Well, you have to remember that presidents in the US, while having lots of power, are still very limited in what they can do by themselves. That's designed purposefully in our system of government. It's one of the things that bugged me about the MSM going out and finding people (some in government, some not) yammering about "we can't let him have the nuclear codes" and "he'll take away women's rights, like abortion" etc. All nonsense. Including many of his campaign promises, like the infamous wall. And he's already backing away from some of the stuff he spewed on the campaign trail, which is pretty typical.
The latest scare tactic from the MSM is how he'll be able to get lots done since the GOP has a majority in congress. I've talked about this before, but basically the issue there is one, he's an outsider, and two, he pi$$ed off most of congress during the long campaign. While some of his ideas align more with the conservatives, it's not like it's a good-old-boy network that will run roughshod on the country.
The two things that really have me the most surprised is how many people seem to be in a deep state of depression about it, almost like someone ran over their cat while speeding away from setting their house on fire while their kids were home. (An extreme example: one of my nieces has said she doesn't feel like coming to Thanksgiving dinner because "there's nothing for which to be thankful" which got lots of likes, etc. on social media.) The second thing is how many of the protests against the election have turned violent. Had Clinton won, I don't think there'd be any meaningful protests from the right, and likely they would be peaceful. What bothers me the most is that it's almost as though the protesters believe he should not be allowed to take office. That goes against our very democracy, which is rather scary.
Let me preface this by saying that I don't question the result (even if it is a messed up system), and do not support violence. That said, I think a lot of people are sad or protesting because they are afraid. I certainly am deeply concerned about the future. Why?
- I'm afraid that what little health insurance coverage I have is going to be taken away or taken back to pre-ACA restrictions and even HIGHER costs. (fwiw, my husband and i are freelance and make just slightly too much to qualify for ACA tax credits. Our insurance premiums are approximately $13k a year for a family of three PLUS a $5k per person deductible. And that is an IMPROVEMENT over what we had before Obamacare; at least we now have routine included visits, and nobody can reject us for pre-existing conditions.)
- I'm afraid that my ill and elderly parents' Medicare is going to be affected (Paul Ryan's plans basically trash what's there)
- I'm afraid for my friends of ethnicities which are being targeted by racists and xenophobics who were inspired, validated, and fuelled by Trump's aggressive rhetoric.
- I'm afraid for my daughter, since her reproductive rights are likely to be heavily impacted by decisions made by this administration.
- I'm afraid because the country's descent into "me first" is going deeper and deeper.
- I'm angry because the GOP-held Congress of the last 6 years stonewalled so many attempts to GIVE "man in the street" more jobs and more opportunities, simply because they hated Obama. Let's not forget that Mitch McConnell openly stated he would do anything to ensure that Obama failed.
- I'm angry that Congress has refused to DO THE JOB WE PAY THEM TO DO and has openly and insultingly blocked SCJ discussions following the death of Scalia. That judge is this administration's to appoint, and there is NO reason to block it other than political silly-buggers. For a party that treats the constitution like gospel, the GOP has been pretty quick to break its rules when it suits them....
- I'm angry because the religious right has been given far too much power - this is a country of MANY religions, and imposing Christian values on all, by whatever means, however insidious - is offensive as well as unconstitutional.
- I'm angry because Trump has OPENLY shown his hand as an intolerant, xenophobic racist. That's bad enough, even though he's now backpedalling furiously; while relieved that some things I value may not be as badly affected as suggested, it diminishes my opinion of him even further as he demonstrates the worst case of campaign lies since the Brexiteers NHS bus banners. What makes that kind of duplicity OK in any decent society?!?
I agree it's time for political change, but not to this. This is not a change of administration, but a change of society, and not one I particularly care to be part of.
I remain interested to see how people feel about Trump's grandiose promises two years from now when things that we need are diminished, crime escalates as those already struggling face even deeper poverty, the rich sit back laughing as they put more in their pockets, and the rest of the world has thrown us overboard as the pseudo-nationalistic, intolerant, myopic fools we have shown ourselves to be. I'd dearly love to be proven wrong on this, but right now it's looking pretty bleak.
PS I'm not registered with either party, and had no allegiance to any particular candidate.
PPS I don't share your confidence that a unified Congress won't push a lot of legislation through; there are no checks or balances at the moment,which is the problem.
(edits for typos)
) for President? 
