Stunned and not sure what to do

Initial thoughts from the election - very glad to see the Republicans maintain Congress, but like so many, stunned to see that every single margin call that Trump needed to come through for him did. And I sit here with a new fear - my discomfort of Clinton constrained by Congress combined with the damage done by Trump to the party, replaced with a fear that he now will have access to nuclear codes, and will want to do all of the things he said he wanted to do, especially as it relates to foreign policy, economic policy, immigration, but also that his election normalizes his attitudes towards women, minorities and the media.

Shocking, to say the least. And I am holding on hope that the Republicans in Congress can really control him, and that maybe the reluctant Trump supporters were right - that it was all for show, all bluster, and that he would be mostly consistent with the Republican platform and be a competent president. Maybe he will feel like he really finally accomplished something and will set his ego aside and be humbled by his responsibilities? (Yeah, feels too hopeful to me too...)

But I need to process, so let's look at some details that I think are key. Frankly, its the only way I can hold back the fear that by being Never Trump, I and other principled Constitutional Conservatives, economic conservatives, etc., have basically lost our voice in the party because they won without us... *shudder*

Okay, first, I believe I saw that Trump won with fewer votes than Romney lost with. That is massive. It means that the polls probably had Trump correct, but rather they did not see people bailing on Clinton in just enough places, in just enough numbers.

We are probably talking about less than 500,000 total votes deciding the following states: Florida, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Michigan. Massive electoral votes over such small numbers. And if it is true that it was because less came out for Clinton, or the margins went against her (Hispanics in Florida, 30% for Trump? Did I hear that right?)? Shocking.

So this was as much, if not more about a LACK of enthusiasm for Clinton than it was a LOT of enthusiasm for Trump, although clearly, the Republicans really stood up for their nominee.

So is this the fault of the Bernie Sanders supporters? Black voters who were either not as enthusiastic for Clinton as they were for Obama (which, frankly, shouldn't be surprising) or remember Bill Clinton's crime policies and held that against her? As I mentioned above, Hispanic voters not voting as a block for Clinton? Johnston's margins? Probably all of the above contributed.

I will say, based on my personal experience, I do believe a number of Republican voters did not vote for Trump because of who he is, especially the racism, the bigotry, the sexism. Rather, they were united against Clinton for a variety of reasons. Abortion, the Affordable Care Act, the emails, Benghazi, among others. Some, truly, felt that the social change was too much to allow it to continue for a third term, and while some may say the social change was a good thing, we have to acknowledge there was a LOT of change on a LOT of issues in a rather short amount of time.

That isn't to say that discrimination against Clinton because she is a woman didn't play a part. Sadly, it did. Enough voters wanted the angry, aggressive man to protect us and didn't think Clinton would be strong enough - especially as it related to foreign policy. Here, I think, Clinton had a real problem in that she was actually pretty hawkish, but couldn't make that a big part of her campaign because of people within her own party...

And that isn't to say that there might have been some "Whitelash," as some have called it, with some voters tired of Obama.

It all contributed. And sadly, it helped normalize behaviors from Trump that I fear will not go away. He is not going to all of a sudden become Presidential. He probably can improve some - smooth some rough edges a bit - but voting for him said that "Grab her by the *****" is okay to say. This is going to be a real challenge for this Presidency.

Now I am going to take a deep breath, and start looking for information sources who are still Never Trump, but also committed to Republican and conservative principles, because that is what this country needs. If you have any you think I should follow, send them to me via Twitter @DorMouseSez.

And I will pray for this country. For those afraid of more than just losing their voice in a political party. For those leading this country. For all Americans and those who love her.