What is really disheartening

I cannot stand Trump. So far I am appalled at everything he has done. Now, I do not think the country is going to spontaneously combust on itself, or that we will be nuked to death. Do I think he will leave A LOT that will need to be fixed by the next administration? Yes.
However, as a registered Republican, who has ALWAYS voted Republican with the exception of 2016, it is so sad to read on here the reality- that most think I am a disgusting, gross, selfish human being just because I am not liberal.
Do I agree with the banning of refugees? NO! Do I believe that the ACA is NOT as wonderful as many think it is, and it is in fact, very broken? YES! Somehow though, that will get turned into me being a selfish individual who only cares about myself. Which, if you knew me, is the furthest thing from the truth.

I think it is horrifying what is going on in this country, as far as people of certain religious groups being targeted. I DO, in fact, believe that Trump is perpetuating what is going on because his followers feel he is giving them permission to do this. But I do also feel that hatred has, sadly, always been alive and well. It is just unfortunate that Trump gave these people "power", to be more vocal with their horrible feelings.
Listen, no, I don't care what strangers on a message board think of me. I have my own family and friends, and their opinions are the only ones that matter. I never even comment about politics.

I just wish people would stop being viciously attacked for maybe having differing views on something like the refugee situation, or the ACA. My in laws are very much against the Refugees coming into the U.S. I don't agree with them- but they are good, caring, wonderful people. I won't allow there thoughts on the matter to change my love for them.

There are plenty of Trump supporters on here who are downright nasty. But a few are not. Yet they get attacked and called disgusting anyway. I just don't understand.

Ok,

Re: What is really disheartening

Thank you for this. I think many of us haven't experienced people on the right admitting they don't like what's happening, so it makes us angry and defensive. I appreciate this post. I know I'm thrown out insults in anger and while I'm not super proud of it, I own it because it's my reality in the volatility of these times.

Anyways, I respect this post a lot.

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I don't feel that way about republicans. I make a distinction between republicans and Trump supporters since he's certainly no true conservative.

As much as I try to be fair, I don't claim to understand support for Trump. My assessment is that it stems from, at best, a naive and oversimplified understanding of the issues or, at worst, hateful ideas. Rubio, Kasich, Jeb Bush: these would have been sane choices, and I don't think you'd see the anger that exists if any of them were in the White House right now.

I try to really listen and engage the other side, but I am so horrified by his governance that it has become really difficult. I feel like the popular minority has elected to take my rights and make me less safe, and those things feel very personal.

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What is really disheartening

I thank you for posting this and I'm sure it wasn't easy.

I do not think you are disgusting or gross. You yourself said you didn't vote for Trump, so I wouldn't lump you in as selfish either.

I think it's just really hard to see anything remotely good in his administration or supporters. For someone like me, being compassionate and supporter of everyone's humans rights, I just can't see how people can be so cruel to helpless refugees, or to our people of color in this country, or to women and our LGBTQ+ communities.

Maybe I'm too black and white. Maybe I don't see enough "gray." But I also think that Trump supporters are refusing to take responsibility for electing this man. They hung their hats on some of the most repugnant ideologies and he pandered to them and they ate it up. It's hard to see good in people that are so easily misled or misinformed or persuaded when they could also see what great harm he was capable of. I don't know how saying "ACA is broke and we need something new" takes precedence over his ties to Russia, his alliance with Steve Bannon, his attack on Muslims. Like, how is that the deciding factor that trumps (for lack of a better word) all the other issues? I read a piece by Maya Angelou that said Trump was elected because white people were afraid to lose their white privelige and it is so increasingly clear that that is exactly the case. Trump spoke to that. He told people that Mexicans and blacks were stealing their jobs and they fell for it. He preyed on their hatred for Obama, hatred that was mostly rooted in his color. But no one can admit that. Because if thy admit it they would have to accept their racism and complicity.

I just can't reconcile how we see what was *could* happen and then *allowed* it to happen. I don't know how to feel when I think...

You sold your kids out to Trump knowing he was going to appoint Betsy DeVos?

You hurt your fellow countrymen by electing someone who wants to repeal ACA, because you're lucky enough not to need it and don't want to pay for someone else?

You stand by a president who has appointed a Neo Nazi to the White House and yet you still don't see how terrible that is? What that means to our Jewish communities and the other nationalities who were affected by the Holocaust?

You allow a president to rule via "Executive Orders" because he's drunk on power AND like a kid in a candy store now that he can do whatever he wants? Thats not a president, that is a dictator.

You don't care enough about your LGBTQ friends enough to want to protect their rights.

You don't care about leaving a sustainable and healthy country for your children (abolishment of the EPA, denying climate change).

You don't care about your fellow women enough to protect their rights?

You don't care about his hundreds of conflicts of interest, but you were indignant about Hillary's emails and Benghazi enough to see red and say she was the devil incarnate?

These are the things I think about when I think of the people who voted for him. I don't know where they drew the line in the sand and said he was more qualified and a better choice? I don't know how their traditional Republican values (less regulation, small government, tax cuts for the rich, etc) is a party line of being compassionate to all people? I don't know how to accept any of this. I don't know how to say, you're someone who is caring and accepting and decent and yet you voted for someone who is completely the opposite? None of it makes sense.

It's hard to make sense of when the people who voted for him may never feel the effects of his reign. That's their luxury. Not everyone else has that. I can't sleep at night knowing that.

I do appreciate your response, and none of my comment is directed at you specifically, just my general thoughts. Maybe a Trump supporter can look at that take something valid from it. I don't know.

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I try very hard not to use harsh or derogatory words about people, especially people I don't know. You have presented something on here few have: a rational expression about what you don't support. I think that is all most are looking for. Someone to say No, I see and acknowledge the problems with this presidency and don't blindly support it because of my political affliliations.
I also don't think Republicans automatically equate to Trump supporters.

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Message edited 2/2/2017 8:09:57 PM.

Re: What is really disheartening

What is really disheartening

Thank you, ladies. I want you all to know I 100% understand where you are coming from. I am an outraged Republican. There were pieces of Obama's presidency I did not like. But I respected him and the office. I will say I was I was very, very disappointed in the choices that both parties were given. Even though I am Republican, I would have voted for Sanders if he were the Democratic nominee. I was really hoping for Sanders/Kasich. But people got so caught up in Trump & Clinton.
I know what's done is done. But I can't help but be bitter. While I agree with the sentiment "What was America thinking?!?" when it comes to Trump, I also feel that way about the Primaries. There were much better candidates, on both sides (especially on my side!!). I think people (and not on LIF, just in general, got swept up in Clinton & Trump- no one else ever stood a fighting chance.
Both parties need to be reconstructed. It is a nightmare.
I am so sorry that this is who my party nominated, and that he won! I can't stomach the site of either Clinton- seriously. But I would have taken them over this.
Again, just wanted to put my feelings out there. There are outraged Republicans. We may not be as vocal, but we are here.

What is really disheartening

Thanks for sharing your views. I really appreciate the few who have been able to talk respectfully about where they agree and disagree. There's no need for anything to get nasty in either side. It's eye opening and I think it's important to try to understand the views of those who differ from ourselves.

I think they're are regrets on both sides when it comes to the primaries. And if any other republican had become president, I am 100% certain we wouldn't have a politics board right now!

What is really disheartening

I'm not anti-Republican. I've said many times that Trump isn't truly a Republican.

I do take issue with anyone who is educated who didn't see through his bullcrap and actually voted for him. I cannot fathom how...
I've been open, honest, and apologetic about my feelings. I feel that your post was so heartfelt and open. I wish there was a way to bridge the gap a little better. My inlaws are wonderful people, too, but we are on complete opposite ends of the political spectrum.

What is really disheartening

Thank you Mrsrainbow for voicing so many of the questions that are always spiraling in my head. I wish I could sit down and have a conversation with someone in which they can explain where they are coming from with some of those seemingly indefensible issues. Because if you remove the jobs, economy, healthcare, etc issues you're left with stark civil liberties, humanity and diplomacy issues that could make the other things pale by comparison if left to spiral.

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Re: What is really disheartening

Naturalmama, I think you just did what nearly every single Trump thread has been asking for since November 9th.

If I may lump the 'liberals' together, we've wanted to know if real Republicans with real Republican values think this man and his actions are okay. No, that's not correct. We all wanted to hear - NEEDED to hear - that you too condemn many of his actions, despite him being the current face of your party.

I haven't seen many people like you. Where I live (not on Long Island) Trump is revered. I know the people I live among, and I know that they generally are a racist, xenophobic group with a basic lack of knowledge of how our government works (obviously not all, but a large majority and they're not afraid to say it out loud if they think they are surrounded by their own); people who are actively hoping all the (legal) muslim immigrants who live near them get deported; people who hate the poor for being poor; people who make money under the table and not pay taxes but will cry about welfare fraud... I can go on and on.

I'm really sorry that you feel lumped into the sweeping generalizations that have been hurled towards Republicans. Thank you for your rational perspective. Unfortunately, it seems to be very rare among the conservatives I know.

Message edited 2/3/2017 12:40:03 PM.

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Thank you for this

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Thank you for your post. I consider myself a progressive, and you said you're a Republican, yet we were both rooting for Sanders and Kasich!!! Funny right?

Look at these issues you brought up, and we have a lot in common. I think both parties need to be drastically changed. Our choices this election were horrible. The Muslim ban is a disgusting unAmerican move. Trump is appalling. I totally respect differences in opinion as well. As long as basic rights and human decency are protected. I think we liberals (and people in general) attack when we are feeling threatened. And to me, trampling on Muslim/Jewish/women's/disabled etc rights is a threat to all of our civil liberties.

I'm glad you spoke up, thank you. And I don't think anything negative about you whatsoever.

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I appreciate the OPs words

The current regime is not a political issue, its not about which party you have been more affiliated with. Its a human and moral issue.

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Thank you.

For me, it is not anti-republican. I can get behind the fact that we all have different values and issues that are important to us. It is what makes our country go-round. It is people who blindly support Trump. Trump is my problem. He is danger to our safety, to our view around the world.

I was hoping too for Bernie/Kasich. I of course would have voted for Bernie, but would not be on this board right now had Kasich been nominated and won. Much like George W. I didnt agree with him on policy a lot of the time, but I was OK with it and I didnt fear for us as a nation. I didnt speak out against Bush and respected him and would have done the same for Kasich. My problem is with Trump. Not Republicans as a whole (except those in office who are blindly supporting him.)

With that said, I also agree with eroxgirl, and have had the same experience as she, That those, even my own FIL who voted for Trump refuse to see the error of his ways. The man is unstable and yet the continue to defend every single move he makes. That is what angers me, that people who are Trump supporters, yet unlike yourself, think he is a demigod.

Message edited 2/4/2017 12:50:52 AM.

Re: What is really disheartening

Thank you so much.

Thanks to all of you for your kind words!

Re: What is really disheartening