I hate Donald Trump. I hate his whole smug family. I hate their arrogance and their hypocrisy. I’ve been watching their name-calling and accusations from afar and gobsmacked that they’ve been castigating their opponents when they overtly do far worse things. And by that I mean… work for their father when they’re not qualified and financially gain from doing so.
But there’s no point in me bitching about it. Far more learned and famous voices than I have talked about Trump and his inability to provide tax returns, about his bankruptcies and debts. And about the money his hotels and kids’ businesses have made from his presidency.
WTAF?
So like all sane people in the world I was gobsmacked to see the US election results coming through. I had really hoped for a landslide. I hoped the narcissist would finally get some insight into how he’s perceived, but alas…
I mean, it was one thing in 2016 – people seemed to be rebelling against career politicians. And of course they didn’t want to vote for Hillary Clinton. But now they’ve got the benefit of hindsight. It’s unfathomable to most of us – overseas (and I’m sure in the US itself) that voters cannot see what an embarrassment their president is. A punchline to his counterparts.
I realise there’s still hope for a Democratic win (with postal votes yet to be counted) but the fact so many were still voting for Trump is horrifying. This tweet was most-telling.
Not all Americans
I was ready to badmouth America and all who sail within. But then I saw another tweet… from someone asking that those outside the US not tar them all with the same brush. That we not write the country off completely. The person reminded us that millions and millions of Americans voted for change. Many have been doing a lot to fight flawed systems and corruption from within. And yet their numbers seem to be closely matched by those happy with this president’s disdain for… well, almost everyone.
I know I’ve been similarly disappointed by election results here in Australia. Devastated that my fellow humans could be easily duped by shiny new policies, scare tactics or false prophets.
It’s made me glad that here however, we don’t allow politicians to become bigger than their political party. We may have a history for ditching the odd Prime Minister or two but it feels as if we have checks and balances.
So what next?
I’m holding out hope for change and I know many others, particularly in the US are as well. But it feels like the world’s going to shit. I mean THIS on top of everything else 2020 has thrown at us.
The rage of many on social media is palpable. As is disbelief, desolation and despair. Even if the Trump family leave the White House I can imagine they’ll continue to wreak havoc – make false claims, play the victim, oversell their achievements.
Calming voices are reminding us we need to consider our mental health and wellbeing at this point in time. Sometimes hatred or anger can be motivating, but other times it just festers and leaves us bitter and frustrated.
I’ve not done it before, but it’s time for me to mute / block ‘all-things-Trump’ on Twitter. It’s my favourite social media tool so I don’t want to ditch it entirely but the last day or two reminded me how much it can fuck with my head. I don’t watch the news anyway, but I can be more circumspect in my online headline checking. I can keep apprised but not get overwhelmed. I can remind myself there’s nothing I can do anyway. And there isn’t. Is there?
Have you been following the US Election results? Do you think it’s worth getting anxious over the outcome? Any coping strategies? Or more productive suggestions?
November 4, 2020
I am American, in a Biden state, and I can assure you there are a lot of us that are horrified by how this election is going. I am embarrassed that so many people in this country love Trump, and are willing to keep this racist and fascist regime going. It just makes me sad for the state of this country. I have no coping tips since I am barely coping at this point. Just remember that a majority of us did not vote for him last time, and a majority did not vote for him this time.
November 5, 2020
That was what hit home yesterday. I saw a lot of ‘Oh America, what are you thinking?’ type posts and then the one from the person reminding us that they/you are as devastated by it all as everyone around the world is aghast.
November 4, 2020
Went to bed feeling somewhat hopeful but woke up full of despair. And my poor husband who’s an American living in the UK, he is without words. I agree with everything you’ve said. It’s not my country but I feel an affinity for it having lived there for over a decade and a sadness for the divides that this election will go no way to heal.
November 5, 2020
Yes, in many ways it often felt that there was no support for Trump other than in his own head. But of course it’s because I didn’t follow people who were Trump supporters. (And I know some gave him the benefit of the doubt first time around, but really they had no excuse for voting for him this time, so no sympathy from me!) But occasionally I’d click on something and see the kinds of comments his supporters offered and I was shocked that people could be so easily duped or unable to see through him. I guess for me it’s more than him being sexist, racist etc… it’s more about the kind of person he is. Someone I wouldn’t want to know let alone my country’s leader.
November 4, 2020
I have blocked the word Trump on my social media. Stuff still gets through but nowhere near the amount I’d otherwise get. And what’s happening now? I can’t even…
November 5, 2020
I’ve kept it until the election result is known though I guess I’ll know the outcome without his name being mentioned. He’s unfathomable. And the fact people support him is just…. argh. And as for the name (in general), I also need to mute it because also of the poison that spews from the mouth and fingertips of his namesake.
November 4, 2020
I’ve had all things Trump blocked on Twitter for the last couple of years.
November 5, 2020
I’ve muted a few things when they’ve gone crazy and it seems like an extreme measure but when I occasionally see something I realise what an impact it has on me. There are a few people on Twitter for eg who are very open about mental health issues, but almost obsessively so and though I know I vent or share my feelings on there (mostly cos I live alone and have no one else to tell!), I like to think I don’t bombard people to the point it’s triggering for them as well.
November 4, 2020
I am shocked too and despondent that our country is this way. I blame the media environment to some extent- Fox and other right wing “news” sites slant things so much that a lot of people who should know better don’t know some of the things he’s done because it’s not covered where they get their news. I’ve seen it in my own family at times and it’s maddening. Still, I feel like everyone has a responsibility to get news in a responsible way, and that so many don’t is… mind boggling to me.
Speaking of false prophets, that’s another thing. the religious right is a big problem here because they’ve cast the Democrats as “evil”- it’s not just political differences anymore where people can disagree- it’s become a thing where you dehumanize the opposition and I guess then they’re okay hating them? Sounds extreme but it’s happening. Between that and QAnon I KNOW people who feel like a Democratic vote is immoral. I don’t know if other countries are wrestling with that, but the US for sure is.
Anyway like others have said- the majority of us are horrified and against him.
It’s become a cliche to want to leave the country but I’m there. 🙁
November 5, 2020
The media thing is interesting. My mum reads the Australian and I have to keep saying ‘You know that’s not true’ – I’ve even told her to get a different newspaper as they have court cases against them for making things up – literally making them up – and she’ll say ‘But it’s the only place to get the International news’. It’s interesting to see how the brainwashing works. It’s quite bizarre. Australia has got itself into a mess that will take us a long time to get out of, regardless of who is in charge. I got quite a hostile attitude in Norway about Australia and the bushfires. It’s viewed as our own fault and we expected the world to bail us out. It was really confronting to realise the world perception of us had really changed.
November 5, 2020
Yes and I think Australia, the US and UK have Murdoch very much to thank for some of the tainted news we get. It feels like the US and UK have a few other voices but Australia isn’t really big enough to have more competition news-wise.
November 5, 2020
Oh yes I certainly feel for you. We’ve had our moments here and I’ve certainly disagreed with many of our policies and actions. We’ve probably had one or two Prime Ministers I’ve been ashamed to ‘own’ but generally it’s rarely about them. Trump is so divisive and dangerous I just cannot believe his own party allows him such free rein. I mention in my post that here each political party’s leader is chosen by the party. The public votes in the party not the person – mostly – so if there are enough internal party concerns and the person’s lost the public’s confidence the party will usually replace them. It’s kind of messy and there are lot of Julius Caesar comparisons (backstabbing etc) but it does mean no individual can become ‘bigger’ than the party. And I get that impression with Trump. He’s a loose cannon. A narcissistic sociopathic megalomaniac.
November 5, 2020
That’s the thing. Trump is larger than life in some respects… I think he has a certain (deranged) charisma that appeals to people who are dismayed at how our culture is changing. That and abortion. A big issue also for many “evengelicals” here, some of whom i know- abortion trumps (no pun intended) everything else and they’ll vote for him based on that no matter WHAT he does. And I’ve also heard people dismiss his transgressions as “oh that’s not right” or “there are other things going on”- so they’re justifying it, baed on what they’re hearing from slanted media. His rallies, too, provide a certain excitement that these people crave?
November 5, 2020
I’ve actively not followed as I assumed Trump would be returned. And I’m not interested. I hope Australia realises we voted in a number of the same policies here. Literally the same policies.The world, in certain places, is becoming pretty awful for a lot of people. We’ve really lost our humanity.
November 5, 2020
Oh yes Lydia… I almost included this tweet from the day before the election as well.
November 5, 2020
I am in shock at how this election is going. I thought it would be a landslide win to Biden. The fact it is so close is shocking. I cannot even watch Trump. When he comes on the TV I have to leave the room. I am so riled up over this election and I have never been that way before for a US election. I still have a shred of hope but by the end of today will I still have it? We shall see.
November 5, 2020
I’m the same Min. I think I was just dumbfounded when he won in 2020. Like Clive Palmer winning a seat here – people tired of typical politicians and thinking business people could do better. You’d be the same… I spent a long time in government and it’s not necessarily a transferrable skill. I had some senior people come into government thinking they could play with taxpayers money as they had in the private sector and it didn’t end well. (And I guess the CEO of Australia Post and the Cartier watches is another example.)
And I’ve never been a fan of Trump but he was barely on my radar. In fact I used to get him confused with Hugh Hefner…
November 5, 2020
I think a US presidential election always brings global interest and this one is massive. I’m not anxious over the outcome although I appreciate that Canada has experienced leaders and diplomats to work with those in the US administration. #lovin’lifelinky
November 5, 2020
Our government has tended to be a bit sucky when it comes to the US. Seeing them as power players I guess and wanting to keep on their good side. It was fine when the US leaders were worthy of being world leaders but (methinks) not so much any more. It’s looking like Trump might not get in but I was starting to have visions of America’s slide into being a third world-type country – characterised by violence, governed by violence and a dictatorship of sorts.
November 5, 2020
Like you I assumed…well, you know what assume does. We hear so much anti-Trump that you just expect that everyone feels the same & then it’s a shock to realise that they don’t. This result, I fear, whichever way it goes, will leave a country even more divided than it already is.
November 5, 2020
Yes I was just watching people demonstrating against ongoing vote-counting. And it makes no sense. Do they seriously think these votes have been faked or something? I assume that absentee / postal votes aren’t counted until the polls close so there’s always going to be a lag. Surely counting them before the polls open would be even more fraught – if results were leaked etc…
November 5, 2020
I am an American who lives in one of the states that is still contested and may decide the election. I cannot tell you how deeply disappointed I am in my fellow countrymen. It has gotten to the point where I wonder if I should relocate to a different country. I don’t feel as though I fit in my own country anymore. How about Australia? It sounds like a much better place to live. No Trumpsters!
November 5, 2020
Oh Laurie, I’m not sure… we’ve had our share of duds as Prime Ministers and I’m often horrified by some of the platforms and policies politicians run on. New Zealand is looking pretty good to me about now, but of course I’m conscious there are swings and roundabouts and things can change quickly. Of course having said that, I feel like the rabid-ness of the Trump supporters is something different. I know people talk about it being cult-like and (because of the sort of person he is) he’s certainly more dangerous (to everyone) than any of his more conservative predecessors.
November 5, 2020
I share your rage and frustration Deb, and thanks for being so honest. I’m always careful about criticising others’ political decisions but feel so upset about what’s going on in the US. As retirees to regional NSW from Canberra and a lifetime of involvement with government, we are angry that Trump’s antics have dominated our online news since he became President and we hear more about his despicable, dishonest and selfish behaviour than we do about our own government. We are completely gobsmacked that anyone would elect him for a second term. I really feel for my Texan cousins and a dear friend who has lived in Idaho for nearly 50 years. I can hear their embarrassment and anxiety in every communication. I think living with the current conditions is affecting them more than they let on. I’m not on social media, won’t read any Murdoch Press or watch his TV stations and once the results are in I’ll be turning off future US news reports. I can’t bear that disgusting man or his family to dominate my current affairs catch-ups. I can’t understand why the Republican Party members can’t harness his madness and and look after the health and welfare of all Americans. I just hope our own governments don’t adopt these tactics – yes we do have that ilk in Australia and they are gaining ground too. Best wishes to all our American friends.
November 5, 2020
I’m not usually that blunt about… well, anyone other than me in my posts Anne. I felt like I was venting and essentially just preaching to the converted but it was cathartic, getting it out. And I’m with you on the party vs the personality. I guess that’s what I’m relieved about here in Australia – our parties…. despite backroom factions and leadership coups kinda keep any one person from getting out of control. I think if we had had the number of demonstrations and riots that the US has had, and things had looked so bleak (insane and corrupt), someone like Trump would have been dumped as leader long ago. But I gather his own party can’t do that? I would have even been relieved if they’d let him off easily and he resigned cos of ill health or something even if he was ‘pushed’, just to be rid of him.
November 5, 2020
I live in America, and I can’t stand Trump. I refuse to listen or read anything that comes out of that narcissist’s mouth. I am so baffled and angry at his followers. They’ve got to be among the most willfully ignorant people on Earth, because they do not care that he lies to them continually. They have no critical thinking skills with which to their own research. If you ask them why they believe whatever silly proposition they’re going on about, there are never any answers forthcoming. I’m just trying to keep my sanity until this election is over.
Michelle
https://mybijoulifeonline.com
November 6, 2020
It seems like it’s getting closer Michelle, but I’m worried he (and his family) will drag it out. I just watched a video from a debate between Trump and Hillary Clinton in 2016 and the adjudicator asked if Trump would accept the results. “We’ll see,” he said. Clinton then she commented on the fact that Trump claims anything he doesn’t win is rigged and gave a heap of examples and it was so telling!
https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1324415707090735107
November 5, 2020
Well. that caused a lot of people to drop in and say more than a few words, Deb! I know of people via blogging and other SM who live in US (and one or two who are expats) and they are so embarrassed about this whole Trump crap. I have had a small amount of interest and go on twitter (my preferred medium too) from time to time. I was, however, asking myself why Aussies were actually not sleeping, worrying and wringing their hands about Trump. We are such small fry and with a leader like ScoMo we have much more to be concerned about here. That ends my political opinion.
November 6, 2020
I think it’s a reflection of the direction the world is heading… and humanity in general and it’s evident here – though not quite as much. The US as a world leader has so much impact on world affairs too – look at the Iraq war, relationship with Russia, North Korea, China etc… but I think another term of Trump would see it become more of the banana republic his son is accusing the voting system of being.
I have noticed a lot of foreign affairs commentators mentioning that Australia needs to think hard about its allegiances long term – given our location etc… (Not sure if it is Secret City or Pine Gap – both on Netflix I think – that suggest how quickly the US would throw us under the bus if things became difficult in the Asia / Pacific).
But yes… completely agree there’s a lot wrong politically and policy-wise here as well.
November 6, 2020
It does seem to be crazy times that’s for sure!! I honestly cannot believe that so many people are still voting for trump and I worry how this is going to impact their future know matter what the outcome
November 6, 2020
Yes, the country seems very divided at the moment. Trump’s followers (as Greg says) are very cult-like and I’m not sure if Democrats are the same (I like to think not) which I guess might impact whether things become really heated after all of the votes are counted. It’d be nice for any concession speeches to call for calm and acceptance. I like that Biden in particular talks about ‘one’ America rather than red / blue states and not castigating those who didn’t vote for him.
November 12, 2020
As you know, my bestie is American and lives in Pennsylvania where everyone was watching to see what they did as a state. She is embarrassed and disappointed in her country as well. She knows what the rest of the world is thinking. That puts a strain on her and she’s almost a bit humiliated by it all. There are so many people like her who are trying to change it back again.
November 12, 2020
Oh yes, seeing the tweet from someone reminding others not to ‘blame’ Americans because so many wanted him gone, was timely for me. Though of course almost half of the country voted for him. Or at least the GOP.