Post-Election Fears & Anxieties

[Menrva]

9 minutes ago, Grommet said:

I'm not active on Facebook but I have pushed back a little against the "both sides are awful!" bullshit, in a civilized way - like pointing out that peaceful protests are not riots, nor are they divisive. And I've repeated my stance of not apologizing for hating racists. Not gonna do it.

I think I'm going to go to the Million Woman March. I hate crowds and it will mean a lengthy bus trip, but I think it just might be fucking awesome.

I think I'm going too. I also hate crowds and I'm a little scared but this is something I really think I have to do. Never been to a protest before.

[Moose135]

1 hour ago, Lantern7 said:

Is that Photoshop? Is that really Michelle? Either way, funny as hell.

It's a Photoshop of this, when she was showing support for the kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls:

This has been around for quite a while, but it always makes me laugh!

[windsprints]

[EyewatchTV211]

17 minutes ago, Menrva said:

I think I'm going too. I also hate crowds and I'm a little scared but this is something I really think I have to do. Never been to a protest before.

This is me, too. But I'm currently planning to go. I also think it is something I have to do, and I live close by. 

[fastiller]

31 minutes ago, Grommet said:

Hey, that's *my* cat!

<snip>

I think I'm going to go to the Million Woman March. I hate crowds and it will mean a lengthy bus trip, but I think it just might be fucking awesome.

Ha! That's Fearless, in his default position.

21 minutes ago, Bastet said:

I encourage you to do it.  I hate crowds, too, but demonstrations are my major exception to that.  I remember my first one (in college), and the powerful, nearly euphoric feeling of being part of it.  However many of them later, it still feels the same.  It's a heady, positive experience.  

 

20 minutes ago, Menrva said:

I think I'm going too. I also hate crowds and I'm a little scared but this is something I really think I have to do. Never been to a protest before.

I've got my bus ticket bought for leaving NY at stupid-early-o'clock.  Meet-up? PM if interested.

Edited November 17, 2016 by fastiller

[crayon78]

32 minutes ago, Pixel said:

A couple of things have just dawned on me (and yes, maybe I'm a slow learner):

1. I need to just stop watching politics. It's causing me so much stress. But I'm afraid if I'm not vigilant I won't know to raise my voice to fight for those who can't fight for themselves. 

2. I realized tonight that a large part of my anxiety is coming from seeing the apparent willingness of the people who could correct Trump's course to allow him to completely disrespect even the most basic rules of the game. Appointing his son-in-law is illegal, according to Maddow.  He won't sever his ties with his businesses. Will he get away with it? I'm guessing yes. If nobody is stopping him from these transgressions, how do I have any confidence he will be stopped on bigger ones?

#1 is basically me. It's so stressful every time I read about something else, but I feel like I need to pay attention to know what we're up against, what we're fighting about, when to call people, etc. I just need to find a better method of stress relief and employ it often.

#2 is also what I've been scared of since day one. No one seems willing to stand up to him on anything at all, even things that are clearly wrong. Between having both houses of Congress, and the fact that no one in the GOP seems willing to stop this, that is an unprecedented amount of power for someone so unqualified, which makes it so terrifying.

Tonight's stress was about how Japanese internment is being used as precedent for things they might do like the Muslim registry. (I put the video in media because I thought it fit better there.) I don't think I have the capacity for that other Trump supporter video right now, but maybe later, after pictures of cute puppies.

[dcalley]

I can't wait until my "Nasty Woman" shirt that supports Planned Parenthood LA County gets here (thanks, Samantha Bee!). I kind of want more than one. More than 51,000 sold. https://www.omaze.com/made/nasty-woman

[InsertWordHere]

If I see one more person on facebook posting that freaking "Indians fans protest Cubs Win" comic, I will lose my shit. Not sure if this is prevalent across the country or just in my Northeast Ohio neck of the woods, but as someone who was pretty saddened by the Indians loss, it was not even remotely comparable to how totally sickened I felt on Tuesday night. One was a game and the other is most definitely not. Also, the whole "Indians had the same amount of runs throughout the series but lost more games" thing doesn't even work as an analogy to this election. The proper analogy would be if it was decided before the game that the 3rd, 5th, and 8th innings didn't count but the Indians still had to play them, and the runs they scored in those innings didn't go toward the score. 

Sorry, I just had to vent. Not sure why my sister's Trump supporter boyfriend decided to share it on my wall when I'm pretty sure he knows I'm extremely against Trump, but here we are. 

[catrox14]

More cute kitty therapy.

 

[ruby24]

It makes me so upset that I have to hear horrible things every single day now if I pay any attention to the news, which I'm so used to doing that I don't know if I can just tune it out. I don't think I can.

And that means every single thing you hear is just horrible. There is no possibility to hear anything good. Everything is just awful and will only get worse, and darker and scarier. That makes it hard to feel joy or hope.

[Quilt Fairy]

My grandparents emigrated here from Germany in the 1890’s.  I still have family there, although I have lost touch and don’t even speak the language except for a few phrases.  I don’t pretend to be an expert on what happened in Germany during the 20’s and 30’s with the rise of Hitler and the Nazis.  (My Mom used to insist that Hitler had some good ideas.)  But with my naturally introspective nature and my German heritage I have, on occasion, seriously pondered how I would have reacted if I lived there during that time.  It was an intellectual game of “what if?”.

I like to think that there’s an American spirit, an independent streak.  We are the people and the descendants of people who were not satisfied with the life they had in the old country, who wanted something better.  It’s in our DNA.  We believe in democracy and fair play and free speech and we stand up for those beliefs.  But now I feel like we’re on the precipice of becoming a police state.  We’re not there yet, but, damn, you can see it from here. 

For the first time in my life, I get to see what I am really made of.  And I’m scared.

[Kromm]

2 hours ago, crayon78 said:

No one seems willing to stand up to him on anything at all, even things that are clearly wrong.

It's not Trump per se that they are afraid to stand up to, it's the implied support he has. 

In effect people are running from the bully pulpit he now has where a scary large group of people either believe every last thing he says, or use doublethink to justify, excuse or overrule any concerns.

To use a parallel, this is shaping up like the McCarthy Red-scare days. People are starting to become afraid of the very IDEA of being the opposition. 

[Lantern7]

I find that ironic, since the president-elect is more than likely a Russian sympathizer. Can't we summon the shade of Joe McCarthy to haunt the asshole?

Last week, I lost it seeing LittleKuriboh use Yu-Gi-Oh! as a way to cope. Thinking about it, YKW has a lot in common with primary antagonist Seto Kaiba. LK started the "Screw the rules, I have money!" meme with Kaiba in mind. Doesn't that sound familiar and omnious?

[ruby24]

4 minutes ago, Kromm said:

It's not Trump per se that they are afraid to stand up to, it's the implied support he has. 

In effect people are running from the bully pulpit he now has where a scary large group of people either believe every last thing he says, or use doublethink to justify, excuse or overrule any concerns.

To use a parallel, this is shaping up like the McCarthy Red-scare days. People are starting to become afraid of the very IDEA of being the opposition. 

But he does not have the popular vote. By over two million in the end.

That does not give him any kind of a mandate for anything. By all accounts that makes him a very weak president and he will be the most unpopular incoming president in history. 

If the situation was reversed, it would be the same for Hillary. She'd be coming in with no mandate against the will of the majority of the voters. That's the reality of this.

[Pollock]

9 minutes ago, ruby24 said:

It makes me so upset that I have to hear horrible things every single day now if I pay any attention to the news, which I'm so used to doing that I don't know if I can just tune it out. I don't think I can.

And that means every single thing you hear is just horrible. There is no possibility to hear anything good. Everything is just awful and will only get worse, and darker and scarier. That makes it hard to feel joy or hope.

Yeah, they are adding insults to injury at this point. I didn't know it was possible to feel worth about it than a week ago but hey, I live and learn. I still have hope everybody in Washington will fight back at a point (which point is another question...) and still grasp on the hope he will never be appointed but I'm pretty sure the EC won't pre-impeach him, every one of them seems more concerned to keep a job in what's going to be 4 years of all you can eat buffet for those close to the President('s team). America is in the mouth of greedy greedy people... Make them choke on It! Or at least hard to chew!

2 minutes ago, Quilt Fairy said:

For the first time in my life, I get to see what I am really made of.  And I’m scared.

Very well put. 

 

And à propos of nothing: I watched Seth Meyers with the guy who played Harvey Dent, forgot his name. He said "coup de grah". It's "coup de grâce" like grass. Coup de grah sounds like "gras" in french (silent s), which means you would slap somebody with fat. It can be effectively insulting and messy, I'll give you that, but hardly leathal nor merciful which is the meaning of the expression. 
Voilà. That is all, it was bothering me. Priorities, you know.

[BW Manilowe]

Here's a panda pic for you. I need to provide some background, because it's a bit unusual.

The pic is of Tai Shan; he's the firstborn cub of Mei Xiang & Tian Tian, the current set of adult pandas at Washington's National Zoo; he's 11 & he now lives in 1 of the panda breeding & research reserves in China, because of the agreement that panda cubs born to adult pandas on loan to US zoos are returned to China at least by age 3. He has a 3-year-old sister, Bao Bao, & a 15-month-old brother, Bei Bei; both live at the National Zoo with their parents, but Bao Bao is being relocated to China sometime in this coming winter, 2017. Anyway...

There was apparently a day where Tai got scared or something, & he climbed a tree & wouldn't come down. Finally, 1 of his keepers, Brian (the guy in the pic), managed to get Tai to come out of the tree. Tai ran after Brian &, well, they just hugged. A pic like this hasn't happened since (the keepers were apparently more hands on with Tai because he was the firstborn cub here, from 2 different sets of adult pandas--the original set being Hsing Hsing & Ling Ling, presented to the National Zoo by China during Nixon's administration).

https://mobile.twitter.com/PandaReactions/status/798907952656621569/photo/1

[PepperMonkey]

I'm scared and all cried out. Watching all the beyond happy making memes and photos here makes me want to shout WE NEED TO HUG OUR PETS AND ANIMAL FRIENDS CLOSE, PEOPLE, because we've elected an uber capitalist asshole who cares nothing for the environment.

Not to mention American Muslims, good people all, who have to fear for their very lives if they make a wrong step. Will they be deported or will it soon be okay to just take your thousands of guns (for hunting only, of course) and blow them away and proclaim justification?? The mosque around the corner from my house has been covered up for days and I have to think that they're in there, praying for all of us. I hope Allah is listening.

I hope, too, that when abortion is made illegal again, and women are sent to prison for trying to terminate a pregnancy, that these middle aged, middle class (is there really one left?) white "republicans", trumpists, whatever you prefer to call them, are going to be adopting all these crack babies that are not wanted but born anyway. Are they going to pay for their extensive medical needs? Or will they need public assistance? No wait, that will be gone soon, too, unless it's tied to a trump casino or endorsed by Breitbart "news."

The scariest thing is that this guy is going to be able to shape the supreme court, which will impact Americans for years to come.

You know, I guess I understand how the middle class, or what's left of it, feels disenfranchised, left out and kicked to the curb, if you will. Mr. Monkey and I - diehard Obama supporters; oh hell, we're yellow dog Democrats; there now everyone knows - are no better off than we were five years ago, and that makes me sad. At least President Obama didn't HARM us. I just cannot understand, with every braincell I have, how those same people think someone like trump - a rich, white, asshole, reality show host, misogynist, racist, ignorant, uneducated (yeah, I know, he went to college) - will actually HELP them in any way.

And yes, you may have noticed, I refuse to capitalize his name. I will not call him president. It's more than "he's not my president." For me the disgust and astonishment goes much deeper. I don't have to give him a chance. I don't have to respect him. And Oprah is off my Christmas list.

[Quilt Fairy]

On a lighter note, if you want to get your mind off American politics for a while in exchange for British politics, I heartily recommend “The Crown” on Netflix.  It’s the first season of a proposed 6 where each season covers a decade in the life of Queen Elizabeth 2, but with the viewpoint of what’s happening behind closed doors.  S1 goes from 1947 to 1956 and deals with her marriage to Prince Phillip, the death of her father George VI, her early days as monarch (talk about on-the-job-training!), dealing with an ageing Winston Churchill as PM and handling the scandalous affair between her younger sister Margaret and a divorced commoner.  Good stuff. Exquisite costumes, gorgeous locales, and fabulous actors, and a reported budget of $124 million.  All 10 episodes were dumped the same day so binge-watching is easy. The hard part is restraining yourself to only watching an episode or 2 a day.

[Duke Silver]

.......

Edited November 17, 2016 by Duke Silver

[crayon78]

13 hours ago, MulletorHater said:

This mofo here:  Iowa Congressman Proposes Suck It Buttercup Legislation

"Kaufmann plans to introduce a piece of legislation he’s calling the “suck it up, buttercup bill” when the Legislature resumes in January.

Guess we're going to start to see a lot of these proposed by the GOP in the states. This one in Washington claims "economic terrorism."

The ACLU is going to be so busy.

Quote

"We're already concerned that some of its loose terms appear to be targeting civil disobedience as "terrorism." That's the kind of excessive approach to peaceful protest that our country and state do not need. Let's keep in mind that civil rights protesters who sat down at lunch counters could be seen as "disrupting business" ''and "obstructing economic activity," and their courageous actions were opposed by segregationists as trying to "coerce" business and government," Honig said.

I did like this quote though:

Quote

"Fear, intimidation and vandalism are not a legitimate form of political expression. Those who employ it must be called to account."

...  Says the person who campaigned for Trump.

[Macbeth]

What scares me is that instead of "draining the swamp" he is just going to bring  acceptance of political corruption to a whole new level.  It's like when the Bush administration legalized torture - I knew this was going on behind the scenes - but to have it officially approved by the government brought it to a whole other level.  Obama sanctioned a lot of Bush's policy - he might have stepped back from torture - but when he feels it's legal to assassinate people by drones without a trial....

Yes politicians are corrupt - but to have it done in the open by the President of the US brings it to a whole other level.  I don't think you can close Pandora's box after it has been opened.

[Deanie87]

For those of you who are ready to take action, but aren't quite sure where to start or how to do it, I found this on Twitter last night and I think its a great idea.  If you don't have twitter, you can google Derek Nelson or Re:Act, and I"m sure it will get you there.

I have to think that those in power now are counting on the uproar and the opposition to eventually dwindle away as people get back to their lives.  That's exactly what we can't allow to happen.  I actually think its a great thing that Speaker Ryan's voicemail box is so full, lets keep it that way!

 

Edited November 17, 2016 by Deanie87

[random chance]

8 hours ago, Kromm said:

In effect people are running from the bully pulpit he now has where a scary large group of people either believe every last thing he says, or use doublethink to justify, excuse or overrule any concerns.

Yes, I think this is it.  Also I do remember a few Republicans taking a stand against him and then changing that tune fast when his supporters menaced them.

I've been thinking how ironic it is that in the end, the Second Amendment might be the only thing standing between Liberals and a dictatorship.

8 hours ago, Pollock said:

And à propos of nothing: I watched Seth Meyers with the guy who played Harvey Dent, forgot his name. He said "coup de grah". It's "coup de grâce" like grass. Coup de grah sounds like "gras" in french (silent s), which means you would slap somebody with fat. It can be effectively insulting and messy, I'll give you that, but hardly leathal nor merciful which is the meaning of the expression. 
Voilà. That is all, it was bothering me. Priorities, you know.

I have never heard it as anything but the Seth version. Is it possible that this is one of those words that have been mispronounced for so many decades that the mispronounciation is now the accepted version (in the U.S. anyway)? Like "lew-tenant" (not left-enant) or DeeVON avenue (DEHVan).

[honeydo7]

If reading about Trump's plan to open his Muslim Registry, ASAP wasn't sickening enough, Trump Supporter, Carl Higbee claims to have the president's ear & believes Trump will consider establishing Internment Camps to house these men, women & children, including Muslim-Americans & naturalized citizens.  I am so angry, I started e-mailing & calling offices of GOP Senators to vent my anger & asking how that senator would vote on this issue.  If enough people call & email these senators, we can stop this hateful act from becoming law.  Search "Senators of the 114th Congress" for the list of current senate members. Thank You.

[stillshimpy]

Good morning, Lifeline Thread.  

Culinary is like that.   It's been mispronounced for so long that if you actually use the correct pronunciation people will look at you oddly.  

Thank you, susannot and SoSueMe you both made my morning and I appreciate it.  

So I've been doing the "name five positive things" trick every morning to sort of shore up my resolve as we all trudge forth into yet another "wonder what Cracked Crackerjack Surprise the news cycle will hold for us today?"  It helps at least give me the will to walk out of the front door.  

Here's my list for this morning (I promise I am not going to do this in here daily) it's just a nice pick me up to try and focus on the good stuff, not so that I can ignore all that is going on.  Or even pretend that it isn't happening.  It is so that I can try to keep myself in good enough mental shape for whatever may come.  We've got politicians talking about registries that are based on someone's religion.  This is perhaps the clearest sign that we've crossed some kind of Event Horizon because for so long, freedom of religion was the thing that we put forth as our biggest freedom.  Not bullshit about guns, the worship of which is a thing that has risen like some blood-thirsty specter within my lifetime, but instead things that actually pertained to freedom vs. thinking that freedom means "we're free to order you to register with the government" (oh god).  

So here's my list which and I try to find new things every day about my life and environment:  
1. My dishwasher plays Turkey in the Straw when it has finished a cycle.  I'm not kidding.  My oven also makes some exuberant, "Oh hooray!  I've preheated" type tuneful proclamation upon reaching temperature but I have no idea what it's singing, whereas the first time I ever heard this dishwasher, in June, I thought there was an ice cream truck driving by -- which was weird because I live on cul de sac.   I had to rush to tell my husband who had apparently also heard it and thought that the Good Humor truck was trundling by.    It's really the nicest sound to hear from a different part of the house.  

2.  I have a new niece.  Her name is Ruby and she looks almost painfully adorable. 

3. I have more fun with emojis than someone of my age and maturity should but they are a source of continued fun, almost daily, "Oh....a dragon!  Who can I send a dragon to without them thinking I'm weird?"  and then I realize that anyone in my contact list already got that memo and would think, "Yup, that makes sense from her, no further context needed" . 

4.  is related to 3:  Despite having moved a fair amount, I've cobbled together a completely awesome group of friends who are so kind and accepting.  They're in this world too and that is one of the things that can help.  Awesome people. 

5. California legalized pot which is something I support but the fun, positive thing (if you're me) is that every morning when I walk my dogs now, it is hilarious how much pot smoke is in the air in the neighborhoods.   I'll pass by backyards and just get huge wafts of the stuff and it's not actually that I'm some giant stoner it is that there is some evidence that we continue to take small amounts of ground, even as we lose it.   It's a positive because I can't think of anything less proportional to the offense than jailing people for marijuana as if they are an active danger to society. 

Anyone else want to share one?  Might help us all.  Or not but it was worth a shot because this is going to be a marathon, not a sprint and we all need the mood therapy in some form or another. 

[Advance35]

I swear I would give anything to know what the Koch Brothers are up to with all of this.   They are said to have influence among the GOP even now.

[MulletorHater]

On 11/16/2016 at 9:21 AM, honeydo7 said:

Not a good sign that Trump is thinking about instituting his Muslim Registry, as soon as he's sworn in.........if he's allowed to get away with this, what's to stop him from creating registries for other minorities, gays or Jews?  And how much damage will this man be allowed to get away with before moderate Republicans like Kasich, McCain, Romney, or the Bushes speak out against him?

What?  And, do you notice that not once have they proposed a registration for crazy white guys in militia groups and anti-government anarchists?

I vaguely recall that President Obama's first Director of Homeland Security wanted to include right-wing militia groups on a list of those who pose a threat to the safety of the country.  The result?  GOP lawmakers had a conniption and she backed down.  I wish she hadn't.  According to Newsweek, NYT, The Atlantic and other sources, right-wing extremists are far more dangerous than Muslim extremists.  Those groups are armed to the teeth and have plotted violent attacks on the federal government, Muslims and other groups.  Oh, and guess what?  They have been known to attack police officers as well.

But, we hear nary a peep about that.  It's no coincidence that very little hay was made about the cop killer in Iowa who ambushed two police officers--who happened to be White and a Drumpf supporter.  No Blue Lives Matters commentary; no 24/7 coverage; no plaintive demands by the propagandists on Faux News to know what his family life was like, or holding all Whites responsible for the actions of one nut.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we're supposed to accept Drumpf at his word that he wants to be the president of ALL Americans.  Yeah, right.  

[windsprints]

[Cupid Stunt]

25 minutes ago, honeydo7 said:

If reading about Trump's plan to open his Muslim Registry, ASAP wasn't sickening enough, Trump Supporter, Carl Higbee claims to have the president's ear & believes Trump will consider establishing Internment Camps to house these men, women & children, including Muslim-Americans & naturalized citizens.  I am so angry, I started e-mailing & calling offices of GOP Senators to vent my anger & asking how that senator would vote on this issue.  If enough people call & email these senators, we can stop this hateful act from becoming law.  Search "Senators of the 114th Congress" for the list of current senate members. Thank You.

Directory of U.S. Senate

 

Congress is where federal sausage-making starts, so don't leave your House of Representatives off the hook. Call often and make your voice heard.

Directory of U.S. House of Representatives

[random chance]

38 minutes ago, honeydo7 said:

believes Trump will consider establishing Internment Camps to house these men, women & children, including Muslim-Americans & naturalized citizens.

I am convinced that things like this are being floated so that when the slightly-less-evil actual plans are announced, people will be relieved.

[Cupid Stunt]

[ari333]

17 minutes ago, MulletorHater said:

What?  And, do you notice that not once have they proposed a registration for crazy white guys in militia groups and anti-government anarchists?

I vaguely recall that President Obama's first Director of Homeland Security wanted to include right-wing militia groups on a list of those who pose a threat to the safety of the country.  The result?  GOP lawmakers had a conniption and she backed down.  I wish she hadn't.  According to Newsweek, NYT, The Atlantic and other sources, right-wing extremists are far more dangerous than Muslim extremists.  Those groups are armed to the teeth and have plotted violent attacks on the federal government, Muslims and other groups.  Oh, and guess what?  They have been known to attack police officers as well.

But, we hear nary a peep about that.  It's no coincidence that very little hay was made about the cop killer in Iowa who ambushed two police officers--who happened to be White and a Drumpf supporter.  No Blue Lives Matters commentary; no 24/7 coverage; no plaintive demands by the propagandists on Faux News to know what his family life was like, or holding all Whites responsible for the actions of one nut.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we're supposed to accept Drumpf at his word that he wants to be the president of ALL Americans.  Yeah, right.  

THIS! sums up what I was about to say, but you said it better.

[ari333]

5 minutes ago, Cupid Stunt said:

Is this real? I wish it were. Either way, I love it. ! heheheheh so true.

[Enigma X]

@Cupid Stunt, I can't for some reason "like" your post but I love it!

[SuspiciousMind]

I just wanted to post to say a tearful, heartfelt thank you to the folks in this forum who have helped me so much in the days since the election.  The emotional support I get through reading the posts is priceless and the links to petitions, helpful articles, worthy causes and politician contact information have been duly employed.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Like so many, I've never been so devastated and scared by an election's outcome, but I have never been so motivated to fight an incoming administration, either.   I look forward to marching in my local Million Woman march in January and to trying to do something each day to fight, fight, fight this horrible, unqualified and, I believe, ultimately-uninterested-and-too-narcissistic-to-be-a-real-president man and his cronies/family.

ETA: I just read this and find it useful in a good, basic way: 12 Steps for Responding to the President-Elect

Edited November 17, 2016 by SuspiciousMind

[zxy556575]

1 hour ago, random chance said:

Yes, I think this is it.  Also I do remember a few Republicans taking a stand against him and then changing that tune fast when his supporters menaced them.

The Republicans trying to pass laws against protestors make me choke on my own bile. Their candidate shruggingly suggested that his supporters riot if he lost, and specifically said they should "knock the crap" out of protestors at his rallies. How can anyone possibly be surprised or disappointed that he hasn't decried the rise in hate crimes? He's tickled at the thought of people punching perceived enemies in his name.

56 minutes ago, honeydo7 said:

If reading about Trump's plan to open his Muslim Registry, ASAP wasn't sickening enough, Trump Supporter, Carl Higbee claims to have the president's ear & believes Trump will consider establishing Internment Camps to house these men, women & children, including Muslim-Americans & naturalized citizens.

Is there a citation for this? Higbie said on Fox News that internment camps are a precedent for establishing a Muslim registry but I haven't seen anything more than that.

[Menrva]

59 minutes ago, Cupid Stunt said:

I thought this was really hilarious. Crude, but hilarious. I made the mistake of sharing this on FB. And I got my first nastygram from a fellow Trump opponent. This is what she wrote to me.

Quote

I am offended that you think it's not ok to elect someone offensive. I think you are hateful and intolerant, because you despise hate & intolerance....Seriously, that is the best material these people have in defending this evil.

This from a FB friend. We used to be friends when we lived in NYC and then lost touch as we moved to different cities. I'm kind of pissed but I suppose I deserve it since the post isn't very tolerant. But seriously? Why do I have to tolerate people who support Pumpkin Spice Hitler? Why is it ok for the tone police to shit on me? I don't think I'm being terribly objective here, but I'm kind of annoyed. 

Edited November 17, 2016 by Menrva

[Cupid Stunt]

Joshua Foust, former security analyst and current national security fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, compiled a list of not normal things with the president-elect.

This is Not Normal

• Using your Presidential transition website to promote your own business properties is not normal.
• Calling for millions of federal employees to sign nondisclosure agreements apart from standard government forms is not normal.
• Blasting journalists with product placements for the labels your child, who is on your transition team, is wearing is not normal.
• Having a wide range of senior figures in your own political party distance themselves from your transition team, citing the profound irregularity of it and worrying about future ugliness, is not normal.
• Placing your children in charge of your business empire, then placing them on your transition team, then seeking top secret security clearances for them, is not normal. The conflicts of interest that this represents are almost too many to count, but at a basic level: you do not give someone with a financial interest to work against U.S. policy access to sensitive information — at all, ever.
• Putting one’s children into senior positions of a government is the behavior of a banana republic, not a constitutional democracy with strong institutions. This is not normal.
• For a president who ran on his business acumen to refuse to disclose his taxes to the public, which in turn denies anyone the ability to see if financial conflicts of interest are driving his policy decisions, is not normal.
• Asking if he can decline the President’s salary, so as to avoid paying taxes, is not normal.
• Owing hundreds of millions of dollars in business debt to a foreign bank and refusing to fully divest yourself from those finances is not normal.
• Ascending to the White House while your eldest son, who is also on your transition team, and for whom you also seek a top-secret clearance, seeks out seven-digit business deals in Russia, is not normal. When Russia then names the President elect an “honorary Cossack,” it is not normal.
• Asking a hostile foreign intelligence agency to hack into the emails of your opponent in the campaign is not normal. Refusing to comment while they expand those hacks into other institutions is not normal. Watching that same government’s propaganda network dramatically change its tone in order to benefit the incoming president is not normal. That this foreign government is also the subject of numerous investigations into the President elect’s improper business conduct is not normal.
• Threatening to cut off Europe from NATO if payment is not received, like a gangster demanding protection money, in a way that benefits said foreign government, is not normal.
• Chanting for the summary imprisonment of your political opponent despite repeated conclusions that she has committed no crime is not normal. Refusing to back down from that call to summarily imprison her is not normal. Essentially suggesting a show trial before you’ve even assumed office is not normal.
• Hiring an avowed white supremacist and proud antisemite to be the chief of strategy at the White House is not normal. That the new White House chief strategist has bragged, openly, of his desire to destroy the United States is not normal. That the cofounder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center raised money for this is not normal.
• Staff participating in authoritarian victim-blaming and antisemitic conspiracism is not normal. Collaborating with cable news channels in that antisemitic conspiracy about protests is not normal.
• When one of the new administration’s most senior proxies and spokesmen calmly discusses committing war crimes in the Middle East, it is not normal. When he is shortlisted for the Department of State — despite lobbying for terrorists who killed Americans, despotic regimes in the Middle East, and the tyrannical government of Venezuela — it is not normal.
• When that proxy is simply following in the footsteps of the new President-elect, who has called for reinstating torture and summarily executing the families of alleged terrorists, it is not normal.
• The leading candidate for the department of education (who himself has no background as an educator or in education policy) openly suggesting to censor speech on universities is not normal. Nominating an oil executive as the Secretary of the Interior is not normal. Nominating a climate change denialist funded by the oil industry to run the EPA is not normal. When the leading candidate for Defense Secretary having a long history of openly racist comments toward his own staff it is not normal.
• The FBI intervening decisively in the last week of the election to alter its outcome for one candidate is not normal. But the FBI refusing to address the president elect’s violation of sanctions against a communist country is also not normal.
• When a woman accuses a presidential candidate of having raped her as a child, but then refuses to go forward with her allegations because of a barrage of death threats yet still receives almost no media coverage, it is not normal.
• It is not normal for a president-elect to have 75 pending lawsuits against him, ranging from business fraud to illegal hiring practices. It is not normal for his lawyers to demand those lawsuits be delayed until after his inauguration for not discernible reason other than to retreat behind the immunity of the office.
• Relentlessly attacking the legitimacy of the media (to be distinguished from criticizing media conduct) is not normal. Threatening to sue the media because you don’t like being criticized is not normal.
• Being so steeped in the language of fascism that you and and your staff mirror Hitler (“make the trains run on time“), appeasing Hitler (“America First“), or Mussolini (“drain the swamp“) is not normal.

[parisprincess]

Although I won't be attending the inauguration, i will be dressing for the occasion. On January 20th, I will be clad in black from head to toe. Somehow it seem fitting.

[stillshimpy]

I don't know if this will post here because it's a facebook link but a friend of mine put this on her page....and damn is it ever helpful in telling people why objecting to FUCKING BIGOTRY is not evidence of intolerance, in fact, it is the very definition of tolerance. 

[Cupid Stunt]

48 minutes ago, ari333 said:

Is this real? I wish it were. Either way, I love it. ! heheheheh so true.

I'm not sure if it is actually from Miss Manners. It was sent to me via Twitter reader.

Chrome, Previously TV, and I have issues (So many issues!) with Twitter feeds, and wasn't able to link directly to the tweet.

[anyanka323]

1 hour ago, MulletorHater said:

What?  And, do you notice that not once have they proposed a registration for crazy white guys in militia groups and anti-government anarchists?

I vaguely recall that President Obama's first Director of Homeland Security wanted to include right-wing militia groups on a list of those who pose a threat to the safety of the country.  The result?  GOP lawmakers had a conniption and she backed down.  I wish she hadn't.  According to Newsweek, NYT, The Atlantic and other sources, right-wing extremists are far more dangerous than Muslim extremists.  Those groups are armed to the teeth and have plotted violent attacks on the federal government, Muslims and other groups.  Oh, and guess what?  They have been known to attack police officers as well.

But, we hear nary a peep about that.  It's no coincidence that very little hay was made about the cop killer in Iowa who ambushed two police officers--who happened to be White and a Drumpf supporter.  No Blue Lives Matters commentary; no 24/7 coverage; no plaintive demands by the propagandists on Faux News to know what his family life was like, or holding all Whites responsible for the actions of one nut.  Meanwhile, back at the ranch, we're supposed to accept Drumpf at his word that he wants to be the president of ALL Americans.  Yeah, right.  

I would also add the "Christian" we got upset with our old mainstream Protestant/Catholic/Baptist church because they were normal and founded our own "church" where we make it "fun" and demonize anyone who doesn't agree with us groups to that list.  Many of these mega"churches" have bought up large amounts of land, including former malls in some areas, so there's less money from property taxes going towards essential municipal services and schools now.  Most of them are against public schools because they are too secular for their tastes and either for home schooling or charter schools.  I'm very much against home schooling which depending on the reasoning and intentions of the parents could be termed no schooling.  It's become less regulated in most states over the past 15 years, thanks to the very persuasive home school lobby and their evangelical allies.  They're also very political, and have been credited for giving both Santorum and Cruz wins in the Iowa caucuses. 

The other group that leans towards home schooling is the anti-vaxxing crowd.  Thanks to clusters of anti-vaxxers, certain states, including Illinois, have eliminated loopholes to get around vaccinating your kids.  Where I live, there's concerns about the high number of kids without vaccinations in certain areas, mostly the white and liberal leaning parts.  Too many of the parents have bought into the junk science about vaccines causing autism and refuse to vaccinate their kids.  I hope that those efforts are not stymied under Trump, because a measles outbreak in any school is a major public health issue.

Edited November 17, 2016 by anyanka323

[ChiCricket]

But I HATE the circus, and monkeys throw POO.

Apropos to how I feel about the outcome of the election, I guess :(

[Lantern7]

So . . . Surgeon General choice: Jenny McCarthy or Bill Cosby?

[Bastet]

Quote

Quote

I am offended that you think it's not ok to elect someone offensive. I think you are hateful and intolerant, because you despise hate & intolerance....Seriously, that is the best material these people have in defending this evil.

This from a FB friend. We used to be friends when we lived in NYC and then lost touch as we moved to different cities. I'm kind of pissed but I suppose I deserve it since the post isn't very tolerant. But seriously? Why do I have to tolerate people who support Pumpkin Spice Hitler? Why is it ok for the tone police to shit on me? I don't think I'm being terribly objective here, but I'm kind of annoyed. 

She's your friend, so you'd know better, but I read her response the opposite way you did.  To me, she's being sarcastic and agreeing with you: She's mocking the position that it's being offended that's wrong, not being offensive.  That it's despising hate and intolerance that's awful, not being hateful and intolerant. 

[EyewatchTV211]

[ClareWalks]

8 minutes ago, Bastet said:

She's your friend, so you'd know better, but I read her response the opposite way you did.  To me, she's being sarcastic and agreeing with you: She's mocking the position that it's being offended that's wrong, not being offensive.  That it's despising hate and intolerance that's awful, not being hateful and intolerant. 

Agree, particularly with her last line. She's talking about "defending this evil" and I'm pretty sure she means Trump/voting for Trump.

[Grommet]

I'm too lazy to link, but #grabyourwallet has contact info for companies selling Trump shit. Apparently, some are very receptive to callers asking them to drop those products . 

Bought my bus tickets for the DC march! Anyone who's going, feel free to PM me and maybe we can have a PTV meetup.

[NextIteration]

The normalizing of hate and everything dangerous is breaking my heart.  The list of things, the very long list of things... starting with basic freedoms and climate change.  Also, all the progressive infighting.  I'm really struggling to make it through any of the steps of grieving.

[ari333]

7 minutes ago, NextIteration said:

The normalizing of hate and everything dangerous is breaking my heart.  The list of things, the very long list of things... starting with basic freedoms and climate change.  Also, all the progressive infighting.  I'm really struggling to make it through any of the steps of grieving.

THIS! This is exactly how I feel . 

To add to the sadness, my bf was accosted on Wed 11/9 at his work. My neighbor's grade school daughter had her burka stripped off of her while walking to the bus on Fri 11/11. Neither of these things had happened before. Coincidence ? Guess what? openly hating and hurting people is OK now. It's been endorsed! by Orange!