1. I still love this country, and the ideals it was founded on. I and am graceful for a peaceful transition of power. I fear for the survival of those ideals going forward.
2. That peaceful transition and those ideals are guarded by institutions, all of which failed in this election, and all of which the new President Elect attacked with ferocity. Some examples::
- Political Parties failed us. One of the primary functions of the parties is to select candidates that are not a threat to the republic, and around whom the country can reasonably rally when needed. That didn't go so well this year.
- The electoral college failed us. It exists in part to protect the nation from demagogues and mob rule. If it won't prevent Trump, what purpose does it serve?
- *The media failed us. Although to some extent we failed the media. It has to be said that nearly every single major publication came out forcefully against Trump, and for clear, well thought out reasons. The public chose instead to dig deeper into their filter bubbles. Facts and Truth were irrelevant in many cases.
3. I am concerned that patriotic Muslims are likely to be attacked, and that some who were previously our of reach to extremists are now more easily radicalized. Last night's vote made the country far less safe.
4. A Republican party who has steadfastly refused to participate in governance for 8 years, is now expected to run the whole show for at least the next 2. Let's be clear - THIS IS WHO YOU ARE, Republicans. You don't get to wriggle out of this like you tried to with W. YOU OWN IT. Every last, destructive, spiteful, immature, violent, authoritarian, regressive, dangerous bit of it. When people die when they lose healthcare, their blood is on your hands. When people get sick because regulations get rolled back, that is on your hands as well. When my generation has its retirement benefits cut and people suffer, that's on you. The fear in minority communities, the increased police brutality, the stock market crashing (again thanks to Republicans), the loss of standing in the world (also again thanks to Republicans), it's what you've been yelling from the rooftops that you want for years. We won't let you forget.
And with that, it's clear I should take a break.