by Robert Reich:'Today I'm in Tennessee
Last edited Thu Oct 19, 2017, 04:35 PM - Edit history (1)
(I just met someone who knows Dolly Parton but thats as close as I've come to my idol).
Kentucky and Tennessee voted for Trump. In my free-floating focus group over the last couple of days in both states Ive spoken with nearly 20 people who said they voted for Trump. Almost all of them told me this:
1. The reason they voted for Trump is they hated Hillary or wanted to shake things up in Washington, or "thought we needed a businessman."
2. They dont like the job Trump is doing as president. (Hes embarrassing, makes me ashamed, behaving like a child, "chronic liar."
3. Every one of them told me they regret voting for him (never would have if Id have known what an as*hole he is, one told me).
4. They said their own personal economic position hasnt changed from what it was last year, and Trumps policies favor the rich (he just cares about wealthy folk, said hed drain the swamp and the swamp is worse.)
5. Most are worried about Trump's mental capacity (I dont think the man has all his marbles, he could get is into a goddamn nuclear war, "weird as hell, crazy as a loon.)
6. Most dont think hell finish his first term (hell be impeached, kicked out, removed, hell resign.)
7. Most don't trust him ("hasn't got a goddamn thing done," "blowhard," "huckster," "conman."
8. Most would support a Democrat in 2020, if it was the right candidate ("both parties are rotten to the core," "sure, I'd vote for a Democrat," "used to be a Democrat but party got too liberal."
9. Most said theyd support someone who cleaned up the mess in Washington, got big money out of politics, made the system work for ordinary people.)
10. Several of them told me that they'd support Medicare for all, or any system that lowered their health insurance costs. ("Spending a fortune for insurance," "insurance companies are the worst," "can't afford to insure my family."
11. Several put education at the top of their list.
12. Not one of them supported spending money on a wall along the southern border of the U.S. ("stupidest goddamn idea I ever heard," "plain dumb," "guy ever heard of airplanes?" '
https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/?
northoftheborder
(7,572 posts)People are so shallow and uninformed. All those "new" insights were obvious before the election.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)not after they abandoned their intellect, morals, social codes, patriotism, even religious precepts to vote against Democrats in 2016.
I am hoping for a FEW, though. Heck, if a few percent merely stayed home and refused to vote for either party, and that happened widely around the nation, it could change everything.
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,122 posts)Keep thinkin, one day, I'll wake up from this long nightmare.
Tobin S.
(10,418 posts)The thing is, the people who didn't vote for Trump could see all that stuff clearly back in 2015. It should have been clear to everyone.
elleng
(130,918 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,594 posts)I would be happier to read this except that I realize we are screwed for at least three more years due to these idiots and who knows what sad state our country will be in by that time.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)and I'm sick and tired of every reporter and blogger taking a drive out into lily-white Trump Country and being a free sounding board, as if it's original and groundbreaking -- I have literally been reading the same story since January, their reasons have not changed, and deep red Trump Country isn't going to magically become "woke" until the last year of Trump's second term...
Until the day comes when Trump Voters see me as a person and an American, I have no time for them or their "economic concerns". No matter how dumb they try to play it now, they went to the rallies, they knew goddamn motherfucking well what they were voting for, and voted for it anyway.
Tobin S.
(10,418 posts)I've been wrangling with Trump supporters for a while now on Facebook. Some well meaning liberals don't really understand where the Trump people were coming from. They think they're just ignorant or dumb or uninformed because it's obvious to liberals what a terrible person Trump is, and they think that can be the only explanation. Your typical bleeding heart liberal doesn't understand the kind of hate Trump tapped into with his supporters. It's just not a part of who most of us are, and most white liberals haven't really been on the receiving end of that extreme level of hatred so they just don't have a conception of it. I'm white, btw. I think most Trump supporters see him clearly for who he is and have all along, and the only reasons any of them might be thinking about jumping ship are that he isn't delivering fast enough on his more extreme campaign promises and there is also the possibility that they truly didn't understand how badly Trump was going to screw them over personally on social issues. So, the wall is not getting built, the Latinos and the Muslims are still here, Hillary is not in jail, and they are losing their health insurance and social services. There is also the possibility that a majority of the population seeing them as stupid fuckers and Trump demonstrating it every day might be taking a toll on their egos.
Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Hell, I've got economic concerns, environmental concerns, nazi concerns, and getting shot by cops for walking while black concerns... Where's my interview??
oegthe
(40 posts)They'll vote for Bannon if he's a candidate. They want stuff given to them and taken away from people of color. It's just not happening fast enough for them.