I'm glad you had a good time. I really debated responding to this and understand everyone has their own opinion. My Mother was a Democrat committeewoman; my inlaws were to the right of Genghis Khan. My parents were working class, I was educated in Economics and Finance and ended up as an officer in several Fortune 500 insurance brokerages specializing in environment, utilities and life science.
I live in the Socialist Republic of New Jersey and generally v**e Republican. I needed to preface my further comments with that background.
My opinion is the last good president was George Sr. I wasn't a fan of the Clintons, Mr. O'Bama or George Jr. I really h**ed the choices in the last e******n and held my nose and v**ed for Hilary because I disliked Trump more. From my business background, I felt Mr. Trump would be a lousy president. I held my breath after the e******n and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, my fears have been justified. He has been caught in numerous lies - I didn't have a relationship with her, the tax deal will benefit the middle class, there's no such thing as g****l w*****g, I wasn't working a deal with Russia while I was running, I didn't try to stop the investigation, and China is going to pay dearly with tariffs. In order - he did, the tax primarily helped the wealthy (and boy did it screw the states that v**ed against him), g****l w*****g is a proven fact by scientists that know more about it than you or me, he did try to put a stop to the investigation, and unfortunately tariffs are passed on to the buyer and usually to the ultimate consumer. I don't disagree with some of his evaluation of issues, but putting up a wall doesn't work. Ask the Chinese how effective the Great Wall was in keeping out the Mongols.
Tariffs are considered by many to be one of the causes of the Great Depression and if not a cause, it lengthens its time. Unfortunately tariffs also cause a country to look for other sources, so farmers that have lost soybean sales may experience permanent losses - if we back them up - the support payments may be permanent. I think something has to be done with China, but are you aware that most of the rare earth elements that we use in technology almost exclusively come from China? You may be keeping that iPhone, iPad or computer a bit longer.
But my biggest objection is the name-calling - it serves no purpose and polarizes the country; and unfortunately the international community. The Democrats have their own issues and the result between them is inertia. One Republican made a comment I think in the last few days of it sounds like children arguing. Sean Connery in a movie declared: "The Japanese have a saying, fix the problem, not the blame." I agree and he was also the best James Bond.
I yearn for the day when the parties will work together and try and find a compromise where they can. Some issues they can't, but on every issue is a bit much.
Lastly, and this is really wishful thinking. I yearn for the day of when politicians, Republican and Democrat, work for the common good of the republic and its citizens, instead of fulling their own pockets. I don't know of many in national politics that come out poorer than when they went in. I'd like lobbying outlawed and term limits for the members of Congress.
And yes I am an opinionated, quixotic old man. Have a good day.