81 million Biden voters are seething with anger--the burden of 'healing' is on Republicans

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

The American right seems oblivious to the seething anger that the 81 million Americans who braved a multifaceted voter suppression campaign and a raging pandemic to vote against Donald Trump feel over Republicans' relentless attempts to silence their voices with Donald Trump's ludicrous election fraud conspiracy theories.

This week, many of them sought to weaponize President-elect Joe Biden's campaign theme of bringing the country together after four years of Trump's bomb-throwing. The very same Republican lawmakers who objected to counting the Electoral College votes that gave Joe Biden a resounding victory claimed this week that impeaching Trump would violate Biden's promise to promote healing and seek greater unity. "Rushing this resolution to the floor will do nothing to unify or heal the country," said Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) during this week's debate. "These actions, again, will only continue to divide the nation."
...........
At a minimum, that means publicly acknowledging not only that Joe Biden won this election, but also that there were never any serious questions about his victory. After all, making bogus claims of fraud has long been one of Trump's signature moves. When The Amazing Race beat out The Apprentice for an Emmy Award, Trump claimed that the Emmys were rigged; when he lost the Iowa Caucus in 2016, he claimed that Ted Cruz had cheated; he said there had been widespread fraud in the election that he won in 2016 and started claiming that he could only lose in 2020 as a result of fraud back in 2019.
................
Reconciliation is also impossible to contemplate without accountability for at least those who are the most culpable for bringing us to the brink of armed conflict.

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-election-2649962788/

[Hortensis]

1. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I believe we're angry all right. But the burden

of creating and protecting civilization is always on those capable of it. And right now much of the right has become radicalized and influenced by extremist leaders and is not capable.

Thank goodness for those who are "us" and among the "we" who are determined to protect our nation, because our futures and even our lives depend on it. And that's not hyperbole.

[CaptainTruth]

10. +1

[PatrickforO]

14. That is quite profound, that bit about the burden of creating and protecting civilization.

The Republicans really aren't capable of that at this point, are they?

[Hortensis]

26. I keep thinking of the Germans, Patrick. Their radicalized crazies and others

who thought Hitler was what they needed (and only wised up, if they did, after it was much too dangerous to resist), never hit bottom. Bottom hit them, smashed them so that in the end the survivors were starving amid rubble. And then they went on to rebuild a very nice, advanced and civilized nation, albeit with some constraints on their alternatives, but go figure.

That a big majority of the nice Republicans we know voted to REelect Trump was just as shocking to me as their doing it the first time. They were supposed to have seen what he was and did, but they were in for whatever he did next.

And as is typical of ruthless authoritarian leaders who've been reelected, he would rightly have taken their support as proof that he could smash constraints he was afraid to the first time around. Another thing I've learned is that RW authoritarians tend to think smashing enemies by warring to unconditional surrender is the only way to protect themselves. And they always have enemies to fear. I don't think the current urge to relative isolationism would have lasted long, not with the world's greatest military to throw around.

So, we 81 million Biden voters did our job this time and are just going to have to keep it up.

[luvtheGWN]

44. From what I can see from my northern perch,

the Republican Party is only capable of hurting the country and leaving it in shambles.

[KPN]

40. Burden is an apt word for it. Absurdly, they are as angry or even angrier than us.

[hay rick]

51. The burden of protecting our civilization, such as it is, is on us but...

coddling liars and fools is not part of that burden.

[Squinch]

2. Also, today it's a lot more than 81 million. Look at the drop in support for Trump at 538:

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/trump-approval-ratings/

It's falling off a cliff and will go a lot lower when they update it on Monday or Tuesday.

There are a lot fewer Republicans today than there were in November.

[stopwastingmymoney]

24. I only know a handful of people who voted for that vile...

But the two I’ve talked to are extremely pissed off about what he’s done since

[SheltieLover]

30. +1,000!

[2naSalit]

3. This is much like dealing with someone...

Who is addicted to alcohol or opiates or meth, they have hit bottom with those around them but they have yet to recognize they have no future without rehab.

It is on them to see that they are the ones who need to change their behavior and recall that we have a social contract which the majority of us agree to. If they have a problem with that, it is on them to leave or adapt.

We insist on assimilation from everyone here whether they are from here or not, these people are not exempt.

[TigressDem]

4. ACTUALLY it isn't OUR SEETHING ANGER they can't see. THAT AND MORE is ALL they see.

We are justifiably angry at the injustice of all that tRump has done and ignored and the violence foisted upon blacks, immigrants and poor people just because white power is running unchecked.

The REICH WING is USING THAT AGAINST US. SAYING "Antifa did it" and our ANGER seems to make that so.

You are right that healing has to be a mutual thing and we can't just cave into covering up the truth to placate their bruised egos.

BUT these people have been programed as if by a cult. They are not thinking rationally any more.

They need to be held accountable, but we have to remember in our hearts that somewhere behind the insanity may be a person who used to be a decent neighbor before their crazy was stoked to a raging inferno.

Our fellow Americans who bought into this STILL need to be held accountable for their actions, but remember that those at the top who DID THIS TO US bear the greatest guilt.

[mollie8]

12. My thoughts exactly; thank you

for your whole post, but especially for "BUT these people have been programed as if by a cult. They are not thinking rationally any more"

I have family members who are otherwise "good people." But they have unfailingly defended Trump. Mention him and they would be immediately angry. We finally agreed to not discuss politics. I'm wondering what they feel today. But they are my family and I love them unconditionally.

[TigressDem]

13. You are welcome.

I too have family members who are drinking the koolaid and it hurts SO BAD every day.

Some less than others. My son is the one that hurts most. WHERE DID I GO WRONG?

An Aunt who used to be like a second Mom and is very devoted religious person.

A friend who helped me through a difficult time after my ex tried to kill me. Also a very devoted religious person.

HOW DID THEY GET SUCKED INTO THIS?

My son keeps saying I have to "watch" alternate news as the main stream news is FAKE. I won't because I am half convinced they use subliminal programming to suck people into the lies. Hard to find any other reason rational people would turn to the dark side. I wouldn't put it past these people who are trying to violently overthrow the government.

BUT I have hope that somehow the truth will be revealed and he will wake up some day as well as my other family and friends.

[Cozmo]

16. "They stole the election" Who is THEY? Can one these morons tell me who THEY is?

[TigressDem]

32. The morons point to ALT Reich News Videos that are fake and claim that as proof.

The DIS-INFORMATION campaign is HUGE and IF those WERE real, I could see why people would be mad.

WE KNOW it's NOT REAL because we fact check and BELIEVE the fact checkers.

The ALT Reich News show actual ballots being thrown out. (Sure they were from Nov 2018 and from the 2016 election, so yeah, they were disposed of...but the captions were that these were CURRENT ballots being thrown away.)

The ALT Reich News show mail scattered in a ditch... but the fact that few ballots were in that mess and that EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THEM and the other mail ALL got handled and resolved/delivered to their intended destination NOT reported.

A BIG thing is how the voting numbers changed in "unexpected" ways... after the mail in ballots started being counted. With COVID of course there were so many more mail in ballots and ReThugs discouraged and DEMS encouraged people to be safe and vote from home if at all possible... so yeah UPSWING in Biden votes once mail in was counted makes sense to US. NOT SO MUCH to people who WANT to believe their guy won.

ALSO when states did a reasonable thing and expanded Mail-In structure to accommodate more ballots, it was an understandable response to an unprescedented situation. BUT it is being viewed as CHANGING THE RULES in the MIDDLE OF THE GAME.

POLITICAL SPIN has gotten so far out of control it's become BACKWARDS WORLD ....

Where the truth is a lie and the lie is truth.


Besides US vs THEM is classic KLAN propoganda. Get people MAD and then give them a target.

[abenavraham2020]

45. Religious Groupthink

You mentioned "religious" twice in your post. I think much of it is what these people are being indoctrinated with in their churches, at least where I am - unfortunately having to live at the moment in RED rural North Louisiana. My brother who is a VERY fundamentalist xtian called me up last week and told me that I need to gas up the car and buy supplies and "be ready" because "something big is going down" in the coming week(s). He then proceeded to tell me there have been "prophecies" that tRump would remain president and that "he was gods anointed". I never realized how far off the deep end he had fallen or how much koolaid he had consumed. And that belief I think is very consistent in rural red areas dominated by xtians. Their religion is not about being good moral people, it is, just like the Taliban or Isis or other fundamental religious nuts, about your religion DOMINATING all around you. It is religious groupthink on steroids'.

[luvtheGWN]

46. I always question the "religious devotion" of a person who continues

to support the blatant immorality of Trump. It's an adjective that is far too freely used, IMHO. Someone who says Grace before every meal, attends church every Sunday, and thinks nasty thoughts throughout the week of others who don't agree with them is not devoted to anything, let alone their Christian religion.

[Paper Roses]

48. I am in the same boat. Very small family but:

We have not corresponded for weeks. My s-I-L and her husband are fanatic tRump supporters. They know I don't support anything about him. We have no longer corresponded via phone or Internet.
I have nothing to say to her that will not turn into an argument.

The last time we spoke, we agreed to "not go there". OK, fine with me.
There is not much to chat with her. We are both seniors with health issues. All she talks about is either health, her cat, or politics.

I feel so badly that the politics of tRump have not only divided this country but have come between families. A few days ago my sister posted on FB her comments with the (whatever you call it) headline from sender: "parler". OK, I'm done

They live in Florida, is this really a hotspot for tRump supporters?
I'm sick about this.

[TigressDem]

58. That's where he's headed unless he goes to jail.

However, like Arnold says, all this chaos the US has faced seems to temper us and make us stronger. The truth MUST prevail.

[KPN]

41. Well said.

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

61. All criminals are, for the most part, criminals because they are products of their

environment.

It's a sad thing for us, when we need to lock them up, or take other measures, to prevent them from harming innocent people. We get angry when they harm us, our families, our friends, our neighbors, our country. We channel our righteous anger at them by using the justice system and the political system to protect ourselves from them.

Currently, we are channeling our righteous collective anger by doing our best to help the authorities identify the terrorist criminals who attempted a violent coup against our persons and our nation, and by discussing further measures to keep the criminals from causing more harm to innocent people in the future.

The fascists lie about everything. We cannot base our actions on fear of the the lies that the right wing constantly tell about us. The right wing blaming anti-fascists for the Capitol riots is just another silly, childish lie they use to place blame on others for the criminal acts they commit. Who cares what they say, they are going to lie, no matter what we do.

Many of us are seething with anger at the violence that these fascist criminals have done to our persons, and our democracy. We seek accountability, and wish to bring to justice all who are guilty of fomenting and perpetrating this assault on our nation, from Trump, the traitors in Congress, the RW media, right on down to the unfortunate brainwashed individuals who became fascists, and subsequently commit crimes, because their environment has caused them to no longer be able to think rationally.

It's only natural for to be angry at what they have done, and the overall enormity of what they have done, and seek justice. None of us are going to go out and buy guns and terrorize the fascists, because we are angry at fascists and fascism. We use the law, and our reasoning abilities, to channel our anger.

Everyone is responsible for their own actions. Saying "the devil made me do it" is not an acceptable excuse for harming others.

[R B Garr]

5. Biden was even better at seizing on this shift than most

thought. He is exactly what we need at this time.

[albacore]

6. Hey.... we can learn to get along. If we just sit down and discuss things.

Take Keith Packer, for example.... you know.. the guy with the Camp Auschwitz t shirt with "staff" on the back. He seems like a reasonable guy.

I'm sure we can sit down with him and come to some compromises that will satisfy both parties. And then we can join hands and sing Kumbaya.

[dalton99a]

7. First the media should interview him and publish what he says so we might understand him better

[smirkymonkey]

8. Because only THEY are the "real" America.

Fuck that. I am so sick of that tired meme I could scream. We are the REAL America and they are the brainwashed frauds.

It's time to stop legitimizing their insane fantasies and bizarre concepts of reality instilled in them by right-wing media propaganda and twisted, evil politicians who only care about power and money.

Put them back in their box and stop humoring them by not giving them any more attention as anything other than the criminals and traitors that they are. Don't interview them and don't give them any air time. Their opinions mean nothing anymore.

[SheltieLover]

31. Absofuckingloutely!

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

60. + about a million.

I didn't take kindly to that BS when the Hockey Mom VP candidate Caribou Barbie was spewing it, and I am, like you, sick and tired of hearing it.

It's not the people who, despite being the most isolated from and ignorant about other Americans who are different from them, and who support an authoritarian asshole who's never even read the US Constitution, who are the "real" Americans.

[Klaralven]

9. 155.5 million people voted. Roughly 80 million did not vote.

Of the 155.5 million who voted it unlikely that more than 20 million per side are "seething with anger".

[LakeArenal]

11. I reach practically no one here but....

The “Burden of healing” is on Democrat’s because the newly elected President Joe Biden ran on that very agenda.

Every speech he talked about healing America.

One way we will never heal is with all the hateful rhetoric from (you got it)... BOTH SIDES.

Many Republicans saw the light and reports are the are fleeing from trump. However,
They will never admit they are/ were wrong
That’s just human nature.

Democrats are not going to get any huge wave of apology or admittance. Lots just can’t deal with that.

Just like I told one of my Republicans that wants “China punished”, “Sister that just ain’t happening.”

[TigressDem]

17. Yeah, we need to assist with the healing, but accountability is STILL part of that.

Just like you can't save a leg that has gangrene, some things can't be undone.


HOWEVER, I actually put many of the Republicans who have shown integrity in the midst of their party insanity on my gratitude list.


The Lincoln Project. Maybe the new home of Republicans against violent insurgency?

Where would we be if SOS of GA, Brad Raffensperger did NOT stand up to tRump and GAVE him Georgia?

I don't know the names of those who voted to impeach, but I thank God for them in my heart.

Even FAUX News is behaving more reasonable than OAN and Newsmax.


I am NOT going to do their work for them, but any Republican who will STEP AWAY from the CRAZY and act at least like a "normal conservative" with their regular complaints and willingness to get to work on hammering out compromises that give each side some of what they want/need.... is ok in my book.


It is the heart of diplomacy to find things we CAN agree on and work from there.

[LakeArenal]

20. Thank you. I spent all day yesterday trying to say the same.

Unity does not mean overlooking illegal acts. Millions of Republicans did not invade the Capitol.

[TigressDem]

25. What is funny is that I would even endorse executing those who comitted TREASON, but...

ONLY in an impartial and legal way that makes it clear it is about the CRIME(S), not just because their political beliefs.


If someone was simply sucked into the mental wave and speaks like a freak, but didn't act on it...

They aren't the problem, yet.

Our anger and blaming them could turn them into the WORST case scenario.

[ancianita]

22. There are reasons for that. One thing about healing...

just because Biden talked about it in every speech doesn't put the onus of healing just on Democrats.

When Biden mentions healing it's aspirational. He'll hint at what healing is, as in 'come together' unity.

But note that he doesn't define how healing is done.
(We Democrats rightly claim that how healing is done isn't on Democrats alone, since we all know we've always done our part through mopping up and restorative legislating).

The anger Democrats feel isn't about unity or healing, it's about how it's done and who's responsible for it.

So one idea is this:
Since Democrats have so much rebuilding to do, the least that Repubs can do is empty out of their politics what doesn't get good results for the whole country -- like making their platform a series of goals and not a person, for starters. So far, nothing we've heard from them justifies our reaching out to hold up their crippled party. Nothing.

Another idea is that any general healing of their political relationship to Democrats is solely on Democrats' terms. We're fair and fact-based. If they can be fair and fact-based, not try for "both sides" false equivalencies, not look outside to fault find, but genuinely look inside and work constructively within their own side, we can talk.

Democrats' form of healing is doing. If Repubs can join with a can-do spirit, get things done, they'll find that that heals them and the country, and builds unity. They might just heal if they'd stop confusing the medicine with the disease.

They can learn from our example, try it out, and heal.

One last idea for healing for been-there-done-that Democrats:

Democrats need to tell media to just shut up, stop second guessing our leadership, just constructively watch and constructively report.

We don't have to listen or answer to any more cranked out media hype telling Democrats what to do. Media have been nothing but a drag on our party, and if they don't constructively change away from conflict-driven reporting, we have to leave them behind.

[LakeArenal]

52. The burden is still on Biden because not only does he wants it...

It’s because he is now President of the United States. It’s his “watch” now.

He wants me to heal my heart and I’m going to do it. Obstacles or not.

I can only speak for myself not Democrats.

I hate trump and his family. He’s a despicable amoeba of flesh.

But my friends and family who voted for trump are not. I am a Democrat.

I will heal my heart. I never hated anyone like this before.

[ancianita]

57. I understand and agree. At the same time

I don't think he'll ask us to keep talking because talk has stopped working. He's better at handling talking to cult leadership, so we'll see how that works on his watch, along with how he handles media messaging and whether it shifts away from its doubt and second guessing on his watch.

Trump's done scary damage to us, but he's revealed fault lines that were deeper than we knew, about government, and about the minds and character of 72 million. We've done the work of pointing out how the 72 million's story map (lies, conspiracies, blind loyalty, obedience to the one person who feeds the story, etc) doesn't work. So now we can fix the first fault line, but maybe not the other.

It's hurt to live with betrayal and trauma. My heart hurt, too, to see how millions of Hillary haters and racist coalitions just left governance, fought, and ran with their map right off a cliff.

The reality map we painfully revised these past 4 years, with the help of young people, should get us to the next Democratic president's watch, and more and more into the future, forcing the 72 million to choose stuckness or drag their crippled selves along.

We saved the soul of America, attached it to the future. We're of the 78% who'll make new hope as we go.

[bucolic_frolic]

15. There are just so many obstacles to repair

Voting rights, campaign financing, the 140 traitors sitting in Congress, the economy and economic justice to name a few.

We'll tinker and marginally improve voting rights, campaign financing we'll make little progress other than public reporting.

The economy depends on the pandemic, so I guess there's hope, but it will be 12 months before a real upturn can begin.

$15 min wage will be a good start, but good luck finding growth.

The 140 will be a problem. I expect less than 10 to be expelled, if that.

What gives me hope? Corporate America is fighting back on authoritarianism. They know their cash flow depends on the masses having spending power, and freedom is the basis for consumerism.

Can Joe Biden keep the economy afloat? They won't let him have any big successes, it will be a barely-made-it construction of the Republican press that is reminiscent of the Clinton years, 1992-2000.

[TigressDem]

19. Any money you put in the hands of the poor goes directly BACK into the economy.

They have no choice. Pay bills, buy food, clothes to live and stay off the streets.

Give money to the rich, and they can DECIDE to help out the rest of US. OR NOT.


WHAT DOES piss me off is that the ReTHUGS run the country into the ground, throw billions at the rich and WE DEMS wind up cleaning UP the mess and GETTING BLAMED FOR THE MESS because we cleaned it up.

I AM PROUD to do the cleaning, but damn tired of getting blamed for the mess THEY created.

[Biophilic]

18. This!

I've sat on my anger for 4 years. Appalled at each and everything that trump and the GOP did. My anger just escalated as they tried to deny my vote. No, I'm pissed as hell and ready to do whatever is necessary over the next several years to bury them and make my country behave more like I thought it was. I may have been a bit blind, but now I'm not and I'm not going to put up with them. I tried to destroy my country and are trying to kill my fellow citizens. That's NOT ok.

[TigressDem]

21. Hold them accountable. YES. ESPECIALLY Trump and CO.

BUT even though your anger is justified and welcome here, remember that there are humans beneath all that crazy.

Like an uncle or cousin "off their meds" they need to be put somewhere they can't hurt themselves or others, but our fellow Americans at large have been programmed as if by a cult.

The ones leading the charge need the full force of the law applied, but not in anger. In clear, rational response to their crimes.

I agree we need like 100 years of FULL DEM Majority to get this country back to behaving like a real Democracy, but we ALSO have to not be vindictive about it. The punishment to fit the crime administered with simple efficiency.

There are SO MANY who need to be dealt with, the DOING is the main thing, not the gleeful celebration of "I TOLD YOU SO" which we admittedly deserve, but won't win ANY to our side.

But you can say it here. We know. We know.

[Biophilic]

28. Oh, yes, I'm with you on this, but they have to start the process

by acknowledging that perhaps they made a few mistakes and perhaps they were a little bit sorry. I'm not asking for full contrition, I know better, but at least a tiny bit of 'oops' on their part before we start reaching across the aisle and telling them how sorry we are that we hurt their feelings. I guess I'd even forgo the 'sorry' part if they didn't immediately start acting as if they are the injured party.

LOL Even I don't think 100 years of full dem majority would be a good thing. I think one of the things that erks me the most is the damage they have done to the GOP as a legit political party that believed in rule of law and order and democracy. Leaving Democrats all by themselves could be a mess. How about just 25 years of full Democratic control?

[NoMoreRepugs]

23. Uniting and healing are great buzzwords, I applaud their use

and meaning. For me healing the Nation means putting it back on a progressive track into the future and reversing 4 years of mighty effort to put everything into reverse.

[twodogsbarking]

27. We have to stop bleeding

before we can start healing.

[TigressDem]

35. Yep nt

[BlueIdaho]

29. Dear Republicans...

Show us you’ve changed and we can talk about it.

[gulliver]

33. Anger is usually stupid. It plays into Trump's hands.

I'm angry at the crazy, lost, anger-infused numbskulls who invaded the Capitol. But they're really just broken units with nothing to live for when you get right down to it. They're, sadly, a group of messed up misfits and the predators who feed on them.

The way out of this, imo, is to coolly promote and take action on the effective liberal plans that lead to a better life for everyone. Get busy. Win elections. We have a huge opportunity here as the pandemic is brought under control with us in the driver's seat. We don't need to be reacting with diffuse anger, justified or not. That would be dumb.

Focused anger is fine. Focus on the malevolent and cynical roots. Focus on the machine that spews the garbage. Personally, I see that happening already, so I'm optimistic.

[TigressDem]

36. K&R K& R K&R K&R K& R K&R K&R K& R K&R

[SheltieLover]

34. Healing begins with FULL prosecutions of ALL involved

[TigressDem]

37. THIS TOO... but with a cool head. nt

[Arne]

38. Mass extinction and climate.

We just had every creature in every canal float to the surface dead.
Our beautiful world class beaches are covered, and stink.
Someone carved 'Trump' onto the back of a manatee.
That's all I have to say.

[llashram]

39. this

[OMGWTF]

42. It's not possible to even have a conversation

with people who are in a delusional “reality “ Fuck ‘em. I’m not interested in reconciliation with these evil people.

[KPN]

43. One would think that this pandemic would have been sufficient to bring us together. One would think

that it possibly still could be. One would think.

We shall see.

[Nitram]

47. True

[cstanleytech]

49. I hear some call for healing but how can we have healing when the other party

even refuses to acknowledge their mistakes? If they would be willing to do that much we might start but all they seem to do is keep on making the same mistakes and not learning from it.

[Initech]

50. The people who screamed "fuck your feelings" at us for four years suddenly want unity?

The people who pointed their middle fingers at us and got really angry and pissed off all the time? Those people?

Hell no!

[FakeNoose]

54. Damn right! Now it's "F**k their feelings"

Everything right back at them.

[Initech]

56. They want a WWE Rage In The Cage match?

I know how to climb a fence!

[rocktivity]

53. Reconciliation is impossible without accountability? Well, duh dot com

rocktivity

[BainsBane]

55. The right won't even admit that Biden won the election

They make excuses for the terrorists, yet they expect us to be responsible for "healing"? Not a chance.

[Cha]

59. Sure as Shit is.. & since they

don't really want to do anything but Whine & suck their victimhood thumbs.. that's Not gonna happen.

Go to Jail!