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MIButterfly

(2,119 posts)
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 11:03 PM Friday

I would like to ask all the people who refused to vote for Hillary Clinton

Last edited Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:45 AM - Edit history (1)

for whatever reason in 2016, are you happy now? Is this so much better?

Thanks for nothing.

Edited to add: My comment is NOT directed toward anyone here at DU. That was not and is not my intention. I am truly sorry if it was interpreted that way. I would never disparage anyone at DU nor would I ever intentionally offend anyone here.

Please see my responses at nos. 4 and 19 for further clarification.


107 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I would like to ask all the people who refused to vote for Hillary Clinton (Original Post) MIButterfly Friday OP
This is Democratic Underground. milestogo Friday #1
Oh no, my post was not directed toward anybody here on DU; MIButterfly Friday #4
This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Yesterday #10
Then why are you posting it here...? regnaD kciN Yesterday #26
That's how I interpreted it, too. intheflow Yesterday #40
Please see my responses #4 and #19. My comment was not directed to anyone here at DU. MIButterfly Yesterday #61
They say a hit dog will holler. W_HAMILTON Yesterday #64
Sadly, I find myself often having to defend Democrats against bullshit attacks here. W_HAMILTON Yesterday #15
Does that include orangecrush Yesterday #42
Sanders's good buddy? I defend the Democratic Party as a whole and don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good. W_HAMILTON Yesterday #47
He is my Senator orangecrush Yesterday #49
Time is limited and every minute you spend attacking Democrats is a minute Republicans thank you for your service. W_HAMILTON Yesterday #50
Criticism and attacking orangecrush Yesterday #53
Criticizing is disagreeing on an issue or policy SocialDemocrat61 Yesterday #60
When one seems to spend all their time criticizing, it sure seems like attacking. W_HAMILTON Yesterday #63
I'm trying to figure out what it is that you are doing with this minute and who it is helping most. Ilikepurple 14 hrs ago #88
Self Righteously lecturing others on how to act would also waste an equal amount of time SunImp Yesterday #66
You think it's a waste of time trying to get people to focus on our real enemy rather than our imperfect allies? W_HAMILTON 23 hrs ago #83
Some of the people that need to realign and focus mr715 4 hrs ago #95
There used to be some 'Democrats' here, that weren't. sheshe2 Yesterday #16
And didn't that site eventually crash and burn? W_HAMILTON Yesterday #27
Best evidence the site had nothing to do with progressive policy or progress of any kind: Elizabeth Warren. betsuni Yesterday #33
Yep! W_HAMILTON Yesterday #37
That site was funded by Putin as one part of the 2016 disinformation campaign. yardwork Yesterday #39
Yes indeed, it crashed and burned, sheshe2 Yesterday #48
You would be wrong awesomerwb1 23 hrs ago #82
There used to be plenty of them DFW 13 hrs ago #91
Nicest thing I ever saw anyone say about Hillary there was in an "esoteric theories" thread about Seth Rich: betsuni 3 hrs ago #98
lol, it's been awhile since anyone here has reproached people who didn't like Hillary Shellback Squid Friday #2
It does go back to 2016. MIButterfly Friday #5
I agree that the world would be in a different place karynnj Yesterday #52
And it does go beyond "well I voted for her in the General Election" RandomNumbers Yesterday #55
I would rather see articles that Kamala won, gab13by13 Friday #3
This! Hope22 Yesterday #30
Since no one can oversee the inner workings of the computers questionseverything 23 hrs ago #81
This again? Intractable Friday #6
Yes. Cha Yesterday #20
Thank you, Cha! MIButterfly Yesterday #22
No Problem... We need to learn from Cha Yesterday #24
How many people here do you think refused to vote for Hillary? iemanja Friday #7
Well...a lot of them went to JPR (Jack Pine Radicals). sheshe2 Yesterday #18
Out of curiosity.. Hope22 Yesterday #31
Nope. Crashed. Burned. Died. sheshe2 Yesterday #51
Thanks...nt Hope22 Yesterday #58
This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Yesterday #32
I wasn't talking about the people here. MIButterfly Yesterday #19
I know there were some Skittles 23 hrs ago #72
I don't think a guilt trip helps people change. usonian Friday #8
It looks like some people can't let go of old battles SunImp Yesterday #11
There were and are massive disinformation campaigns, and largely by bots. usonian Yesterday #14
Those who fail from history SocialDemocrat61 Yesterday #38
It's sad but we cannot change the past BoycottTwitter Yesterday #9
Thank you, BoycottTwitter, for your very reasoned and reasonable response. MIButterfly Yesterday #17
But We Can Work For a Better Future.. and Cha Yesterday #21
I'm really glad that we'll have really good candidates in 2028 thought crime Yesterday #12
One of the biggest missed opportunities of the 21st century. nt yaesu Yesterday #13
Just watched on tubi Blind faith kimbutgar Yesterday #23
Hillary had Putin's number. BurnDoubt Yesterday #25
This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave Yesterday #29
Fascinating election, should be far more studies about it. A perfect storm of mis/disinformation and other things. betsuni Yesterday #28
I see a part of that as an evaluation of what didn't with with letting Shrub Jr and co off the hook. RockCreek 43 min ago #101
Never saw that on DU RandiFan1290 Yesterday #34
I would go back even further to 2000 Ghost of Tom Joad Yesterday #35
Green Candidate Jill Stein SocialDemocrat61 Yesterday #36
The Russian asset, Jill Stein, The Wizard Yesterday #56
Ah yes, the "conscience voters" mcar Yesterday #41
They weren't voting their conscience SocialDemocrat61 Yesterday #45
That is 100% correct mcar Yesterday #46
Whatever happened to all them Bernie Bros? GusBob Yesterday #43
oh they are still around Skittles 23 hrs ago #73
I stood in line for 2 hours in freezing cold orangecrush Yesterday #44
Criticism and support are complementary nt mr715 23 hrs ago #70
I often think about this. pandr32 Yesterday #54
I can't think of a more irrelevant discussion to have -- 10 years later. Duncan Grant Yesterday #57
Those who fail to learn from history SocialDemocrat61 Yesterday #59
And mr715 23 hrs ago #74
Very true SocialDemocrat61 23 hrs ago #76
We disagree sometimes mr715 23 hrs ago #79
In any organization SocialDemocrat61 23 hrs ago #80
Well, except where orthodoxy is required mr715 22 hrs ago #84
Amen. Xavier Breath Yesterday #65
In past threads like this SunImp Yesterday #67
They do it to distract and divide us questionseverything 23 hrs ago #78
Distract from what? betsuni 13 hrs ago #89
100% The people who line up with SS tRump need to stop hiding their shame and own this. ffr Yesterday #62
Part of it had nothing to do with Hillary Tree Lady 23 hrs ago #68
This message was self-deleted by its author PeaceWave 23 hrs ago #69
Wasn't anybody I knew Tree Lady 20 hrs ago #86
Young men have it all. mr715 4 hrs ago #93
That is not true for my grandson Tree Lady 57 min ago #100
This is complicated mr715 31 min ago #103
Thanks for the reply Tree Lady 19 min ago #106
It ain't easy being the good guys in a broken world. nt mr715 15 min ago #107
In part mr715 23 hrs ago #75
He still says the same things he has Tree Lady 20 hrs ago #87
How Bernie was treated -- does that mean when he was booed at the convention by his own delegates for endorsing betsuni 13 hrs ago #90
That really was gross nt mr715 4 hrs ago #92
they don't care Skittles 23 hrs ago #71
IKR? So many seem to think a Democrat has to match them on Every. Single. Issue. to "earn" their vote. Beartracks 23 hrs ago #77
I speak for myself. mr715 3 hrs ago #96
Trump is an idiot PJMcK 22 hrs ago #85
How about Nixon? Kid Berwyn 4 hrs ago #94
It is misogyny... Bettie 3 hrs ago #97
This post is not appropriate or helpful Grim Chieftain 2 hrs ago #99
I'm sorry you feel that way. MIButterfly 37 min ago #102
But you are dredging up past divisions - just read the comments. Grim Chieftain 24 min ago #105
I'm the opposite of a Triple Trumper AZProgressive 28 min ago #104

MIButterfly

(2,119 posts)
4. Oh no, my post was not directed toward anybody here on DU;
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 11:21 PM
Friday

it was a comment regarding those in the general public who so adamently opposed her. I would never disparage anyone here and I'm sorry if it was interpreted that way.

Response to MIButterfly (Reply #4)

intheflow

(30,013 posts)
40. That's how I interpreted it, too.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 09:45 AM
Yesterday

So maybe you could edit your OP to note your comment isn't directed at DUers. Because I left DU for a while in 2016-17 due to the infighting over this. During that time, this kind of post was directed at DUers. It costs you nothing to clarify your intensions in the OP.

MIButterfly

(2,119 posts)
61. Please see my responses #4 and #19. My comment was not directed to anyone here at DU.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:37 AM
Yesterday

But I will edit it anyway. Thank you.

W_HAMILTON

(10,089 posts)
64. They say a hit dog will holler.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 03:38 PM
Yesterday

I didn't take it as personal criticism one bit because I wholeheartedly supported Hillary during the 2016 election and obviously knew they weren't referring to me.

Why would someone think the OP were talking about them, unless they refused to support Hillary back then?

W_HAMILTON

(10,089 posts)
47. Sanders's good buddy? I defend the Democratic Party as a whole and don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 10:58 AM
Yesterday

ESPECIALLY when the alternative is pure evil Republicans.

Is Fetterman the one Democrat you would defend?

orangecrush

(28,530 posts)
49. He is my Senator
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:00 AM
Yesterday

And as vehemently as I disagree with him most of the time lately, would still vote for him to defeat a Republican.

So you see, criticism and support are not mutually exclusive.

W_HAMILTON

(10,089 posts)
50. Time is limited and every minute you spend attacking Democrats is a minute Republicans thank you for your service.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:03 AM
Yesterday

SocialDemocrat61

(6,872 posts)
60. Criticizing is disagreeing on an issue or policy
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:33 AM
Yesterday

of someone you support. Attacking is turning that issue or policy into a purity test and drawing a line in the sand over it.

W_HAMILTON

(10,089 posts)
63. When one seems to spend all their time criticizing, it sure seems like attacking.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 03:34 PM
Yesterday

But either way, let's use your words -- the point still remains:

Time is limited and every minute you spend attacking criticizing Democrats is a minute Republicans thank you for your service.

Oh, and it's a minute you aren't attacking criticizing Republicans, which deserve it infinitely more so.

Ilikepurple

(437 posts)
88. I'm trying to figure out what it is that you are doing with this minute and who it is helping most.
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 03:07 AM
14 hrs ago

To share a variation of your cliché, but pragmatically useful, platitude, don’t let our imperfections get in the way of our good. While criticism isn’t always the result of critical thinking, it is an ordinary byproduct of it. I can’t imagine getting anything done without it, including strategizing how best to attack the Republican platform and its effects.

SunImp

(2,618 posts)
66. Self Righteously lecturing others on how to act would also waste an equal amount of time
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 04:20 PM
Yesterday

I'm sure they also give kudos to that.

W_HAMILTON

(10,089 posts)
83. You think it's a waste of time trying to get people to focus on our real enemy rather than our imperfect allies?
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:11 PM
23 hrs ago

I don't.

sheshe2

(95,953 posts)
16. There used to be some 'Democrats' here, that weren't.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 12:33 AM
Yesterday

One called Hillary a 'Cunning Stunt" ( just change the position of a few letters) and was banned.

They left DU to join Jack Pine Radicals. Manny Goldstein (PPRed) admitted to being a Repuke and a member here for 10 years.

W_HAMILTON

(10,089 posts)
27. And didn't that site eventually crash and burn?
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 02:16 AM
Yesterday

Gee, I wonder where those Republican enablers slithered off to...

...or back to...

betsuni

(28,736 posts)
33. Best evidence the site had nothing to do with progressive policy or progress of any kind: Elizabeth Warren.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 07:56 AM
Yesterday

Beloved progressive icon, "I'd vote for a woman, just not THAT woman, I'd totally vote for Elizabeth Warren" they all swore.

Immediately after Warren announced her run for president the knives were out at JPR: Hillary 2.0, corporate shill, establishment, used to be a Republican, said she was capitalist in her bones, Pocahontas, "schoolmarm" etc.

It was all like that. For nothing, knowing nothing. Only against.

Tulsi Gabbard, though, was always everyone's fav because she was just like them.

W_HAMILTON

(10,089 posts)
37. Yep!
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 09:16 AM
Yesterday

The "you have to give someone a reason to vote FOR you, not just a reason to vote against your opponent!" crowd sure loved doing the complete opposite -- and the opponents of these self-proclaimed progressives were most often good Democrats with ACTUAL progressive accomplishments.

Case in point: Elizabeth Warren.

yardwork

(68,983 posts)
39. That site was funded by Putin as one part of the 2016 disinformation campaign.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 09:28 AM
Yesterday

I'm sure there were thousands of similar sites created by Russian trolls. The disinformation campaign in 2016 has been well documented.

The disturbing part is that hundreds of longtime DUers left here to become part of the Russian campaign against Hillary Clinton.

And some have quietly returned. Did they learn anything?

sheshe2

(95,953 posts)
48. Yes indeed, it crashed and burned,
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 10:58 AM
Yesterday

as did Disscussionist (I think that is what it was called).

Hmmm, I wonder.

awesomerwb1

(4,988 posts)
82. You would be wrong
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:09 PM
23 hrs ago

Quite a few bernie fanatics on here still who wanted to "blow it all up" because the "the establishment" blah blah blah.

DFW

(59,747 posts)
91. There used to be plenty of them
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 04:15 AM
13 hrs ago

Fortunately, most of them left to form their own board, where they devolved from a combination of hate for Hillary and support for, let’s say, “another contender” for the Democratic nomination, and became a site devoted largely to more “esoteric” theories. I visited the site a couple of times. As GJC might have said, veni, vidi, satis. I came, I saw, I had enough.

betsuni

(28,736 posts)
98. Nicest thing I ever saw anyone say about Hillary there was in an "esoteric theories" thread about Seth Rich:
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 01:49 PM
3 hrs ago

Something like, "To be fair, I don't think Hillary personally pulled the trigger."

That poster probably wasn't around much longer.

Shellback Squid

(9,876 posts)
2. lol, it's been awhile since anyone here has reproached people who didn't like Hillary
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 11:12 PM
Friday

the current reproach is usually directed at those who had issues with Kamala, btw, I voted and donated to both

MIButterfly

(2,119 posts)
5. It does go back to 2016.
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 11:25 PM
Friday

To me, there was no good reason not to vote for her, especially considering who her opponent was. And it eventually led to where we are now.

karynnj

(60,790 posts)
52. I agree that the world would be in a different place
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:08 AM
Yesterday

However, the same could be said of 2000, where Gore actually won but the Supreme Court awarded it to Bush. While 911 would possibly still have happened, the response would have been different.

Had Kerry won in 2004, which could have happened if everyone who went out to vote for him could have easily and expeditiously voted in Ohio, he would have nominated 2 Supreme Court justices, not named Roberts and Alito. This would have changed the Citizens United decision and by 2008 the Supreme Court would have been 5/4 in our favor even counting Kennedy as conservative when he was really a swing vote.

You could even look at 2008. Clinton winning the Presidency would likely have changed history. How I don't know. I don't know if Clinton/ (rumored to be Bayh) would have passed healthcare. Would we still have ended up with 60 Senators even briefly? Would having Senator Obama available to run in a later open primary have made us stronger now?

You could even go back and consider whether 1992 could have led to a better result with a President Jerry Brown, Tom Harkin, Paul Tsongus (if he did not have cancer) or Mario Cuomo if he had opted to run. With Perot attacking as a libertarian and Bush looking very weak, it most likely was a Democratic year.

What I still can not intellectually or emotionally understand is how Trump won after everything we knew.

RandomNumbers

(19,070 posts)
55. And it does go beyond "well I voted for her in the General Election"
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:16 AM
Yesterday

Folks here should take note. Spar in the primaries REASONABLY. Assume that any of the top 2 or 3 primary contenders WILL be the nominee - and it may not be the one you prefer.

The crap stirred up in primaries will come back to bite in the general. I know too many people IRL who had knives out for Hillary even after the primary, then grudgingly agreed to vote for her once it became clear TO THEM that she was indeed the nominee and that would not change. But it was too late to take away damage they had done in their circles of contacts who didn't understand the stakes well enough. Shorter version - they suppressed D votes in the general by their earlier success at convincing people they should "never" vote for Hillary no matter what.

Keep criticism to policies and why you prefer your preferred candidate. No amplifying CT or irrelevant bullshit against the others.

Whoever the R's put up in 2028 - it won't be TSF, and I'm not seeing it be Vance - there is no planet on which the D candidate will be worse. (unless we truly get rolled by AI gimmicks and some fascist plant somehow wins - not beyond imagination for that to happen, but extremely unlikely)

gab13by13

(31,263 posts)
3. I would rather see articles that Kamala won,
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 11:18 PM
Friday

which I believe she did.

I would rather see articles that showed how Russia interfered in Hillary's election.

There's a cure for the next election that I am pushing for, don't run a politician for president, run a Malcoln Nance-like candidate, or even run someone like Miles Taylor who is a Republican on the Democratic ticket.

Shouldn't be any infighting then, run the toughest SOB out there.

Hope22

(4,484 posts)
30. This!
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 02:41 AM
Yesterday

Actual reasons why elections were ‘lost’! I’m very concerned that we have yet to get a handle on what tom fuckrry Elon pulled for T! Im pretty sure that Russia tanked Hillary! How many times do we have to go back to this merciless rehashing. I’m pretty sure the monster will not permit fair elections next time around. Even if the computers aren’t hacked who will go to the polls with ICE hanging around. This is beyond surreal! We need to be thinking about the next Presidential election and what can possibly be done at this late date to secure it!!

The first year Ohio got computerized machines I was at a poll worker training session and the Diebold tech weenie did his dog and pony show. After the class all but a few were still lingering I asked the tech if the machines were connected to the internet! He asked me in a snide way if I had seen him hook a wire to it! Now in this day and age my home computer was wireless. What a stupid reply! The director of the BOE was standing there and I wasn’t about to get into it with either one of them. Well at election time I did not get asked to work the polls after working over ten years. The next year I got a card in the mail reminding me of the upcoming poll worker training. I called the office wondering why I had used my time for training last election and wasn’t asked to work. The staff member said she was sure I was asked because they were short on poll workers last time. I said no I wasn’t and she said she would let the director know and get back to me. I got a call from the director and asked him why I was not asked to work….well Hope we can’t have you seeding doubt on the voters. I told him to ask anyone who had worked with me and they would tell him I had integrity and that my fellow poll workers wanted me there because at the end of the day our tally would be correct. After a moment of silence he said…you can work. That is why I have zero confidence that Elon did not pull a major heist last time. We need to clean this crap up if we want to win but once again we are toooo late for 2026!!!!!

questionseverything

(11,585 posts)
81. Since no one can oversee the inner workings of the computers
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:05 PM
23 hrs ago

That count and report votes, no one can prove the truth and it’s illegal to handcount ballots in most states

So we live with what the republican made machines tell us

Cha

(316,904 posts)
24. No Problem... We need to learn from
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 01:54 AM
Yesterday

the past.. Pay Attention to our History. Not sure why anyone would want to forget it.

I certainly won't

Carry On!



sheshe2

(95,953 posts)
18. Well...a lot of them went to JPR (Jack Pine Radicals).
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 12:44 AM
Yesterday

Manny Goldstein, WillyT and friends. WillyT, if you ever worked in MIRT has tried to come back many times. They walk among us.

Response to sheshe2 (Reply #18)

MIButterfly

(2,119 posts)
19. I wasn't talking about the people here.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 01:03 AM
Yesterday

I was talking about people in the general population who just couldn't "in good conscience" vote for her; the people who were against her because of one issue or one little comment she made, etc.

I realize that the MSM and Republicans have demonized the Clintons for years and that's certainly a part of it, but people who should've known better stayed home or voted third party for whatever reasons they had. Those are the people I was referring to.

usonian

(23,608 posts)
8. I don't think a guilt trip helps people change.
Fri Jan 9, 2026, 11:59 PM
Friday

A ton has gond on since. Good and bad.

People need to get excited, either out of "The new revolutionary Democratic Party" that we are building (or else we lose everything) or just plain rage at the destruction.

Guilt can nudge, but has no power.

Who will lead? People who are leading today. You know their names because they care so damn much that they are attacking fascism rather than waiting until it's "safe" to come out.

I/we want fighters.
I/we way winners.

Silence is damn near complicity.

It's not just because people have short memories. It's that change is massive and rapid.

You can't look back.
The battle is in front of us.

SunImp

(2,618 posts)
11. It looks like some people can't let go of old battles
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 12:16 AM
Yesterday

Shame the replies were pretty sane & reasonable too

usonian

(23,608 posts)
14. There were and are massive disinformation campaigns, and largely by bots.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 12:31 AM
Yesterday

Last edited Sun Jan 11, 2026, 11:13 AM - Edit history (1)

Emails, Gaza. All massively amplified by media and bots. AI makes orders of magnitude worse.

A short time ago, "undressing" apps were secretive. Musk put them in the hands of every registered user. They are NOTHING BUT ABUSIVE.

A campaign has to be an overwhelming force to counter the garbage.

With great clarity, focus and purpose.

Otherwise the others get to define us.
Again.

Then, people can't see the forest for the trees.

SocialDemocrat61

(6,872 posts)
38. Those who fail from history
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 09:17 AM
Yesterday

are doomed to repeat is.

They played purity politics with Clinton in 16, then did it again with Harris in 24. And there are some still doing it now with democrats.

BoycottTwitter

(100 posts)
9. It's sad but we cannot change the past
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 12:00 AM
Yesterday

I sometimes find myself thinking about this too. If Clinton would have won we would be in a so much better place right now. Maybe we'd have universal healthcare, climate change would be addressed better, way less COVID deaths, maybe no war in Ukraine and most importantly Trump likely would have faded into obscurity and the supreme court would be normal. Also I think the economy would be working a lot better for the average person instead of the billionaires.

Sadly though this is in the past and we cannot change our past but we can learn from the past and change our actions to shape the future.

This year we must fight super hard never give up and speak out constantly and always be relentless in spreading our message and advocating FOR democrats not just being against Republicans and really doing politics to change the hearts and minds of this country. We must also teach Democrats to always vote even when a candidate isn't perfect because we agree on most issues and we will not stay home because of a single issue.

MIButterfly

(2,119 posts)
17. Thank you, BoycottTwitter, for your very reasoned and reasonable response.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 12:42 AM
Yesterday

I appreciate it. By the way, I like your user name!

Cha

(316,904 posts)
21. But We Can Work For a Better Future.. and
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 01:20 AM
Yesterday

part of that is remembering the Past and learning from it

thought crime

(1,232 posts)
12. I'm really glad that we'll have really good candidates in 2028
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 12:20 AM
Yesterday

Hopefully including Kamala Harris.

kimbutgar

(26,836 posts)
23. Just watched on tubi Blind faith
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 01:52 AM
Yesterday

And the religious right is responsible for this abomination in our Country,

BurnDoubt

(1,488 posts)
25. Hillary had Putin's number.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 01:59 AM
Yesterday

That’s why “Russia, Russia, Russia”.

I hope we get our Democracy back. We clearly don’t deserve it.

If we do, the FIRST thing we do should be shit-canning Citizens’ United, then Nationalize the Tech-Bros' Empire… “Move Fast and Break Things”.

Since “Over-Reach” is a THING now.

Elect Kamala Prez.
Appoint Hillary to the Supreme Court, even if just long enough to close the books on MAGA.

Response to BurnDoubt (Reply #25)

betsuni

(28,736 posts)
28. Fascinating election, should be far more studies about it. A perfect storm of mis/disinformation and other things.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 02:32 AM
Yesterday

Mild-mannered Midwestern Methodist ("do all the good you can" ) whose career was helping people, first person you'd call if you needed help and the person who'd call you because she heard about a problem (like the Flint, Michigan water crisis), became so many different monsters depending on what propaganda you were targeted with and believed.

Susan Bordo (who thanks CNN's Jeffrey Toobin for being the only one publicly apologizing in 2018 for his role in the false equivalence):

"Yes, we have to 'move on' -- if that means we need to work on creating a better future. But if it means we should stop dissecting, analyzing, and critiquing how the disaster of 2016 happened, I don't agree. The fact is we should be 'relitigating' the past all the time. It's called examining history. It's called exposing mythology and unearthing truth. It's called speaking truth to the power that was -- and that still, unfortunately, is"

If examining history makes one upset and lash out... Better to deal with it so it doesn't happen again. Next election will deal with same problems, Democrats attacked from all directions and people gullibly believing it.

RockCreek

(1,325 posts)
101. I see a part of that as an evaluation of what didn't with with letting Shrub Jr and co off the hook.
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 04:33 PM
43 min ago

Ghost of Tom Joad

(1,436 posts)
35. I would go back even further to 2000
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 08:23 AM
Yesterday

How many people, especially in Florida, voted for Ralph Nader.

The Wizard

(13,593 posts)
56. The Russian asset, Jill Stein,
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:18 AM
Yesterday

is a Putin ally who is working to undo the Western Alliance.

mcar

(45,690 posts)
41. Ah yes, the "conscience voters"
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 10:06 AM
Yesterday

Many left this site in 2016 because they were not allowed to call HRC a "c" word - seriously.

I am sure they are still secure in their self-righteousness.

SocialDemocrat61

(6,872 posts)
45. They weren't voting their conscience
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 10:30 AM
Yesterday

they were voting their ego. Voting your conscience requires voting for someone who you may not be 100% comfortable with but is better than the alternative.

orangecrush

(28,530 posts)
44. I stood in line for 2 hours in freezing cold
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 10:23 AM
Yesterday

To see Hillary Clinton speak at Mercyhurst College in Erie Pa. while she was campaigning.

I most certainly voted for her, though she wasn't my first choice.

And I will stand for no one telling me I don't have a right to criticize any Democrat if I feel it is merited.

Criticism and support ARE NOT MUTUALLY EXCLUSIVE.

pandr32

(13,805 posts)
54. I often think about this.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:16 AM
Yesterday

There are people around me who are vocal about hating Dementia Don now, but I fought with them about their support for Jill Stein because they were against Hillary after Bernie didn't get the nod. I was a Hillary Clinton delegate.
When I hear these people criticize donny and this regime, particularly losing our democracy and international standing, I bristle.

Duncan Grant

(8,870 posts)
57. I can't think of a more irrelevant discussion to have -- 10 years later.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:18 AM
Yesterday

Personally, there is a wave of oppression coming right at me. It’s vindictive, dangerous and nearly impossible to eradicate. What benefit is it to me to whine about 2016? Do what’s true for you, DUers. To each their own.

SocialDemocrat61

(6,872 posts)
59. Those who fail to learn from history
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 11:28 AM
Yesterday

are doomed to repeat it. Some failed to learn from the 2000 election and repeated it in 16. Then they failed to learn from 16 and repeated it in 24.

mr715

(2,756 posts)
79. We disagree sometimes
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:59 PM
23 hrs ago

but we're Democrats so that is allowed. Even encouraged.

There is a very difficult balance between the imperative to learn from the past while adapting to novel conditions. As I ruminate on a lot of what I post in this community, I've wondered if "leadership" as I think of it is an awareness of this balance.

Your insight is always appreciated.

SocialDemocrat61

(6,872 posts)
80. In any organization
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:03 PM
23 hrs ago

political or commercial, there will be those who will say 'this is the way we always did it'. And there are those who just want to throw everything old out and do things completely differently. It's always a balancing act.

mr715

(2,756 posts)
84. Well, except where orthodoxy is required
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:25 PM
22 hrs ago

as in cults or in MAGA. The past never happened, it is only the dictates of the present which project forward and backward in time infinitely. Retcons.

SunImp

(2,618 posts)
67. In past threads like this
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 04:34 PM
Yesterday

There has been more lashing out at Dem/undecided voters then actually examining what happened.

ffr

(23,327 posts)
62. 100% The people who line up with SS tRump need to stop hiding their shame and own this.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 12:32 PM
Yesterday

Murder and shootings by federal agents on the streets of this country. This is what they brought, you un-serious people! Own it, you bastards!

Tree Lady

(13,014 posts)
68. Part of it had nothing to do with Hillary
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:29 PM
23 hrs ago

But the way Bernie was treated at the end. Many of his followers went ahead and voted for her like me but I know some who didn't like my grandson.

I think when we run a very progressive candidate that young people are excited about we need to try harder to win them over after the primary.

There still is a lot of posts here I see against Bernie folks and it's that type of stuff that caused people to sit out 2016.

Response to Tree Lady (Reply #68)

Tree Lady

(13,014 posts)
86. Wasn't anybody I knew
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 08:54 PM
20 hrs ago

I lived in a very progressive area of CA at the time and only way I could get my grandson to vote was for Bernie.

Now years later he is one of those young disaffected males in our society. Doesn’t vote thank god because it wouldn’t go for us.

I just think we need to do more for the young men.

mr715

(2,756 posts)
93. Young men have it all.
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 12:40 PM
4 hrs ago

The narrative that they are a forgotten class seems to, itself, forget that they have all the power.

Tree Lady

(13,014 posts)
100. That is not true for my grandson
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 04:18 PM
57 min ago

His girlfriend got pregnant and had abortion then told him doctor said she couldn’t have any more kids, he believed her and didn’t use birth control. She thought if she got pregnant he would get motivated work more and marry her. Everything went wrong he had a hard time working extra hours and she broke up with him few months before baby was born, moved to Minneapolis from CA and told him he couldn’t see baby. Few years go by (during which he did go sign up for child support) and she wants him to take daughter for 6 months because she has no sitter and money. We all meet and fall in love with my great granddaughter, they live with his sister and her kids same age. All doing good until mom decides to call police and say he kidnapped her since nothing was in writing. He tells cops she told me to take her for 6 months. That was after 5 months .

So cops tell him no charges if he leaves immediately and brings her back which he does. By then he has relationship with her, so few months later last May moves there and has fought for visitation ever since working a warehouse job renting a room.

So no young men do not hold all the power and I fully believe all that happened to my grandson opened him up to listen to the other side.

mr715

(2,756 posts)
103. This is complicated
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 04:45 PM
31 min ago

and personal. I don't want to discount or diminish the experience you have, nor defame anyone you care about.

I recognize that there are people left behind by our political ecosystem - the media, the courts, police, etc.

That being said (usually a tell that you can ignore all that follows, but in this case I hope you read on), in terms of political influence and dominance of the memosphere, young men are hegemonic in their power. By memosphere, I mean the broader Dawkins sense of cultural units that exist in public consciousness.

You are quite correct that the emergence of the "young male voter" demographic in electoral politics requires that we speak to these individuals. But how? We don't do it by surrendering our principles and embracing figures that exemplify what one might problematically call "toxic masculinity".

I'm a dude, and I have been a young dude. In my youth I broke up with my girlfriend because she terminated a pregnancy against my desire. It took me a long time to realize that, pro-choice I may be, that this was something that was entirely her call.

There is some biology in this too. Male and female brains are wired differently.

But to the point, we speak to young men by making clear what we believe, fighting for what we believe, and winning once every so often.

Tree Lady

(13,014 posts)
106. Thanks for the reply
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 04:57 PM
19 min ago

I know I got personal, he is my favorite grandson and it breaks my heart watching it all.

Right now I never speak politics with him just try to be a good example with compassion. When I asked him about latest thing and ICE his response was they are here because of the Somali.

mr715

(2,756 posts)
75. In part
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:47 PM
23 hrs ago

Sen. Sanders' appeal was that he was anti-establishment, which is sexy but meaningless.

Tree Lady

(13,014 posts)
87. He still says the same things he has
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 09:02 PM
20 hrs ago

Been fighting for all his career, universal healthcare and college kids can afford and fixing the environment.

The only reason he is antiestablishment is because main stream candidates go along with for profit healthcare.

I remember when healthcare was affordable and when it was not for profit when I grew up.

It feels like more and more are being privatized for the rich to profit over us being sick or people going to jail or just keeping warm. Utility bills are so high now people can’t afford to stay warm.

I had two of my roommates in college marry Canadians and now having been in Canada 50 years they are citizens, using the healthcare with no problem one in BC and one in Toronto area. Part of why I feel the way I do.

betsuni

(28,736 posts)
90. How Bernie was treated -- does that mean when he was booed at the convention by his own delegates for endorsing
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 03:35 AM
13 hrs ago

and urging voting for the Democratic nominee?

Beartracks

(14,370 posts)
77. IKR? So many seem to think a Democrat has to match them on Every. Single. Issue. to "earn" their vote.
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 05:57 PM
23 hrs ago

Our job as voters is to keep pushing the government in a liberal/progressive direction, every election, and very often that means voting for candidates who we don't agree with on every single thing but who are at least pulling in the same general direction as us. To not do this means that there is one less vote being applied in that liberal/progressive direction, which grants one more vote's momentum to the side that pulls in the opposite direction. Democracy often involves relentless incrementalism, but we must be relentless at it.

=================

mr715

(2,756 posts)
96. I speak for myself.
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 01:32 PM
3 hrs ago

I am critical of my fellow Democrats, but I support them with money I don't have, time I can't spare.

We need to treat our politicians like adults - they err, they are misguided, they are corruptible. It is incumbent upon their voters to hold them to account, because we are the votes that make or break them.

There is such a thing as bad tactics. A bad tactical decision does not, by itself, lose a war. But if we fail to correct, and these tactics keep getting used, we will certainly lose the war.

This is the bunker mentality when a leader is too fragile to hear the truth. They can only hear how they are doing the right thing, their plan is perfect, wise, bulletproof.

I do not think our coalition is so fragile that it cannot handle healthy dissent from ardent supporters.

I was a Sen. Clinton diehard in 2008, but I will submit that during the campaign she used some problematic dog whistles when she got desperate to win. What did she do at the convention? She wholeheartedly, (apparently) warmly, and dramatically let her delegates to vote for Obama by acclamation.

I was a Sec. Clinton diehard in 2016. She did not receive the same courtesy, and yeah, I think it cost her the election.

VP Harris ran a perfect campaign until the phantom of Liz Cheney appeared where Tim Walz should've been.

These are my opinions. They don't make me a bad Democrat. They are the thoughts of an adult man who has invested a lot of heart and soul into politics.

Treat your party like you treat your parents as an adult. They can make mistakes, but your relationship is eternal. Bill Maher and Al Franken have both made the analogy that Democrats love their country like an adult loves their parents, while Republicans love their country like a child loves their parents.

PJMcK

(24,762 posts)
85. Trump is an idiot
Sat Jan 10, 2026, 06:25 PM
22 hrs ago

If he were presented with hard evidence he was wrong about something he would simply declare it fake news, just as always.

Bettie

(19,296 posts)
97. It is misogyny...
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 01:37 PM
3 hrs ago

and there is no reasoning with a deep seated belief held by so many that the least qualified man is more competent than the most accomplished woman.

Apparently, having a penis is the only actual qualification for being president of the US.

Grim Chieftain

(1,270 posts)
99. This post is not appropriate or helpful
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 03:15 PM
2 hrs ago

We are faced with the greatest threat to our democracy in our nation's history. The election was years ago, and all this post does is dredge up past divisions. We need to unite and fight the common enemy. Our battle is now.

MIButterfly

(2,119 posts)
102. I'm sorry you feel that way.
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 04:38 PM
37 min ago

My intention was not to dredge up past divisions. I was merely stating how I felt at that moment.

You are, of course, entitled to your opinions and reactions. I appreciate your input.

Grim Chieftain

(1,270 posts)
105. But you are dredging up past divisions - just read the comments.
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 04:51 PM
24 min ago

We are at an incredibly challenging point in our nation's history. We do not need this now. We need to join together and fight the true enemy - Trump, the MAGAs, and rabid conservatives who seek to destroy our country.

We need to pull together, not apart. Your post undermines that goal.

AZProgressive

(29,854 posts)
104. I'm the opposite of a Triple Trumper
Sun Jan 11, 2026, 04:47 PM
28 min ago

I voted for Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, and Kamala Harris and currently feel I'm living in a nightmare with the 2nd term of Trump.

I voted for Bernie Sanders in the 2016 & 2020 primary but always voted for the Democratic nominee. I even voted for Krysten Sinema multiple times as I live in the Congressional district she used to represent.

I see your edit about how this wasn't directed at anyone here. Just answering that despite my best efforts am not happy with Trump's actions.

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