This is my 5th Presidential election cycle at DU

[jaysunb]

Nothing changes...people are all over the place during the primary and angry and fractured when their choice fails. Feelings get hurt and wounds seem to never heal, and I suspect some people sit out the general afterwards. There's a reason we have a rule about fighting old battles.

Let's hope Trump will inspire us to repeat the 2018 blue wave by putting our energy into getting whomever gets the nomination elected.

rant off

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. the 16 primary wars pushed me away from DU for a long time

[democrattotheend]

3. Same

And even moreso, the way they went on after the election was over. I got so sick of Bernie supporters being painted with a broad brush and blamed for Hillary losing, even though I think the vast majority of us on DU did support her in the general, along with the vast majority of the people who voted for Bernie in the primaries.

I also stayed away from anything political for a while because I was just flat out depressed after 2016. I still can't stomach watching much TV news.

[PatSeg]

4. 2016 was the worst that I've seen

but now we known that there was a lot interference in that election season. Though passions still run high during primary season, I think people are more aware and informed this time. Its still early, but so far it has been pretty civil.

[Squinch]

2. Perhaps the act of discussing the candidates solidifies

our positions and makes us more immovable.

I don't remember being all invested this early in the process before I started on DU.

There's one candidate I really don't like. I think he's divisive and I really don't think he can possibly win the general. I'm trying to keep an open mind about the others. All I want is for us to win.

[Wednesdays]

5. I'm not angry or fractured

For what it's worth.