Shouldn't I be more excited?

[PatSeg]

My daughter's righteous rant this morning as she tried to figure out why she wasn't more excited when Joe's win was announced.

Expecting Democrats to gloat and cheer and celebrate? Wondering why so many aren't? Me too! I, of all people, should have been popping champagne and giddy with glee. I wasn't. And I've been waiting for a Biden presidency since 2007. I don't get it.

I heard the news yesterday in the morning as I was getting ready. Then I went thru my day, did what needed to be done, no real emotion of any kind. End of the night I had a drink, watched some tv, and went to bed early. I woke up and it didn't immediately hit me that I had not only slept almost 11 hours, but I didn't wake up in the night. Not once! That's more than a little different from my routine this year. Then I realized what was going on.

Over the past 4 years, and especially thru this year, so many of us are EXHAUSTED! We've turned on the news to an endless stream of WTF stories. We've been bombarded with memes and ads with absolutely ZERO basis in fact.

- We've just put our collective faces down in the palms of our hands[/i] when we heard how many local health departments got calls from people asking if it was safe to drink bleach.

- We've rolled our eyes when people started talking about how Tom Hanks is part of a powerful organization that worships the devil and breeds babies for pedophiliac purposes, or just for eating them and/or drinking their blood.


- We've despaired when we found out that one of the followers of this latest based-on-zero-evidence-bat-shit-crazy conspiracy theory is actually going to be sitting in the House of Congress next year.


- We've argued with friends, and coworkers, and family armed with facts only to have the conversation switched on us (seriously there were over 100 hearings about Benghazi and no one was even indicted - it's bullshit from people who probably can't spell Benghazi let alone find it on a map).

Posted with permission, more at Daily Kos: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2020/11/8/1994146/-Shouldn-t-I-be-more-excited?fbclid=IwAR2rdujV9Z9zOm-KTorDlr7OvNMABavKUhkweS-ozKeZDAkGtJefhd9W7CM#comment_79255209

[liberal N proud]

1. I think that it's more of a sigh of relief than anything

The battle against these fascist is not complete but we won the biggest fight of it.

We still need to neutralize Moscow Mitch and then do whatever it takes to recover from this nightmare.

I think most of us are so exhausted from the last 4 years.

[GoCubsGo]

6. Not just exhaustied, but overwhelmed at what is ahead of us.

What a goddamn mess we have to clean up. And, it could get worse, depending on how much of a tantrum the orange manbaby throws.

Let's also not forget that we're still in the middle of a pandemic, that even fewer people are taking seriously now. No way those asshole are going to cooperate with anything President Biden will do to try to mitigate the situation.

[Maraya1969]

7. That's it. I feel like I can exhale. I haven't jumped for joy but I can finally breathe.

That's what it is I believe. And especially having to wait day and night in front of the computer; checking all the time for someone to call the race.

Finally I was just convinced that Biden had won and then when it was called it was just......eh.

[PatSeg]

12. A whole lot of mixed feelings yesterday

and I did cry a lot, but at least I felt that we got over the hump. There's still a lot to do, but now it finally feels truly possible.

[rzemanfl]

2. I slept at least ten, but as a 73 year-old male, got up a couple of times. n/t

[PatSeg]

15. Same here

At my age, it is inevitable that I'll wake up at least once or twice, but still slept better than I have in a long time.

[uponit7771]

3. K&R, The disappointment is in US voters not in Joe. But I seriously think somethign was wrong with

... the polling this year or the voting.

[Tribetime]

21. Yes I find it hard to believe with drumpfs approval rating

At 43 that he got 48% and 10 million more votes than 2016. I don't know anyone who didn't vote for him in 2016 vote for him now but I know plenty that switched to Joe. Something isn't right.

[dalton99a]

4. Kick

[Doreen]

5. I slept better last night than I have for 4 years

I slept well, not because of exhaustion but knowing this crap is actually going to end. After January 20 I will sleep feeling safe with Biden in charge.

[Martin Eden]

8. After four years of outrage, horror, and tragedy ...

... for many people this is a somber moment of relief, not celebration -- knowing there is so much work is ahead with many obstacles in the way.

[Blue_Roses]

26. I think this speaks for me

I am exhausted after this four year nightmate.

[StarryNite]

28. Yes, relief describes how I feel.

And it feels damn good! So many obstacles in the way of getting things back on track but this was the necessary first step.

[Martin Eden]

34. Necessary first step

Without the first step of defeating Trump, several leaps backward would happen before we'd get our next chance to move forward.

[barbtries]

9. the first thing i posted today

was to remark that it was almost weird to wake up without a dread feeling in my gut.

[Totally Tunsie]

24. I'm still waiting for that moment, barbtries, figuring

it won't come until the morning of January 21, 2021. Loony Tunes tRump is nutso enough to still pull some stupid shit between now and then. I won't fully relax or exhale until he's out.

Good to hear you're doing well.

[Earthshine2]

10. It's good to celebrate. But now, onto the next fight -- the GA Senate races.

First we swab the deck, and then battlestations!

[PatSeg]

11. Someone at Daily Kos summed it up quite well

Yoshimi said: "It’s why no one cheers after leaving an abusive relationship."

[Solly Mack]

13. We won some breathing room but we didn't win the war.

There is a willingness in some American voters to forgo the tenets of a democratic-republic, with the principles of democracy being the foremost of our core philosophy - a government by the people.

They will swear on their lives that they support a government by the people while they vote away their rights and pledge their allegiance to a demagogue.

Every false sense of well being the GOP has ever managed to package and sell to their voters has been personified in Trump.

Every appeal to emotion, every appeal to prejudice, every pulled up by their own bootstraps lie, their entire version of the "American Dream", every dog whistle and code word, any and all appeals that cause them to happily believe that their fortunes and opportunities are married to the fortunes and opportunities of America's oligarchs. So much so they believe they can only pay their bills if the oligarchs they worship can buy a yacht.

They've been steeped in generational ignorance that tells them religion is the answer, that science is a plot against them, that facts are wrong, that intelligence is bad - and that money is the clearest sign of goodness. But only if that money isn't connected to those they've been taught to hate.

Couple all of that with white supremacy and all the other assorted prejudices that runs throughout their beliefs and you get ignorance multiplied.

Layers and layers to peel off.

Lot of fear behind their beliefs.

Lot to overcome.

[PatSeg]

17. Well said

Though I'm grateful for that breathing room, something we need along with the restful sleep so many people are reporting. This will give us the strength and clarity we will need to fight the many battles ahead. So much damage to undo and new paths to blaze.

[Solly Mack]

18. Yes. Very grateful. We need it.

And then we need to keep fighting. No relaxing. No giving an inch.

[58Sunliner]

16. Last night I didn't worry about what that sick ass would do next.

Priceless. I didn't worry about my family members having to live in a fascist state if I left this earth. I didn't feel the need to sell my house so I could cross a border to safety and give my family members a safe haven. Last night I did not worry. I woke up without dread, energized, knowing I could plan a future in this country, in this house, and give myself a present that would nurture me. I cried many times after we knew Joe and Kamala had won. It's going to be a healing process for many of us. I feel like my IQ has risen 30 points after being constricted to responding to a crisis mode of fight or flight. I'm pretty sure I'm not alone.

[PatSeg]

19. Oh, you're not alone at all

Even people in other countries are feeling a great sense of relief right now. What was really great the last couple days is not hearing his damn voice or seeing his hideous face 24/7. Then realizing that will become the normal - no Trump, no triggers every fifteen minutes, no more doom scrolling, no more persistent dread, and no more swearing at the TV (well a little bit, but not nearly as much).

[58Sunliner]

20. "no more doom scrolling'-a threat to mental health everywhere!

[PatSeg]

22. Yes, it is pretty unhealthy

when we scroll expecting to be horrified on a daily even hourly basis. It will take awhile getting used to it, as we are conditioned to being shocked and repulsed. Now maybe we can get used to being normal with only periodic moments of righteous anger. Once and awhile, we'll pause and reflect on a time when every day was like a really bad movie and we'll still wonder if it was actually real.

[jcgoldie]

23. Well I'm fucking excited

I'm a 48 year old farmer not prone to emotionalism and I think I cried a half a dozen times or more yesterday when they called the race and then began showing spontaneous celebrations of Americans dancing together across the country with the huge weight we've all felt suddenly lifted from their shoulders.

[PatSeg]

25. I am too

and I cried off and on all day yesterday. Last night my daughter wondered why she felt so numb, so she put it in writing to try and clarify her feelings. We think one person at Daily Kos summed it well in his comment:

"It’s why no one cheers after leaving an abusive relationship."

This really hit home. We have both been long time supporters of Joe Biden, so having him in the White House is a dream come true, but four long years of constant daily abuse leaves a few scars. A lot of people are still shell-shocked.

Its been an extraordinary week for me though, one I'll never forget.

[jcgoldie]

30. Its like we have our country back

I mean democrats are not prone to extreme nationalism obviously but we still grew up taking pride in being Americans... pride in our role in two world wars to defeat fascism, pride in being a democracy that we felt was improving, and in many ways it has, for centuries becoming a more fair and open society for different peoples of color and women, pride in being one of the most diverse cultures on earth... and then suddenly we spent 4 years in the 1950s... I want so much for us to be Obama's America and not Trump's America... maybe we can find our way back...

[JI7]

27. Part of it was on Tuesday some thought we would have 2016 repeat

and the days after waiting and by then as others said it was more relief.

[PatSeg]

29. I was 99.9% sure Joe would win,

but there was that haunting memory of 2016 hanging over my head. A Trump win back then seemed impossible, so nothing has felt very sure since.

[JI7]

33. I thought he would win also but when Florida came in thoughts of 2016 . I lost my appetite

I turned off all tv news and mostly checked DU and other online sites to keep updated.

As time went on there were the few days of nervousness of whether we would have enough in key states .

By Thursday things were looking up again and I think we were just waiting to see when they would announce .

But i'm fine with feeling relief . I am sleeping better already .

[PatSeg]

35. I went through a lot of "What if" moments

once it reached the point where no states were being called for either Biden or Trump. The long lapse gave me much too much time to wonder and imagine the worse.

You know the one thing I'm hearing from a whole lot of people is "I am sleeping better". Its almost universal. What a difference.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

31. A degree of anxiety is normal and appropriate right now, PatSeg.

A global pandemic, climate change, systemic racism/xenophobia, police reform, the potential for a deep recession and a government and international relations to rebuild. Whew!

We would not be normal humans if we weren't worried about our future.....

Yet, this period is a great time to get some rest and enjoy the holidays as best we can before the hard period ahead. It is very invigorating for me knowing we'll have tremendous support from the international community in the coming years.

KY

[PatSeg]

37. Oh yes

Almost everyone I know is suffering from anxiety. We have been hit with so much the last four years, especially this year. Feeling anxious is understandable and hardly surprising.

I was also happy to see how much support we've gotten from countries all over the world. We aren't the only ones breathing a big sigh of relief. Trump's reckless and erratic behavior affects the entire planet. He is truly a danger to humanity.

There are many battles yet to be won, but I think everyone is now renewed and ready.

[Blue_Roses]

32. I've been wondering the same thing

I have been politically active for years and the excitement of our candidate winning alway sent me over the moon. While a big smile spread across my face when I saw that Biden had won, I didn't get that feeling of pure excitement that often took days for my feet to hit the ground again. I guess partly because Iam so exhausted with it all. I'm exhausted with Trump. I'm exhausted with this COVID shit, especially since I lost my job and benefits due to it AND I am now struggling to make ends meet without sleeping in my car. I exhausted with the hatred and racism. I'm exhausted at being thrown to the wolves by a president who doesn't give a shit.

Yes, while I did feel huge relief at the moment, at the end of the day, I'm still struggling to keep a roof over my head, without having my health benefits to help me if I get sick. I guess it is like leaving an abusive relationship.

[PatSeg]

38. Yes, the exhaustion and PTSD

after four years of this insanity has sucked a lot of life out of us. It definitely is like leaving an abusive relationship. You are relieved to get out of it, but damage and pain is still a part of you.

I am sorry the pandemic has affected you so profoundly. Even though we know better days are coming, that doesn't undo the damage or pay the bills today.

[Meowmee]

36. Yesterday I felt very happy and relieved

But I am still worried about what could happen in the next 2 months. And about the mess that needs to be taken care of. It has been more than four years of abuse from that psycho and his enablers, the media propping him up- the trauma of that will not go away overnight.

And then to see that even more people voted for it again. I find that hard to believe, there was a lot of voter suppression, maybe there was more as well. Fortunately it didn't work this time.

[PatSeg]

39. Yes

the next two months will still be very stressful, as we have no idea how much damage he can or will do. He is a spiteful, vindictive little man and I wouldn't put anything past him.

I too was disappointed to see that even more people voted for him this election. It is beyond comprehension that so many people like that actually exist and I share space with them. If they don't get deprogrammed, I'm afraid there will be another Trump down-the-road, maybe even worse. We already have Qanon people running for public office and actually getting considerable support. Two of them have won their races.

Now we have to be sure to maintain our enthusiasm and resolve through the midterm elections, lest we have a repeat of 2010.

[Meowmee]

42. Yep

It is already getting stressful, ugh. I believe there was more than voter suppression on their part, but who knows for sure, no proof of it. Something very odd happened in my polling location for the first time ever. Yes the q anon wackos are pretty alarming. I hope we win the run offs and what ever dump and co are planning to try to overturn the election does not cause huge problems and delays.

[PatSeg]

43. Its hard to get too comfortable

looking at the headlines tonight:

- Esper: If my replacement is 'a real yes man' then 'God help us',

- Georgia's U.S. senators demand top elections official to resign,

- Law firm representing Trump's campaign, beginning to recoil at their treasonous task, and

- Top Republicans back Trump's efforts to challenge election results.

- Lindsey Graham, Who Urged Trump Not to Concede, Wants President to Run Again in 2024

What the hell?!?! These monsters just keep doubling down, even though they know they've lost.

[Meowmee]

44. Yes

The worst may be the support he is getting in the senate. Time will tell... hopefully nothing will come of any of it.

[PatSeg]

45. I'm pretty sure not much will come of it

but in the meantime, it is very disruptive, which I'm sure is the intention. It just threw me off, as I thought republicans in the house and the senate would back off and become quiet once Joe won. I assumed that most of them would try to distance themselves from Trump, but apparently they aren't even that smart. I just can't see how this helps any of them now that the election is over. Everything these days defies reason.

[Meowmee]

46. Yes it is very upsetting

I had hope for that as well... but with this lot I always expect the worst. They always choose to do as much damage as possible.

[PatSeg]

47. Yeah, expect the worst

and you won't be disappointed. Some of these people were once fairly ordinary and reasonable people. It is like a highly contagious disease.

[Meowmee]

48. Yep ugh

[Ilsa]

40. Hypervigilance can cause exhaustion.

Recovered PTSD victims know the feeling. And we have noticed every crazy thing trump did for the last four years whereas his followers did not.

We feel so much relief that it's difficult to indulge in the joy of the moment, no matter how happy we are for the Bidens and Sen. Harris. They deserve the best of celebrations, but fatigue and the rampant presence of COVID-19, sadly, are working against it.

I wanted to to join a celebration, but I couldn't attend one because of COVID-19 and distance. But I also just wanted to go to sleep for a week.

[PatSeg]

41. I hear that a lot

After four horrendous years, people are finally starting to sleep again. There has been more relief than elation and many people, myself included cried a lot the first day. Actual healing will take time and patience.