LAST Day of This Endless Election!

NineTwelve

I (and everyone I know) am so incredibly thankful that this election season is finally almost over.

My girlfriends and I are going to the local Democrat event venue to watch the results tonight - in our pant suits. You can say what you like about the candidate, but this is history in the making.

And, yes, I'm tired of offending others with my genuine excitement to see a female in the top position of the land (I can't even talk about it at work, because it's too tense) but - This is big, folks!

cive

Think of all the people that have had employment for the last year or so due to the election. But yeah, I'm just about overdosed.

pupmom

THANK YOU Nine Twelve for voting SANITY! Cast my vote a couple of weeks ago, and am so looking forward to saying MADAM PRESIDENT!!

Anonymous

The main winners in this election have been the media raking in all those advertising dollars!

I'm glad it will be over. I not only hope Hillary wins..but I hope she wins by a landslide! I can't really talk about it at work either. We don't have Trump supporters here (most are Republican and just depressed that he is what rose to the top of their party)...but most Republicans can't stand Hillary. But they hated Obama too so I'm not surprised. I'm a lifelong Democrat and am also proud to vote for Hillary. She is definitely the most qualified candidate and I admire the way she has handled herself in such a hostile environment. She is a great role model for young women.

In fact, I think that it's wonderful that our youth today are currently growing up seeing with their own eyes that being a white male is not a qualification required to be President of the United States.

Beesie

What took the U.S. so long? Here's a short list of some of the women who have been elected into head of state positions in other countries:

India - Indira Gandhi 1966

Israel - Golda Meir 1969

Great Britain - Margaret Thatcher 1979

Norway - Gro Harlem Brundtland 1981

Pakistan - Benazir Bhutto 1988

Ireland - Mary Robinson 1990

New Zealand - Jenny Shipley 1997

Germany - Angela Merkel 2005

Australia - Julia Gillard 2010

Brazil - Dilma Rousseff 2011

Denmark - Hille Thorning-Schmidt 2011

Hillary Clinton was the most qualified candidate 8 years ago and it's a shame she wasn't elected then (sexism at play, I thought) because she would have entered office as a popular President, with the support of the country. Now she will be entering office with the majority of people believing that she either broke the law (51%) or acted unethically (32%). She is tainted by her actions of the past 8 years (whether criminal or not, whether intentional or not). She will be elected only because the Republicans chose a worse candidate. American voters have the misfortune of having to choose between the two most unpopular candidates in the history of U.S. Presidential elections. Sorry to be a downer, but I see nothing to celebrate in Clinton's victory. The next 4 years is almost certain to be tied up with scandal, hearings, obstructionism, etc.. Not good for the U.S., and not good for the world.

(And that most certainly is not to suggest that the next 4 years would be better with Trump; I just think the whole situation is incredibly sad, and quite scary in terms of what might happen next, both from the standpoint of how the losing side reacts, and how such a fractured U.S. government will be managed.)

pupmom

Beesie, it's amazing that the US, birthplace of democracy, is so far behind in terms of women holding our highest office. This changes TONIGHT!

Anonymous

I'm cautiously hopeful Beesie. There was a lot of hate for Hillary 8 years ago (I work with mostly republicans) .. and there was just as much hostility towards Obama. I remember being genuinely concerned for his well being based on the hateful rhetoric on the opposing side. It was only recently that he has become more favored in the polls (basically because he looks so much better in comparison). But everybody looks better in hindsight it seems. Bill Clinton wasn't seen very favorably until after his presidency. It's just a shame that the two sides can't work better together.

Maybe this diaster of an election will bring about better candidates rising to the top (for both parties!)

NineTwelve

I am meditating on a Senate victory for the Dems. Break the gridlock!

pupmom

YES! Hopefully, Hillary can get some Supremes through.

Beesie

Yorkiemom, the U.S. Is the birthplace of democracy? The Greeks might be a little ticked off to hear that. And I guess I never learned that because I got my PoliSci degree from a university in Canada (even though I did extensively study U.S. politics and government).

Although perhaps you are referring to constitutional democracy, which is just one form of democratic government (and even then it's debatable as to which country was first).

But when you think about it, is it really a democracy if large portions of the population (women, blacks) can't vote?

http://www.history.com/news/ask-history/what-is-th...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_democra...

History of suffrage: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0931343.html and https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_suffrage

Democracy Indices: http://www.yabiladi.com/img/content/EIU-Democracy-... and http://democracyranking.org/wordpress/rank/democra...

Okay, I'll leave now and let all of you enjoy your anticipatory celebrations. And I will cross my fingers that the next 4 years don't turn out to be as screwed up for the U.S., and for the rest of the world, as I fear it might be.

Hopeful82014

Yorkie - thanks for your efforts on behalf of a Democratic Senate. I hope they're successful!

I am really praying for good news tonight. I received my ballot about 2 weeks ago and was moved to tears by the opportunity not only to vote for a woman but for HRC. I've waited a long time for this and am sure she'll be one heck of a President - IF Congress isn't too bitterly obstructionist.

As to HRC's unpopularity - I think a lot of that is the result of years and years of misinformation, endlessly repeated, as well as a great deal of underlying misogyny. Hopefully her detractors will keep an open mind once she (I hope) takes office. Just my .02 worth.

keepthefaith

It's a shame that with all of the rhetoric we can't feel free to celebrate. This IS historic and makes me proud to vote. I blame the media for some of this crap and it is only dividing the country further to have this kind of election. Knowing that Trump can't even pledge to bow out gracefully (assuming he loses), is frightening....I shudder at the thought of having someone like that running our country. We all have our opinions and I respect yours even if they don't match mine!:) Praying.

NineTwelve

And now I don't feel like I can be free to grieve. I called in sick today. I wonder how many others did that, just because they couldn't face the world?

Tomorrow is a new day. Today I'm hiding.

cive

Nine Twelve - my sentiments exactly! But I'll probably hide until at least the weekend.

Hopeful82014

NineTwelve and all - Everyone I know is still in shock. I did all I could (voted, volunteered, donated, etc.) and this is the result. It's really impossible to take in.

NineTwelve

I know what you mean, Hopeful. But it cannot remain "impossible to take in". That is how despotism gets its foothold. It relies on people being unable to respond, because we can't face the horrible reality.

The cabinet choices are a nightmare. I will be writing to my representatives this weekend. We're not down for good. We will come back from this.

cliff

the election is over, but the hate iin the media continues. will all the hate tear apart out country?

rainnyc

Hi--

Go here to find the political chat thread for those of us with liberal (and getting more so all the time) politics:

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/84/topics...