You think you have it bad. I live about a mile from Lake Travis - the lake where the Trump supporters had their big boat regatta (and a bunch of the boats sank). I went to the grocery store yesterday, and it was taken over by a bunch of semi-illiterate folks in sleeveless American flag shirts and Maga hats buying crappy beer.

I'm pretty sure I'm going to vote blue for the first time in my life. Both candidates scare me, but Trump is certifiable. I can't tell anyone. My dh would likely leave me and if anybody in this tiny town found out I'd be lucky not to be attacked in the streets. I hate both parties, but there's never been a "right time" to vote independent either. I hate everything about this.

I've been distancing myself from my best friend over the past year. She's become a hardcore republican Trump supporter and has some major ego issues. She and I just don't jive well anymore and I'm at the point in my life where I want authenticity. She recently found out that a girl from my job came over to hang out and ended up losing her shit at me. She hangs out with different friends all the time, and I've never cared, but apparently, when I do it I'm Satan. Safe to say this friendship is over.

I agree that the Clintons need to just go away. But there is no way you can say the Republicans are anything but an embarrassment. I tend to vote Republican (although I didn't vote for Trump). But I am absolutely going to vote straight Democrat this time. No way am I supporting any of them right now. And attitudes like this is exactly why. "Thugs" aren't out of control; you are just falling victim to the Republican propaganda. Wake up. Republicans only care about their own bank accounts.

But Trump could have not downplayed it. He could have spoken out against the governors who were opening bars and the people who were going to them. He could have told people that they need to stay home, and they need to wear a mask. But he didn't. Instead, he said," Let's re-open." He openly dismissed wearing a mask. It was going to just go away, remember? He is our leader. He is supposed to be the one who keeps Americans safe. Instead, he just flat out lied about the virus and it's numbers and completely ignored experts so the economy would suffer so much and he wouldn't look bad. He told American to go out, not wear a mask, etc. People listened to him because they falsely believe that he actually cares about their well being.

I hate what Trumpism has done to this country. I'm fucking livid about it. I've never felt so helpless. He's just fucking over everyone. The only people who still support him are mentally ill, racist, or billionaire CEOs.

I fail to understand how a woman talking about her father dying of COVID can blame that on Trump. Her own elected governor allowed bars to re open and her dad was foolish enough to go to a karaoke bar. We have responsibility to take care of ourselves. We have to figure out what is safe for US, not listen to politicians. We need to constantly assess our situations and not be stupid. If we are stupid, then don't blame it on some guy somewhere else. You have free will.

My takeaway from the Democrat convention. Hillary Clinton speaking was unnecessary. No one cares what a failed presidential candidate has to say, especially a Clinton. Her husband had some nerve talking about Trump's behavior in the oval office. Like.... WHAT???? When his own behavior in office was disgusting, scandalous and let's see what happened on Jeffrey Epstein's plane, okay, Billy? Obama's speech was polished, for a change. He eliminated some of the uhs and duhs that his talking style is known for. But the speech had no substance. It was designed to criticize Trump but offered no substantial ideas for changing our country. Thugs are out of control, big cities are rioting, they're trying to get rid of the police who are the people who can help, and we listen to two Black-privileged Obamas mouthing platitudes? Dems displayed a pointless exercise in trying to tear down the present administration but offered nothing to put in its place. Now let's see what the Republicans say.

My dad hates Trump, like me. My mom is not the most mentally stable person, and she definitely falls into the category of "crazy Trumpet." I was asking my dad about how badly the deferment of the payroll tax is going to hurt me at the end of the year. We weren't bashing Trump at all; my dad, an account, was explaining to me what the tax deferment means to me, and the rest of the country. My mom suddenly exploded and started cussing and freaking out. She stormed out of the room after telling me and my dad to fuck off. It was just so insane and volatile. My dad said she did the same thing to my sister last week. I'm going to stay away from her until after the election.

How do you swap parties? I live in a small town, and the poll people have always just handed me the republican ballot without asking. Which was fine, but now... i don't want to vote for Trump or Biden. But I don't want to vote for Trump. He's certifiable. I wish they would just hand you one ballot with everyone from all the parties on it and leave you to it. Or are presidential elections different from the other ones? I can't remember, tbh.