what happens to people's healthcare. 

One party wanted to protect people's basic civil and human rights. The other doesn't. No, it does not work both ways. The two scenarios are not comparable. They just aren't. 

I don't follow celebrities or their critiques either. I was referring to KH who got caught up with every celebrity on the planet.

Everyone wants basic human rights, including being able to afford insurance and food, as well as feeling safe. Hopefully, we all see an improvement in that area.

6 minutes ago, Palimelon said:

These are the same people who think God sent us a guy who cheated on his first wife with the woman who would become his second wife, cheated on his second wife, then cheated on his third wife with a porn star, and are willing to buy bibles from him.

You can't base politics on sexual proclivities. If that was the case, a number of presidents wouldn't have set foot in the white house, starting with Bill Clinton.

[Annber03]

10 minutes ago, Palimelon said:

To be fair, you can't blame it all on them.

Oh, I'm not - my frustration is very evident and strong right now, so I do think that's bleeding into some of my ranting at the moment. But you are right. 

Still, I do think iti s a factor. Maybe not a majority one, but it is there. And it's not helping the way people like to think it is. 

 

Edited November 6 by Annber03

[Anduin]

I can call myself the queen of France all I like. But I've never been to France, I'm not a woman, and France is a republic. Until I see something from an official independent body, I'm keeping hope.

[Annber03]

10 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

I don't follow celebrities or their critiques either. I was referring to KH who got caught up with every celebrity on the planet.

I mean, celebrities always come out for politicians, that's nothing new. If people are still surprised by that at this point, I don't know what to tell them. 

And again, they can't complain about Kamala being surrounded by celebrities only to then turn around and vote for "Apprentice" guy. 

Quote

Everyone wants basic human rights, including being able to afford insurance and food, as well as feeling safe. Hopefully, we all see an improvement in that area.

Except we're not, and some people clearly don't want that. Just ask any woman who's lost her reproductive rights. Or LGBTQ+ people whose rights have been and are under threat.  All because some people think they don't deserve those rights. 

And it's hard to say people want to be able to afford insurance when you've got people who want to take it away from some entirely, and who think that if you can't afford insurance, you're on your own. We've got schools where kids have to pay off debts just to be able to get a warm meal during the day. 

I would love to see improvement in all of that stuff, but we're sure not going to get it with the people we've put in charge. 

Edited November 6 by Annber03

[Anela]

5 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

I mean, celebrities always come out for politicians, that's nothing new. If people are still surprised by that at this point, I don't know what to tell them. 

And again, they can't complain about Kamala being surrounded by celebrities only to then turn around and vote for "Apprentice" guy. 

Except we're not, and some people clearly don't want that. Just ask any woman who's lost her reproductive rights. Or LGBTQ+ people whose rights have been and are under threat. 

And it's hard to say people want to be able to afford insurance when you've got people who want to take it away from some entirely, and who think that if you can't afford insurance, you're on your own. We've got schools where kids have to pay off debts just to be able to get a warm meal during the day. 

I would love to see improvement in all of that stuff, but we're sure not going to get it with the people we've put in charge. 

We voted to get our reproductive rights back, a year ago, and the ban was finally ruled unconstitutional, a couple of weeks ago. Now, I don't know what's going to happen.

Republicans took food away from children who needed it, in the past few years (unlike Tim Walz, who has done so many really great things for his State). I haven't seen the pubbies promise anything good. they've just lied about the economy, and the grocery store prices and gas prices were not Biden's fault. Stores admitted they didn't need to be charging so much, and said they were lowering the prices on some products again. 

Edited November 6 by Anela

[Soapy Goddess]

7 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

 

 

 

7 minutes ago, Annber03 said:

I mean, celebrities always come out for politicians, that's nothing new. If people are still surprised by that at this point, I don't know what to tell them. 

And again, they can't complain about Kamala being surrounded by celebrities only to then turn around and vote for "Apprentice" guy. 

Except we're not, and some people clearly don't want that. Just ask any woman who's lost her reproductive rights. Or LGBTQ+ people whose rights have been and are under threat.  All because some people think they don't deserve those rights. 

And it's hard to say people want to be able to afford insurance when you've got people who want to take it away from some entirely, and who think that if you can't afford insurance, you're on your own. We've got schools where kids have to pay off debts just to be able to get a warm meal during the day. 

I would love to see improvement in all of that stuff, but we're sure not going to get it with the people we've put in charge. 

The point about celebrity was missed. The initial question was how this could happen, and I simply stated "policy vs celebrity".  

The one policy she ran on was reinstating Roe vs Wade, which i happen to agree with. However, that was it!  There was nothing else so clear regarding all the other issues our country faces.

Edited November 6 by Soapy Goddess

[Palimelon]

Quote

And it's hard to say people want to be able to afford insurance

Insurance companies are no better than hedge funds, real estate developers and landlords, or any other big corporation. Profits and enriching shareholder value over actually helping people and providing a good product.

Edited November 6 by Palimelon

[Anela]

Just now, Soapy Goddess said:

 

The point about celebrity was missed. The initial question was how this could happen, and I simply stated "policy vs celebrity".  

The one policy she ran on was reinstating Roe vs Wade, which i happen to agree with. However, that was it!  There was nothing else so clear regarding all the other issues our country faces.

He has no policies. He just said this country was garbage.

Oh, wait, his policies are Project 2025, which isn't good for most of the country. 

Edited November 6 by Anela

[Soapy Goddess]

2 minutes ago, Anela said:

He has no policies. He just said this country was garbage.

Oh, wait, his policies are Project 2025, which isn't good for most of the country. 

A roast comedian made the garbage reference. He just spoofed the "joke" (which I agree was in very poor taste).

P2025 has been thrown around so much, I don't think anyone really knows what it is or what it entails.

[Anela]

3 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

A roast comedian made the garbage reference. He just spoofed the "joke" (which I agree was in very poor taste).

P2025 has been thrown around so much, I don't think anyone really knows what it is or what it entails.

We do know what it entails, and it was created by the Heritage Foundation, who had a big part in everything. 

Trump called the country garbage, too. So that he could claim that he would make it great again. He also called people like me, the enemy within. 

[Annber03]

5 minutes ago, Palimelon said:

Insurance companies are no better than hedge funds, real estate developers and landlords, or any other big corporation. Profits and enriching shareholder value over actually helping people and providing a good product.

I agree with this. The fact we still can't figure out how to allow for universal healthcare in this country is just ridiculous. I was mainly just pointing out that it's nice to say people shoud have affordable insurance, but considering Trump actively wanted to kill Obamacare, I don't see how anyone can possibly think he'll somehow make that more affordable for people, or make sure everyone has access to it. 

10 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

 

The point about celebrity was missed. The initial question was how this could happen, and I simply stated "policy vs celebrity".  

The one policy she ran on was reinstating Roe vs Wade, which i happen to agree with. However, that was it!  There was nothing else so clear regarding all the other issues our country faces.

Except it wasn't. She had a very detailed platform with actual policies. 

Trump, meanwhile, had 'concepts of a plan" (which he said in response to a question about what he wanted to put up in place of Obamacare, I might add). Everything he said was all about targeting immigrants, transgender poeple, misogynistic comments about women, and getting to fire anyone he didn't like. He has no policies, and anything he does want to do will not tackle or solve any of the issues facing this country. They will only make them significantly worse. For everybody*.

*Unless you're a straight, white, Christian male, that is. They'll probably make it out relatively unscathed. 

[Soapy Goddess]

2 minutes ago, Anela said:

We do know what it entails, and it was created by the Heritage Foundation, who had a big part in everything. 

Trump called the country garbage, too. So that he could claim that he would make it great again. He also called people like me, the enemy within. 

Until it's enacted, I wouldn't put too much credence in it.

He embellished on a stupid comedian's comment. He can take a joke. We may not like it, but that's what happened.

[Palimelon]

Quote

Unless you're a straight, white, Christian male

And even then, a certain brand of Christian.

[Soapy Goddess]

1 minute ago, Annber03 said:

Except it wasn't. She had a very detailed platform with actual policies. 

Trump, meanwhile, had 'concepts of a plan" (which he said in response to a question about what he wanted to put up in place of Obamacare, I might add). Everything he said was all about targeting immigrants, transgender poeple, misogynistic comments about women, and getting to fire anyone he didn't like. He has no policies, and anything he does want to do will not tackle or solve any of the issues facing this country. They will only make them significantly worse. For everybody*.

*Unless you're a straight, white, Christian male, that is. They'll probably make it out relatively unscathed. 

If she did, the majority missed it.

I prefer to take a "wait & see" attitude.

[Anela]

18 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Until it's enacted, I wouldn't put too much credence in it.

He embellished on a stupid comedian's comment. He can take a joke. We may not like it, but that's what happened.

But why take a chance at all? :(

[Soapy Goddess]

7 minutes ago, Anela said:

But why take a chance at all? :(

Because policies change. The process alone takes time to pass through congress, etc.  

[Anela]

5 minutes ago, Soapy Goddess said:

Because policies change. The process alone takes time to pass through congress, etc.  

It looks like he has the house, the senate, and the white house. So, he won't be challenged. 

[Palimelon]

Quote

It looks like he has the house, the senate, and the white house. So, he won't be challenged. 

It's like being in a house with a fire breaking out in the kitchen and saying "Hold on, let's wait and see what happens".

[Blergh]

I'm not going to lie and sugarcoat anything.

However, I must urge everyone to keep as cool and calm as possible even with these news- and we must each do what we can to help those most vulnerable in our own circles.

I also would urge everyone to preserve as many records as one can to be able to educate future generations and, via educating others, that CAN be a beacon of hope regardless of what comes our way! So many times in history when things have seemed on the verge of being doomed, there HAVE been those who have kept hope alive and we must continue to do so even with all the odds stacked against us.

 A zillion to one odds beats a zillion to ZERO any day!

[Blergh]

I would also urge everyone who has work, projects and/or volunteer duties to immerse in them as MUCH as possible in the near future so that we may hold on to having accomplished good regardless of how things have played out elsewhere.

Oddly enough, work has often proven to have been a balm in tough times for me (and give your most proximate loved ones hugs and be as supportive as possible to them).

[SeanBug]

I watched a little of Brian Williams' show on Amazon. He had two pundits on claiming that Democrats are so mean to young men, shaming them and making them feel bad all the time. To the point they're killing themselves from the depression they feel.  Oh, and white men are the only demographic that we are allowed to discriminate against.  WTELF??!

I work with a LOT of young men, white, Black, Latino, etc. I have never once seen or heard any of them claiming that the Democratic Party is mean to them. 

 

[chitowngirl]

1930’s Germany couldn't know the danger they were electing. America knows and just re-elected it with thunderous applause.

[PRgal]

@SeanBug:  I don’t think it’s the Democratic Party, but patriarchy in general and society’s expectations of boys and men.  I’m part of the Xennial cohort and all through my middle school and high school years, was told I could be anything and that women could achieve anything.  This was when they REALLY began to push STEM on girls.  But nothing really changed for boys.  We don’t talk a lot about “non-traditional careers” for guys and definitely not encouraged like they are for girls (let’s put it this way:  I was introduced to my first male kindergarten teacher last year.  He was my son’s teacher and not the full fledged classroom teacher (but had the qualifications to be a full teacher).  It’s still less okay for boys to show their emotions and if very young ones DO, they’re labelled as disruptive.  And they still don’t help around the house as much as they should.  The second shift is very real.  Dads in mom-dad households still aren’t sharing their parenting roles equally - how many dads do you see taking their kids to the doctor?  Ask your friends with young children:  who is RSVP-ing to birthday parties?  Who plans the party? Volunteers at school?   There are exceptions to the rule, but in general, it’s still Mom.  What we need to do is make things okay.  Only that can end the patriarchy.  

[Enigma X]

The reason he won is that America is very misogynistic, racist, and every other negative, anti-humane "ism" I can think of. I am not going to participate in the farce that the convicted felon with "concepts of plan" on healthcare and who makes sexual gestures on stage won for anything but.

[graybrown bird]

Just sad.  Wish I still had a kitty to give me comfort.

[Bookworm13]

Someone pinch me and wake me up from this nightmare. Call it naivety or wishful thinking, but this wasn’t the news I wanted to wake up to on Nov 6. 
 

As sad and frustrated as I am, my heart is broken for those for whom this will have a much larger impact on their lives. 
 

Is rewarding bad behavior really the message we want to send? This feels akin to the “thoughts & prayers” rhetoric instead of action to actually change. 
 

 

[Palimelon]

Some food for thought.

The sad truth is that anti-feminist backlash helped propel Trump to victory.

I’ve been on the road speaking to the US right. Trump’s victory was not a surprise.

Today is a day of despair for America. We are plunged into an anticipatory grief.

[Yeah No]

I woke up in tears this morning. I knew this was going to happen. My friends told me I was being too pessimistic but I told them I was not pessimistic 4 years ago and I was right about that election and I even predicted the outcome in 2016 when everyone really thought I was crazy so maybe I just have a sixth sense about this stuff. I didn't even believe Alan Lichtman this time, who is almost always right. I knew the toxic manosphere wouldn't let a woman become president much less a woman of color.

We're back in Biff's world, but this time it's likely going to be even uglier. And yes, the writer of "Back to the Future Part 2" admitted in 2015 that he based Biff in that movie to our once and future president. For the 4 years he was president I had a constant knot in my stomach that went away in 2020. Now I might have to go back on Prilosec.

I will admit that I'm an idealist by nature. I have to believe in the person, not just whatever I think they can do for me, not that I think anything good will come to me from the next president. It's about the bigger picture for me. The economy is an issue but is it worth putting someone in charge that is not worthy of respect much less trusting with our lives? And personally I think he was just lucky with the economy and we've seen more improvement in it in the past 4 years than all through his presidency, and there are facts to back that up. But why wasn't that a big message from the other side? It frustrates me. If Kamala said anything to that effect it didn't resonate loudly enough.

I think it comes down to surface crap with a lot of voters today. Whoever seems to pander to their biggest grievances the best gets their vote. They can't see past that to the person and what their character means in the big picture. Do they really think this person has their best interests (or the country's) at heart over their own interests? Does this person embody the principles we believe in as Americans? Because I think someone has to embody them to protect our interests as Americans over their own. I personally think these voters are being duped, but that's just my opinion. They excuse a lot for what they think they're going to gain from him, but I think that's missing the forest for the trees, and eventually that will come back to bite them. Too bad it will take the rest of us down with them.

The biggest problem with Kamala is that she didn't hit enough of a nerve. Maybe she didn't have enough time to achieve that or maybe she just didn't have the ability to do that so well. To beat this particular opposition a candidate would have to connect with the people on an emotional level. The fact that Kamala didn't give in to matching the grievance mentality being spewed by her opponent didn't help her but I fully understand why she didn't want to go there. Unfortunately, though, that's what helped her to lose. The people whose minds needed to be changed are too swayed by someone that feeds into all their emotional grievances and promises to "fix them" for them.

[SeanBug]

44 minutes ago, PRgal said:

@SeanBug:  I don’t think it’s the Democratic Party, but patriarchy in general and society’s expectations of boys and men.  I’m part of the Xennial cohort and all through my middle school and high school years, was told I could be anything and that women could achieve anything.  This was when they REALLY began to push STEM on girls.  But nothing really changed for boys.  We don’t talk a lot about “non-traditional careers” for guys and definitely not encouraged like they are for girls (let’s put it this way:  I was introduced to my first male kindergarten teacher last year.  He was my son’s teacher and not the full fledged classroom teacher (but had the qualifications to be a full teacher).  It’s still less okay for boys to show their emotions and if very young ones DO, they’re labelled as disruptive.  And they still don’t help around the house as much as they should.  The second shift is very real.  Dads in mom-dad households still aren’t sharing their parenting roles equally - how many dads do you see taking their kids to the doctor?  Ask your friends with young children:  who is RSVP-ing to birthday parties?  Who plans the party? Volunteers at school?   There are exceptions to the rule, but in general, it’s still Mom.  What we need to do is make things okay.  Only that can end the patriarchy.  

Your talk about Moms doing all the work reminds me of a line in a Nate Bargatze stand up special. 

His daughter missed the bus, or didn't know which one to get on to go home and the school called him. He said "why would they call the Dad?  They could call a stranger and they'd know more than I do".  He's very self deprecating but it's true. 

Men for the most part still aren't engaged in their childrens' lives. Other than maybe sports stuff.  And apparently any attempt to get them to engage ends us where we are this morning. 

But why are they whining? It's like they get away with whatever they want, and it's still not enough. They're so scared that gay people or women or whatever are going to come for them? FFS we just want an equal shot. 

[Palimelon]

Quote

You can't base politics on sexual proclivities

True, but then they can't condemn other people's "lifestyles" based on some type of religious morality while exalting his and/or stressing some divine hand has guided him to us.

Quote

But why are they whining? It's like they get away with whatever they want, and it's still not enough. They're so scared that gay people or women or whatever are going to come for them? FFS we just want an equal shot. 

The loss of any sense of entitlement or privilege, basically.

[Palimelon]

Don't forget, we also live in a world were people making less than $80k a year get triggered by the words "tax the rich". And then wonder why governments are offering less social services.

Rationality in many cases may as well be a foreign language.

Edited November 6 by Palimelon

[SeanBug]

4 minutes ago, Palimelon said:

True, but then they can't condemn other people's "lifestyles" based on some type of religious morality while exalting his and/or stressing some divine hand has guided him to us.

The loss of any sense of entitlement or privilege, basically.

Oh FFS. What a bunch of babies. 

I hate to quote Louis CK but he said something that is so true. 

Men are afraid of women laughing at them, women are afraid men will kill them.