My reaction to the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States

I've taken today off work to recover from our trip to Houston for our nephew's wedding and to get some stuff done around the house.  It was a fun trip, but tiring, especially after spending 6 hours at the airport yesterday!

I've  decided to re-start my blog, having been "inspired" by the election.  I'm not saying that my blog posts will be exclusively related to the Trump presidency, but that will be a common theme.  I want a place that I can elaborate more than is appropriate for Facebook, but will figure out a way to link this blog to Facebook as a means of letting people know what I am thinking (that is assuming anyone cares!).

I've been anxious and depressed since the election.  I am worried about equal / civil rights for women and minorities, foreign relations, economic collapse, but most of all, climate change. Trump is a climate change denier,  has vowed to withdraw from the Paris climate change agreement, and has put another leading denier in charge of EPA transition.  I am researching the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) to determine whether to donate and get involved thuere.  Having said all that, Trump is our next President, he was elected fair and square under the rules of our election system, and deserves to be given the opportunity to show how he will really govern.  Governing is different than campaigning and he has shown in recent interviews (I recorded his interview on 60 Minutes last night, and will watch it this evening) that he may be a more reasonable man than the buffoon on the campaign trail.  From what I've read so far, he told people to stop the harassment of Latinos and Muslims (although he should accept some responsibility for what is going on), he has moderated his stance on Obamacare, talking about tweaking it rather than repealing it, and he has softened his stance on appointing a special prosecutor to go after Clinton.  That would be a waste of time and resources and contribute further to the divisive atmosphere that pervades our country right now.  There's much more I would like to hear him say, but this is a start in showing that he can be reasonable.

I want Trump to succeed, because if he succeeds, then we all do.  I hope he is successful at unifying the country.  I hope he is deliberate and thoughtful, not rash and impulsive.  I hope he appoints good advisors and listens to them.  However, I will be vigilant in watching what he does, and will not be shy about voicing my opposition when necessary, via letters to my congressmen and to the Trump administration.  Godspeed Mr. Trump, but we will be watching.