Nearly 2 years in to this daily nightmare, here's where I am in all of this.

[NRaleighLiberal]

I've pulled back from the news nearly completely - when I do check in here, I read the headlines, a few of the threads more closely...

....and none of it surprises me. Defense mechanism? Numbness?

I went to school with assholes like Trump - in high school, they were the dumb jocks and bullies, the fawned upon. They were the verbally and often physically abusive ones, often coming from wealthy families - the sense of entitlement. The teachers sometimes joined in the fawning. I hated it.

In college and grad school, the bullying was replaced by narcissism and pure entitlement. Sometimes, just plain meanness.

So - no surprises. It is all unfolding exactly as I thought it would. And daily, the media breathlessly describes how awful it all is, how inconceivable. And...they all played their part in making it happen.

I've pulled back because of several factors - we don't have an election system that I trust. We don't have a media that can deal with the constant lies, shit flinging, shiny objects, squirrels - and the gish galloping and gaslighting. They are just utterly out of their ability to deal with it.

The saddest part of it all - and it is worth repeating - no level of increasing awfulness is a surprise to my wife and I. We watch it all unravel before our eyes - and it seems unstoppable. Without a fair media, without eliminating the disgusting false equivalence, our current TV addicted society - not all, but lots of it - is too apathetic to care, because - hey! - it's like their favorite reality shows have come to life.

We are all now living in The Apprentice. We now all know what it would be like to exist in the very world of his shitty reality show.

My wife and I are not living a life of doom and gloom, because we have each other, and our passions and interests and hobbies, we have our health, our cats and dog, we have wonderful daughters. We chose to turn off TV 10 years ago. We watch movies we love, read books we love, listen to music we love - we kayak, we hike.

Yes, we will vote. Our daughters will vote. And my wife and I will not have any confidence that it will count.

But it all looks quite different...our optimism that things out there are in any sort of sane control has been replaced by a more cynical feeling - when we choose to go there. And we are choosing less and less and less.

One thing for sure - it's not nice to fool mother nature. No matter what happens - the narcissistic, corrupt, powerful and greedy can't escape what is being done to our planet - that will get us all in the end.

[cilla4progress]

1. My family has about 98% overlap

with you.

Do you think the Rs will get what's coming to them in the end, i.e., penalized for their greed and avarice beyond climate conditions?

I am taking SS a couple years early (63] because no confidence in long term.

My husband and I continue to work. Him for the union health benefits, me (part time) because I am helping people, which helps me feel like there's a reason to be here.

Thanks for your post. Wish we were neighbors!

[EndGOPPropaganda]

12. Yes, America will fight back. Do what you can

Reading the news daily isn’t that important- keep yourself generally informed, but do what you need to do to stay sane.

But let me encourage you to hang out with like minded people. Go to indivisible meetings, try to talk to other humans who care too. Canvassing can be a good way to touch base with likeminded.


And vote, of course. Tell others to vote too. Canvass, resist, phone bank. Do a little every day. Best resistance is positive persistence.

[NJCher]

73. or

work for the integrity of the voting system.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

75. And

Do both

[kimbutgar]

2. 2 people I knew as bullies growing up are orange maggot followers

When I was still on Facebook they crowed about how great the orange maggot was. I remember them as cruel bullies. One girl especially was mean to me and I never forgot the day after Robert F Kennedy was shot she said she hoped he dies.

[UniteFightBack]

3. Another goal of the Russians etc is for Americans to lose faith in the system. nt

[lunasun]

13. ++ 1 Yep

[OMGWTF]

16. Putin was telling his citizens that the demise of the USA is almost complete,

[Grasswire2]

59. yes

A goal of totalitarian takeover is to exhaust the good people, who then turn away.

Which means the fascists, the authoritarians, have an open road, a free and clear path to roll right in and assume power.

Look to history books.

Our very lives depend on resistance.

People who look away and enjoy their lives in the current breathlessness will not fare any better than others when the martial law comes, when churches and newspapers and shops belonging to "dissidents" are bombed and invaded and when members of the BASE are given authority over the daily lives of the people who look away, too.

Curfew.

Cessation of services including. Internet. Power interruptions. Bank closures. Social Security withheld.

All the while the screws are tightening on our personal private lives, the wrecking ball of the Trumps is smashing and crashing people, and structure of government, and our American treasures, and our Rule of Law, and our identity as a people, and our safety in the world....

This is the moment akin to the moment our ancestors faced in one country or another. This is the moment when every citizen must decide whether to choose liberty, or accept tyranny. The blood of every patriot, every soldier, sailor, marine, airman throughout American history has been spilled all 'round the world to repudiate tyranny. To choose to stand for liberty.

And not choosing is a choice.

I respect you, NRL, and consider you a friend.

But my conscience demands that I present a different POV.

[Hoyt]

4. When we vote we win. Obama and recent special elections are proof.

Vote and donate, will make us all feel better.

[NRaleighLiberal]

6. We voted in 2016 and didn't win. Hillary got lots more votes, remember?

Gerrymandering, voter suppression. It is way more complex than your slogan.

[JudyM]

8. I share your cynicism, but still fighting, working on GOTV, calling Congress. All hope is not lost.

I was inspired today by this post in the Bernie group. Even just listen to the first 10 minutes if you have time... the time to fight is now, more than ever. Speeches like this keep me fired up and I get friends to help. https://www.democraticunderground.com/1280223479

[RainCaster]

9. Keep voting anyhow, and register at least four new voters every year

Teach them how to research and form their own opinions.

[Hoyt]

10. Well, tell people not to vote. Gerrymandering didn't hurt Clinton.

Very few people who turned up at polls were turned away, like almost none. Folks who sat out in some kind of protest, were ticked and voted for trump or 3rd party, etc, cost us election. Lies didn’t help.

Now, just a few weeks from midterms, is not the time to get people depressed about their vote counting. It’s that simple.

[NRaleighLiberal]

11. Do you have confidence that your vote counts? Do you have confidence that our election

was not stolen in 2016? Because I do not.

And if sharing my feelings on DU is going to cost us an election, we are in worse shape than even I thought....or are you also an authoritarian?

[EndGOPPropaganda]

14. Votes matter. My vote matters. Your vote matters.

We vote first. We’re fighting uphill so we have to win by a big margin. But we can get there.

Then when we win- and we will - we fix the system. Win the House, and investigations will bring down the President.
Congress will pass campaign finance laws; they can effectively repeal Cit United with a law; SCOTUS said so. Pelosi is saying this is first priotiy.

Dems are winning statehouses, way ahead in PA for example. NC activists are moving the state bluer. That will allow us to improve gerrymandering.

Bigger picture: Dem activists and Senators are talking about DC, PR statehood to fix Senate minority rule. Many are calling for packing the court to fix the stolen seats.

But it all depends on NOW. Vote. But if you can, canvass, phonebank. The best thing to do is hang out with others who care. Go to local indivisible meetings, or just volunteer for local candidates.

We’re going to win! Stay strong.

[llmart]

48. Do you have confidence that some people will be allowed to vote?

Please read the thread on Greg Palast suing Brian Kemp. 340,000+ registered voters in Georgia thrown off the rolls but they've never moved from the address they gave.

[EndGOPPropaganda]

74. That's why we fight. 1866 OUR-VOTE

Yes, GOP trying to stop us from voting.

But guess what- that’s because they are afraid of us voting.
And if you have ANY voting problems call 866 OUR VOTE. They can help.

[Hoyt]

15. Yes. I know 100% it doesn't count if I don't vote. Votes counted

when Obama ran (that was the election ripe for white wing interference), and in special elections in Alabama, Virginia, Maryland, etc.

Just vote, there is nothing you can do to change the integrity of the system in the next 3 weeks, except cause others to doubt the system. Democratic poll watchers will be on guard, and plenty of people will be watching for tampering.

GOPers want Democrats to feel dejected and believe their vote doesn’t count. If you can vote early or by mail, do it next week. And send donations to your candidates.

[LBM20]

17. I think you mean TELL PEOPLE TO VOTE (not to "not vote"). Don't accidentally encourage people to

tell people to NOT vote.

[violetpastille]

28. I appreciate your replies in this thread.

Thank you.

[marlakay]

5. I understand it is very overwhelming

A neighbor invited me to house party her son is campaign manager for a lady running for state rep in my area so she was there and I talked to her. I said I am tired I got involved after Bush and worked fulltime for Kerry, then Obama, then Bernie. She said you can’t give up all hands on deck.

The media makes me sick they gave Trump all the attention and free publicity and helped him get elected and made themselves a fortune doing so. Now they are acting shocked at each awful thing he does daily and probably making a fortune off the attention watching this nightmare is getting them.

We cut the cord years ago and watch John Oliver and Bill Maher on HBO on apple tv. What I really appreciate about John is he keeps me informed about things happening all over the world not just here.

[marieo1]

7. Dealing with attack!!

Thank you NC Raleigh Liberal for posting this. I agree totally. I and my sons feel exactly the same way. Thanks for telling us how you, your wife and family are dealing with the deliberate attack from within our own country.

[hostalover]

18. Sadly agree......

[cilla4progress]

19. Family and I are definitely voting.

I have signs up for 2 local candidates. Thankfully I live in a dark blue state, though in a red rural area. Also, have donated.

Normally I campaign in national elections. Just can't do it any more. Still have PTSD from 2016. Have to save myself 1st, though I feel genuinely awful about this.

As I say, my best efforts are in helping lower income families on a person by person basis; rescuing abandoned pets; mitigating my impact on the planet; and trying to spread kindness and positivity in every day interactions.

ON EDIT: I believe there is a connection between the climate crisis and creeping christofascism. If you had to model how people would respond if they knew the physical world was dying and it's soon going to be everyone for him/herself...is this not what it would look like?

[grantcart]

20. We cut cable

I listen to Maddow and O'Donnell

High point is canvassing


The worst part for me is that things were start in the right direction under Obama.

We have lost so much

[violetpastille]

30. I wish people would start more threads about their door to door canvassing.

And Other Tales of Democratic Adventure.

[MadDAsHell]

38. I think there was an incredible amount of short sighted thinking during President Obama's years.

There was so much focus on electing and then protecting/defending 1 man that we completely lost sight of the fact that for the most part, all the President does is sign laws.

From 2010-2016 we lost THOUSANDS of state and national legislature seats, losing complete control over what laws were passed (and what judges were seated). We were so focused on passing SOMETHING related to healthcare that we passed a pathetic watered-down law that most Americans didn’t understand and really didn’t feel impact from at all (coming up on 9 years later my portion of my healthcare premiums and my deductible totaled $14,000 this year).

We’ve got to have a longer focus than certain personalities or 1 specific issue.

[bluestarone]

81. Maddow and O'Donnell!!!!

TWO of the BEST!!!!!

[Duppers]

21. I cannot understand "our TV addicted society."

Who are these people? How can they turn their IQ low enough to waste their time on 95% of the garbage?

The only reasons hubs and I keep a tv is for Rachel, Lawrence, Maher, John Oliver, and the occasional movie. That's it.

The trashy bubblegum is for adult children. Walking and watching our pups play is more entertaining.

But we haven't yet gotten to the point of numbness (I rage and curse) or tuning out--except for turning off every time we see or hear that orange baby.

[True Blue American]

66. I have had to turn off

Most Cable. It is a repitition of how awful Trump is. Then the next minute they breathlessly cut away to Trump uttering lie after lie, getting on the helicptor to take another $3 million dollar trip to shout more of his heteful bile in front of paid suckers.

[Duppers]

70. Most cable, yes. That's why...

I only watch a few select cable programs on msnbc and HBO.

[Wawannabe]

22. Logged in to support ya

NRaleighliberal
Feel much the same way but single now and don’t have that mate to lean in to. Be extra grateful for one another.
Peace man

[cilla4progress]

23. ...

Nice..appreciate you

[uppityperson]

24. I am with you about this.

We are in extraordinary times, so much absolute vileness,cheating, lying. DU is a safe place to share, and to help each other get through all this.

[AlexSFCA]

25. It's understandable

but hang in there until midterms. Try to dwell in a little hope for a couple more weeks. If we don’t win the house and/or senate, this country is over - we all understand it, the entire world understands it. But if we win at least one branch it means the votes do matter and out fight is working. I decided there is no point of feeling desperate right now.

[Botany]

26. 4 things to do

vote early

vote on paper .... even if it is a absentee ballot

find one down ticket R to vote for .... avoid a straight party void

volunteer to do election protection work or get in touch w/your county
dems and volunteer to drive people to the polls

*****
other to do things

Plant 2 possum haw viburnums or a smooth sumac or some American ginger or some grey twig dogwood....
Canada yew is a good one too if you don't have too many deer. Poke Milkweed is the bomb too.

read Doug Tallamy's, "Bringing Nature Home"

volunteer to help remove non native plants

remember that the media did not report that Trump's "military prep school" was really
reform school for rich kids

[violetpastille]

31. find one down ticket R to vote for .... avoid a straight party void

Really? I confess I haven't heard this before.

Is there any data to back up this as a way to have your vote counted?

[Botany]

36. Call me paranoid but I would be surprised that "they" have some kind of program that looks ...

... for straight party D voting and then magically some of those votes get voided out.

And no I don't have any data to back up my gut feeling but i do know that since they
passed HAVA (help America vote act) in 2002 which got us all voting on electronic
machines we have seen a red state shift in the vote despite that the demographics and
issues have been much more in favor of the democrats.

[brooklynite]

58. Yes-you're paranoid.

How was the Red State shift in 2006? Or 2008? Or 2012?

[lunasun]

27. No donations no action mentioned to GOTV because it does not count . Ok keep kayaking but why post ?

Turn away and do only the least then don't look stay uninformed don't trust is all your choice but why then the actual action of a self declared cynical posting made@ someplace like du right before an election ?
Are you for change or only I told you so? Disengagement is part of what got us where we are . I understand sick or poor or suppressed group disengagement better but not really a post like this Sorry I guess
:maybe it is just me here that feels that way

[Mickju]

29. This is pretty much my attitude as well.

Our neglect of the planet will do us in in the end.

[study war no more]

32. I'm right there with you

Every time something absurd happened over the last 2 years, I placed a sticky note next to my work computer that reads, "this is not normal" and the date. I am running out of room. I will vote, but I have zero faith in the process.

I often remember this saying from the 2000 election: It's not if your vote counts, but how your vote is counted.

And, yet another Thanksgiving with MAGA relatives is going to suck.

[violetpastille]

33. War Talk

“Our strategy should be not only to confront empire, but to lay siege to it. To deprive it of oxygen. To shame it. To mock it. With our art, our music, our literature, our stubbornness, our joy, our brilliance, our sheer relentlessness – and our ability to tell our own stories. Stories that are different from the ones we’re being brainwashed to believe.

The corporate revolution will collapse if we refuse to buy what they are selling – their ideas, their version of history, their wars, their weapons, their notion of inevitability.

Remember this: We be many and they be few. They need us more than we need them.

Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing.”

Arundhati Roy


Good for you for refusing to buy what they are selling! Me too! But keep your fire alive! Keep fighting!

NOW more than EVER in your LIFE.

[cilla4progress]

34. So

Beautiful

Copying and posting at home so I can

BREATHE!

[roody]

35. When I walk my dog at night, in Iowa,

and California, I generally have the streets to myself and I see the big glowing TVs in the windows.

[Ms. Toad]

37. I'm about there, too.

The near unanimity about the incredulous story about how Khashoggi was killed gave me hope - which was immediately dashed when Trump declared it credible.

I have no hope for anyone who can say that with a straight face - and I'll bet that if I go back to the NYT article that, now that Trump has spoken, his blind followers will also be reporting in.

I am at the point that I wish him dead. I have NEVER felt that way about anyone. He can go peacefully in his sleep. In fact that is preferable. But dead is the only state I can imagine that would put his voice and face out of my life, and have any hope of breaking the hold he has on his blindly loyal followers.

[hibbing]

39. I'm there too

I used to watch the "news" channels every night. I stopped that after the election. Almost every hour of every day during the campaign he would do or say som6that should have killed his campaign on the spot. Then all the talk of him "pivoting". The realization that so many Americans are so racist is disheartening to say the least. I want to ask the deplorables just what was it President Obama did that made you hate him so much, but as I suspected, it was race all along.

Excellent post.

Peace

[struggle4progress]

40. Shaping the world we want is hard work

[Jack-o-Lantern]

41. Even death, any death, will make the orange maggot a martyr to his nasty brainless base.

[ctw1]

42. Have you considered volunteering for your county board of elections?

Believing that your vote does not count is a pretty dark place to go, and maybe unnecessary. As dismayed as I am about the current state of things, I have never questioned if my vote counts or not. I have always run into very courteous and professional poll volunteers (both Republican and Democrat). Maybe if you have the time you could volunteer as well and get a better understanding of how your county voting works.

[srobertss]

43. Activism for introverts

I don’t have the strength to stay away from the news. I think it gives me an illusion of control. Every day I go to five thirty eight.com to see what the latest polls show. He’s up to 42.3%.

I didn’t predict that their horrible narrative would gain so much traction over time or that Congressional Republicans would start to mimic him. It makes me wonder whether there will be anything positive with the Dems gaining control over the House, other than stopping legislation. I’m afraid the investigations won’t make a dent except to fuel his anger. He loves to be angry and to whip up the anger of the base. Facts don’t seem to shift anything.

But the one thing I’m enjoying is writing letters to unlikely voters via votefwd.org. You adopt voters in swing districts and then send the letters off on Oct 30. I’m about to start on my second batch of 25 and I hope to keep going until the 30th. It’s very restful, you don’t have to talk to anyone, and they estimate that it can increase voter turnout by 3%. That’s pretty significant.

Thank you for your post. It made me feel less weary to have you share yours.

[zanana1]

69. Thank you for doing this.

It's true that some people shy away from volunteering because they're introverts or non confrontational. The good news is, you don't have to argue with anyone. I've been in a phonebank for weeks and haven't had to engage in any "debates" about the candidates. It's actually fun; you get to meet people and there's a great sense of camaraderie. I would urge anyone to at least try volunteering.

[Mr.Bill]

44. The only thing that keeps me sane

is living in California. No politicians are perfect, but I am relatively satisfied with mine on a state level.

Even locally, in my sparsely populated northern county I have had the pleasure to watch it turn from red to blue in recent decades. It would drive me insane to live in a state that was solid red. My heart goes out to my felloe DUers who do. Keep up the fight and vote.

[Nay]

45. Are you me? I and Mr Nay feel exactly like you and your wife. We read the headlines here,

refuse to watch the news on TV, and basically hang around with family and try to enjoy our retirement. Once the extent of the ignorance and villainy of the people of this country was exposed, we bowed out. I've never been a real people person, and now -- well, it's too bad that good people will be destroyed with the bad.

[NRaleighLiberal]

52. Thanks so much for sharing.

It is quite a remarkable conundrum - finding balance between making the most of the lives we are given, and engaging to make positive change.

When one side does nothing but lie and scream, and when one side is teflon-ed against anything truthful - well, I think it is going to take something truly cataclysmic to wake up the half of our damaged country and perhaps make us whole again.

[Atticus]

46. First, let me say that you are a trusted source of information and thoughtful opinion on

this forum. Whether it is an OP or a response post, when I see your name on it, I pay attention. I say that as prologue to this post which will not entirely but sorta kinda disagree with you.

I agree with your despair---more accurately, I agree with your characterization of the constant lying, hypocrisy, corruption, racism---yada, yada, yada!--- that have lead to your despair. What I disagree with is your apparent near withdrawal from the field. Your intelligence and caring and common sense are needed and while the reasons for your retreat into a protective bubble of loving family and friends is understandable, it is---and I know you know this---exactly the type of "retirement" that the current regime sees as proof that they are winning.

I do not presume to judge you. Knowing you only from DU, I can't imagine that you have made your decision lightly. I am only suggesting that you are a rational progressive voice and that you may be undervaluing yourself. The fight will be more difficult without you and others like you.

[NRaleighLiberal]

51. Thanks for your kind words - and I respect your point of view....read on.

here's the issue in my book - I no longer trust "the system" - the degradation has been going on for some time - certainly the Gore/Bush mess, but 2016 was the last straw. I think some of us think that the 2016 outcome was legit - my wife and I are not among them.

So - once that happens, and given we have one life to live each - we get to choose how to influence others in a positive way. I choose to spread my principles - desire for kindness and sharing - through my writing and talks. I simply no longer can make sense out of a political process that spends (wastes) hoards of money on - lies? Ads? TV? when so many in our country - the world - are struggling.

So - when our culture, way of life, the constant lies, the greed - makes no more sense, I have to find other ways to make a difference and to find positive things. So I vote (I've never missed an election yet), and I share my feelings here (which is therapeutic).

but something is just seriously wrong and seriously broken right now.

[Grasswire2]

60. nt

[llmart]

47. Very interesting post.

I, too, stopped watching the news, other than my local news for weather and the goings on in the area. I have a TV but use an antenna - no cable. I have not watched cable news for more than 15 years. I read, go for long walks and hikes and get out in nature almost every day. The local library is my best friend. I check out DVD's/books/magazines, attend some of their programs. I listen to music every day - different types depending on my mood.

I vote in every election and will continue to do that. I have spent decades being an environmentally conscious person who refuses to support corporations by just handing them my hard earned money for all the dazzling, cheaply made gewgaws and ridiculous items that the majority of Americans think are absolutely necessary for life. Even on DU I would wager a bet that some DU'ers spout anti-corporate rhetoric and then go shopping every weekend or even every day and purchase something they absolutely could live without. They don't realize the power the TV screen has over them and how insidious the messages they get are.

So, yes, I'm with you on some level of cynicism. You can't live through seven decades and not see how our country has changed, and not for the better. I don't know if there'll be a new generation or two that will eventually turn this around (this meaning the trashing of our environment with our endless conspicuous consumption) but I really don't see that happening until long after I'm dead and gone.

I have six siblings, all in their 60's and 70's now and we all feel the same way about this. The 2016 hijacking of the Presidency was almost the last straw for us.

[NRaleighLiberal]

49. I love your line "they don't realize the power the TV screen..."- it is so true.

Thanks for your thoughtful response. It is deeply appreciated.

[llmart]

50. You're welcome.

They also don't realize the power their money has/could have. My Socialist grandfather used to tell us, "You can vote with your wallet too."

[trickyguy]

53. You should read the current Time Magazine about all the grassroots organizing of young Democrats. It

gave me a real boost to know there are lots of people out there of all ages who are willing
to put up a fight for our Democracy. But you're right in that climate change will be the deciding factor in the end.

[cilla4progress]

54. I mused to my husband today

I wonder if it will be masses of humanity dying first, thereby saving what's left of the planet and other species, or the planet going down with humanity - all together.

We drove and cycled around our inland Pacific
NW forests today - some beautiful and intact; reminders of old. Much of it burned or bug-killed dead gray and black sticks. Very sad. Still lovely, though in its stark bleakness.

[NRaleighLiberal]

55. We love the PNW - we have a daughter in Olalla...

lived in Seattle in 1983 for a year (post doc at UWA) - visited the San Juans a few times, went to Portland and drive down half of the coast to Yachats.

Yes, I ponder how it will all play out as well....I think (and it is no great stretch) between rising water and increased intense weather and heat, it will be multifaceted - species die out, lack of water, wars arising over water and land - at the same time people's lives become miserable. At 62, and already seeing some alarming things, if I make it into my 90s things are going to get quite crazy.

I think the worst thing - as a scientist, but also a naturalist - it is the hatred for facts and science, and incuriosity- and the race to religion (of course, "my religion is always the only - and right - religion&quot and authoritarianism......just makes me sick to observe.

Final thought - we as a species are simply deeply flawed. Whoever survives the mess (if anyone?) - hopefully will be better evolved, and will have moved away from the lust for money, greed, and power....and dreadful narcissism.

[cilla4progress]

65. Thank you!

I believe all this, too. As I said above, I believe the rush to christofascism is tied to humans' innate sense of the crisis upon us.

I don't know how anyone can bear to have children now. I hope my daughter doesn't, perhaps adopts. Not that the loss is any less, just less burden on the planet.

[lapfog_1]

56. I am nearing the completion of the SECOND viewing

of the complete "West Wing" series since Trump stole the election.

Seeing a real President and his staff deal with crisis after crisis with humanity and dignity and intelligence... well, it just reminds me of what the Obama Presidency was like... idealized a bit of course. But what a real President is.

Amazing how the series presages so much of what has happened now, how every bad outcome the show has the protagonists debate has actually now happened under Trump.

That said... I still catch MSNBC sometimes... although these days it's really only Velshi and Rule, Rachael, and Lawrence... and whenever Joy is on... plus, surprisingly, I enjoy catching Nicolle Wallace.

I used to watch the entire daytime lineup... from Joe and Mika... to Brian Willams... but I can't stand it anymore... too many are normalizing Trump and trying to make this into calling balls and strikes at a ballgame. It's not that to me. Trump is a traitor and corrupt person. He is deliberately trying to cause violent "overthrow" of majority rule here. Encouraging racists to start something with "libtards" and anyone of color or any woman who stands up to the patriarchy, to people not of the Christian faith, the LBGTQ community, and to immigrants in general.

[apkhgp]

57. I can understand what you are saying

I see the news everyday. Everyday I have to tell the TV to "shut up" when any of the Right Wing comes on. Or those apologists for 45. I know we are supposed to be smarter than this. I know we are supposed to have a modicum of logic so that we can discern what is right and what is wrong.

When you can sift through all of the news and separate the truth from the garbage and find out who is lying, and the lies keep coming from OUR White House something is horribly, and terribly wrong. I stand next to you in watching this circus of a government that is supposed to provide leadership for us. Up until now it is just a joke. I guess we are not laughing.

[OhioBlue]

61. I get you, I really do. I've been there. I see your post as one that I could have made at some point

But, I have been grateful for those that have picked me back up. The pick ups not only come from friends, mentors or leaders, but history. We have ALWAYS had to work toward a more perfect Union. Always. We move forward and the institutional powers against progress ALWAYS fight back. Always. There are ebbs and flows. We move forward, they take us back. But, in the long arc of history, we have moved forward. We are at a point of moving backward, but that does not mean that we quit. Abolitionists didn't quit, Civil Rights leaders didn't quit, Suffragettes didn't quit, Environmental activists didn't quit, Unionists didn't quit. We don't QUIT. EVER. We organize, we work, we vote.

During the Obama campaign, volunteers always reminded each other that we have to win big enough to overcome R tactics. We have to win big. Your vote matters. Every vote matters. Vote and convince 5 friends to vote for Dems. That feeling of not having any control will only be helped by being actively engaged to turn out the vote for Dems.

[Grasswire2]

62. I find most of this thread sadly startling.

Very sadly.

Weren't we just told that the right and the Russians are fighting very hard RIGHT NOW to dispirit Democrats?

Haven't I been fighting for two years to the detriment of other parts of my life to find truth, share truth, beat back every aspect of the juggernaut that is taking America to fascism faster than we ever could have thought?

Don't all the people who KNOW how to fight back this ugly future tell us to look to history, to stand up and fight, to never, ever give quarter?

Are you all telling me that Americans are willing to look away? Really?

Because it's ugly?

Because it's hard?

Because there are things we would rather do?

Damn. Just damn. My family members have bled in every war for freedom this country has fought including the War of the American Revolution. My Uncle Bob spent four years as a prisoner of the Imperial Japanese Army.

We're in a war now. Choose to stand for liberty, or allow tyranny.

Sorry, NRL. I'm very upset by all this.

[NRaleighLiberal]

64. We should all be upset. That is an appropriate reaction and response

But we also have to be truthful to how we are feeling - where are energy is - when we become disillusioned.

We had an election stolen two years ago. Many still deny it - can't face it. Nothing has been done.
We have a media that is all about money and eyeballs and plays false equivalence. It is not getting better.
We have nearly half of our country that is in a cult.
We have an election system that can't be trusted and is broken. There is no interest in fixing it.


This is real - it is not a story, not a fairytale, not a reality show.

So - I think what is most important is that each of us have feelings and views - and they are valid to each of us. An ability to share that is incredibly important. We are indeed a big tent, and we don't work in lockstep with our feelings and views - except I am willing to bet all liberals/Democrats have very similar values.

[True Blue American]

67. I think most are under estimating

The anger that has permeated the sane in this Country.

We do not complain,we fight back. Many States are putting a stop to gerrymandering by putting it on the ballot for an unbiased Committee. My State did and won over whelmingly. And it was actually put on the ballot by the Republican Legislature.

We have many good candidates. Vote for them.

So there are many things positive. We just have to pull the plug on these hatefl,old Politicians. One by one,clean them out.

[YOHABLO]

63. At least in the dorms you were safe. The asshats were all living at frat houses.

[WiffenPoof]

68. Well Played

Thanks for putting into words what has been rattling around in my brain for months now.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

71. You described how I "deal" with it too...

Except I’m also oddly obsessed. I read the news here, post politics incessantly on Facebook and am as confused and aghast as everyone is.

[Magoo48]

72. Right,

all the political hoopla really matters but a little in light of the environmental calamity on the horizon. If we amalgamated all of the energy spent on politics, social events, sports and fitness, the military, and our other pastimes, worldwide, we might be able to squeak through into a continued life here on this planet. Seems unlikely that we will be willing, or even able, to redirect our human energies...

[EndGOPPropaganda]

76. He wants you to not vote. He's afraid. Vote, canvass.

NRL, I know you’re a stalwart. And everyone needs a break, so take one to recharge.
But when you come back, and everyone else:
Do what you can. Canvass. Talk to people, vote.

Remember, Republicans want us to stay home, BECAUSE VOTING MATTERS!!!


https://mobile.twitter.com/haroldpollack/status/1054000039360638976

[agincourt]

77. If it's ok,

I'd like to post this to my facebook feed, for some of my both-siderism, false equivalency friends.

[marble falls]

79. More importantly: what do you like on pizza?

Try any dictionary.

[WestMichRad]

80. Try this

http://www.differencebetween.net/business/difference-between-socialism-and-communism-2/

[badhair77]

82. NRL, we are on the same wavelength. Hopefully not at the same time so we can keep our spirits afloat

I feel like I waver between struggling to stay positive and strong and just being exhausted and depressed by it all. That’s when I need to take a break from the cable news stuff. I find inspiration in the strangest places, like the words of Steve Schmidt when he speaks of the need to keep focused on the thoughts of the founding fathers. Or Jon Meachem, who has over and over said he believes the set institutions will prevail and save us.

I think it’s important to know when we’re each weakening so we can offer support. For those who have taken an almost-scolding tone, please take it somewhere else. You’re not helping those who are down. Thank you, NRL, for your post.