One thing to keep in mind is that a lot of Trump voters were duped. They saw the election as between a brilliant but flawed businessman and a criminal who put keeping her secrets before national security rather than an insane and flawed grifter and a mainstream Democrat who just wants to carry one phone.

I don't want to this to trunk into a debate about Trump regret voters.

My therapist wasnt marginalizing my feelings and I never felt like that. And it's kind of his job to challenge me on certain things.

Unexpected amusement of the day: I had to look up what "AMPA" stands for (it's a brain receptor dealie), but it ALSO stands for "American Mini Pig Association."

I really wish my article were about the latter instead of the former.

felt they had no choice

Since this is straight up bullshit, I have no sympathy.

And duped? No.

Self-duped maybe. But Trump almost unique among radical politicians is exactly who he appears to be. And is doing exactly what he said he would. On the few points where this isn't true - say, replacing ACA with something EVEN BETTER - it was transparent as hell that he was full of shit. .

I do feel like encouraging people who voted for Trump but now feel like that is a mistake that it's not too late to do right. It's not about forgiveness, more not letting the past rule the present.

It kind of is, though.

I'm not saying they can't do right in the future, or we won't want and need them down the line. But the damage that is being done now won't be fixed for many years, if ever. Nothing that happens in 2018 or 2020 will change that.

On the few points where this isn't true - say, replacing ACA with something EVEN BETTER - it was transparent as hell that he was full of shit.

I don't know that it was that transparent to his supporters. I suspect that many of his supporters (and elected R's for that matter) have heard so much about how horrible the ACA is from their news sources that they assume that if you dig into the policy you're going to find something terrible that can be replaced to make it much, much better. Right now I think the elected R's are discovering that there is no heart of darkness in the ACA, just a bunch of very difficult compromises.

I don't know that it was that transparent to his supporters.

Let's not forget that people are very stupid.

Nothing that happens in 2018 or 2020 will change that.

2018 is going to be really hard for the Dems. I think they are defending something like 25 seats out of the 33 in the Senate and the way districts are drawn is going to make gains in the House difficult. I also think we're going to see a big push to suppress the vote in Dem heavy areas. I think there's a good chance that 2020 won't be a legit election.

I don't disagree, brenda, the damage has certainly been done and I don't want to gloss that over. Kinda like that saying about planting trees; the best time to oppose neo-fascist authoritarianism is 20 years ago, the second best time is today.

I've started posting political stuff on Facebook recently, too. No blowback so far, and an 80-something friend of my parents has been liking a lot of it, which is a pleasant surprise.