things that I am keeping in mind today

[pauraque_bk]

I'm glad to have a clear result that reflects the will of the voters, even though it disappoints me personally.

Though I'm worried the next four years will go badly, I hope that I'm wrong.

While I disagree with nearly everything he stands for, I don't hate him, and I don't hate the people who voted for him. It's one of my deepest beliefs that when we hate, we only hurt ourselves.

I love you guys.

Crossposted from Dreamwidth. Feel free to comment wherever you're comfortable.

Comments

[akatnamedeaster.livejournal.com]

It's one of my deepest beliefs that when we hate, we only hurt ourselves.

I'm trying to remind myself of this but at the moment, I don't feel much conviction towards the sentiment.

It's only 4 years, right?

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

You're a good person. I don't say this sarcastically.

[conuly]

Hilary won the popular vote by a very slim margin, so I don't think we do have a clear result that reflects the will of the voters.

[pauraque]

If you're dissatisfied with the electoral college system, I can certainly sympathize with that. But what I was referring to was that the outcome reflects how people voted within that system. Obviously it wouldn't be constitutional to move the goalposts and declare someone the winner based on the popular vote. Sorry if I was unclear.

[pauraque]

Well, like all things, it's a practice, right? Lord knows I don't always live up to my own principles, but when I fall down, I try again.

And yes, the silver lining of any disappointing election is there's always the next one.

[pauraque]

That's very kind. I like to think we all are, it's just a matter of finding the best part of ourselves. I appreciated what you wrote on your LJ about needing conversation and compassion; I agree we need that more than anything.

[black-dog.livejournal.com]

My hope -- and it took some effort to come up with this -- is that he ends up being essentially a performance artist who enacts dissatisfaction and the hope for institutional change, while delegating the details to reasonably competent people. I'm looking for symbolic gestures to bear out his softer talk last night.

I suspect that if the Republicans think they've captured him for their agenda, they're in for a rude shock. Ditto the billionaire boys club people.

On the other hand, if he starts being vengeful and spiteful, like the despicable Omarosa suggested last night, then I may have some trouble with the "not hating" bit. But I'm hopeful that we'll cope. With the help of lots of alcohol.

Glad to hear your sane take on this. It's a difficult moment.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

My hope -- and it took some effort to come up with this -- is that he ends up being essentially a performance artist who enacts dissatisfaction and the hope for institutional change, while delegating the details to reasonably competent people. I'm looking for symbolic gestures to bear out his softer talk last night.

I've been struggling to think about how this is going to work, and I hope you're right here. This is a not-too-bleak scenario. Thank you. M.

[magnetic-pole.livejournal.com]

You're right about hating, P. A good reminder. M.

[conuly]

Obviously it wouldn't be constitutional to move the goalposts and declare someone the winner based on the popular vote

That's a nice dream, though. I mean, if they can break the Constitution left and right....

[conuly]

My hope -- and it took some effort to come up with this -- is that he ends up being essentially a performance artist who enacts dissatisfaction and the hope for institutional change, while delegating the details to reasonably competent people. I'm looking for symbolic gestures to bear out his softer talk last night.

No luck there - odds are, he delegates to Pence. Ugh. (I don't think I'm in the mood to be cheered up yet....)

[pauraque]

It is difficult, and I suspect you're right that the surprises and unpredictable turns may not be over quite yet. This is uncharted territory.

[pauraque]

♥

[alchemine.livejournal.com]

I think he's going to end up delegating because his attention span is so short, he'll quickly get bored with the work of being President. I just can't see him being able to buckle down and focus day after day for four years.

There's always the chance he'll be impeached if he's convicted of fraud and racketeering over Trump University, but then we'd have Pence, who seems less erratic but more evil, so I don't know if that's an improvement.

[pauraque]

It's hard to imagine the congressional majority impeaching a president from their own party, but then again... nearly all of this was hard to imagine, not too long ago. I suppose it depends on how difficult they find working with him to be.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_hannelore/]

It's one of my deepest beliefs that when we hate, we only hurt ourselves.

♥

[black-dog.livejournal.com]

Like all things, it's a practice

This is the essence of it, I think. Hillary said today: "we owe him an open mind and a chance to lead." This is dry bread in the mouth today; saying it feels like an empty verbal gesture. But it is the beginning of a practice, a reminder and a discipline.

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

You are an admirable person, truly. I do not have your generosity of spirit, not yet, but I hope I will get there.

I don't agree that we're seeing the will of the voters, though. Hillary actually won the popular vote.

[pauraque]

♥

[pauraque]

As I said to conuly above, what I meant was that the outcome accurately reflects the votes cast within the electoral college system. The rules may be quirky, at best, but they were followed. My fault for not making myself clear.

[pauraque]

I completely agree.

[kellychambliss.livejournal.com]

It's such a strange system. I know it has a lot of plusses and uses, but I think it might need some tweaking. That's twice in 16 years that the popular vote winner has lost the election. I doubt that's the way the EC is meant to function.

Still, as you say, the rules were followed as they now exist.

[pauraque]

I'd like to see reform too. I think there's hope for it if a few more states would adopt the NPVIC, but for any red states to want to do that I imagine we'd have to have an election where a Republican won the popular vote but lost the EC. That could be very motivating and we might see real change.

[wootsauce.livejournal.com]

I just recently realized I hadn't been on LJ for ages and now I am making the rounds making sure we are all still here. Seems like it's been a tough time for everyone this past week. Hope you're doing okay.

[pauraque]

I'm not doing too bad! I mean, I'm concerned, but I'm not panicking. I hope you're well.