The Great Divide

i have never been involved in anything that is as decisive as this presidential election. Friends and family are pitted against each other. Social media has become a battlefield, leaving a ton of scarred and bloody remains. I have had more than my share of verbal cannon fodder, and I am at my wits end. The stress and anxiety is incredibly draining. The prospect of my candidate losing is sickening, and each day, the news wavers between possible victors. It is my belief that Donald Trump is dangerous. Not only is he unqualified to run a country, but his temperament and ideas on foreign policy are scary.

People feel the same about Hillary Clinton. No one on either side will listen to the other. There is much conjecture. My thoughts are that Trump has actually said and done things on tape that cannot be disclaimed. Mocking a disabled reporter: http://www.cnn.com/videos/tv/2015/11/26/donald-trump-mocks-reporter-with-disability-berman-sot-ac.cnn

Flippant remarks about the use of nuclear weapons: https://thinkprogress.org/9-terrifying-things-donald-trump-has-publicly-said-about-nuclear-weapons-99f6290bc32a#.4cfzs2hid

His remarks concerning women: http://www.cosmopolitan.com/politics/news/a44629/donald-trump-insults-women/

His friendship with the Clintons: http://elitedaily.com/news/politics/donald-trump-hillary-clinton-friends/1619008/

Even more troubling, Russia: http://time.com/4433880/donald-trump-ties-to-russia/

When Obama won in 2008, the Republicans in Congress said that they would have preferred Hillary had won, and that they would have been able to work with her better. But now they are saying that if she wins, they will block her Supreme Court nominations for her term. Look at how they've blocked many of Obama's choices and proposals. If the Democrats don't take back Congress and She wins, same thing. If Trump wins and GOP remains in control, I shudder to think.

I am a registered Republican. Reagan was the last Republican I voted for. My eyes were open to any candidate this year, even given my respect and support for Hillary Clinton. The GOP had NOBODY of any worth presented to us. Ted Cruz was worse than Trump in my opinion. I was happy to see him go. I liked Bernie Sanders alright, but knew that his ideas were not going to be met with resounding support from DNC, and that they were putting their money on Clinton. Right or wrong, that is how it went. Sanders wasn't strong enough to win in their eyes. I wish the GOP had found better candidates. I would have liked to have been challenged. Trump made it easy. He has ignited racism, sexism, and many things that have been long gone in our country. Well, racism has never completely died unfortunately, as is sexism, but the firestorm he is creating is not good. I have too many friends that are affected by this. Friends of different races. LGBTQ friends. Friends who rely on Planned Parenthood. What happens to them? What's the plan for healthcare. You just don't say repeal the ACA without a real plan.

Every day it seems that I get into "it" on social media with people that I consider friends. Even family. I can't understand their supporting Trump, they don't understand my support of Clinton. I don't care. This man is not qualified. Hillary Clinton has been a senator, A first lady, and a Secretary of State, with more air miles logged than many of her predecessors: https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/fact-checker/post/hillary-clintons-overseas-diplomacy-versus-other-secretaries-of-state/2013/01/08/742f46b2-59f3-11e2-9fa9-5fbdc9530eb9_blog.html

At this point I have little or no respect for Trump supporters. Many are friends, so I'm sorry. I probably don't have much respect from them either. If he wins and there is success, I will be first in line to say I was wrong. I have yet to see or understand what he has shown to prove he should be president. Why? because he is not a "politician?" I'm sorry, but he has had many failures in business and has shown his temperament to be that of a spoiled child. I like what Tom Hanks said. If I needed a root canal, would I go to the guy that says, "I haven't done one before, but I think I could do a good job. So lie down and let me see what I can do." Or you go to the person that has done thousands before and knows what they're doing.

I'm not religious. If so, I would pray awfully hard for Hillary Clinton to win. Right now her odds are at about 88%. I'll take it. Either way, a week from tonight, there will be a new president. Let's hope America makes the right choice.