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> This is a rationalization of regret, it's not the result of a new decision-making process. You're missing the point. These voters chose him despite those wea

> This is a rationalization of regret, it's not the result of a new decision-making process. You're missing the point. These voters chose him despite those weaknesses because they prioritized other issues more highly. Their decision making processes involved looking at both pro's and con's and the other pro's outweighed those con's. Making the blanket assumption that a vote for a candidate is an endorsement of _all_ of their positions is exactly what the quotes in the post complain about.

emsy 10y ago
Not only that but it doesn't make sense. Would protest voters really think the winner of the election cares if he/she won with 51% or 80%? I think the protest voting interpretation is an uncharitable one, because it assumes spite, ignorance and political illiteracy. I'm under the impression the media seems to amplify the remorseful voices, which makes you believe there's a huge regret on the winning side. Also there was a vast "What have you done?" tune following Trump/Brexit. No wonder people are think they've done something terrible.
ajross 10y ago
> These voters chose him despite those weaknesses That's not what the quote says though. The "lose all respect" bit says to my ears like these are decisive issues to this voter. They just weren't in November.
mildbow 10y ago
I might be missing the point, but a lot of the responses sound emotion driven, with the overwhelming emotion being the fear of change. So, it seems patronizing to attribute any sort pro/con formalism. Basically, Trump has a lot of fear driven rhetoric, and if you heard one of your fears, then regardless of the validity, you felt that someone was taking your side.
- trobertson 10y ago
  > a lot of the responses sound emotion driven, with the overwhelming emotion being the fear of change. I got a different fear out of it. They are afraid that their current circumstances are going to be permanent. The majority of Trump voters have awful circumstances. Many regions within the USA are effectively third world. People don't have drinkable water. People don't have internet, or even phones. People don't have transportation. People live on oxy (an addictive opioid), because that's all they have. Hillary promised them more of the same, and that terrified them.
bonzini 10y ago
But why would they "lose all respect" now, if they didn't during the election period?
- praneshp 10y ago
  They lost some, but not all. Or something like that.
- antisthenes 10y ago
  Because the presidency and the election period are different things? You vote based on your expectations of their actions in the former and not the latter.

emsy 10y ago

Not only that but it doesn't make sense. Would protest voters really think the winner of the election cares if he/she won with 51% or 80%? I think the protest voting interpretation is an uncharitable one, because it assumes spite, ignorance and political illiteracy. I'm under the impression the media seems to amplify the remorseful voices, which makes you believe there's a huge regret on the winning side. Also there was a vast "What have you done?" tune following Trump/Brexit. No wonder people are think they've done something terrible.

ajross 10y ago

> These voters chose him despite those weaknesses That's not what the quote says though. The "lose all respect" bit says to my ears like these are decisive issues to this voter. They just weren't in November.

mildbow 10y ago

I might be missing the point, but a lot of the responses sound emotion driven, with the overwhelming emotion being the fear of change. So, it seems patronizing to attribute any sort pro/con formalism. Basically, Trump has a lot of fear driven rhetoric, and if you heard one of your fears, then regardless of the validity, you felt that someone was taking your side.

trobertson 10y ago
> a lot of the responses sound emotion driven, with the overwhelming emotion being the fear of change. I got a different fear out of it. They are afraid that their current circumstances are going to be permanent. The majority of Trump voters have awful circumstances. Many regions within the USA are effectively third world. People don't have drinkable water. People don't have internet, or even phones. People don't have transportation. People live on oxy (an addictive opioid), because that's all they have. Hillary promised them more of the same, and that terrified them.

bonzini 10y ago

But why would they "lose all respect" now, if they didn't during the election period?

praneshp 10y ago
They lost some, but not all. Or something like that.
antisthenes 10y ago
Because the presidency and the election period are different things? You vote based on your expectations of their actions in the former and not the latter.