A while back, I wrote that it would be a waste of my time to talk to some of the people in the upper Midwest who had voted for Donald Trump and had thereby provided the razor-thin margin that propelled the Worst Possible Person Ever into the White House. Not surprisingly, the reaction was mixed. One guy hit me low, comparing me to Hillary Clinton. He went on to incorrectly claim that I had written that 75 percent of Trump supporters are “bigoted, ignorant, and stupid.” I didn’t say that; I used the 75 out of 100 for something totally different in another part of the column. But it’s okay; math is hard for some people, so we’ll just let that go.
He did, however, make a good point when he asked, “Isn’t it just possible that many people who are as racially unbiased and patriotic as you are simply have an honest but different point of view?”
It is indeed possible and that’s the saddest thing of all in this ongoing tragedy.
When I was young, I understood why racists and rednecks, terrified of change, would vote for the likes of George Wallace and Lester Maddox. Today, I understand why short-sighted zealots support Benjamin Netanyahu and his reckless policy of building Jewish settlements in Palestinian territory. It often simply comes down to petty self-interest, but, God in Heaven, please tell me that there is a limit—somewhere!—to self-interest.
I happen to know a few hard-working, decent, (racially unbiased), patriotic people who voted for Donald Trump and, for the life of me, I have no idea why they did so. Comedian/activist Chris Rock is currently going through a divorce, one that is particularly ugly, even for Hollywood. When he was recently asked whether he would ever get married again, he snapped, “Not (even) if it would cure AIDS.”
That got me to wondering. Is there anything that could have gotten me to vote for Donald Trump? I know for a fact I wouldn’t have done it for money. My vote is a quasi-sacred trust and money is just money. But would I have voted for Trump if it somehow magically meant a cure for AIDS? Or cancer? Or MS or muscular dystrophy?
That’s a tough one. I suppose I would have if it for sure would have meant a cure for a disease. But the aforementioned people voted for Despicable Him in exchange for maybe a tax break.
Let’s be clear: I would rather have a Democrat in the White House than a Republican, if for no other reason than the fact the economy always performs better under Democrats. I know that sounds wildly counterintuitive and sends conservative talk-show hosts and other lame-oids screaming into the street, but it’s true. Since the end of World War II, every single Democratic President has seen the economy perform better during his term than it had for his predecessor and/or his successor. It performed better for Truman and Kennedy than it did for Eisenhower. It did much better under Clinton than it did for either of the bookend Bushes. And yes (suck on this!), it performed better under Jimmy Carter than it did during Ronald Reagan’s first term or for Reagan’s eight years, total. (In the interest of accuracy, Reagan’s second term was slightly better than Carter’s four years.)
If a regular Republican is in the White, c’est la vie. I don’t remember much of Eisenhower, but I’ve read that he was a decent fellow and he came down on the side of right when he sent the federal troops into Little Rock. I’ll be honest, I was never a fan of Richard Nixon and I was right not to have been. Gerald Ford was harmless. Ronald Reagan was a nice guy with crappy politics; the same for the first Bush. The second Bush allowed Dick (The Devil Himself) Cheney to talk him into getting into two stupid wars, thereby ruining the economy, but he wasn’t a bad person, per se.
I didn’t vote against Donald Trump because he’s a Republican (which he became about an hour before he decided to run). I did so because he’s a bad, bad person. That’s the problem I have: The aforementioned Trump voters had to look at him and say to themselves, “He’s obviously a liar. He’s a bully, a braggart, an adulterer, and he boasts about committing sexual assault on women. But, even though I’m informed enough to know all that stuff, I’m still going to vote for him, anyway.”
How does that work? I know why the trashy and the morons voted for him; they see Trump as one of their own. I know why racists supported him; he talks like one of their own. But why would a smart person vote for him?
So yes, it is possible to have voted for Trump and not be bigoted or stupid. But you are on the same team with the racists and the dolts, perhaps forever.
This article appears in Jul 6-12, 2017.
Well it looks like therapy is helping. Someday you will hopefully accept the fact that Trump won because Hillary was unacceptable. It was really that simple. Americans did not want 8 years of a female Obama. Been there done that.
Supposedly pro-worker Democrats have sold out the American working class in the name of cheap imported labor for their campaign donors. Trump’s victory is as simple as that.
MAYBE the tides of history have FINALLY caught up with the left wing and the politics of collectivism, government solutions for EVERYTHING and racial division are behind us!
HE was not HER is right. BEHOLD; what happens in America to those who “sell out” the working class for Open Borders and Cheap Labor.
No amount of “pro-labor” executive orders will ever bring back the American factory labor. The real cause for the drop in people hours is automation. Most of the companies are automating because robots don’t get sick, miss days of work, and can do the same repetitive job hundreds of thousands of times without making an error.
The skills needed today are the bright, educated people who build and maintain the technology. It’s time everyone accepts that and improves the education system to create those skilled engineers and technicians.
Even China where labor is supposedly cheap is automating to a fantastic degree. That is why they are the world leader in manufacturing solar panels and other technologies.
Where was it stated that any kind of therapy was involved?
Seems like you are the one who needs therapy.
Sure, Billary was unacceptable, but the Orange Demon is even more unacceptable.
And…female Obama? Really? Dig your head out of *politeness overtaking* the sand.
Anyone who supports tRump in any way needs all the therapy they can get.
That definitely includes you. You obviously haven’t been there and done that with a psychiatrist.
Good luck with the psychiatric help which you so desperately need.
Now that’s something original. An anti-Trump column. Yawn.
Now that’s something original. An anti-Danehy post from CW13. Yawn.
Couple of thoughts.
First, isn’t carrying around this sort of hatred all the time exhausting?
Second, maybe it’s time to write about something other than how much you hate Trump, and by proxy, the white people who voted for him.
Third, Eisenhower as a goodwhite is an odd choice in view of Operation Wetback.
Not happening, Nathen. Then he’d have to think.
Mr Danehy, sir, I have family that left military service four months prior to the election, and 23 months prior to full retirement, because they could not and would not serve under a President named Hillary Clinton.
Because of her inaction and deception with regards to gun running in Benghazi and President Obama’s phony “red lines” in the sand regarding Syria, it became too dangerous to risk being involved with her militarily. President Obama sealed the deal when he gave Iran most favored nation status.
This thinking permeated the military as it was not specific to a race. It crossed all ethnic lines from Anglo, to Hispanic to African American. Our country has lost the services of many great American citizens.
Please add this to the list of non racist , non idiots that voted against more Democratic failings. The party is void of new ideas and a desire to act in it’s own best interests.
Yet another bi weekly rant by the dolt, Thank goodness it is only bi weekly now. Maybe the Weekly will tire of his tantrums the way we have and get rid of him completely.
Bravo, Don. Bravo.
This is the first time I have read the Weekly and found this article by a kool-aid drinking democrat that spews the trash that most of the talking heads on TV spew….which by the way is not just limited to democrats. Unfortunately, the public is exposed to this trash that these ‘talkers’ expound as news. Hopefully the readers understand that articles like this are ‘trash’ and even though its hard to find…look up the facts to political articles. Just bet this guy thinks he’s a cutting edge proponent…. he’s not….just a immature guy with access to a little weekly. Where’s his editor..probably use to work for CNN…. but then maybe Tucson’s answer to the NYT.
Welcome to the Weekly. The editor? He’s worse than Danehy!!
Why do “people” who hate and disagree with Danehy follow him as if their religion requires it? Could it be that they have NO LIVES?
I don’t think so Vietnam Vet. I think we have entered a period in history when we realize that young, impressionable minds are at risk and many find debate and disagreement a constitutional right that they want to exercise. After watching the actions of CNN and MSNBC over the last eight months, it does seem necessary to push back against the so called “swamp rats.” Things are seldom as the outlets report, and Americans are catching on that something is very wrong here. Is it public school indoctrination, or is it happening in our colleges with tenured liberal professors?
Funny you mention religion. You could be right, because in John 8:32 it says,
“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
It’s a daily search in a weekly that’s printed bi weekly. How could it get any better?
You of all people should that it’s a good thing to know thine enemy. If you had been around here as long as I have you’d know that Tom and I have been going at it for ages. We actually get along well. We just never agree. When a reader made a rather vulgar remark about Tom’s wife, who jumped in to defend her? When Tom’s kids were making a trip to N.Y.C., who did Tom ask about places to visit and places to eat? Maybe one day Tom will to post a comment here to bear me out, but I wouldn’t hold my breath. It’s just as how he is. As far as not having a life, it’s obvious you don’t know me.
Oh shut up already, CW13. Your shtick is getting way old.
Not when I know how much I annoy you!!! If it’s so old, why do you read my comments ?
Tom. We get it. You don’t like the results of the election and you’re butt hurt. Give it a rest…
Mrs DePalma, AKA Rat T, AKA What, Again:
You have exposed yourself by continuing to post the same crap every time. Your phony Christian values and your condescending questions at the conclusion of your uneducated posts reveal who you truly are.
Try harder.
Mrs Depalma, like I said. No lives.
Did your mother have any kids that lived?
“Did your mother have any kids that lived?”
Clever. Harvard or Princeton?
Not amused. Not concerned. U of A
More stompy, whiny, name-calling tantrums from the folks at the Weekly who can’t reconcile that they were on the weak side of the election. By the way, if you supported Hillary, you supported a criminal that would stab you in the back as quick as she’d look at you. So, stick that on your thumb and suck it.
I, too, have spoken with similar people. And I’ve heard one answer over and over. It’s about abortion. One single voter issue that allows otherwise normal folks to go off the reservation. My problem is that they claim to be “pro life” but they are really only “pro birth” because, once the child is born, they don’t want to feed, clothe, or educate the child. When that happens, the child grows up in poverty, joins a gang, and becomes “public enemy number one” to the very people who created them…
Mr. Danehy, I am a donated my hard earned money, ardent Trump supporter who believes that people, specifically Liberals like you have a few screws loose. Now, before you call me stupid, I have BS in Biomedical Engineering from NC State and a BA in English from ASU and worked my entire life, well up to 70 years so far. So, as Farmers’ Insurance saying goes, “I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two” and I’ve concluded you have a screw or two loose. You are the epitome of self-interest because if it doesn’t come from your twisted mind, it doesn’t exist. Get over yourself man or whatever you are and go build a free house like Carter and make yourself useful. Leave God alone because you couldn’t begin to understand right, wrong, or faith and he’ll take care of you poor crippled folks..