209 thoughts on “welp”

  1. Take your time. No one is here to rush you or judge you. We’re hurting the way you’re hurting. We’re mad the way you’re mad. We’re afraid the way you’re afraid. And we’re gathering our wits and our strength, as you are, to somehow get up and face the world after feeling like the country that we love told us it loves a bully more than it loves us.

    I think that I’ve been following a certain narrative for a very long time. And that narrative told me that Trump was a villain, and that only other villains would support him, and that because the country I love is Good, he had no chance of success. And then he won. And my worldview shattered. And it hurt. So. Bad. And I didn’t think I’d ever feel good again.

    But if, and I still say this with a lot of uncertainty, but if the narrative I followed wasn’t entirely true, then two things: 1) the country I love can still be Good, and 2) it was a good thing that my worldview was shattered.

    I’m still me. I’m going to keep refusing to be silent about intolerance, and prejudice, and inequality, and ignorance. And you will, too. I know it. And I’m going to take a closer look at the country I still love, especially the parts that scare me, which is to say, the parts I don’t understand, until I understand them, which is to say, until they don’t scare me anymore. And you will, too. I know it.

    And we. Will. Win. In the end. And we will all win together.

    1. John, I think, hit the nail on the head. I had a similar worldview. I don’t know how true it was, but it was too simple, I think. There’s more going on here than “Trump bad, you = hero, go KILL.” I did vote for HIllary, and I would gladly do it again if I were stuck in a time loop (I just saw Edge of Tomorrow, ok?)

      But after the election, I didn’t sleep. I nearly vomited. Many times. I cried the next day. I’m anxious right now. I have a trio of stuffed animals, one of whom is as old as I am, and I had them in the closet for the past few years. They’re with me now (and real and my friends).

      Nothing ever lasts forever, for better or worse. Stay strong.

    3. The Clintons are just as much villains as Trump and the list of crimes these people have committed is long, not even including their atrocious foreign policy, war mongering, and bowing down before the feet of a corrupt Wall Street and banking system. Clinton would have passed TPP and TTIP, and she is in bed with Monsanto, big pharma, et al. We the people let ourselves, through years of voting for the lesser of two evils, get into a situation where we had two dismal and unacceptable candidates to vote for. I didn’t vote for either one of these clowns because I actually have a conscience. I don’t vote for con artists, and both Trump and Clinton are con artists (putting it mildly).

      1. So the sixty million who voted for Hillary are all stupid people without a conscience, but you, special snowflake, are too wise to have been fooled and too conscientious to cast your lot with the majority of those who voted? (HRC won the popular vote.)
        You just come here to gloat?

    4. The problem is, what if you are actually Anne Frank in this scenario? I don’t mean to make things emotionally worse for folks, but it’s important to consider ALL the possibilities. It really may be necessary to flee a la the Von Trapps at some point. Be vigilant, and prepared.

  2. I am so disappointed, shocked, and deeply saddened. I thought we could be a better country than this.

    On Tuesday night, I instantly thought about moving to another country but have decided to stay, and organize. Stay and speak up. Stay and volunteer. Stay and try to lift us out of this mess. Our country needs us. The call to peaceful progress is the voice I choose to follow, the path I will guide others along.

    And, I am one of the people wearing a safety pin. Look for us, we’ve got your back. I know that you are hurting, please don’t let that hurt shut down the capacity to love.

  3. I feel you, too, and it’s only getting worse right now. My fingers are crossed that good things are coming, and until then I’ll try to do good myself.

  5. (I’ve got) Nothing (good) to say regarding this week, so I’ll say that you look (in this/these photo{s}) like you’ve reached a good weight in your reboot; that is to say, please don’t lose any more!

    Been slowly but surely catching up on Leverage and LOVING every appearance of Chaos! “Sophie as Counselor Troi” was TOO MUCH! 😀

    When you are ready to embiggen/embolden the masses, we’ll be here, ready for your embiggening/emboldening.

  6. We were all feed the idea, like children at Christmas awaiting their presents from Santa Claus, that there was no possible way Trump could be elected under any circumstances. Then we didn’t get our presents.

    Take your time and you can understand this. Then understand the we being who we are, doing what we love is what beats all the things we think Trump represents to us as POTUS. Being who we are and doing what we love makes Trump as POTUS irrelevant.

  8. Take your time. Let us know if we can do anything to help you cope – but there’s no expectation here.

  10. I don’t know what it took, but the thought finally sunk in that just because Trump won, doesn’t mean he has to be my role model. Would it be great if there was someone who was a humane person in the office? Sure! But just because he won doesn’t mean he has to suddenly have an influence on who I choosed to be.

    At the same time, I know that there are a lot of people out their who voted for Trump for other reasons than thinking he was the best person for the job. While I would not have done that, it helps restore my confidence that not everyone wants to be like Trump. Maybe I’m lying to myself and these are my coping mechanisms, but I think there is still a lot of misguided good in the country and the best we can do is try to work together to bring it out. I wish there was more to do but all that’s left is to pray for the best and do what we can to improve the world we live in. Good luck.

    1. Tyler, I don’t think that you are lying to yourself. People don’t have to look up to Trump as a role model. And I agree, there should be someone better suited as a role model in the office than he his. But he who we have at the moment. And if nothing else, you could always say, “Don’t be like Trump.”

    2. Exactly. The vast majority of people who voted for Trump do not like him. Their votes were a repudiation of the crony, corrupt political establishment that Clinton was a poster girl for. Trump does not even represent either major political party. Think about it – the Dems were against him, the GOP was against him, the banking mafia was against him, and so many others, and yet he still won. If you look past the political division and vitriol that the corrupt mainstream media tried to generate, this vote clearly shows that many, many people are waking up to just how despotic our political system has become and they would have voted for any outsider that wasn’t part of the current political cesspool.

      1. Purely negative voting, “for any outsider”, is how you get Hitlers. In case you were unaware.

  11. I’m right there with you, having a hard time dealing. I haven’t been able to properly sleep, am fighting constant nausea and prone to spontaneous bawling since the election. People have trouble understanding, given that I am not even American, but I feel utterly defeated right now. It is just so sickening to realize that many people are ok with voting for a person who goes against everything moral and just, who encourages racism, misogyny, homophobia and islamophobia and more. I am heartbroken for what minorities will face because of these people’s selfishness. I am terrified for how this hate is spreading around the world. I am despairing over the fate of the environment and climate. In many ways this feels worse than losing a loved one. I look down at my four year old and I mourn for his future. For all those people saying ‘buck-up” I don’t think they understand how much this affects those of us that care deeply. Our fellow humans have shown us a completely ugly side that is total incomprehensible. Hopefully we can cling to the hope that it won’t be as bad as our worst fears and that civilization and the planet will survive to the end of this nightmare.

  12. Hey Wil, Take the self-care you need.

    I’ve lost nights of sleep. I hardly ever lose sleep. I’ve felt physically ill, and I’ve told myself I’m not going to drink enough alcohol to dull the pain. But I’m angry, very angry. I’m channeling it. First off, I put the safety pin on my jacket. I stand in solidarity with my LGTB+ friends and my friends of color. Second, I’m not letting the Trump supporters off the hook when they say that the protesters are crybabies. I confront them with their candidate’s racism, and I tell them that they either have to own it or denounce it. Third, I have sworn to uphold my late father’s example of standing up when I need to be counted. My father was a university professor in the 1960s. When students threatened to burn the library, he jumped up on a table and called for a march on the president’s office instead. When he saw an elderly Asian woman being threatened by a man in a grocery store who was using racial epithets, he stood up to the bully, made him back down, and then my father apologized to the woman. Fourth, I’m putting my money into important causes: Planned Parenthood, the ACLU, Lambda Legal, Southern Poverty Law Center, and the DNC. I can’t afford to give much, but if a lot of us give micro donations, we’ll have a huge war chest by 2018. We need to retake our states’ legislatures, and go after the House and Senate.

  13. I’ve been feeling the same way, Wil, but there are a few thoughts that keep surfacing over and over in my roiling mind….

    Trump is not an outlier. He embodies many common, core Republican beliefs including racism, sexism, misogyny, an unhealthy level of nationalism, and a combination of fear and contempt for “the other”. Most Republicans in our lifetimes have generally been quiet about holding these beliefs, and elections over the past several decades have generally relied on dog-whistle politics, but Trump was quite open about his beliefs. He was embraced by the Republican electorate, and by Republican politicians once they realized dog-whistles weren’t needed.
    Despite how utterly and completely transparent Trump was about his beliefs and intentions once elected, only a quarter of registered voters could be bothered to vote against him. Yes, “just” 25% of the electorate voted for Trump, but the remaining 50% of the electorate didn’t care enough to get off their collective asses and fill out a ballot. That speaks volumes about what the average American believes or, at the very least, couldn’t care less about. It’s not a pleasant realization, but it can’t be ignored. At a minimum, it highlights the topics Democrats cannot rely on as wedge issues.
    Clintonian electoral math cannot, Cannot, CANNOT be relied on to deliver wins in presidential elections. Sure, Hillary came into the election with a lot of baggage (both from her many decades in politics, and from the DNC having its finger on the scale during the primaries), and perhaps wasn’t the strongest candidate. Ceding large swaths of the electoral map to the Republicans and relying on the supposed “blue wall”, however, made the battle far, far harder and likely also cost the Democrats wins in down-ballot races. A sustained return to the 50-state strategy is absolutely critical if the Democrats hope to build a deep pool of talented candidates while simultaneously (eventually?) ensuring that congressional districts are fairly drawn after the next census.
    Trump’s presidency coupled with Republican control of Congress and the Supreme Court will probably leave long-lasting damage that cannot be repaired in your or my lifetime. Voting rights are likely to be curtailed. Reproductive rights are unlikely to fare any better. Racist and sexist policies will probably become law, and existing policies and laws that are effectively racist or sexist policies will not be reversed. Federal funding for education, the NSF, the NIH, DOE, and NASA will most likely be cut, as will funding for WIC, SNAP, and the rest of the safety net. The country will be saddled with yet more debt as taxes are cut while military spending climbs. It’s anybody’s guess how bad the economic fallout will be when protectionist policies are put in place.
    States may not have the resources or desire to counteract changes at the federal level. We’re going to have to be more pro-active than ever before to help take care of our friends, neighbors and relatives. It’s on us to get through the coming shit-show together.

    1. Hrm. That wasn’t an unbroken wall of text when I typed it up…. Going to have to re-learn how to do pagination properly it seems….

    2. Does Trump really embody many of the core Republican beliefs or are you just believing what you’ve been told by the media? I know many Republicans (I’m not one of them BTW – not that it matters) who don’t believe what Trump believes. But just because they are a Republican, does that mean that they AUTOMATICALLY believe the same way that Trump does? I don’t think so.

      Where are you getting your statistics about the voters? Honestly, I like to know so I can look them up as well. Personally, I believe the numbers are more like 25% for Clinton, 25% for Trump, 25% for Third Party Candidates, and 25% for those who just didn’t give a hoot. Which would explain why Clinton was able to get the Popular Vote and Trump the Electoral Vote – even with all the baggage that BOTH candidates had going into the election.

      Now I have some questions for you. What do you mean by damage? How would voting rights be curtailed? How would reproductive rights be effected as well? How would racist/sexist policies become law (since it’s the Congress who makes the laws)? What existing racist/sexist policies are you talking about?

      Federal funding for the agencies/organizations that you mentioned will have to go through Congress, not the Executive Branch. Funding for WIC, SNAP and others may or may not be cut. If you truly fear this, do something about it (like try to get off of those programs – for the record, I’m on them as well, and if they get cut, they get cut).

      History has shown that this country actually prospered during the times when the taxes were cut and faltered when the taxes were raised. As for the military spending…did you know about all of the wars that we are in? We have to make sure that we are protected and the military does that. Now, the economic fallout from all of this….you’re right….it’s anybody’s guess how bad or how good it will be.

      —> “We’re going to have to be more pro-active than ever before to help take care of our friends, neighbors and relatives. It’s on us to get through the coming shit-show together.”

      And this is a bad thing? You make it sound like it’ll be the end of the world because we have to help one another. I thought that is what you were all about (helping others). Or was I wrong?

      1. Thanks for responding. I’ve hit the high points of your post, with a few references and sources added for flavor.

        I’ve watched and read enough politics (not just the coverage, but the actual speeches, position papers, etc.) over the past 20 years to have a sense of what constitutes each major party’s platform. Trump’s rhetoric (again, not the coverage, but the actual content) overlays quite well with core Republican principles since well before I became politically aware. I suggest going back and actually reading some of that info if you’d like to develop a sense of context.
        Google provides a great state-by-state breakdown for every presidential candidate if you search “electoral map 2016”. Roughly half of all eligible voters cast ballots, so divide the numbers by two to get the percentage of the total electorate who voted for each candidate. You’ll find that Trump and Clinton each received around 50% of the popular vote, with third-party candidates chipping away a bit in each state. Your presumed 25/25/25/25 voting breakdown doesn’t reflect reality.
        Re: damage…. After the inauguration, the Republicans will immediately control two of three branches of the federal government and will be able to push through whatever laws they choose. The Republican platform (available through their website) summarizes the party’s current aspirations to limit minorities’ rights, and to enable racist and sexist organizations to receive federal funding in spite of their racist and sexist rhetoric and activities. Past party platforms have been generally consistent with the current party platform, so this isn’t new information unique to Trump being the party’s presidential candidate. The Republicans’ ability to fill judicial vacancies (including at least one Supreme Court vacancy) with like-minded judges will limit the likelihood of successful judicial challenge for decades.
        Re: WIC, SNAP, etc., it’s unfortunate that you’re currently dependent on government assistance, and I wish you the best in getting back on your feet. I’ll be happy to help you identify resources to do that, if you’re interested. Regarding funding of the programs themselves, however, refer to budget negotiations and the Republicans’ party platform over the past 20 years. The Republican party has consistently pushed to cut benefits to those they consider “free-loaders”. The Republicans also typically push budgets and policies that cut the NSF, NIH, NASA and Department of Energy research budgets, or provide budget increases that do not fully compensate for inflation. It’s not a stretch to presume that a Republican Congress coupled with a Republican President will pass budgets consistent with the party’s demonstrated goals. I consider myself fortunate not to depend on any of those sources of federal money, but I am concerned about those who are.
        The behavior of the economy vs. tax rates is far more complex than “more = bad, less = good” in that marginal tax rates play a huge role. As a general rule, higher marginal tax rates on the highest earners correlate to improved prosperity. Higher marginal tax rates on lower earners correlate to reduced prosperity. Tax cuts financed by increased debt tend to give a brief improvement in prosperity followed by a “hangover” of decreased prosperity. Give http://www.businessinsider.com/study-tax-cuts-dont-lead-to-growth-2012-9 and https://www.brookings.edu/research/effects-of-income-tax-changes-on-economic-growth/ a hard look, keeping in mind that they’re centrist or conservative-leaning sources. The Republican party has consistently pushed for tax cuts on upper-income earners, and will have the ability to force those tax cuts through once they control both houses of Congress and the Presidency.
        It’s certainly not a bad thing to help take care of one another. It is bad, however, when that becomes the only option because the government chooses to abandon its neediest citizens (in any sense of the term “needy”).

        1. And this pagination thing is still kicking my butt. Suggestions on adding clean line breaks, anyone?

    3. “He embodies many common, core Republican beliefs including racism, sexism, misogyny, an unhealthy level of nationalism, and a combination of fear and contempt for “the other”.”

      This is wrong. These are not “core Republican beliefs” (and this is coming from an ex-Republican who re-registered as an independent before the collection), and very few actual Republican voters are the boogeymen you make them out to be.

      Rhetoric like this will keep the country from healing.

      The instant the words “racist, sexist, misogynist, etc.” come out of your mouth, you have lost the ability to bring the other person to your point of view, which is the goal, right?

      Realize that most Republicans are also distressed with Trump in the Oval Office; he was just a lesser evil in their view, weighing the issues as a whole. Rust belt people are worried about “the economy, stupid” (as Bill Clinton would say), and voted accordingly because Clinton was viewed as a puppet of Wall Street and the top 1%. Most are not voting for Trump to oppress minorities (though some are, sadly).

      Democrats did this to themselves. They put forth an uninspiring technocrat candidate with no leadership skills, who tested polls and hid from the camera eye trying to run out the clock while the trends looked good. Intelligent and accomplished people do not necessarily have charisma, and Hillary doesn’t (not misogyny thing: c.f., Elizabeth Warren, Michelle Obama, Kamala Harris, who do have charisma). Sad thing is that Bernie would have captured enough of the angry white blue collar vote to beat Trump easily.

      1. I recommend that you carefully read Republican party platforms from the past 20-30 years and take a close look at their nationwide legislative agenda over that time. Attempted disenfranchisement of minority groups? Check. Fighting against LGBT folks’ right to marry? Yep. Battling against equal pay for equal work? Sure. Knee-jerk jingoistic defense of the USA invading other countries? Definitely.

        I don’t imagine that many Republicans will cross the aisle due to my words. Frankly, my sense is that the vast majority of thoughtful, principled Republicans left the party long ago–this year’s array of potential Republican Presidential candidates underscores my point. Then again, does it matter? One of the points in my first comment was that the majority of the electorate is apparently uninterested in going to the trouble of voting against the plainly racist, sexist, misogynistic, nationalistic Republican agenda. Clinton being a “puppet of Wall Street and the top 1%” is immaterial–Trump is the top 1%. Then again, the majority of the electorate is apparently also unconcerned about that.

        I’m not defending Hillary’s or the Democrats’ decisions in this election here, and I didn’t in my original comment. They screwed the pooch (and let me count the ways….) Could they have won? Maybe, if they’d had a different candidate and/or done a lot of things differently. It doesn’t really affect where the country stands right now.

        In closing, I refer back to the take-home message in my original comment: “States may not have the resources or desire to counteract changes at the federal level. We’re going to have to be more pro-active than ever before to help take care of our friends, neighbors and relatives. It’s on us to get through the coming shit-show together.”

  15. It’s been a hard week. A few thoughts…
    …. on Nov 9 more than 100,000 people signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act.
    …..We don’t all hide behind the internet, myself, my boss and a coworker gave an earful to one of our outside agents who thinks a woman shouldn’t be president because other male world leaders won’t respect her.
    ….Hearing that conservatives were upset when Obama won the 2008 election is not helpful. In 2008, the (public) fears about Obama’s presidency were that he was going to take away guns and that he might be a “Muslim.” All these fears were projections, not actual promises Obama made. We elected a president who has openly campaigned to build a wall around the country. He has encouraged his supporters to use physical violence against minorities. He posted an Anti-Semitic meme featuring Hillary Clinton, and courted the support of white nationalists and the alt-right. This is not the same thing at all.

  16. I just wanted to say I feel ya, and I’m sure you know you’re far from alone… heck, you have millions backing you up right now. It took me a day to figure it out, but I finally realized that the feelings I am having are akin to 9/11…. except this attack was on America, by our fellow Americans, some living right next door, so in a way, I feel worse this week than I did in NYC that time. So much deep sadness, denial, anger, crying, helplessness – all the usual suspects with grief.

    It’s easier to counsel my friends than myself, and I have been telling them that we will adapt and deal. No one ever guaranteed we would have a smooth ride in our lifetime, and others in history and others elsewhere in the world today have had it FAR worse.. I think we can take heart that we have been through tough times, and have come out the other side. We will deal, adapt, and hopefully come out better in the end. It is sad that progress will be halted or pushed backwards, and it is sadder than there will be individuals.. maybe many individuals… that will suffer. But, it is the reality of the situation- life just raised the difficulty setting a notch, and we as a whole will handle whatever comes our way. I believe that we will deal, heal, and come out at the end a better people. The many of us that are good, positive, inclusive and loving people won’t let hate prevail.

    On another note, I actually came here to just say that I appreciate and enjoy reading your work and posts. You touch the lives of many you never see, and we appreciate you, even if many of us are silent most of the time. So, thank you for sharing a bit of yourself. It helps others. 🙂

    1. “I finally realized that the feelings I am having are akin to 9/11”

      I had this same thought a few days after the election, when I was still struggling to believe what just happened to my country. When I would forget for a few hours due to normal work load/daily activities but have this nagging sense of dread in the background and when I tried to figure out why I was feeling freaked out I would remember, “Oh yeah…World Trade Center.” Now it is, “Oh Yeah…Trump.” Lots of crying and trying to figure out what I should be doing now.

  17. Here’s my view, for what it’s worth… the people who put him into office aren’t pro-whatever he is or stands for, they’re anti-establishment and they think that’s what he embodies. He’s not a politician so it automatically puts him in their good graces regardless of what he says or does.Those rallying and showing their fear, anguish, and utter betrayal are lashing out in the only way they know how and making their voices heard as loud as possible. It doesn’t mean any of it will change and he won’t step down. It means we are not alone. I had that same look on my face. The country is and has been divided for a long time. It (only my opinion) needs a reboot (this is not how I thought one would happen). It may be the biggest mistake our country has ever made. But it may also be something that needed to happen. To bring to light the actual numbers behind the voices of ill reason, hatred, bigotry, ignorance, and a really long laundry list of well, bad things. And while we’re still reeling with the awe of the failure of the electoral college, we will continue to breath deep, take one issue at a time, and conquer each set back. But now we know the scale we have to work with. It’s not just a couple of isolated incidents of hate crimes. It’s not just some person spewing low brow racist slang and slurs. It’s not just that one person on your block everyone ignores when they rant and chant white supremacy jargon. Their numbers now have faces. We know what we’re looking at. We know the faces of the monsters. And we know how to light the light and carry the torch to fend off the beasts in the dark. I don’t know if you’ll ever see or even read this post but if you do, just know – you are not alone and some of us will continue to smile. /hugs : *Side note to this/ What this election makes me think: “Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.” ‘Tis good to be the dragon right now. Let’s be dragons!

  19. I find your posts (blog, twitter etc) to be highly entertaining, informative, outspoken and at times very personal. I’m from Canada and I truly feel for what all decent Americans who have been let down by this election are going through. I can only express my sadness to all of you who have been affected this way, but in seeing just how many of you care for each other and oppose the horrific ideals expressed by some, I can honestly say that I have faith in the American people and know that you (all of you collectively) will not only get through this, but will persevere and actually make your nation even better. It may be a difficult road, but I believe you can make your country even more accepting and welcoming than even your best Hollywood films have portrayed. Good luck neighbors, we look forward to seeing you rise above this. By the way, You’re still great, and we like you despite this hiccup.
    Oh and p.s Wil…..stop hating on the maple leafs…..we get enough of that from Montreal fans
    Take care guys, you’re all awesome.

  20. I’ve been physically sick since Tuesday…dizzy, light headed and my blood pressure is significantly elevated. I’ve had horrible nightmares about my children dying. Am I overreacting? Who knows. I know that I am a woman and I do not feel safe right now. How can my country elect a monster? A monster who likes to grab women “by their pussy?” What the fuck? Over half the country thinks that’s acceptable? Over half the county thinks I am nothing but a sex toy, public property, pussy up for grabs? Do these people not have daughters? Sisters? How could a woman vote for that? I have a little girl in 2nd grade and a little boy in kindergarten. I am scared shitless for them right now.

    1. I am crying for you and your kids I am so sorry. Absolutely #1 for you MUST be to take care of yourself and your kids. Don’t think your kids aren’t noticing what’s going on with you. As they say on the airline safety briefing, apply your mask first. Get whatever help from outside that you can.

      As to whether you are overreacting, I think no and yes: your feelings and fears (and dreams) are absolutely valid as indicators and hints, but not as present reality. They are prepping you for possible futures (my guess is 6 to 18 months out). Prepare accordingly (to escape any such real threats that may appear). Don’t stay stuck on them if the situation changes for the positive though.

  21. That’s okay. Be gentle with yourself. It was a main point of topic with my therapist this week. I am a writer too and there is a that part of me that wants to put fingers to the keyboard and put everything that is going on in my head out there on my blog for people to read. The thing is I am so raw with emotion; hurt, depression, fear and anger, that I can not even start to figure out where to start or what it is that I am trying to say. So I forgive myself and I let myself have those feelings. I let it be for today, this weekend and maybe part of next week, but I know at some point, like all emotional turmoil, this will change and I will get past the chaos of this inner confusion. When that happens I will come to the keyboard and write with all I have in my heart about my place in all this events. If it doesn’t get better after a reasonable time I’ll go to my next therapist appointment and we will figure out how best to help me. You are not broken, we are not broken. UROK <3

  22. Wil I know how you are feeling. I’m a Republican that was fighting against Trump for over a year and a half. How am I taking this election? Let’s just say I passed frustration about 4 months back?
    How am I dealing with it? Well some people and I decided to do something huge and crazy and likely way way harder than anyone is actually capable of unless…
    Unless we can get everyone to join in.

    Who do we mean by everyone?
    Every Bernie or Buster
    Every Never Hilary Voter
    Every Never Trumper
    Every Centrist who hates all the fringe parties
    Every Socially liberal leaning Republican
    Every Fiscally conservative Democrat
    Every Person that wants change and is willing to make compromises to get it.
    Every Person that looks at statistics and doesn’t automatically oppose them or accept them based on their previously held beliefs.

    What do we mean by do something crazy?
    We want to build a new party.
    Or rather resurrect an old one.
    We want to raise the Federalist Party.
    We want to build this party on the dead moniker of the party of Hamilton, Adams, and Washington.
    We want to legitimize a 3rd party, non-fringe, centrist option based on the ideas of compromise and incremental gains.

    What do we mean huge?
    We want to then identify people willing to run in every race across the country.
    We want them to run on a platform of compromise rather than on personal beliefs.
    We want to run them simultaneously like package deal nationwide as an option for REAL CHANGE.
    The option to oust all the racists and bigots
    The option to oust all the do nothings and filibustering blowhards
    The option to get shit done.
    We want real sweeping change that doesn’t rest on the shoulders of one man.
    We want them to take as many seats in the house and senate and maybe if we get really really lucky the presidency.
    We want to force real change that makes some sense for once.

    Sound Crazy?
    Yea, this election might have made us snap. But maybe we’re just hitting on that same feeling you have. I’m not asking for money. I’m asking for people to write articles, share the message, and gather like minded intelligent people who would also want to help.
    We need them to show up online as often as they can and participate in constructive conversations,
    We need them to like and share articles and show that this movement is something people want.
    That a real peaceful revolution can happen,
    THAT WE THE PEOPLE OF THESE UNITED STATES WILL NO LONGER STAND FOR THIS BIGOTRY AND HATRED THAT HAS PERMEATED THIS TWO PARTY SYSTEM!

    Why am I posting it here? One if your speeches about getting help literally saved my life. In hoping seeing this might give you some.

    My name’s Bob and I clearly have lost my mind.
    Want in?
    Just want to hear more?
    Join me here:
    https://www.facebook.com/Federalistnation/

  23. Wil, please take whatever time you need to mourn, process your feelings and thoughts and find your balance. This is the time to take care of your heart and not stress about things like posting on a blog. Please surround yourself with people who care about you; your family and your close friends, and find strength and comfort from them.

    Somehow we will all find our way through the next few years. I know it seems simplistic to say we will find our way through this, but we have to believe that we will. Either through protest, giving to good causes, working with non profits on the front lines, or just helping any one person or group you know who now needs it, find your way through….each of us can continue to be outposts of positive calm in the midst of the storm, and contribute to keeping safe everything we believe in that is now being threatened.

    Please please take care and keep your heart and mind protected. Post here when you feel up to it, we’ll be waiting to support you…..

  24. Came for the predictable face-holding photo and hyperbolic millennial overreactions. Was not disappointed.

  25. I hear you. Personally, I was terrified and sad and helpless — so much so that I actually called a suicide hotline for the first time ever because I was hit was such strong emotions and it scared me like I’ve never been scared before. But then I saw that there was a possibility for the country to align with the vote of the People.

    “Trump won Pennsylvania, a state that typically votes blue, by less than 100,000 votes. While it is highly unlikely to get all 20 electoral voters to cross party lines and vote democrat, it also isn’t impossible to convince a few of them to be “faithless electors.” We only need to convince 38 out of the 166. That is 23%. There are SIXTEEN states we need to focus our attention on[: AZ, TX, ID, IA, SD, ND, PA, WVa., KS, MO, AR, LA, IN, TN, KY, GA]”
    (http://tamaleboy.tumblr.com/post/152965306276/notmypresident)

    Also, a petition to the Electoral College Electors: Make Hillary Clinton President on December 19 – if that’s your kind of thing — https://www.change.org/p/electoral-college-electors-electoral-college-make-hillary-clinton-president-on-december-19?recruiter=21686078&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=autopublish&utm_term=mob-xs-share_petition-no_msg

    The idea needs traction to show the Electoral College members that We the People are serious and will back all “faithless” electors.

    I apologize if this is not news to you or of interest, but personally, it was enough hope to keep me from falling further, so maybe it might help someone else. (I know, Hope you are bastard of a master, but please don’t ever leave me!)

    Finally, you — and we all should — take the time we need to process and be kind to ourselves. Remember, your emotions are real and legitimate and this is some REALLY hard shit.

  29. Hey Wil – best wishes with your current writing project. You know what they say about strong feelings, some of the best songs ever written were right after a breakup. In this case the breakup is with Democracy as we know it. 😥
    Maybe this terrible thing America did will inspire your writing as many artists before.
    On a more uplifting note, have you heard about #safetypin, maybe by now you have. Knowing this movement exists is helping me get through this heartache I feel. Just knowing there are others like myself that stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters who Cheeto Jesus marginalized. Even @sirpatstew is in on it: http://cnet.co/2f1YkCD
    Much love,
    Jane S
    New Jersey

  30. Hello everyone not sure I can help but I thought I would share the perspective from a small part of the world. I work at Manchester airport in England. I work in the security on all flights to America, usually when the U.S elections are on it passes quietly ( sorry we care more about tea and football ) this time its been a major subject, not because of the result its done and your stuck with it until the mid terms but because of the perception of America to the world ( or at least the part of it I’m standing on ) and the world is watching. Protest peacefully, consistently and get into schools, colleges and anywhere where you can make a point in more than 140 characters ( a lot of people here were shocked by the sheer hatred spewing onto twitter ). Brexit happened because of paranoia, racism and ignorance sound familiar ? We know America is better than that and I’m sorry but you need get out and show it or in 4 years all that fear and hate will just be worse.

  32. 2016 has been a tough one (I’m in the UK, we are intent on destroying ourselves too) – it is like people just want to see the world burn (the giant sign of “world destroyer – do not push this button” is just an insensitive).
    I had a kid this year (premmie, home now on oxygen after 11 weeks in hospital but doing great) – when I think of what I’ll be able to tell him of the year he was born – I could cry.

    But I keep seeing people who are saying “no, this is not alright”, and not just one or two people (full disclosure, I’m in Scotland and our “First Minister” of our tiny nation is one of the ones saying it is not ok for Brexit or Trump (while trying to push again for independence and not seeing the irony in that).
    Okay, it is reactive rather than proactive and marginal minority right now but it gives me some hope.

    Sorry for the rambling – I just wanted to offer the support of a complete stranger.
    (A meme comes to mind “I don’t want to adult any more so today I’m going to be a penguin” – let’s be a penguins. clear our heads, replenish mental and physical strength and then words and actions)

  33. So kindof unrelated to your blogpost, but since you asked on FB to comment here…

    Thanks for your FaceBook explanation. It has always been clear to me you would not be reading or answering there, but it was nice to read that you actually personally seem to care that you don’t have the time to do it. Most celebrity pages are much worse, with the celebrity never even using it themselves, but only assistants or a marketing team.
    With all your awesomeness and flaws combined, I think it is at least some reflection of you, and not some completely fake mask of marketing conspiracy. Whatever people show is always some mask of course, but yours is showing different sides. I do not always agree with you, but your heart (which really means your ‘smart’) is in the right place, and we’re mostly on the same page.

    Now abot your current dip, don’t worry, it’ll get better. Just make sure Trump stays alive so we don’t get Pence…

  34. Just stopped by the thank you for your post on Facebook Wil. I wholeheartedly understand the grief you’re going through right now. Stay strong. We love you.

  36. Will, I know you are stupidly busy & don’t check Facebook much, but I’ve sent you a couple of messages on there. If you get the chance to take a quick look it would be really appreciated. Much love. Wayne

  37. Sending good vibes to you. I’ve given myself permission not to pay attention to the media, because I know I just can’t. I’m still so … hopeless, hurt, frightened, depressed. I feel like I have a responsibility to be informed, but… I just can’t. Please take care of yourself, and know you’re not alone.

  38. A difficult time for many of us, to be sure. I’ve written several things here only to delete and start over. It seems as though anything I try to write comes across as trite.

  39. My best friend is losing his mind over this whole thing because he’s one of those who will probably be persecuted and so am I, both of us for similar but different reasons. With that being said, I’m scared myself for other different reasons. More angry than scared after the past few days. I work in a union plant, one that will probably leave town for a right to work state as soon as Dump and his administration take over. Mostly I’m angry because there are 600 people like me in this place working for the same company and half of them voted for him, even though they will probably lose their jobs and that he’s hurt their fellow union brothers and sisters in many of his business ventures. It’s selfish, inane and thoughtless what they’ve done.
    I feel what you’re going through. Saying what I feel and what I need to doesn’t come out the way I want it to this week since this happened. I almost started a screaming match the other night. So it’s hard to say anything at all. Considering that the opposing side is behaving very smugly and behaving badly as well by hurting other people. Our side isn’t behaving much better either at this point, but at least we’re not beating the hell out of muslims or black people.

  40. If you need to decompress,I have a spare room.Small,but all anyone needs for a few days. You and yours are welcome up here.Newfoundland is a nice place. Just as long as you all can get along with cats and a dog. 🙂

  41. I’ve been following your blog and tweets for what must be a couple of years now, Wil. And like all of us, you have gone through the good and the bad these last few years, and in your case, have done so with humanity and grace. I know it’s hard right now. I don’t think I can fully imagine how hard. I’m not American, but I have a lot of friends who live in the US, and I understand how the politics of your country impact and effect the rest of the world. I care though, and I have depression and anxiety, and the latter is certainly hit hard right now in concern for my loved ones. Needless to say, I feel you, Wil. You guys should take a holiday, get outside your sphere. Travel some place far away for a little while.

  42. Yeah I know…. What bothered me more than Donald Trump winning the presidency were 2 elements (1) The Republicans maintained control of both the Senate and the House and (2) There is 1/2 of this country that I neither truly know or understand. Part of me (the naive/child part) expects Donald Trump to stand up and say “punked”. Since that is not going to happen, Americans have at least 4 years to try to understand one another and learn that compromise and logic are not dirty words. Keep blogging Wil Wheaton, keep blogging.

    1. –> “Since that is not going to happen, Americans have at least 4 years to try to understand one another and learn that compromise and logic are not dirty words.”

      Really? So how come they were dirty words these last 8 years? How come when people wanted to be heard, wanted people to think (logically and not emotionally), and were willing to compromise on things, they were treated like dirt themselves?

      Now that the shoe is on the other foot, are you afraid that it will be used to kick you like we have been kicked? Some people may do that. Others are willing to do to you what they wanted you to do to them….treat them like human beings. Treat them with respect and try to listen and understand one another. Why was it so hard to do these last 8 years but now seems to be something that is worth trying?

      Someone had mentioned doing some introspection. A lot of us have been doing that these last 8 years. Now it is your turn, and all I can say is “Welcome to the club.” You will get a lot of questions from us, but that’s OK. You have asked us the same questions these past 8 years as well. In some respects, you are behind us in the introspection thing. In other respects, we still have introspecting to do as well.

      But know this…these questions/challenges are meant to be learning tools for EVERYONE. Hopefully, we all will be better for it in the end.

  43. Hey man, I understand what you’re going through. I mostly use Facebook, and I’ve been going through a “blocking” spree over the last several days in order to try and Make Facebook Great Again. Actually, I think I blocked too many people, the app won’t let me comment anymore even though I haven’t commented much BECAUSE I don’t have much nice to say. But I’m also trying to post resources for people to get to to try and do what they can. Passport and immigration stuff for those so inclined, and now local party stuff so people know how to get involved. I have a very negative outlook because of my depression and anxiety issues and because I have a family of four and we have to live paycheck to paycheck, but I’m going to try to at least present the illusion of positivity until I can convince myself to be so. I’ve lost faith in my country, but maybe things will get better.
    I wish we could meet sometime, but I never get out to places where you go. We have a lot in common except you have more drive and are less beaten down.
    Anyway, try to make the best of things. That’s all anybody can do.

  45. Still working on grief, and sometimes anger, but that gets rwal scary real fast. Trying to be extea-gentle with everyone. Offering a tentative, non-invasive because you don’t know me from Adam’s housecat ((hug)) to stand in while the tempest shakes.

  46. For Wil: Just take care of yourself. Feel the endorphins when you exercise. Find some sweet clean air to breathe. Savor the taste of your favorite food. Reread your favorite inspirational book and rewatch your favorite hilarious movie. Hug your wife and your kids and every friend that tolerates hugs. Actually, that’s good advice for everyone, except for hugging Wil’s wife and kids.

    For everyone: I’ve come to think of the election this way.

    Hillary Clinton had a job interview. She provided a long list of glowing references. A lot of the hiring managers ignored her references and called up their old buddies Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh, who told them that Hillary was on the No Hire List, but that they knew another guy who was a MUCH better “culture fit” for the company.

    Trump is the visible 10% of the iceberg. The hidden 90% is the vast mass of ignorance and misapprehension that has been deliberately fostered by powerful media personalities and the corporations that back them. It’s not that so many Americans are evil or stupid — they just fell in with the wrong crowd. (There definitely is plenty of evil and stupid out there — it just wasn’t enough to elect Trump without a LOT of help.)

    To end on a positive note: Are you planning to push back? Then tell the world, and be prepared for an enormous roar of ME TOO! in response.

  49. Hi Wil! I’ve popped over here after reading your honest Facebook post. I live in the UK, where I feel like we got the ball rolling with on all this ridiculousness with Brexit, and that somehow made it okay for a cartoon villain to be considered presidential. I’m pretty terrified right now too, and I’m white middle-class (although female, so not a real human…). Just know that you’re one of the people I always enjoy hearing from, and it helps me to know I’m not lone in feeling this way. We (your fans) are here for you, and we 100% appreciate that you’re angry right now, we all are, so never apologise for it. We’re here now, and we’ll still be here when your brain figures out a way to deal with what’s going on <3

  50. If this is really about the election, you need to ask yourself some questions. What was it you missed that the winning side saw? Because either most of the country is insane or there is something you did not consider. It could be most of the country is insane but if that is the case, there isn’t much to do but make the best of it. There is no point feeling down about it.

    Best case scenario, you missed something and the system works preventing your mistake.

    Worst case scenario, the world has gone crazy and their is a lot of work to do. Feeling despair about it doesn’t help. Snap out of it and do the best you can.

    1. Wow. What a helpful comment.

      Also “What was it you missed that the winning side saw… it could be that most of the country is insane….” ignores the fact that MOST of the country actually voted for the person that lost. I don’t know if Wil’s disquiet is based on the election or not, although I think it’s fair to suspect that it is. Regardless, telling someone to “snap out of it” is generally unhelpful based on my observation and experience, particularly when that outlook on things is based on a factually inaccurate set of presumptions.

      1. Unfortunately “MOST” means only 47.28% of the ~55% of those capable of casting a vote … The fact that 45% of those eligible to vote couldn’t be bothered to go and vote is much more troubling and sad than the election results.

        1. Mike, you hit the nail on the head. It is the 45% who didn’t vote that let down the country, not those who voted for the now President-elect.

          The one thing I have learnt over Wil over the years is when I am feeling down I get some of my best mates over and just play games. Through Wil I have been able to expand my genre of games from Milton Bradley to a whole raft of exciting game developers. It is by far the one thing in my week I look forward too the most. It allows me to immerse myself in a land/time/story that I couldn’t do any other way.

          I hope you are feeling better soon Wil. I miss you.

      2. Honestly, I didn’t see it coming either. Rural America decided to come out and vote. That’s what lost it for us, that and probably a lot of people thought it was in the bag and decided not to bother. My home state of Michigan, which is normally Blue came out Red this time, as did my new state of Wisconsin. In Michigan, it’s Detroit that carries the state. Michigan is decidedly not Blue outside of that area. It’s a loss. We’ve got a crazy man in the White House. We’ve got to live with it for 4 years, and try to get him out after that. The Electoral college is fucked up beyond repair, and this isn’t a Democracy we live in, a Republic. As much as I’d like to believe our votes count, they don’t as much as we’d like to think.

        🙁 Not happy about the results either, but will live with it, and then we can all say we told you so when the shit hits the fan.

    2. Wil I’ve never commented on your blog before but I know the cycle that’s going on in your head. You’ve been impacted by the election in a lot of complex ways. The mind can only work through so much. Distractions don’t do much but helping others does. It isn’t altruistic but it is mutually beneficial.

    3. The one thing we all need to do is take the actions we were expecting our president to take. Don’t just take a stand for what you believe in–take actions and make it come true.

      Personally, I’m going to start the fight for one-person-one-vote. We no longer need an electoral college. We actually didn’t need it when it came into being–it was one of the compromises to keep the United States united. I also feel we’ve lost our beliefs as a New World–where we are open to newness. Our gov. was an experiment to begin with and we need to treat it as such–and change one of the parameters. We, lastly, need to stop disenfranchising people. Not that getting rid of the electoral college will do that completely, but it’s an important start in giving us all our own voice.

      2. Your understanding of the electoral college is lacking. It is the electoral college that gives a voice to voters in 46 of the smaller states and that enable them to have an impact on the election and policy. Without the electoral college, candidates would focus on just getting votes in the 4 largest states: California, Texas, New York and Florida.

    4. What kind of jackass says snap out of it in this situation, particularly to someone who has a history of dealing with depression?

    5. I’m 56. This has happened before many times. Election results are a like a big pendulum. 20% of the US is far right, 20% is far left with 60% in the center. The overall policies swing a bit in one direction and the center corrects that swing 4-8 years later in the other direction. Trumps election will not change the USA too much. There will be a few hundred miles of wall constructed, a few million criminal illegal aliens deported, a conservative judge or two replaced, some drilling or fracking on federal land, less subsidies for renewables and less money spent on climate research which is incredibly biased and redundant. Maybe we end up involved in fewer wars. Aren’t we fighting in 5 places under Obama? In the end, the lives of 99% of the citizens of the USA will be minimally affected or perhaps economically improved. 4-8 years later things may swing back the other way. Its not something to lose your mind over.

    6. “Voice of Reason” my ass. You’re the least helpful person (and least reasonable) I’ve ever seen. Have some fucking compassion. I’m sure the results of this election won’t hurt you at all, but maybe think for ten seconds about people that aren’t safe? It wasn’t a case of “same thing if either side wins.” Have you not noticed the HATE CRIMES ALL OVER THE NEWS? Or are you too white to care?

      Also, don’t you fucking dare tell someone with a mental illness to just “get over it.” Fuck off with that noise. Especially since calls to the national suicide prevention hotline were at an all time high the night after the election. So yeah, “Voice of Reason.” Something is really fucking wrong.

      1. You do realize that hate crimes have been on the rise for at least the past three years. But this is The newly elected fault? WE are all being played by the rich controlling the media.
        Its funny how we are all so weak now that a half truth pushes our buttons. Of all the people in this blog I am the most qualified, to comment. I have worked with the lame duck President the former Sec of State. That side didn’t have your back ever. At best they threw you a bone every so often.. Neither of you are helping Wil out.. So just take a time out. Wil, I don’t know you, I dont know if its a temporary or persistent issue that you are struggling. I will say tomorrow the sun will rise. You are loved, Family, fans, friends. You have not let any of them down. Sometimes standing still is just as important as moving forward or retreating to safety. Sharon the cat, and others. We are all guilty especially the last twelve months, of flying off the handle and making global statements based upon a few sentences. Sharon is upset and lashes out with profanity and being offensive. While she complains about the other side being offensive. Realize we are all on the same planet.. We are not going any where soon.. Being offensive, demonstrative, and rude doesnt work. So dont fall into that.. Ok Wil so I am going to ask a Star Trek question. I have alluded to in this post. Did the people of Earth actually develop warp technology. To get away from Donald Trump?

    7. @Voice of reason

      Sure Trump voters had reason to be angry. They voiced their anger by having a temper tantrum. Working class southern and rust belt folks committed an act of vandalism against our political system and truly screwed themselves while stabbing their country in the back. They elected a man with no military experience, not governing experience, and no interest in public service, who declared bankruptcy six times according to snopes and politifact. Many of them based their votes on the poor information available from the TV and radio. Many of them have no idea exactly how big a lie Trump got away with when he promised to “self-fund” his campaign.

      The big lie: Trump made loans to his campaign. In reality it was financed by Sheldon Adelson, superpacs, and the RNC. Trump cheats his customers, suppliers, and called for the deaths of five innocent men in the case of the Central Park Five. Trump voters are about to get a hard lesson in what happens when you shirk your duty to be an informed participant in your democracy and instead throw crap at it.

      Most of the voters “Voice of reason”? Really? When the counting is done, Clinton voters are likely to out number feces throwers by two million. “No puppet. No puppet. You’re the puppet.” — donald 2016

      How eloquent.

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