Damn · 12:38pm November 6th
I know it's completely irrational, but I can't help but feel responsible for this. If I had actually bothered renewing my long-expired passport, surely I wouldn't regret not having it.
Of course, I'm far down the list of those at risk, but it's still sobering to wake up, look at the numbers, and see that a mathematical majority of voters chose the visibly unraveling septuagenarian preaching hate, obvious lies, and openly advertised, banal, self-defeating evil. And one of the first things I think when something goes awry is "What did I do wrong this time?"
I shouldn't be making this about me. Again, there are so many people at so much greater risk, and I know I did what I could to prevent it. That far greater forces also tried and failed. I have no idea what the next four years will have in store and I am terrified to find out.
If nothing else, I'm glad I got Running Gag out yesterday. I doubt I'll be in the right mindset for writing something more coherent today. This is just the textual effluvia coming out as I try sort things out mentally and emotionally. Again, shouldn't be making it about me, but these are the only eyes I can see through. The world starts with me, but it keeps going beyond that, and I can only hope for the safety of those parts of it who will be more immediately impacted.
I'm sorry. I don't want this, but apparently enough people did. Or just didn't think beyond seeing red. We'll see what happens from here.
The world moves on, regardless of what its skin infection does. The stars turn around Sagittarius A*. The universe expands. This too shall pass. May we all see what awaits on the other side, and let us not be quiet about the especially noisome parts.
I'm also in the low-risk category, but so many of my online friends aren't, and I'm worried about them.
How long would it take for you renew that passport? Can you start the process right now?
This has left a lot of the rest of the world looking bemusedly at your country.
That said, I can see what would appeal to those who chose to believe the waffle which was dished out... pity is that what he actually did last time bore little to what he said in his speeches and I expect this to be more of the same.
I look forward to him doing all he promised to the American People in his speeches. "Making housing and jobs easier for all to have and afford" as promised. "Making medical care more affordable and available" as promised. "Healing the fractured community" as promised. "Reducing taxes and improving wages" as promised. "Introduce 200% tariffs on all Chinese imports" as promised. "Stopping the war in Ukraine in two weeks" as promised. "Stopping the Middle East conflict" as promised. "Bringing peace to the world" as promised. "Stopping school shootings" as promised... and so it goes. He has promised so much, we just have to see if he was full of BS, how quickly all of those promises are "contextualised" away or if he can manage any of them... or will he just deny all of the promises and call them Fake News and do whatever the heck he feels like.
He has a very busy few years ahead of him.
Best of Luck to all of you who live through this.
I count my blessings that I can literally swim to a different country if it comes to that.
In the same boat, myself. I went to vote and was voting not necessarily for me but for those who I knew would be severely and negatively impacted.
It's hard to feel any sense of civic responsibility when it just doesn't seem to matter to the majority... or to the other half... or whatever term is applicable here, if any. Like you, I feel like I failed those I care about, even though it's not my fault.
I don't know what's going to happen over the next four years, or even this morning.
I tapped out, turned off my phone, watched The Godfather, and went to sleep early because there's nothing good that can come from panic at 10pm. Somehow this resulted in it also feeling like the election is my fault, through some superstitious nonsense and looking for patterns. Someone to blame.
My optimism is usually pretty unshakable but.
Fuck, man. This sucks.
Well, it's time to get organized.
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And apparently forgetting that America has enough guns to make themselves everyone else's problem.
I repeat, the smart people are worried not bemused.
I know how you feel, Dude. I'm not happy about this either. For weeks I was being optimistic, thinking that every controversy that occurred would make this less likely to happen. But since it has become clear that nobody is bothered by the more disturbing facets leading up to this moment and that a lot of people have obviously forgotten everything that has happened in the past years, all I can say is:
WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH AMERICA?!
I swear people have so damn short memories and then all the false facts that float around dont help either in getting people like him OUT of office. I really wanted to see him get his comeuppance and jail time from the 32 counts of sexual assault and see what the classified papers would get him time wise, but nope cant happen now since so many judges deferred sentencing till after november....like we really NEED a criminal in office of president.
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He always has been. Always.
People put too much stock into "oh, there's no one that stupid".
Cult mentality is stronger than you'd think. Combine that with stupidity and it's a recipe for disaster.
About the only silver lining is that, if we somehow come out strong in 2028, he can't run for a third term. But with the way things are going -- climbing debt, WWIII, Project 2025 -- I don't have much hope.
At this point, I can't decide whether to feel disappointed, enraged, or both.
Well, Hopefully someone can get some actual good business done.
Not sure who though.
Anyone would work, just do the right business and I'll be content.
And I thought Mr. X would be on the other side...What changed?Why do these tables keep turning?
I really don't know what to say. "I'm here" really doesn't feel like it cuts it. But it's all I've got.
It's no one person's fault. One's desire for self blame is a malignant expression of one's desire for control over a process much larger than oneself.
Make a difference in a way that is tangible to you on whatever scale you have available to you. As I've said elsewhere, there is work to be done and opportunities for heroism. There always is and there always have been. Let elections, In whatever way they swing, remind you of this.
The terrain shifts. The work continues.
I'm a white cishet guy in a Catholic family. I'm at the literal bottom of the risk list. But I'm still completely furious become so many people I know and care about are going to be effected by this.
I'm going to be 31 by the time this orange turd is out.
I guess what I'm trying to say is:
🫂
🤝
We've got this, you've got this, we've got this together
Genuinely shocking how quick this election was decided -- especially compared to the last one. Solidarity and best of luck to my American friends. Even more so, to Ukraine.
You and me both, and as a porn peddler I'm not as low-risk as some. And pretty much all my RL friends outside family are a lot higher up the list.
The biggest reason I didn't get a passport, and why I'm not going to now, is that I don't think I could support myself in any other country, not after spending almost thirty years self-employed.
But the second biggest reason is this: there is no place on Earth one can run to which is safe from the United States.
5814005 What changed is, Elon Musk has always been about being a robber-baron who is exempt from the law (especially anti-discrimination laws), and now he will be. Remember that his plans for colonizing Mars were always a one-way trip with a few "paying" colonists and a ton of "indentured servants".
5814173 Don't send solidarity to Ukraine, send ammo. Fast. Because we won't be allowed to anymore ten weeks from now.
It’s a hell of a day, man. I hope that people will be safe and okay, despite the odds of that declining.
5814194
This is worth repeating. Depending on how hard the US self-destructs, the entire rest of the world could be in the blast radius.
I know what you mean and, to be honest, it actually helps to hear you and others say that. I mean, on some level, I knew I wasn't alone, but it honestly does my mental state a world of good to hear it. I mean, I'm cis, male, white and in another country and this whole thing basically sent me into a full emotional breakdown and still has me feeling physically faint and nauseous. Admittedly, that's partially because it brought home just how fragile my physical and mental state is, but still it... just...
What the hell would it take?!
I can't help but feel this clip is fitting for the mood today:
I hate America. And I was born here. With this decision, we've officially gone to hell. I give up.
This one hit different. Trump was fumbling, Harris was killing it. Funding. Boots on the ground. Campaign gaffs. All leading to Trump's first popular vote win.
This, it seems, is what America wants. Drama, violence, reprisals, entertainment. Like Germany, we now know 1/3 of the nation will kill another 1/3 while 1/3 watches.
The Republicans seek Hungary-style "soft" autocracy, where changes to laws mean they win uncompetitive races endlessly without even having to cheat. We have time before this is enshrined. I don't know what we can do with that, how it can be stopped. There's really no answer when over half the country wants autocracy or at least is willing to vote for it. The best thing, darkly, is for things to go so obviously bad they'll get tossed in the next cycles. Which will hurt people, but so did every fight for democracy.
History didn't end when Hitler rose. The Civil War didn't end at Bull Run. History is long. More than ever, though, these feel more like empty platitudes than genuine comfort.
Yesterday was a bad day. Trump never concealed his hostility. As a reservist, I sincerely hope that war will not break out, but we all know that China and America have prepared enough steel for Armageddon.
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Apparently a majority of Americans wanted a microphone-fellating Cheeto who explicitly only cares about himself. It’s really hard to see how we’re not 100% boned.
Hug
I find it hard to find any words or platitudes to say at all. All that I hope for is that we can endure
I'm not American, but I have American friends, and all of them are at risk one way or another. My heart goes out to you all.
Take care of one another, and all my best wishes.
My heart aches. I served this country. My closest friends are the most at risk, and I am afraid for them.
With all the drama on other sites, the endless fights & the brigading & the trolling (particulary on Reddit today) this was a breathe of fresh air. With the reversions & repealing of insurance reforms I'm unlikely to be able to afford the expensive medications that keep me alive for very long... which means that I'm liable to not live to vote against him in 4 more years... presuming that's even an option we're given... however you have my promise of this, so long as I can still suck breathe & do something every day to resist then that's what I'll do. It isn't much of anything, but please know that none of us is alone
Not sure how well this reference travels, but my Dreamwidth post this morning was as follows:
Europeans generally really dislike Trump (even right-wingers – I saw a poll showing that Le Pen supporters broke for Harris) so it's not like my views on this are any surprise. But yeah, I'm worried. For you, for us, for Ukraine, you name it really. Putin will undoubtedly be happier today, and that's not a good thing. We haven't forgotten that his goons caused the death of a British civilian on British soil a few years ago.
We've seen an anti-incumbent movement in most elections for several years, all over the world. In the UK, that's meant a fairly underwhelming (so far, at least) but reasonably normal Prime Minister. You guys have suffered a lot more given who you've got. As you say, though, there are lots of people out there who stand to suffer much more. I really hope things aren't as bad as many are fearing they will be, but... it's bloody scary, even from an ocean away.
One piece of unsolicited and doubtless unwanted advice to those dispirited by the result: please don't spend the next four years retreating into a comfort zone of telling each other how stupid/evil the half of the country that voted Trump is. A big chunk of Remain voters choose that path after the Brexit referendum, jeering at Leavers en bloc. It achieved nothing, and arguably made things even worse. The Democrats need to work out how to win some of those Trump votes back, and that's going to mean some difficult questions and potentially uncomfortable answers. Otherwise they'll feel all pure and virtuous... and lose again. Possibly by more than this time.
5814254 I hate to say it, but the time to do something about it began decades ago.
The simple fact is that elements of the Democratic Party simply were not willing to do what was necessary to either address the urgent needs of Americans re: inflation and housing costs, or to take a strong stand against the creeping reactionary forces steadily taking over the entire system. I could rant for days about this, but that's the core of it. Harris lost because there are a lot of people who think Trump's lying about the really horrible stuff and telling the truth about fixing things (when it's really the other way around), and who don't believe Democrats want to fix anything, because why didn't they?
Which shows that most Americans pay zero attention to the details of how government works and really just have the idea that the president can do anything he wants. And they're about to find out what it's like to live in a country where that's actually true.
I know that everyone here will hate me for saying this, but literally no one is in any danger from this election. This man was already president, and for two years had full controll of the government (president, house, and senate). And despite his bluster, he left when he was voted out.
He never jailed his opponents, he never restricted any rights. He has enabled LGBT rights at every turn. The only "right" he can be said to "restrict" is abortion, and he just kicked that to the states to decide.
Please take a step back from the fear mongering. If you are honestly frightened about this, try listening to the source of these accusations. Not the out of context clips, just listen to the real story.
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You're right.
Nobody likes what you're saying.
I'm trying not to be crude, but you clearly have no idea what you're talking about. I suggest that you go back over the past several years and refresh yourself of everything that that nut has done, caused, enabled, and gotten away with before you say we're acting hysterical.
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I don't think Aburi is right, I think even their examples are wrong but I think it is unkind to berate them as you did. They have yet to say, as you suggested, that "we're acting hysterical". As Aburi is the only person here who is OK with the election result, their opinion is interesting, if only in a narrative way, protagonist vs antagonist where both appear as reasonable people. I recall an apparently rational blogger going by the handle of "Levelhead". He supported Sara Palin as a good choice for VP and when I called in to question adopting the term "maverick" for another candidate, pointing out that a maverick is a lost, unbranded calf that anyone can grab, he just doubled down the righteousness of these choices. Amazing.
I'm just saying, be kind. I learn more about myself by watching and listening. I did not ask for the Anthropocene, I know what evil lurks in the hearts of every living being and I know of the benefits of society. I know that we are all monsters. Be safe everypony.
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Well, I said I was trying not to be crude.
5814484
It can be hard to not be crude.
5814375
Texas woman dies after being denied miscarriage care due to abortion ban
Soooo women are in danger. So are migrant kids. So is anyone with brown skin who doesn't happen to have an ID or good English.
Additionally, Trump substantially increased drone bombings from the Obama years until Biden almost entirely halted it, so we can put "Middle Eastern people" on the list.
For context: the Republican party launched over 50 major lawsuits with the intent of retroactively disenfranchising millions of Americans to force a Trump victory. White house meetings discussed the idea of using the military to "re-do" elections in swing states that voted for Biden. This was only dropped because it was obvious the military would not support him. Then his mob violently assaulted the capital to disrupt the transfer of power. THEN most Republicans voted against the peaceful transfer of power anyway.
He didn't "leave" when voted out, he pulled every lever possible in order to remain. He was forced out kicking and screaming.
The Republican party is eminently hostile to LGBT rights and has passed innumerable restrictions against it.
Trump nakedly, repeatedly, obviously insisted his justice department prosecute and arrest Biden and Hillary. He used border patrol and other Federal law forces to arrest BLM protestors, often against the will of the states and cities, and these people were near-universally released immediately because there was no actual case.
Deleting the right of a woman to have health care is, in fact, a restriction of rights. Giving others authority to restrict rights is, in fact, a restriction of rights. If the government abruptly repealed abolition in 1910 it would be a restriction of rights even if they "let the states decide."
EDIT: Also, Trump actively brags about repealing Roe, so "That's not him, it's the states!" is even more obviously bankrupt than otherwise.
A big worry, if you had the insight to actually listen to "the source of the allegations" yourself, is that Trump was restricted in his efforts for autocratic rule and arbitrary imprisonment by more responsible adults in his first term. This is, bluntly, an obvious fact. He has nakedly advertised his intent to fill all high slots with loyalists who might not restrict him in the future. Even if this does not happen, the Republican party in general has continued to support "soft" autocratic measures such as racial gerrymandering and limits to voting access which deserve to be opposed at every turn.
Additionally, although he failed to jail opponents and overturn democracy, clear and obvious attempts were made to do so. Saying "yeah he tried but he didn't succeed!" is not a good argument in the man's favor.
You earnestly need to work on your human empathy because dismissing the views of minorities concerned with their retreating rights and those who support them with a high-handed "You all who are living these fears are wrong! Everything's fine! 😊" is both cruel and, given the context, stupid.
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It is deeply misguided that you lecture others to be more polite, but have no words against the person high-handedly dismissing the concerns of others as "fear-mongering." Smirking condescension is as insulting as a direct curse.
Additionally: polite lies are still lies. Banal evil is still evil. They must be called out.
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I view this as grim evidence not of failing of the Democrats, but of a hostile media and loss of information space to the right. Because Biden *nailed* inflation, coasting us in to a post-COVID boom at minimal cost and light years ahead of the rest of the world. A lot of people think wrong about Trump because he slurred and rambled through every speech while the media spent 3 days on Biden getting a name wrong. People ask "why didn't the D's fix this?" but weirdly don't ask that about the R's because there's just no expectation of them being adults.
The way to stop the authoritarian creep is the win local, appoint progressive judges, and get sufficient congressional numbers to tackle gerrymandering and voting access, but hand on heart all this needs votes and there's not much to be done when the information space spins everything you do while treating the other guys as a noisy toddler you just try to ignore.
5814375 Rather than go item by item through the things you're wrong about here, I'll just put a photo here:
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That happened the very night after I put up those yard signs.
Still think I've got no reason to be afraid?
And I'm a straight white American-born male. Think what it's like for people not in that group who have been listening to what conservatives have been saying for, well, pretty much my entire life.
It's taken me about a day to get back in a more rational headspace.
On a personal level, I get to sleep easily knowing I'm tucked deep in the West Coast and am not a member of any minority designation -- short of a world war, I'm safe. Conversely, it means that my vote -- which I proudly cast anyway -- contributed to a foregone conclusion, and the standard advice of "if you want to see change, vote" never really applied to me.
I refuse to believe that more than 50% of people in this country are overtly hateful. I am willing to believe that many of them are ignorant. And here I'm using the clinical, non-judgmental definition of the word -- related to "uninformed" -- the same way I would admit, for example, that I'm ignorant of many aspects of Black culture. It's easy (and frankly, comforting) to ignore politics and news to focus on one's day-to-day life. And in that context, a last-minute decision to select "businessman who says he's successful" over "woman who was vice president during the time I was financially strained" isn't so outrageous.
I'm not saying everybody voted based solely on the economy -- my point stands for any single-issue (or zero-issue) voter who feels they don't have time to pay attention to the news. It's easy to be ignorant, and it's easy for people to take advantage of the ignorant. I don't know what the solution is -- the way to fight ignorance is with facts, but facts are boring and take effort to understand. The long-term solution would seem to be to ensure everybody receives a meaningful education, but that's increasingly unlikely to ever happen.
5814621 They're not. The picture that's coming out of this is that about nine million 2020 Democratic voters, mostly Latinos, stayed home. Trump barely got more votes in 2024 than he did in 2020.
This election was a giant "quit taking us for granted" protest at the worst possible time.
5814194 Since I wrote this I saw a post which has changed my mind about the passport thing.
Specifically, a lot of LGBT people are beginning the application process as a first step to fleeing what they expect to be a lethally dangerous four years, and other people applying makes it a little harder for Trump's people to find them among the crowd.
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Well, I was trying to be diplomatic...
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As above, I could have said "Looking at the US as if it has gone completely bonkers or senile and now has the world's shortest memory span"
I have tried to keep as open a mind as possible but I must say that as I watch several of the world's recent elections I feel that so many seem to be willing to accept pipe dreams, sound bites and dogmatic ranting instead of rational discourse, community cohesiveness and responsibility.
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Why? He's a piece of shit and this has been known for decades, so I don't understand the point of saying "It remains to be seen if he is a clump of fecal matter."