I was looking for you last night and worried you'd already fled. The popular vote numbers were surreal, I agree. That's really the thing that scares me.
Greg I shared your optimism and confidence. The fundraising, the turnout, the ground game - it never occurred to me that it meant nothing. I truly can't come up with anything Harris could have done better other than not be a woman of color. The shock of seeing plain as day how much this country hates women has been bitter to contemplate. Thanks for this post - I'm glad to know people share my sorrow and fear. And that there will be other people to fight back with.
I worked in professional politics. I worked in the Obama campaign. I know what a good campaign looks like. This campaign wasn't good - it was great! There wasn't one thing they did that I would have said "No, try this."
The unfortunate thing about it was we have failed to truly understand the nature of the enemy, and so we stood - like the French Generals at Sedan, watching Rommel's panzers cross the Meuse River and start their dash to the Channel - and we couldn't understand what we were seeing any better than they could.
He only won the popular vote because of the propaganda onslaught since Rupert Murdoch was imported to destroy our media. The Tea Party and the current cretins are the result. The cult is nationwide now. Whistling won’t be heard…
You have not let us down in any way, Greg. I am a pessimist by nature, but the extent of this defeat was shocking even to me. I've been through a bunch of the stages of grief already. It's beyond depressing, especially for an oldster--the chance of seeing a woman president gone for good. It's too awful to ponder what "rough beast" is slouching toward Washington....again. Like you, I will never forgive what these people have done--even though I try to take Jesus' words to heart--that "they know not what they do." I just can't forgive. And what's more, I hope they suffer for what they have done.
Greg, no need to apologize as most all other writers, authors I follow on Substack felt the same, we all did.
Betrayal is the best word here to describe the electorate’s choice. I do feel betrayed by the Latino and black men, also suburban women (really??) who put Trump over the top for the win.
I will never underestimate the racism and MISOGYNY in this country again (by women too!). And now will have to endure the smugness of white christian nationalists.
I will find a way to live my life and push for reform wherever I can.
Greg you & Stephanie have been (& still are) the most trusted source of information/news. I (personally) do not believe that he won the popular vote bc I remember the cheating in FL when the hanging chads gave them a "win". Switching out mailed ballots would not be impossible.
You are shouldering blame for something all of us share responsibility for. Not your burden alone. I think there are going to many people who will need us to stand up for them in coming months and years. I am here for that, but don’t know what it looks like. Will take advice and guidance from all trusted voices, like yours. Thank you for doing what you have been doing. ❤️💔
Exactly Callie, surreal now. I’m partly numb which is the armor for survival today at least. As for Greg, I agree no need for apologies. You continue to be a font of information plus much more.
I’m sending you many hugs for all the joy you’ve provided me…& betting many of us feel the same way.
I'm waiting for my son to return from Reno, where he knocked doors and had conversations with working class people for 9 hours/day, 7 days/week since early September. The pundits never talked to real people in their own environments. Every conversation was about the economy. Not one person mentioned Palestine. We live in our blue bubble. It is worth it to get out and talk to real people sometimes. It is a different world.
Since we're all not crazy enough to think the election was "rigged," my assumption, as the evening went on was that we really do live in a country of shitty, shitty people who WANT what he's offering. So, no, this is not the time to make any decisions about what we may do in the future, except that as I think I said before, I'm pulling back my interest in politics for at least four years. This will probably be the only online space that I will write comments and express myself because again, anything else is just whistling against an ocean. In the long run, it's probably good because I'll get more work done -- my "lunch hour" can go to two hours if I get wound up; one of the hazards of being self-employed.
My other issue with the deplorables, who are apparently the majority now, is that they love to not only win, but then GLOAT about it. My across-the-street neighbor's mother popped onto the block this morning wearing one of those fucking red hats. This is probably a 70-year-old woman whose normal hair doesn't really allow for a baseball cap, but there she was -- red hat of the beast BLAZING in the morning gloom. Amazing!
There is no need to apologize, Greg. You didn't do anything the rest of us didn't do, and it simply didn't work out. There was always the chance. I also believed in the innate goodness of the American people, and I was also wrong. There are still LOTS of good people, just not enough.
On the bright side, we won't have to go through two months and 3.5 years of "the election was rigged" talk, and court cases getting laughed out of court, or Rudy Giuliani, or violence from his supporters, and whatever else was planned in the dank places they hang out. Now that he's won, the election, I assume, was "a perfect election," with no cheating or stealing at all. Very sorry the Dems just didn't steal hard enough, or rig things enough for Kamala to win! I'm also very sorry about Ukraine, and Gaza, and women, and vaccines, and humanity, and DECENCY, and all the rest. Shitty day. I'll try to hit up the Five-8 tonight, but honestly, it's a toss-up whether I'm going to want to relive quite so soon.
I was looking for you last night and worried you'd already fled. The popular vote numbers were surreal, I agree. That's really the thing that scares me.
Nah, I just went to sleep. Way past my bedtime. In hindsight, I should have done so at 10.
Asleep at 2200.
Knew outcome years ago.
Yes, he now has a "mandate" for all the evil the he and his minions will do.
I never even imagined this.
Greg I shared your optimism and confidence. The fundraising, the turnout, the ground game - it never occurred to me that it meant nothing. I truly can't come up with anything Harris could have done better other than not be a woman of color. The shock of seeing plain as day how much this country hates women has been bitter to contemplate. Thanks for this post - I'm glad to know people share my sorrow and fear. And that there will be other people to fight back with.
Yes. The last thing I want to hear is any "analysis" of why Harris failed. She did not fail . It is obvious why she did not prevail.
I worked in professional politics. I worked in the Obama campaign. I know what a good campaign looks like. This campaign wasn't good - it was great! There wasn't one thing they did that I would have said "No, try this."
The unfortunate thing about it was we have failed to truly understand the nature of the enemy, and so we stood - like the French Generals at Sedan, watching Rommel's panzers cross the Meuse River and start their dash to the Channel - and we couldn't understand what we were seeing any better than they could.
I'm a French historian by trade and your analogy is spot on
Racism and misogyny won.
Yep.
Coupled with hatred, greed and lawlessness Derek, excellent point!
He only won the popular vote because of the propaganda onslaught since Rupert Murdoch was imported to destroy our media. The Tea Party and the current cretins are the result. The cult is nationwide now. Whistling won’t be heard…
La lucha sigue.
You have not let us down in any way, Greg. I am a pessimist by nature, but the extent of this defeat was shocking even to me. I've been through a bunch of the stages of grief already. It's beyond depressing, especially for an oldster--the chance of seeing a woman president gone for good. It's too awful to ponder what "rough beast" is slouching toward Washington....again. Like you, I will never forgive what these people have done--even though I try to take Jesus' words to heart--that "they know not what they do." I just can't forgive. And what's more, I hope they suffer for what they have done.
Ultimately, of course, they WILL suffer. What concerns me is how much we'll have to suffer first.
Greg, no need to apologize as most all other writers, authors I follow on Substack felt the same, we all did.
Betrayal is the best word here to describe the electorate’s choice. I do feel betrayed by the Latino and black men, also suburban women (really??) who put Trump over the top for the win.
I will never underestimate the racism and MISOGYNY in this country again (by women too!). And now will have to endure the smugness of white christian nationalists.
I will find a way to live my life and push for reform wherever I can.
Hear hear brother. I feel ‘bout the same…✌🏽💙🇺🇸💚♾️
Your words matter, Greg. Thank you. A lot.
Groggily numb,
Mindy
Give this a read, in full, from start to finish. It's good, it provides useful context and perspective, and it's the first in a series.
https://terikanefield.com/why-i-am-setting-out-on-a-journey-and-inviting-you-along/
Teri is great. Thanks for sharing!
Greg you & Stephanie have been (& still are) the most trusted source of information/news. I (personally) do not believe that he won the popular vote bc I remember the cheating in FL when the hanging chads gave them a "win". Switching out mailed ballots would not be impossible.
You are shouldering blame for something all of us share responsibility for. Not your burden alone. I think there are going to many people who will need us to stand up for them in coming months and years. I am here for that, but don’t know what it looks like. Will take advice and guidance from all trusted voices, like yours. Thank you for doing what you have been doing. ❤️💔
There is no need to apologize. So many believed in a better outcome. It feels surreal.
Exactly Callie, surreal now. I’m partly numb which is the armor for survival today at least. As for Greg, I agree no need for apologies. You continue to be a font of information plus much more.
I’m sending you many hugs for all the joy you’ve provided me…& betting many of us feel the same way.
I'm waiting for my son to return from Reno, where he knocked doors and had conversations with working class people for 9 hours/day, 7 days/week since early September. The pundits never talked to real people in their own environments. Every conversation was about the economy. Not one person mentioned Palestine. We live in our blue bubble. It is worth it to get out and talk to real people sometimes. It is a different world.
Since we're all not crazy enough to think the election was "rigged," my assumption, as the evening went on was that we really do live in a country of shitty, shitty people who WANT what he's offering. So, no, this is not the time to make any decisions about what we may do in the future, except that as I think I said before, I'm pulling back my interest in politics for at least four years. This will probably be the only online space that I will write comments and express myself because again, anything else is just whistling against an ocean. In the long run, it's probably good because I'll get more work done -- my "lunch hour" can go to two hours if I get wound up; one of the hazards of being self-employed.
My other issue with the deplorables, who are apparently the majority now, is that they love to not only win, but then GLOAT about it. My across-the-street neighbor's mother popped onto the block this morning wearing one of those fucking red hats. This is probably a 70-year-old woman whose normal hair doesn't really allow for a baseball cap, but there she was -- red hat of the beast BLAZING in the morning gloom. Amazing!
There is no need to apologize, Greg. You didn't do anything the rest of us didn't do, and it simply didn't work out. There was always the chance. I also believed in the innate goodness of the American people, and I was also wrong. There are still LOTS of good people, just not enough.
On the bright side, we won't have to go through two months and 3.5 years of "the election was rigged" talk, and court cases getting laughed out of court, or Rudy Giuliani, or violence from his supporters, and whatever else was planned in the dank places they hang out. Now that he's won, the election, I assume, was "a perfect election," with no cheating or stealing at all. Very sorry the Dems just didn't steal hard enough, or rig things enough for Kamala to win! I'm also very sorry about Ukraine, and Gaza, and women, and vaccines, and humanity, and DECENCY, and all the rest. Shitty day. I'll try to hit up the Five-8 tonight, but honestly, it's a toss-up whether I'm going to want to relive quite so soon.
I agree with you. My news subscriptions are canceled. I'm done. I find it fascinating that the election isn't rigged anymore. It's a fucking miracle.
Please consider pulling back your engagement less than 4 years, we have a Senate to regain in 2.
James Carville