jthrash 2024-11-06 11:30:34

That is for the courts to decide, and Kamala Harris has like a billion dollars from small donors (including me) and saner billionaires if she believes that's the case. Frankly, it would be more comforting to know that this was the will of the people and not the result of Russian interference finally getting through. By that same logic, some straight, single, (half) white guy like me would never so enthusiastically support Mrs. Harris, but never underestimate the power of propaganda on the majority of us that haven't learned to distrust everything we read on the Internet (our billionaire-owned corporate news making inflation seem like the ONLY thing that matters and it's TOTALLY not the fault of companies simply gouging their customers; YouTube constantly promoting anti-woke, Gamergate 2.0 and incel content in our Video Suggestions).

It IS a shock, though, considering even now there seems to be no real enthusiasm for Trump, and the media that otherwise frankly propped up his campaign questions whether he could even make it past 2025 since he's old, obese, and looks and acts constantly like he's on the verge of a fatal heart attack. There were far less signs in public support for Trump compared to 2020 (when he still lost), nobody was harassing or making fun of me for my Harris-Walz support like they did when I supported Clinton and especially Biden, his rallies simply weren't attended nearly as much as they were in 2016, and the diehards that were in attendance were visibly disappointed in what their leader had become. Several family members of mine that used to vote Republican all the time even voted for Harris this time. Again though, that is for Harris's legal team and the courts to decide, if they decide to pursue legal action at all.

jthrash 2024-11-06 13:23:58

Me, too. I was clearly quite out-of-touch in thinking that people would vote against Trump simply because they're exhausted from his constant whining and self-victimizing, like I did. But no, apparently a majority of voters--not just the Electoral College, an actual majority of Americans voting for the Annoying Orange--actually want, nay, CRAVE more needless controversy and "culture wars" for another 4+ years.

Some may have simply wanted to punish Joe Biden (and by extension, Kamala Harris) for supposedly not doing enough about high prices, although technically we're still better off than like 90% of Europe and especially less-rich countries for now, or how they're supporting Israel killing innocent children in Gaza. I understand those frustrations, but I'm still trying to wrap my head on how people would think the best solution to their legitimate anger with Democrats is to vote in someone who will make inflation MUCH worse, at least 2022 levels, with his tariffs and trade wars, or who has made it abundantly clear he will support Israel's genocide much more than Biden or Harris. AND hand him a unified Republican Congress, on top of a rightwing Supreme Court, so that he doesn't have to at least tone down his positions to get laws passed.

At least an inevitable return of massive inflation pretty much ensures Democrats will claw back some of their power yet again starting in 2026, but clearly Americans get the leaders they deserve, and we'll have to put up with another billionaire-tax-cut-induced depression, and silly shortages like that toilet paper shortage during 2020 lockdowns, before we realize the errors of our ways...again. Until the next Democratic President is blamed for inheriting Trump's sucky economy again and not doing enough to fix everything. It's a vicious cycle...

Again, don't underestimate how much billionaire propaganda can influence anyone who has not yet learned to tune out all the obvious conmen in our papers, TV networks and especially social media--especially outlets that STILL have the gall to call themselves "liberal" or "centrist", like CNN, Los Angeles Times, even smaller independent sites like Daily Kos. At least Fox News makes it obvious they are entertainment for drunk uncles, not actual news. A Jeff Bezos-owned-and-censored Washington Post really isn't that different from a CCP-owned paper in mainland China, when you think about it, and is certainly way different from the WaPo that brought down then-President Nixon during the Watergate Scandal.

jthrash 2024-11-06 19:08:01

Don't even joke about that, my "white guilt" is through the roof as it is even though I voted for Harris.