It's not even that he won; I was prepared for that. The margin of victory is absolutely staggering to me. All polls and surveys (including the Selzer poll, which was off 17 points) might as well have been conducted on a different planet.
And unlike other times when Republicans took control, straight white men won't be able to say "well, it's fine for us!" When tariffs drive up the price of everything, and food isn't safe to eat and medicine isn't available because RFK Jr. is in charge of the CDC and the FDA, and their favorite foreign-born athletes get deported, they might have some buyer's remorse. But by then, it won't matter.
Never underestimate the American voter. Harris had a big hill to climb, with Trump supporters thinking he was better on the economy (maybe for rich people!) combined with rampant misogyny and racism, which was amplified at his events.
I'm devastated by the results but looking at our history, we've had these problems since our country was founded!
Same here. First I went back to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of the mid-60s. That led me back to Jim Crow, which led me back to the Civil War, which led me back to the founding -- and maybe to 1619.
Add in the abysmal economic ignorance of the U.S. electorate, which has much to do with the fact that we rarely talk about it, and the fact that we rarely talk about it can be traced back to the mid to late 19th century when even the mildest criticism of unregulated capitalism was trashed as socialism, communism, anarchism, etc. Compare the U.S. labor movement to its European counterparts. Joe McCarthy died but McCarthyism never did.
We are a country filled with 70 million misogynistic bigots. White privilege and their wealth will be protected at all costs. Over 40% of the working poor do not vote. However, alt-right neoliberal billionaires do. We were a country that once embraced intellectualism and literacy. Not so much anymore.
Project 2025 is a dress rehearsal for their 'shadow government'. The fucking fascist shit storm is coming.
When did this foul country ever embrace intellectualism and literacy? What a farce. Read The Paranoid Style in American Politics and Anti-Intellectualism in American Like by Richard Hofstadter.
AFAICT they have only been embraced (i.e. more than lip-serviced) by scattered elites, a middle class with enough free time to dabble in them, and the odd self-starter from outside either of those bubbles. Presumably a few exceptionally well-staffed public schools chipped in fits & starts ...
R’s don’t care. They’re happy when old folks die & drop out of social security & Medicare. They’re happy when the poor are tied down to a life of poverty or die from overwork & unhealthy living. Soon there won’t be jobs for anyone anymore anyway. Life is for them $ their families only.
I am a life long D, and find your comments really similar to what ppl accuse R’s and offensive. I’ve spoken with R’s in past, they are not callus ppl, they believe in less govt. We all believe in democracy, let’s engage in that practice. I voted Kamala and disagreed on a lot. Her message did not resonate, dt’s did.
Inflation screwed a lot of people. The progressive idea of decriminalizing the border backfired. Kamala never talked about concrete economic plans that resonated with people. That was #1 issue. Am worried about a lot, fears aren’t facts, America and the world are changing, his brand of rhetoric is a global theme. UK, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary. I hope he’s a liar and screws JFK. That guy is a serious threat to our health.
Trump never talked about "concrete economic plans" or concrete plans of any sort. It was all slogans: "No tax on tips!" "No tax for police and firefighters!" "Tariffs tarrifs tarrifs!" "I'll fix everything". I don't think the voters, or the media, looked for concrete plans from him, but insisted that Harris have everything mapped out down to the last detail.
Neither talked concrete plans. She was associated with Biden, who was in power during a large inflationary period that hurt ppl in pocketbooks. Meanwhile millions of immigrants were admitted and supported by govt. Housing for marginalized was hard before migrant crisis it has been non existent since. Incumbents have been replaced world wide.
Thank you for posting this, Aaron. Our immediate reaction (and we're members of a target group) is that of resiliency, dealing with it, keep our eyes and ears open and receptive, and learning what we need to do to continue the good work we've all begun in the past few years. Most of this won't come immediately. There will be pain. It's a process. Patience. Kindness. Self care while caring for others' process.
I’ve been hearing that line since Reagan won. Big money is too big for us humans. Between Russian, Evangelical, AIPAC, Corporate Media, & oligarch’s money, what chance do we have against racists, homophobes, misogynists, etc.?
Brilliant reply, Scott & John It is the right attitude in this very difficult, and unexpected situation. And also much gratitude to Aaron for writing something so sensible in the middle of the night. The blame game is stupid and will not do anybody any good. The Dems need to regroup, and find a new way forward.
Harris ran a brilliant campaign. These assholes are going to be even more insufferable now. As a representative of the Baby Boomer generation, I apologize to the whole world for our failure.
Baby Boomers aren't to blame this time. It was pretty much tied 50-50 with that age group.
This is on the men, of every color and age group, and white women.
Shocking to realize that men still hate us that much. And my fellow white women.....I'm speechless that we haven't come farther from our safe "protected" spaces. Remember "You've come a long way, baby" from the the late 60s? Apparently not.
I know I know nothing anymore. What has so quickly surrendered to a demented puppet eager to roll in a fascist mud pit, is likely never to be regained in what years I have on this
Earth. What sadness I feel today is overwhelmed by the true sadness for my four little grandchildren.
For the first time, I’m truly glad I never had children (and thus no grandchildren). I worry for my friends’ kids and for the next generation in my small circle of cousins. We are in for some very tough times. Crying today.
process? who can process this? what? WTF are so many people thinking? let's roll the dice and see how bad we cam make things, so the democrats can come in again in 4 years and try to salvage things? what the actual fuck?
What makes you think there will be another election in four years. He regrets having left the White House last time. I’ll be surprised if he leaves this time. However I probably won’t be around in four more years, as I will be 80 in January, & with his plans for Social Security & Medicare, I’ll be surprised if I survive that long. And I’m considered a glass-half-full person. Didn’t think my last few years would be spent under a dictatorship.
He'll be ushered out of office within a year because Vance and the cabinet will invoke Article 25 of the Constitution. He has become the Useful Idiot for the authors of Project 25.
Amen. I'm 74 and a life-long leftist and will end up living under Fascism. I imagine that when they're done rounding up the obvious suspects, they'll get around to the little people like me. And I wouldn't survive five minutes in a concentration camp. Maybe I'll be lucky and they'll deport me.
Donald won't live another four years, but then there will be Vance, eager to step in.
And no, we have had our last national election anyway. Maybe they will let us still have local elections, maybe at the state level. Maybe. We'll see how much control they will try to exert over each state.
There was a lot of Russian interference, and it might have made the difference. Won't know because evidence will be buried or disposed of, and we will never know.
Prepare for the further pillaging of our assets by the American oligarchy. Elon, Thiel, Vance, et al will duplicate in the US what Putin has done in Russia. That is the plan. They successfully persuaded a majority of ordinary, working people that they were miserable and the answer is to persecute immigrants and transgender people. Hate sells and keeps the masses pitted against one another so the oligarchs can steal us blind.
Personally, I am wondering about secession, and trying to think of a new, snappy name for us coastal elites. After all, we have much more GDP than the red states. They already suck up our taxes and don’t even realize or appreciate it. I’m no constitutional lawyer and am not an anarchist . But I will be watching …need ideas for how to protect what we have achieved.
Same here in MA. My husband says we’ll be okay but I say what about everyone else? What about public education? What about the Ukrainians? What about minorities and legal non US citizens? What about women’s health? I’m sick and broken hearted
I wept on January 6 when his mob stormed Congress. Now I just want to throw up. How people - so many people - can hate so much and so easily, I cannot fathom. My only comfort is I live in a blue state. It isn't enough. I honestly thought she had this. I thought WE had this. But the lies won. The hate triumphed. The anger threw over the table, and we are all going to feel the pain, and they will still put the blame on us for it.
More than likely. 20% of voters believed that Biden killed Roe v Wade, not Trump. A lack of interest, willful ignorance or utter gullibility is the nature of much of the electorate. We followed every day of the campaign. They didn’t. We told the truth. The truth was not a factor in the election.
I feel sick to my stomach. I am ashamed that a majority of American voters voted to support racism, sexism, fascism, and to essentially take this county backwards. I don’t understand how hate won. How can I, can *we* resist ?
We will be digging out of the rubble of this election disaster for years to come. I'm 71, and I now truly understand the shock and profound sadness experienced by the people I've seen throughout my life watching media images of the impact of wars, invasions, disasters, and violence. The sun has risen today, but the world is uglier than it was yesterday.
“This is a crisis, but it isn’t the end of history.” For me, it is. I’m over 70 and have been fighting for the climate, against bigotry, against the M/I complex, etc, since adolescence and I am finished. And for the tens of millions whose lives will be destroyed, it’s the end of their histories too.
I completely agree with you. It's the end for me as well. I am trying to hold hope for our children and grandchildren, but for now, I can't seem to find any. 💔
I'm 74 and I'm done. Physically, emotionally and intellectually finished. Spent my entire life fighting for social justice only to have everything I believe in trampled in the mud. Just can't fight anymore; I am old and poor and need to find some way to survive.
I'm heartsick but not surprised. I'm trying to just get through today, and then next week is time to look at what specific actions I can take. How can I protect my daughters? My neighbors? Women across the country.
Deeply, deeply disturbed right now. I’m not sure we and the world will survive this well. I’m afraid social media, disinformation, and being able to amplify untruths in an exponential way that makes them seem true may be our ultimate downfall. How else do you explain our country electing someone who on paper is one of the worst human beings to ever run for office?
It's not even that he won; I was prepared for that. The margin of victory is absolutely staggering to me. All polls and surveys (including the Selzer poll, which was off 17 points) might as well have been conducted on a different planet.
And unlike other times when Republicans took control, straight white men won't be able to say "well, it's fine for us!" When tariffs drive up the price of everything, and food isn't safe to eat and medicine isn't available because RFK Jr. is in charge of the CDC and the FDA, and their favorite foreign-born athletes get deported, they might have some buyer's remorse. But by then, it won't matter.
Never underestimate the American voter. Harris had a big hill to climb, with Trump supporters thinking he was better on the economy (maybe for rich people!) combined with rampant misogyny and racism, which was amplified at his events.
I'm devastated by the results but looking at our history, we've had these problems since our country was founded!
Same here. First I went back to the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts of the mid-60s. That led me back to Jim Crow, which led me back to the Civil War, which led me back to the founding -- and maybe to 1619.
Add in the abysmal economic ignorance of the U.S. electorate, which has much to do with the fact that we rarely talk about it, and the fact that we rarely talk about it can be traced back to the mid to late 19th century when even the mildest criticism of unregulated capitalism was trashed as socialism, communism, anarchism, etc. Compare the U.S. labor movement to its European counterparts. Joe McCarthy died but McCarthyism never did.
My feelings, exactly. How can any candidate overcome baked-in prejudice, especially racism?
We are a country filled with 70 million misogynistic bigots. White privilege and their wealth will be protected at all costs. Over 40% of the working poor do not vote. However, alt-right neoliberal billionaires do. We were a country that once embraced intellectualism and literacy. Not so much anymore.
Project 2025 is a dress rehearsal for their 'shadow government'. The fucking fascist shit storm is coming.
“The fucking fascist shit storm is coming.”
Indeed. And what has so easily been rent asunder won’t easily be repaired
Thank you for an accurate count, i'm so sick of the "half the country" wrongmeme. Still of course my 'fellow' white boys have asymmetrical influence
When did this foul country ever embrace intellectualism and literacy? What a farce. Read The Paranoid Style in American Politics and Anti-Intellectualism in American Like by Richard Hofstadter.
AFAICT they have only been embraced (i.e. more than lip-serviced) by scattered elites, a middle class with enough free time to dabble in them, and the odd self-starter from outside either of those bubbles. Presumably a few exceptionally well-staffed public schools chipped in fits & starts ...
We don’t share reality with our neighbors. I am stunned there is this much hate and ignorance.
We have an economy that’s the envy of the world.
The thing that voters say they care about.
We almost didn’t survive last term.
I don’t know how the disabled, elderly, poor are going to make it.
R’s don’t care. They’re happy when old folks die & drop out of social security & Medicare. They’re happy when the poor are tied down to a life of poverty or die from overwork & unhealthy living. Soon there won’t be jobs for anyone anymore anyway. Life is for them $ their families only.
This, sadly. We are really in the way.
I am a life long D, and find your comments really similar to what ppl accuse R’s and offensive. I’ve spoken with R’s in past, they are not callus ppl, they believe in less govt. We all believe in democracy, let’s engage in that practice. I voted Kamala and disagreed on a lot. Her message did not resonate, dt’s did.
Stunned that there is this much hate and ignorance. Greed? Not as surprising. I don’t recognize the “United” States of America.
Open your eyes and read American history. This Is Who We Are!
Yes, I get this has been part of the American story, I was hopeful we had learned something from his presidency last time.
We never learn.
Inflation screwed a lot of people. The progressive idea of decriminalizing the border backfired. Kamala never talked about concrete economic plans that resonated with people. That was #1 issue. Am worried about a lot, fears aren’t facts, America and the world are changing, his brand of rhetoric is a global theme. UK, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary. I hope he’s a liar and screws JFK. That guy is a serious threat to our health.
Trump never talked about "concrete economic plans" or concrete plans of any sort. It was all slogans: "No tax on tips!" "No tax for police and firefighters!" "Tariffs tarrifs tarrifs!" "I'll fix everything". I don't think the voters, or the media, looked for concrete plans from him, but insisted that Harris have everything mapped out down to the last detail.
Neither talked concrete plans. She was associated with Biden, who was in power during a large inflationary period that hurt ppl in pocketbooks. Meanwhile millions of immigrants were admitted and supported by govt. Housing for marginalized was hard before migrant crisis it has been non existent since. Incumbents have been replaced world wide.
I am both elderly and poor, and a leftist. I don't think I'm going to make it. No money and nowhere to run.
I am so sorry. I wish there were words.
💔🙏
Thank you for posting this, Aaron. Our immediate reaction (and we're members of a target group) is that of resiliency, dealing with it, keep our eyes and ears open and receptive, and learning what we need to do to continue the good work we've all begun in the past few years. Most of this won't come immediately. There will be pain. It's a process. Patience. Kindness. Self care while caring for others' process.
I’ve been hearing that line since Reagan won. Big money is too big for us humans. Between Russian, Evangelical, AIPAC, Corporate Media, & oligarch’s money, what chance do we have against racists, homophobes, misogynists, etc.?
Brilliant reply, Scott & John It is the right attitude in this very difficult, and unexpected situation. And also much gratitude to Aaron for writing something so sensible in the middle of the night. The blame game is stupid and will not do anybody any good. The Dems need to regroup, and find a new way forward.
I’ll go further and say that STATES with Democratic leadership need to find a new united way forward.
Thank you. I’m digging deep here to find the strength and hope.
Harris ran a brilliant campaign. These assholes are going to be even more insufferable now. As a representative of the Baby Boomer generation, I apologize to the whole world for our failure.
I haven't seen an apology on behalf of 18-30yo males yet ...
Baby Boomers did not fail. Men have been failing us for decades.
Baby Boomers aren't to blame this time. It was pretty much tied 50-50 with that age group.
This is on the men, of every color and age group, and white women.
Shocking to realize that men still hate us that much. And my fellow white women.....I'm speechless that we haven't come farther from our safe "protected" spaces. Remember "You've come a long way, baby" from the the late 60s? Apparently not.
Amen. Me, too.
I know I know nothing anymore. What has so quickly surrendered to a demented puppet eager to roll in a fascist mud pit, is likely never to be regained in what years I have on this
Earth. What sadness I feel today is overwhelmed by the true sadness for my four little grandchildren.
I am sad for my kids too. They are too young to have any idea of what just happened and how it will impact their lives. It's tragic.
For the first time, I’m truly glad I never had children (and thus no grandchildren). I worry for my friends’ kids and for the next generation in my small circle of cousins. We are in for some very tough times. Crying today.
Leslie, M., I was just now texting my daughter to say how sad I am for her children.
process? who can process this? what? WTF are so many people thinking? let's roll the dice and see how bad we cam make things, so the democrats can come in again in 4 years and try to salvage things? what the actual fuck?
What makes you think there will be another election in four years. He regrets having left the White House last time. I’ll be surprised if he leaves this time. However I probably won’t be around in four more years, as I will be 80 in January, & with his plans for Social Security & Medicare, I’ll be surprised if I survive that long. And I’m considered a glass-half-full person. Didn’t think my last few years would be spent under a dictatorship.
the only way this guy is leaving will be in a pine box-and hopefully not a glass one on display for all eternity....
He'll be ushered out of office within a year because Vance and the cabinet will invoke Article 25 of the Constitution. He has become the Useful Idiot for the authors of Project 25.
In two years, when there should be another election, let us see what the mood is.
Do you really believe there will be an election in two years?
I cannot predict the future.
Amen. I'm 74 and a life-long leftist and will end up living under Fascism. I imagine that when they're done rounding up the obvious suspects, they'll get around to the little people like me. And I wouldn't survive five minutes in a concentration camp. Maybe I'll be lucky and they'll deport me.
Donald won't live another four years, but then there will be Vance, eager to step in.
And no, we have had our last national election anyway. Maybe they will let us still have local elections, maybe at the state level. Maybe. We'll see how much control they will try to exert over each state.
There was a lot of Russian interference, and it might have made the difference. Won't know because evidence will be buried or disposed of, and we will never know.
Prepare for the further pillaging of our assets by the American oligarchy. Elon, Thiel, Vance, et al will duplicate in the US what Putin has done in Russia. That is the plan. They successfully persuaded a majority of ordinary, working people that they were miserable and the answer is to persecute immigrants and transgender people. Hate sells and keeps the masses pitted against one another so the oligarchs can steal us blind.
Yep. That in fact was the topic of yesterday's newsletter: https://www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-musk-putin-maga-2024
Personally, I am wondering about secession, and trying to think of a new, snappy name for us coastal elites. After all, we have much more GDP than the red states. They already suck up our taxes and don’t even realize or appreciate it. I’m no constitutional lawyer and am not an anarchist . But I will be watching …need ideas for how to protect what we have achieved.
This... the looting will be epic.
Devastating result. Unfathomable. I couldn’t be more disappointed in this country.
I keep breaking down in tears. I can't even watch the news.
Same here in MA. My husband says we’ll be okay but I say what about everyone else? What about public education? What about the Ukrainians? What about minorities and legal non US citizens? What about women’s health? I’m sick and broken hearted
My husband says the same thing, but that’s not good enough! I’m so scared for so many.
I wept on January 6 when his mob stormed Congress. Now I just want to throw up. How people - so many people - can hate so much and so easily, I cannot fathom. My only comfort is I live in a blue state. It isn't enough. I honestly thought she had this. I thought WE had this. But the lies won. The hate triumphed. The anger threw over the table, and we are all going to feel the pain, and they will still put the blame on us for it.
I wrote the same thing earlier. somehow the left will be blamed for the economic disaster coming.
More than likely. 20% of voters believed that Biden killed Roe v Wade, not Trump. A lack of interest, willful ignorance or utter gullibility is the nature of much of the electorate. We followed every day of the campaign. They didn’t. We told the truth. The truth was not a factor in the election.
This. It's going to be very serious.
I have exactly all the same thoughts Evelyn.
I feel sick to my stomach. I am ashamed that a majority of American voters voted to support racism, sexism, fascism, and to essentially take this county backwards. I don’t understand how hate won. How can I, can *we* resist ?
We will be digging out of the rubble of this election disaster for years to come. I'm 71, and I now truly understand the shock and profound sadness experienced by the people I've seen throughout my life watching media images of the impact of wars, invasions, disasters, and violence. The sun has risen today, but the world is uglier than it was yesterday.
Thanks for what you do, Aaron. Looking forward to have you capturing the next four years.
You're welcome. I will do my best.
May God give you the strength of Samson. It was bad enough his first term. Lord knows what's coming will be worse.
“This is a crisis, but it isn’t the end of history.” For me, it is. I’m over 70 and have been fighting for the climate, against bigotry, against the M/I complex, etc, since adolescence and I am finished. And for the tens of millions whose lives will be destroyed, it’s the end of their histories too.
I completely agree with you. It's the end for me as well. I am trying to hold hope for our children and grandchildren, but for now, I can't seem to find any. 💔
I'm 74 and I'm done. Physically, emotionally and intellectually finished. Spent my entire life fighting for social justice only to have everything I believe in trampled in the mud. Just can't fight anymore; I am old and poor and need to find some way to survive.
I'm heartsick but not surprised. I'm trying to just get through today, and then next week is time to look at what specific actions I can take. How can I protect my daughters? My neighbors? Women across the country.
Deeply, deeply disturbed right now. I’m not sure we and the world will survive this well. I’m afraid social media, disinformation, and being able to amplify untruths in an exponential way that makes them seem true may be our ultimate downfall. How else do you explain our country electing someone who on paper is one of the worst human beings to ever run for office?