We have always had two corrupt parties and I think that is something most voters are well aware of. There's been a broad and growing frustration with politics in this country though, there is no sense of accountability and the bipartisanship has worsened to a level that it feels like government has been at a halt - gridlocked and unable to accomplish anything that helps the average person. Politicians have sold away their powers of governance to interest groups, to a point that their allegiance is clearly not centered on the public. Anyone feel free to dispute this, but I think this is a mutual sentiment by both sides.
Personally, I have tended to support whoever I feel is going to do the best job in office. I have voted Republican before, but generally vote Democrat. I am well aware that there is no such thing as a clean politician and also that the longer someone has held public office the more likely they are to be more corrupt. I voted for Bernie because not only was he focusing his campaign on limiting involvement of interest groups, but his growing popularity alone was symbolic of a stand against the status quo. He lost, and that had a bit to do with HRC's broad influence over the party. That was very disappointing, and having never liked her in general was very frustrated at her reaction to the email probe.
Regardless, election day was a no brainer. On the one hand there was HRC who I didn't like and felt was shady and conniving, but who was an experienced politician and in many areas much more hawkish than Obama (a trait I think is critical in that seat). In other words she was clearly a typical soul less power hungry politician who was going to be status quo, but who would continue to champion many policies I think are good for the country. Then there was Trump, a known chronic flip-flopping liar who started the baseless birther movement. A guy who never had to fight for anything and who got ahead by threatening people, dealing in the Russian oligarch, mob-infested NY real estate business, profited from tax abatements and never gave back, bankrupted several enterprises, bringing down many innocent people in the process. A guy who was publicly desperate to be the center of attention and be accepted as A guy who has a simplistic and binary view of the world, who clearly and publicly acknowledges the universe revolves around him, whose only master is his own ego and who is absolutely morally corrupt and valueless, never considering right from wrong or giving priority to the wellbeing of others. So yes, it crystal clear who stood to do the most damage and who would certainly not serve anyone but himself. Not voting was out of the question - if anything I had to vote to keep the worst candidate from being elected, you should always vote, it's one of the few powers we citizens have left.
So do all the lefties think HRC is a great candidate and clean? Absolutely not, same as I believe most trumpers don't think he's clean. However, the idea that there is a baseless witch hunt and that Trump is a victim of the MSM liberal agenda and that the deep state is after him is beyond ridiculous. Those who elected Trump should have known to some degree he was extremely shady, malicious, egotistical and who completely lacked experience or basic knowledge. Everything that is happening to him and those around him are as a result of his toxic behavior and unethical approach to everything. He invited all this scrutiny. The media gave him a voice and he uses them to push his agenda (at least FOX and all the garage-band outlets) but throws tantrums when they scrutinize him. HRC was also going to bring baggage to the WH, and rest assured the emails and her conniving actions within the party were going to haunt her and subject her to possible investigations (GOP led congress would make sure of that).
But many trumpers want to claim there is some sort of double standard now, simply because Obama was a clean guy and HRC was cleared from several investigations. So I say this to you trumpers - I'm all for cleaning house. I say no dynasties (Bush/Clinton), I say no SuperPACs, no lobbysts, etc. I don't care who goes to jail, but we can't have a low and watered-down standard for the most powerful seat in the world. Trump must be held to the highest legal and ethical standards out there. That he didn't release his tax returns, fought against disassociating himself from his business dealings, engaged nepotism like it's all good, and has sought to use the most divisive governing tactics should sound off loud alarms in all our heads. He promised to drain the swamp, but so far his political appointments point to the opposite. A guy who is openly unwilling to give live up to a basic ethical code is just plain dangerous. If evidence of criminal behavior is revealed, I just hope trumpers have the decency to accept it instead of pointing to Bill/Obama/Hillary to justify not bringing him to justice. As for corrupt politics, sorry to say it's not likely to change but has certainly picked up since Trump's election. The swamp is bubbling nicely.
