# Thoughts about the election that don't seem to belong anywhere else **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 14, 2016, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002 "2016-11-14T20:57:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/21 "2016-11-15T02:47:23Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > Why was the Kremlin so keen on Trump winning? Is he just a useful idiot or something more? Well, his opponent wasn’t very clear about whether her position was to shoot down Russian jets in Syria or not. That might have had something to do with it. ---
**Author:** ![Moriarty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moriarty/32/49_2.png) [@Moriarty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moriarty)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/22 "2016-11-15T02:49:40Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I can’t predict what they’ll do, but it’s not a concern that ranks very high on my list. For me, it’s a random observation that seems apt in this thread. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/23 "2016-11-15T02:51:49Z")
So, HurricaneDitka, to answer your question, half of the folks on your list (1 through 4) deserve the alarmist response you’re seeing now, while the other half (5 through the 8) would (or did, in the case of Bush) deserve a more moderate “concern and disappointment” response. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/24 "2016-11-15T02:52:20Z")
Answering HurricaneDitka’s question, here’s how I’d rank the Presidencies, actual and hypothetical. I’ve left gaps where there are big gaps. G) Bush-41 C) Romney . E) McCain . D) Ryan G) Bush-43 B) Pence H) Cheney . . F) Palin . . A) Trump I’ve ranked Trump well below Palin. He has all her faults but, instead of just a right-wing cabal running the country while an incompetent snoozes, we’ll have a sociopathic showman involved, delighting in his special relationship with the evil Vladimir Putin ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/25 "2016-11-15T02:55:36Z")
> [@Moriarty](#): > > And if he merely slips into increasingly paranoid delusions, brought on by his age, his family history of dementia, and his poor health regimen? Reagan’s staff took steps to protect him. Will Trump’s inner circle remain as careful about his lapses? His family would and maybe a few of this retainers who’ve long been on his payroll, but not his surrogates or Pence or anyone Pence is filing out the White House with. It’ll be like watching sharks turn on an older shark at the first drop of blood. > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > _shrug_ he seems to have made it through the campaign just fine, but if he dies, then we get President Pence. I know intellectually I should be more afraid of Pence then Trump. But if Trump is content to sit back and let Pence run the show while he uses is office to line his pockets & settle old scores like I fear he will then it really doesn’t make a difference if Pence is setting in the Oval Office. President Pence would actually be less of a stain on the country and typing that almost makes we want to break my fingers. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/26 "2016-11-15T03:25:15Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > So, HurricaneDitka, to answer your question, half of the folks on your list (1 through 4) deserve the alarmist response you’re seeing now, while the other half (5 through the 8) would (or did, in the case of Bush) deserve a more moderate “concern and disappointment” response. Thanks. So do you think it’s fair to say that, for you, Trump’s about as bad as an average Republican, maybe a bit worse? You’d consider a President Pence a step in the wrong direction, right? ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/27 "2016-11-15T03:26:32Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > I’ve ranked Trump well below Palin. He has all her faults but, instead of just a right-wing cabal running the country while an incompetent snoozes, we’ll have a sociopathic showman involved, delighting in his special relationship with the evil Vladimir Putin Thanks for your reply as well. For you, you sound like you’d be (relatively) relieved to have a President Pence. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/28 "2016-11-15T03:27:34Z")
> [@alphaboi867](#): > > I know intellectually I should be more afraid of Pence then Trump. But if Trump is content to sit back and let Pence run the show while he uses is office to line his pockets & settle old scores like I fear he will then it really doesn’t make a difference if Pence is setting in the Oval Office. President Pence would actually be less of a stain on the country and typing that almost makes we want to break my fingers. So you feel like we’re currently getting the worst of both world’s: Pence’s policies and Trump’s … ummm … reputation? ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/29 "2016-11-15T03:52:19Z")
I feel sorry for Barron Trump. On the night of the election he looked shell shocked (but it was pretty late at night), and this will certainly be a big change for him. From what I’ve read, he lives on his own floor at Trump Tower and attends a NYC prep school. I bet he’ll not be with his family in the White House but stay in New York. I just hope he grows up normal. He should probably talk with Amy and Chelsea and the Obama girls. ---
**Author:** ![alphaboi867](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alphaboi867/32/3898_2.png) [@alphaboi867](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alphaboi867)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/30 "2016-11-15T03:52:30Z")
Trump himself doesn’t even want to move to the White House full time; Barron’s staying in NYC and if Barron’s not moving neither is Melania. > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > So you feel like we’re currently getting the worst of both world’s: Pence’s policies and Trump’s … ummm … reputation? Pretty much. I just down have the same visceral reaction to Pence as I do Trump. As bad as Pence is I doubt think he’d have embraced the worst elements of American society for his own convenience like Trump did if he were running on his own. ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/31 "2016-11-15T03:58:38Z")
How come all the anti-Trumpers who want to leave the country want to go to Canada, or Australia or New Zealand? Never Mexico, South America, South Africa, or anywhere in Asia? Do I sense overt racism? They don’t even threaten to go to Europe anymore. Maybe too many Immigrants? They talk about California becoming part of Canada, why not Mexico? Its got a stronger Mexican culture than Canadian. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/32 "2016-11-15T05:21:10Z")
> [@Vicsage](#): > > How come all the anti-Trumpers who want to leave the country want to go to Canada, or Australia or New Zealand? Never Mexico, South America, South Africa, or anywhere in Asia? Do I sense overt racism? They don’t even threaten to go to Europe anymore. Maybe too many Immigrants? They talk about California becoming part of Canada, why not Mexico? Its got a stronger Mexican culture than Canadian. Do you sense overt racism? No. Language. They mostly speak English in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. In Mexico, South America, and Asia, they mostly don’t. South Africa is pretty far away. You probably would have figured that out, right? Also, Mexico is not very politically stable. There are ex-pat colonies there, however. ---
**Author:** ![Vicsage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e68b1a/32.png) [@Vicsage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vicsage)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/33 "2016-11-15T06:07:42Z")
Lets add the Bahamas, Belize, and Jamaica. No one threatens to go there. They’re English speaking. Throw in the Philippines. Its not the language. What could it be? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/34 "2016-11-15T06:18:48Z")
> [@Tee](#): > > As far as I’m concerned, the Obamas have been near flawless throughout his time in office. I did not vote for him. My respect for him and his family has grown over the years, and given the opportunity I would thank him for being a steady and thoughtful leader through very trying times, and unrelenting opposition. You know who would prolly read your post and say “yeah; me too”? [Glenn Beck](http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/11/14/glenn-beck-tries-out-decency). Who’da thunk it, amiright? ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/35 "2016-11-15T06:26:17Z")
> [@zoo](#): > > I was visiting Democratic Underground on the night of the election. Sometime in the early evening the site crashed and on came this crazy Trump video with crazy animation and crazy song and I was glued to it like a moth. I fell asleep around 9:00 and woke at 1:00 am to find Trump winning 😕 I turned off the tv and lay there trying to get back to sleep but crazy Trump video bounced around my skull. > This lasted a few days and I wonder if anyone else had a similar experience? > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I saw a YouTube replay of it. DU is still down, apparently. Maybe tomorrow they say. Anyone got a link to this video? **zoo** ’s description has me very curious. ---
**Author:** ![BlankSlate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blankslate/32/80_2.png) [@BlankSlate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlankSlate)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 6:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/36 "2016-11-15T06:44:09Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > I feel guilty for saying this because in many respects she’s an innocent bystander in this train wreck, but Melania Trump as First Lady is surreal to me. She seems to typify trophy wifedom in all of its sad, shallow, you-are-one-wrinkle-away-from-divorce glory. The fact that she did not prove to be a major liability to his success–despite her history of posing nude and her brainless act of plagiarism and all the questions surrounding her visa status while working–just sits on top of the mountain of other unbelievable shit that underscores how much Trump has been gotten away with. In stark relief, it shows the extent that white male privilege can stack the deck against a woman or non-white. > > The Obamas would’ve never been able to get away with any of this. It’s not a exaggeration to say they had to be damn near flawless just to be nominated, let alone elected. It’s October, 2008, and candidate Barack Obama has been caught on tape saying that he likes to “grab 'em by the pussy.” McCain landslide. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/37 "2016-11-15T10:34:29Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > Thanks. So do you think it’s fair to say that, for you, Trump’s about as bad as an average Republican, maybe a bit worse? You’d consider a President Pence a step in the wrong direction, right? Well, I’d call #5 on my list – Ryan – the “average Republican”, with a big gap between him and the next worst (Trump), so, no, more than a “bit” worse. But I do agree that Pence would be a step in the wrong direction from Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/les_espaces_du_sommeil/32/308_2.png) [@Les\_Espaces\_Du\_Sommeil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Les_Espaces_Du_Sommeil)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/38 "2016-11-15T12:47:50Z")
My random thought about the election is : Did Trump really want to be President ? Did he really think he could win ? He wanted to be in the spotlight, no doubt about it but I have had this picture in my mind of him being woken up by his aides on election night “Congratulations ! You’ve just been elected President!” and him going “Holy \*\*\*\*, WTF now ?” ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/39 "2016-11-15T13:55:33Z")
I just wanted to say that I’m in agreement with the general gist of most of the thoughts here. > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > Someone (maybe more than one person) said that the day after the election when they woke up they felt the same way they did after 9/11. For me, it was the way I felt the day after my husband died. This great tragedy had occurred and it was real and it was not going away. > > And now that details about his administration, his hires, his cabinet, are coming out, I feel worse. The 9/11 analogy is very much the way I felt, and still do – literally feeling dazed and sick. And before someone tries to attack me for claiming that the two things are exactly equivalent, that’s not what I’m saying. But 9/11 permanently changed the nature of the US, the kind of country it is, and I fear that this will do the same but the changes may be worse and more profound, and may awaken the very worst aspects of white nationalism and hatred of all that is “other”, with the resurgence of social conservatism and economic catastrophe merely a dull roar in the background. > [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m curious, would you have felt this way if any Republican won, or is Trump “worse” in your eyes? Think back to previous elections … It’s not hypothetical – Bush and Cheney did win – twice – and I know how I felt. I was pissed off that the better man lost, especially in 2000. I thought the results would not be good for the country and the world, and they weren’t. But it was nothing like how I feel about this. It was nothing even remotely comparable to the sense of impending doom. The other candidates you mention are hypotheticals, but it’s hard to imagine anyone even remotely comparing McCain or Romney to Trump. McCain and Romney were both simply conventional Republicans, and both, you may recall, were vehemently opposed to Trump, apparently as shocked as the rest of us that he was even running. The closest thing to Trump in that list is Sarah Palin, and it’s not even close. Palin is just an ignorant yokel, more a comical hillbilly than a psychopath. > [@Vicsage](#): > > How come all the anti-Trumpers who want to leave the country want to go to Canada, or Australia or New Zealand? Never Mexico, South America, South Africa, or anywhere in Asia? Do I sense overt racism? They don’t even threaten to go to Europe anymore. Maybe too many Immigrants? They talk about California becoming part of Canada, why not Mexico? Its got a stronger Mexican culture than Canadian. They are simply attracted to countries that have a familiar US-like culture, speak English (as **ThelmaLou** already said) and have a similar standard of living. Most of those other countries you named are nothing like that at all, whereas Canada is the most like the US without many of the downsides. And I disagree with your assessment of California. It may have more Mexican _ **food** _ than Canada, but culturally it’s a blend of uniqueness not found in any other state or country and a culture of progressivism that is very much like Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2016, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002/40 "2016-11-15T14:01:29Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > This is a random thought thread… so post anything that you can’t find another place for… When will the 2020 election news coverage begin? Will the news media change it’s slanted news coverage or will it be business as usual? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/thoughts-about-the-election-that-dont-seem-to-belong-anywhere-else/772002.md?page=3)