Poll: Sonoma’s approach to the Trump presidency?

Readers look ahead to the next four years|

For our latest Index-Tribune online poll, we posed to readers the question currently on everyone’s mind: What’s your outlook for the next four years of the Trump presidency? Not straying too far from Sonoma Valley voter demographics – or the president’s current approval ratings – about 34 percent gave it a thumbs up, while nearly 48 percent are seeing, in the words of “Bad Moon Rising” songwriter John Fogerty, “trouble on the way.”

We should note that about 9 percent of respondents chose our tongue-in-cheek response, “Forget it: California has legalized marijuana” – a reaction growing less and less tongue-in-cheek with each passing news cycle. As always, the written replies are the most enlightening part of the poll. Here are some of the more impassioned responses:

“Accept it” is better for most of us than “embrace it

#CALEXIT

I am a female citizen... that alone made D.T. unacceptable. His bragging about disrespectful treatment of women outraged and saddened me. He has absolutely no idea how most people live – wraps himself in a cocoon of “yes” people in a world of privilege. From what I’ve read, all his businesses ended up being houses of cards. His slogans and economic solutions look like ideas that will enrich a few and wreak havoc on most of us.

At this point, unfortunately, if he was impeached or blocked from presidency (conflict of interests, scandal, whatever), Pence would inherit the seat... and, honestly, that’s not going to help us much. We’re already ruined. Unfortunately, a majority of electorates (certainly not majority of people) voted for this clown and now we’re stuck with it. Ironically, the people who voted for him are the most likely to be negatively impacted as he takes away their health care, welfare, minimum wages and anything else he can get through a Republican Senate (which will be most anything bad for common Americans) and rape the system of regulatory entities and taxes against corporate entities. It’s open season on the government and middle America made it happen. Fortunately, we have a buffer of our own state laws, but I worry for our brothers and sisters across the country that live in less-progressive counties and states. We will survive, and hopefully the blindly mislead will wake up to see how undeserving he is of a second term. The damage will be great but we can recover. Meanwhile, we must oppose his policies peacefully and legally every step of the way. We must also assure those targeted by his bigotry that his America is not OUR America, and provide any help and asylum we can.

Exactly what we needed – not another four years of the same old liberal politics. They have taken enough of the people’s money and squandered it for much too long. Hillary may have gotten 2-3 million more popular votes – California (urban liberals) could make that difference alone with New York. The REAL people of this great country spoke – finally! You can be assured that this is going to only get STRONGER over the years. About time!

He is a breath of fresh air and will lead us upward and onward to the status in the world we have lost over the past years.

He is the ruination of America...USA R.I.P unless we resist!

He lost by 3 million votes!

I’m afraid of the unknown, Trump is rogue and very reactive without putting much thought in his decisions. I think he has some good ideas and some bad ones. It will be an interesting four years, if he makes it that long.

I’m appalled but we live in a democracy for better or worse -- I will not embrace him nor support him nor condone his bigoted behavior, but I must reluctantly accept our electoral process.

I’m not a Trump supporter but I am willing to give him a SMALL chance to see what the first 100 days brings... I’m not too confident at this point. So proud of the Women’s March last month, we all must make our voices heard and be vigilant to keep watch on what happens in the Trump administration.

I have never been so afraid of a President and what his quick temper may cause. Maybe if he grew up and ignored Twitter... it would help, but not enough. And I’m a lifetime registered Republican.

It is how our system works. I didn’t get my way. So I’m going to get the coach fired.

I truly hope to be surprised (in a pleasant way), but I’m deeply disturbed by the patterns of behavior (bully speech/posturing, seeming lack of research/or interest in the process of gathering information, frequency of lying, actively attempting to erode the public’s “trust” of credible news sources, ethical issues, etc....) and a number of the stated policy goals.

Judging from his first month in office, we are headed for a recession and/or war under his authoritarian regime.

One of the biggest self-centered man ever to run for this office. How people could vote for this egomaniac is beyond reasoning.

Similar leadership like communist Sonoma!

The man is a menace, period. We need to get rid of him however we can.

We are doomed.

Whether you like it or not he is going to be our President for the next four years. One party government needs to be changed because it is too corrupt and corrosive of our Democracy and will lead to ever more social dysfunction and income inequality. We need to determine what is best for Sonoma and how we can make this a place for the workers who make our community so desirable. We also need to keep the wine industry and tourism viable as they provide the basis for our economic well being.

Yes, embrace it. His election reflects the will of the people and hope for a more limited and effective federal government as envisioned by our Founders. Our peaceful transition of administrations is a unique and fundamental characteristic of our form of government. Hail to the Chief.

UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy:
  • This is a family newspaper, please use a kind and respectful tone.
  • No profanity, hate speech or personal attacks. No off-topic remarks.
  • No disinformation about current events.
  • We will remove any comments — or commenters — that do not follow this commenting policy.