To be honest, I find days like this deeply depressing...

[regnaD kciN]

...and, by "this," I mean the Biden "town hall," or his acceptance speech at the DNC.

I don't find them depressing because our nominee did poorly; on the contrary, he pretty much knocked it out of the park. What I find depressing is that, by rights, an appearance like this -- as is also true of Trump fiascos like "suckers and losers" or his downplaying COVID revelations -- make such a stark contrast that, in a more rational and ethical nation, they should have been enough to incite a veritable stampede toward our ticket; should have left the incumbent high and dry with absolutely no chance of prevailing.

And yet, I know that the polls over the next few days, and thereafter, will show no movement in our direction whatsoever; that nothing will convince the 40%-plus that currently stand by Trump to desert him.

And that's what I find so depressing. I weep for the fact that our country is so intellectually and morally blind that almost half the people will persist in preferring willful ignorance to reasoned thought, selfishness to ethical behavior, cruelty to compassion...and that that "almost-half" may be enough to cement their whims into law for the rest of my lifetime. And, even if we do prevail this time, that "almost-half" will still be out there, unrepentant, convinced of their own righteousness and our utter villainy, and ready to pledge themselves to the next Trump to come along -- and, make no mistake, many will.

[radius777]

1. +1. I've heard many people say this.

Someone as awful as Trump should be 20 points down, should've been impeached, etc, etc.

We have to thank Trump for one thing: he revealed the truth about our country (that many of us long suspected) and the nature of many of its citizens (many have no problem with a fascist as long as he's 'their facist') and institutions (police are a RW militia).

The good news is Biden does have solid and durable lead and nobody on our side is taking anything for granted like maybe some did last time. Biden's message is sharpening - he's hitting Trump hard where it hurts and I doubt there's anything Trump can do as the bodybags pile up and the October surprises rain down on him.

As Biden said in his acceptance speech - "I will be an ally of the light" - we just have to hope the light prevails.

[Mister Ed]

9. Yes. He revealed the truth about our country.

Night before last, we had a couple of old friends over for a little backyard berbecue. Our friends are a German man and his American wife, both in their sixties.
When the conversation turned to Trump, our German friend spoke softly and sadly of the disillusionment Trumpism had brought to him. He said he had believed all his life that Americans were somehow a little better at heart than people of other nations, and that "it can't happen here". Shaking his head, he sad sadly that he now knew he'd been wrong all along.

[BigmanPigman]

2. Well said.

I feel exactly as you stated in your last paragraph. I knew our country was really stupid, ignorant and apathetic but the past for years has solidified my opinion. I don't want to weep though, I want to puke. It makes me sick and thoroughly disgusted at my fellow "Americans".

[DSandra]

3. So many Americans fall for temptation traps put by the RW

Whether it is the temptation to scapegoat minorities because it is easier than blaming the 1% for jobs lost, to temptations to be envious of urban people, highly educated people, etc... to the temptation to not care about others because it is easier to care about only oneself than about others.


Republicans are evil because they encourage and promote to their followers to embrace most sinful things known, whether it is greed, selfishness, pride, envy / jealousy, hate, cruelty, etc...

[Cousin Dupree]

4. I couldn't agree with you more.

I live in a very red county and it literally sickens me to see all the trump signs when I’m driving. Or walking in my neighborhood.

[North Shore Chicago]

5. We here on DU

pay attention to politics WAY more than your average person. IF you are paying attention, you understand the gravity of our plight. We have a decent chance of taking back this broken country and to heal.

[Magoo48]

6. Yes, it can be quite discouraging.

In hindsight, I see a long, determined, calculated push toward ignorance and hate by the right. I believe it’s born of greed for wealth and power. But whatever, it’s a bummer.

[Martin Eden]

7. This election is a matter of life or death

We are all too well aware that another four years of Trump will result in death for many people, from a number of preventable causes -- coronavirus, lack of health care, gun violence, toxic pollutants, catastrophic climate change.

Also heartbreak and depression. My sister, soon turning 66 and retired, suffers from a variety of serious health problems. Fortunately she's economically secure with good healthcare, but odds are not good she'll reach the age of 70.

Those odds go way down if Trump wins. She is terribly distressed at what he's doing to our country, and even more so at what he has revealed about friends and family she thought she knew and loved.

We have some religious conservative cousins with whom we've been close all our lives, but how can any decent person support such an evil monstrosity? Some of her long time friends will vote for Trump.

My sister is talking about completely cutting ties with everyone she knows who supports this hateful criminal, and said she may commit suicide if Trump wins. She really doesn't want to live in a country that would elect this monster again after four years of what we've been through.

It's heartbreaking for all of us, and even more so for some people.

[beachbumbob]

8. We don't need polls to know the american people are sick and tired of trump and the GOP

and I don't care if 40% will support trump and the evil he represents. We have to take back our country and purge ourselves of white supremacist, nazis who are on the public payroll as cops, teachers, military, in govt, etc. We are at this point in history because of our years and years of complacency headlined by 2016 and the bernie brothers/anti hillary bullshit that gave the election to trump.

[dawg]

10. If we were not stuck with the slavery-days relic that is the electoral college ...

Trump would already be high and dry with absolutely no chance of prevailing. The majority of American voters rejected this charlatan the first time he was on offer, and no one - not even the most rabidly partisan of Republican pundits - believes he has any chance of winning a majority of votes this time either.

But I get where you're coming from. It shouldn't even be this close. He shouldn't be polling above 30%.

Tribalism is a powerful thing.