I am really starting to get worried about November.

[GaYellowDawg]

I'm worried that the polls are not reflective of the real numbers. I'm worried that, as in 2016, Trump voters will lie and call themselves undecideds in polling, and vote for Trump on Election Day. I'm worried that Trump will screw with the Post Office enough to throw off the mail-in ballot numbers. I'm afraid that all the usual Republican election cheats will allow Trump to squeak out a tiny margin in battleground states and take the election.

I'm worried that even if Biden does manage an electoral victory, that Trump will throw the country into an absolute state of upheaval and that all those crazy fuckers with long guns who were protesting the lockdown will be out looking for targets. I'm worried that Trump will send out his goons to cities and have those crazy fuckers join with them for his own private army. I'm worried that the police will just stand by and watch it all happen. I'm worried that our armed forces will just stand by and let it happen. I'm worried that there will be open warfare in cities all across America and that it could mark the end of our democracy.

Someone tell me I'm wrong. Please.

[BlueTsunami2018]

1. I'm concerned that they've already rigged it.

Like they did in ‘16.

That’s why he feels he can just do or say anything without any repercussions.

[LiberalArkie]

10. Probably have, including the mail in ballots. They end up being tabulated with the same machines.

What they don't want is a manual recount, like Gores. It would show up then.

[rzemanfl]

2. Don't feel like the Lone Ranger. n/t

[Loki Liesmith]

3. The polls were quite accurate in 2016.

If they are as accurate again this year Biden wins easily.

[former9thward]

37. They were not accurate.

All the polls predicted a Clinton victory. Clinton expected to win easily.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

52. She did. In terms of the popular vote. However, it's the Electoral College that actually

matters. It does seem as if Ms. Clinton overlooked that detail.

[former9thward]

54. The Clinton campaign team wanted to get to 400 electoral votes.

I don't know if their contracts gave them a bonus if they got to that number or not. But they had her campaigning in impossible to win states like Arizona, Texas and Georgia while largely ignoring the upper Midwest. They forgot they had to get 270 before they could get 400.

[Demsrule86]

77. None of what you say is true...so stop. Clinton did not ignore the Mid West.

[former9thward]

80. She did not even make one stop in Wisconsin.

And she did campaign in states which could not be won. So you stop.

[betsuni]

85. Bernie Sanders did, for Hillary.

[BannonsLiver]

84. +1

Ignore the defeatists spewing defeatist nonsense. Bless their little defeatist hearts.

[Demsrule86]

76. Yes they were where she was in mid July within the margin of error is where we ended up

She won the popular vote remember and Trump barely eked out a victory in three states...right now things look great and historically ...where a presidential nominee is in mid July in terms of support is where they end up in November. We also had Comey coming in at the last moment...I really think some are not seeing the true picture of where we are. We are in a good place...if it holds...landslide territory.

[StevieM]

78. The polls were accurate. Then the polls changed.

James Comey turned that entire election upside down.

[LakeArenal]

4. Not me. 2020 is not 2016.20

Biden is way more popular. Congress at least is watching for Russian intervention.

Trump is a disaster. As are his minions.
Joe is winning everything.

Even Justice Roberts knows it’s over for Dump.

[Thekaspervote]

12. Thank you!! A voice of sanity

Stay alert, but please let’s not go negative... please

[Stuart G]

36. Trump is a ."..GIANT DISASTER" A LIAR AND A BULLY. Trump will lose.

[marlakay]

5. I think a bunch of us are thinking that

And too afraid to voice it for fear it will be real.

I think we all expected our side to put up more of a fight instead of just letting it happen. Obama said we have to be the change. Thats why everyone is out on the streets in Portland.

[Hoyt]

6. Not concerned about what he might do if he loses. I am concerned

people won’t show up like in 2016. Other than that, we should win big.

The Post Office is not going to delay mail more than a day or so. So, don’t wait until last minute. trump’s goons aren’t going to stop people from voting.

[Poiuyt]

7. I could see Trump cheating if he were only down a couple of points

If his numbers continue to go down, then I think it will be too large a margin for everyone to assume the polls were wrong.

[badseedboy]

8. The difference from 2016

is that we expect cheating and Russian collusion in 2020. I can only hope that this sharpens our senses to early attempts at the sorts of fraud that I couldn't have imagined in 2016.

[quickesst]

9. I think Joe Biden is right

Biden 'absolutely convinced' military would escort Trump from White House if he loses and refuses to leave
By Sarah Mucha and Eric Bradner, CNN

Still, Biden said Wednesday, he believes if Trump has lost the election, military leaders would not allow him to refuse to leave office.
Saying he was "so damn proud" of the military leaders who have recently criticized Trump, Biden continued, "you have so many rank and file military personnel saying, well, we're not a military state, this is not who we are. I promise you, I'm absolutely convinced, they will escort him from the White House in a dispatch."

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/11/politics/joe-biden-donald-trump-military-white-house/index.html

[Thekaspervote]

13. Amen to that! I don't think Biden just says stuff...I really don't

[quickesst]

53. here's what I personally think

The military is sworn to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States of America. Like Joe Biden, I believe they will carry out that duty, if necessary, on January 20th, 2021.

I am taking into account what recently retired generals, who are free to speak publicly now, are saying. I would be hard-pressed to believe those opinions differ much among active-duty generals who are not free to speak publicly.

[brooklynite]

11. Might as well give up then?

Really no point if it's hopeless?

[GaYellowDawg]

17. Hell no, I'm not giving up.

I don't react to fear by giving up. I react to fear with action. I've been donating to candidates. I voted in the primary. I'll vote in the election. I'll be involved with the local Democratic Party doing everything I can to elect Democrats in every office down the ballot. I'm in a deep red state, so none of my efforts will change anything, but it doesn't mean I won't sit around.

Those of us who live in red states live with frustration, fear, and anxiety all the time at what the MAGAts around us will vote for. You're safe in your blue state. Don't look down on those of us that live in enemy territory, or the fact that we can't help but despair at times.

[uponit7771]

26. Facing and planning for reality is the opposite of giving up

[brooklynite]

31. I absolutely agree...

...with an emphasis on reality, not conspiracy theories and nightmares.

[obamanut2012]

62. except these type of OPs are not reality

They are literally CTs.

[uponit7771]

65. Only if one were to give Red Don the benefit of the doubt, I don't believe he deserves ANY AT ALL

[JI7]

68. Exactly, how do these help in any way ?

it's one thing if people have suggestions but usually it's just "but what if they/we don't/do this" over and over again.

[cayugafalls]

14. Keep working hard. Do all you can to help elect Joe Biden.

That will help with your anxiety. Breathe deep, relax.

I had to calm my father down the other day. He was very upset with all the news. It happens.

Try to have some faith in the process. We will have to work hard and make sure we win.

Do what you can. Vote.

Be well.

[ProfessorGAC]

15. What's Your Basis For Your Poll Doubts

Per Newsweek, November 1, 2016, HRC had a 2.5% - 3% lead in the aggregated polls.
She won by 2+%.
She never had an aggregated double digit lead, and in only one poll did she have a double digit lead that was in excess of the undecideds. (Based upon another DUer finding it, I think it was Gallup or CNN)
Biden has an aggregated 10 point lead with around 6% undecided.
Also, there's no volatility caused by convention bumps this year. The conventions will be modest, virtual affairs and won't dominate news & analysis as they did in 2016.
So, the polls were actually correct in 2016, the same companies are running these polls now, the R was an unknown commodity whose abilities and lack thereof are now well known, and the Rs are not only less united but there are Rs actively campaigning against the incumbent.
What is the basis of your disbelief?

[former9thward]

38. Everyone predicted a Clinton electoral victory. Everyone.

Including on DU. What was your prediction? Yes, the polls were wrong. They predicted a Clinton victory in the swing states.

[totodeinhere]

47. You are right. Almost everybody at DU was absolutely certain that Clinton would win.

And if anyone dared mention the possibility that Clinton might not win they would almost get their head bit off.

[ProfessorGAC]

55. Sure They Did

With a 2.5% lead and several states as tossups, any prediction was little more than a coin flip.
But, you knew that.

[Kaleva]

16. I imagine you have well thought out plans to deal with this in case it comes to pass

What are they?

When faced with with what one perceives to be a very serious threat, the Fight or Fight response is part of our nature. The greater the perceived threat, the greater and more vigorous the response.

[GaYellowDawg]

18. I don't have plans.

It seems pointless when there's no telling what will happen.

[Kaleva]

21. A person who is really worried will take some kind of action. Making plans and such.

I am concerned about fire safety so I installed smoke detectors on every floor, carbon monoxide detectors in the living room and master bedroom, a fire extinguisher in the basement, kitchen and master bedroom and we have an emergency fire escape ladder in our master bedroom which is on the 2nd floor.

I do not know if there ever will be a house fire but I'm as prepared as much as possible.

I also do not know if there will be another statewide shutdown because of COVID-19 but I'm stocked with food and supplies for at least 45 days in case.

[GaYellowDawg]

40. You can't plan for a situation with this many variables.

You just can't. If you think you can game out every possible scenario for this election, and prepare for each scenario, then I'd like to hear all of the alternatives that you think would happen, and what someone living in a red state should do. I'm thinking it'll be as long a read as a Victor Hugo novel.

[Kaleva]

70. There are really only two scenarios

One is that Biden wins the election, is sworn in and takes over as president and the other is that Biden doesn't assume office on Jan 20th 2021.

What's your plan for the latter situation?

[totodeinhere]

48. If Trump does win again there will be nothing to plan for.

This country will almost certainly be destroyed by 2024.

[Kaleva]

67. One can make definite plans on leaving the country.

[totodeinhere]

71. I guess so, but I don't think I can just pick up and leave the country on a whim.

And if the pandemic is still raging I probably would be denied entry.

[Kaleva]

72. You could certainly move to other parts of the country where people are more like you

[totodeinhere]

73. I live in Nevada which is rapidly becoming a blue state.

Both of our senators are Democrats. The governor is a Democrat. Both chambers of the legislature are controlled by the Democrats and all but one Congress person is a Democrat. It was not too long ago that we had a Republican governor and a Republican senator but not now.

[NurseJackie]

19. Negativity generates apathy.

Negativity generates apathy. Apathy discourages voter turnout. Low voter turnout gives Republicans a chance to steal the elections.

[Me.]

29. Quite

The sky is not falling

[NurseJackie]

30. It's a stressful time. Everyone wants reassurances. But sky-is-falling posts don't help.

[Me.]

33. ...

As for me, I no longer have a sense of humor, not a drop...

[GaYellowDawg]

41. That's why I'm saying that here.

No one here is going to be apathetic. There is zero, nada, zilch chance of anyone here skipping the vote in November. I wouldn't say this anywhere but here.

[Bettie]

57. Exactly, this is the one place where we can voice our fears

because everyone is presumably politically active and ready to get rid of MF45.

[writes3000]

20. I recommend therapy. Seriously.

Strangers on a message board aren’t going to be able to assuage your fears. Especially with the long list of fears you have. And you know that. So nurture yourself and see a therapist.

I’d also recommend taking some action. Sitting in fear is unhealthy. Taking positive steps to regain your sense of equilibrium and self destiny.

[Fiendish Thingy]

22. I fear for the chaos and destruction that lies ahead, but hopeful we will prevail nt

[JCMach1]

23. 2020 is closest to 1932... utter failure of leadership in a disaster... Gov. attacking the populace

(Bonus Army).

Massive housing/homeless crisis (beginning in August.. the next shoe to drop).

[msdogi]

24. Every day I remind myself of just how many people have been hurt by him

I am sure that every week, if not every day, there has been a person, a family or a community that he has insulted, cheated, lied to or generally shit on. And for the last 5 months, he has caused horrible misery in 150,000 families by his idiot and cruel maneuvers with this virus. He has consistently disparaged and demeaned all he does not consider worthy.
And all of his evil has been enabled, even cheered by all of the repuglicans in office. Many will face the voters with that in mind.
We can be sure they will do anything to keep their power, but if all the people who hate him vote, it's a landslide for us.
Yeah, we all thought Hilary was a shoo-in, and she did win the popular vote by a lot.
I am looking forward to Nov.

[A HERETIC I AM]

25. I think the American people have had just about enough of this clown show

Trumpy is a disgrace and rational Americans know it.

He is going to lose in the biggest landslide in history.

[GaYellowDawg]

43. I'll settle for a regular old landslide.

Anything that is convincing enough to make Trump's claims of fraud look stupid.

[A HERETIC I AM]

51. Can't disgree!

[calguy]

27. Relax on November Fourth

Until then, work your ass off like we're ten points down!

[lagomorph777]

63. Ten points down would be completely demoralizing. Many would give up or just shoot themselves.

Please don't say stuff like that.

[Journeyman]

28. "I am an old man," wrote Mark Twain near the end of his life. . . .

"I am an old man and have known many troubles, most of which never happened."

Focus on the troubles of the hour, GaYellowDawg. Deal with what we can accomplish today and let the morrow look out for itself. Consider the words of the Nazarene: "Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof." Or if you prefer, contemplate the aphorism of Lao Tzu: "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step."

Keep on trucking' my friend.

[GaYellowDawg]

44. That's a great quote

But I think it's human to despair from time to time.

[Journeyman]

50. Despair is very much an occasional human trait . . .

but what Twain was getting at was the futility of despair over issues we have no control upon, or which may untimately prove to have been baseless.

[Drunken Irishman]

32. You're worried because you're believing a lie about Trump voters in 2016.

This is your mistake.

Trump voters weren't some uncounted group of voters.

On election day, the average of polls had Trump at 43.6%. He finished with 46.1% nationally. That was only an increase of 2.5 points nationally. To contrast, Hillary went from an average of 46.8 in the polls, to finishing at 48.2, or an increase of 1.4 points. That means, Trump did essentially only one-point better than Hillary did in what the national polls indicated.

Currently, Biden is at 50% nationally. Trump is at 40.9%. For starters, Trump is actually doing 2.7 points worse right now in the polls than he was on election day, 2016. But assume he sees a similar bump (as does Biden compared to Hillary), the popular vote nationally would turn out to be:

Biden: 51.1
Trump: 43.4

He loses the popular vote by eight-points - which is the biggest loss for an incumbent president since 1980's Reagan vs Carter race.

It's a myth that Trump saw a massive surge of support that was undercounted in the polls.

No, what happened is that Trump saw a minor bump from undecideds, but most those undecideds went third party. They did not go to either Trump or Clinton.

Think about it this way: on election day, 2016, 9.6% of voters were either undecided or voting third party. Of that 9.6, Trump won, what, just 24% of those voters?

So, you're wrong about your first point. It's not factually true.

[GaYellowDawg]

74. Thank you for that summary.

It is definitely something to feel better about.

[Awsi Dooger]

34. I think Biden will win a close race

Grabbing the 4 states Hillary narrowly lost, plus perhaps Arizona. Coronavirus and George Floyd will combine to turn what would have been a narrow Trump win into a tight Biden victory.

And I'm not going to fret about that or ask what's wrong with the country. It is beyond hellish to oust an incumbent whose party has been in power only one term.

There will be plenty of anxious moments between now and November as the race naturally tightens. The only one I'm worried about is that first debate with the head to head impressions. That can shift matters. Biden needs to be energetic and not wobble through complicated responses. His advisors need to emphasize short emphatic responses. "He lies. He divides the country." Stuff like that would be plenty. Zero need to play policy wonk.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

56. Joe doesn't come off as a wonky person

He shoots more for the hip, which is what we'll need. Just remember that there are people out there who think Trump is awesome. And a lot of people who think he's just awful and terrible. Can't do much to shake the cult of personality around Trump, but anybody even *slightly* better and more coherent and more reasonable than Trump has got to look like a four-course gourmet dinner compared to Trump for most people. And gaffes aside, Joe is heck of a lot more likable than Trump is for most people. All Trump/GOP has at this point are lies and smears that aren't exactly sticking.

[Awsi Dooger]

66. I'll be more blunt about it

Biden has the slight stutter sometimes and it causes him to close his eyes and appear forgetful as he struggles to resume. That's what we can't afford...something that makes him old in relation to Trump. The media and GOP would jump all over that.

I wrote policy wonk solely because the tendency shows up most often when Biden is attempting long answers, no matter the topic. They aren't even policy answers sometimes. If he keeps going and going he can get in trouble once in a while. Keep it brief.

[Demsrule86]

92. We only need three states actually WI, MI and PA...but it won't be close. A close election won't

help us with the Senate...we have a president who has killed 150,000 Americans and more will die before November, he has destroyed the economy and caused civil unrest which he is blamed for. And we have won every election since that sorry POS was elected. We are in landslide territory...and I have to say that it seems those who supported other candidates have the most concern and doubts...I see the left (not meaning you) want Biden to win but not by that much as if he wins in a landslide, they feel they will have less influence and it is true.

Already, in the house we have 40 members from 18 who will have to be considered in any legislation. For example, I predict the ACA will be improved, subsidized properly and a public option will be added but we will not have MFA. If the left wants to expand their influence, they need to win hearts and minds of voters in red and purple states...playing musical chairs with safe blue seats won't help in this effort...and I really want it to happen. I am at heart as left as they come...the only difference is I can see what it takes to win elections...a big tent. Thus I look at all elections clear eyed and wish to expand the Democratic electorate in every election from dog catcher to president.

[Stuart G]

35. Trump has proved to everyone,...he is stupid, by saying, "It will go away after 5 people die"

"in a couple of weeks or so"................or something like that.

That will be part of our campaign, and he did say that...also, ..."We got it under control"
_________________________________________________________________________________________
He said that also......Those 2 lies will be played over and over..Trump will lose as bad as McGovern lost in 1972.
....I said so in early April, and I will say so again....(and when it happens, I will prove to you that I said that....in early April...)

[Stuart G]

39. YOU ARE WRONG...TRUMP DID NOT FOLLOW THE RULES: RULE ONE..DON'T LIE!!! ESPECIALLY

ABOUT VERY, VERY IMPORTANT EVENTS AND HAPPENINGS!!!!


(I got the feeling that that rule is somewhere else too????) ....
.......much more simple...Like, "Thou shall not lie"


Also, do you think that a whole lot of others are mad cause he lied about very important events?
............
...................................What do you think?...........

[GaYellowDawg]

42. I don't know.

There are a lot of people who aren't mad about his lies at all, because they've been convinced by Fox News that he doesn't lie.

[herding cats]

45. We need to vote in massive numbers in November!

If we don't, you're concerns might become reality. Just focus on GOTV and getting people to the polls. Literally, that's what's in our power right this moment. Let's wield it and do our parts, too.

[totodeinhere]

46. Maybe you worry too much. n/t

[GaYellowDawg]

75. Maybe I do.

It's not something I do constantly, but living in a deep red state can be overwhelming from time to time.

[totodeinhere]

94. But on the other hand, maybe you don't worry too much.

I hear you. I live in a county that went 73% for Trump in 2016. It probably won't be that much this time but I have no doubt that he will carry this county again. And since our congressional district was formed, it has never elected a Democratic congressional representative. It can be very stressful living here, but you have to go where the jobs are and this is where I ended up.

[dware]

82. More likely it will be a combination of Secret Service backed

by the U.S. Marshals Service, and these fine LEO's aren't known for their sense of humor.

[Demsrule86]

93. They will when President Biden tells them to do exactly that if it comes to this.

[ElementaryPenguin]

58. Trump is going to get CRUSHED! GOP will be walloped much worse than 2018!

[phylny]

59. I personally know too many people who voted for Trump or voted third-party voting for Biden now.

[ScratchCat]

60. Unfortunately, you are not wrong

I've been saying it since March - If Trump is allowed to run for re-election, the country as we know it is over. He will burn it all down. He will have to be removed between Thanksgiving and January 20, 2021.

[lagomorph777]

64. He's not running for re-election.

He's running for his life. He was never elected in the first place; he was installed by Putin. But he's so far behind this time, and in so much legal and financial hot water, that the day he leaves office, he is seriously fucked.

[Fix The Stupid]

87. Sorry, but this is nonsense.

An ex-president/Administration will NEVER face justice. Where have you been the last 20 years?

You have to constantly "look forward"...for the "healing of the country", or some similar bullshit.

The last thing the people in power are going to do is create an environment where their criminal behaviour will be prosecuted. It's an unwritten rule, obviously. Each new administration is aware and know they can do whatever they want without any repercussions.

Hence, where we are today.

[lagomorph777]

90. I've been watching since Nixon (and before).

Yeah, I'm not blind.

But at some point the danger is too extreme. Either the crooks face consequences or they escalate even further and we all die. We are very close to that threshold right now.

Biden's old enough that he's unlikely to be around long enough for another power shift and a Barr-style kangaroo court. I think he cares enough about this country to finally address the problem.

[obamanut2012]

61. jfc

[SpaceNeedle]

69. I am not worried at all.

Elections are a referendum on an incumbent and Hillary being in government far longer was seen as an incumbent and Trump an outsider so many dissatisfied people decided to take a chance.

Now Trump is the incumbent and it will be referendum on him. He has no chance of winning this.

[radius777]

79. +1. It's good to be on edge.

Last time when people raised concerns about Hilllary's campaign people were shouted down and told to think positive.

I supported Hillary from the beginning, but her campaign was run by overly soft/out of touch people like Podesta, Mook, Fallon etc who sucked, and who took a win for granted instead of burning Trump to the ground like they should have.

Biden as an old white guy escapes the sexism Hillary had to deal with - and this time around Trump has a disastrous record to defend whereas last time he could just shout about 'the establishment'. So Biden is in a far better position that Hillary was, despite Trump being an incumbent.

The problem as you raise is Trump is the president and has the wicked Barr to do his dirty work. They will clearly try to suppress votes, slow the mail down, etc - basically gum up the system to prevent the inevitable. But I don't think it will be enough, as long as we get out the vote we will win, hopefully bigtime to also retake the Senate.

[dawg]

81. Of course I'm scared too, but if I try to take emotion out of it ...

Biden is in a very good position right now.

I think the most likely scenario is that the networks will be able to call enough states on election night to declare Biden the winner, but Trump will not concede.

In the following weeks, results will trickle in from close states like Florida, and all but the most hardcore Trumpers will be convinced that it is over.

Trump will probably still say that there was voter fraud, and that he might really have won, "who knows?". But he'll still step down "for the good of the country".

[BannonsLiver]

83. You're wrong and defeatist twaddle helps nothing

[SKKY]

86. Which is why what Stacey Abrams, Michelle Obama, Beto O'Rourke, and others....

...are doing is so important. We lost the last election because people didn't show up to vote. They're making sure that doesn't happen again. And remember, for all the missed polling, Trump only won the election by 77,744 votes spread across 3 states. We can overcome that easily.

[MineralMan]

88. If you feel that way, then call your local Democratic Party organization

and ask how you can help. Call today!

Don't worry. Work!

[GaYellowDawg]

95. Definitely what I need to do.

[Fix The Stupid]

91. !