Why Trump won and what Americans should make of it

Re: “And that’s why Trump won,” Dec. 25 Jon Caldara column.

Jon Caldara misses the point completely. Donald Trump did not win because of a Democratic meltdown caused by “excessive celebration” of Obama’s public policy successes on gay marriage, health care, and environmental and energy changes. It’s because not enough Republican voters are disgusted by a candidate who brags about assaulting women or has regrets about not dating his own daughter.

It’s because not enough Republican voters are outraged when Trump disparages John McCain for getting shot down over enemy territory and enduring five years of torture in captivity. It’s because not enough Republican voters are appalled when Trump calls Mexicans rapists and promises to exclude people who embrace Islam from entering the U.S.

Like Mr. Caldara, “I could go on and on.” And like Mr. Caldara, I could apply the hashtag #ATWTW to Republican voters’ acceptance of the all-too-numerous Trump indiscretions.

Mike Pisano, Littleton

Jon Caldara doesn’t remember anyone breaking down in tears when Barack Obama won because, despite one’s issues with him, his win did not mean the end of civilization as we know it. The reason there is such backlash against the Trump win is because the upcoming leader of the free world is a narcissistic, racist, sexist bully who will rule with a heavy fist.

I’m proud to cry and march and sign any document I can to let everyone know that a Trump presidency is unacceptable to me and millions of Americans who genuinely fear for the future of our country. It’s called free speech, something Mr. Trump is not a fan of. Our actions will go down in history, and when it’s all said and done, the people of this country will look back and reflect on why we did what we had to do.

Ellen Haverl, Denver

Re: “When times are too scary, it’s time to make merry,” Dec. 25 Diane Carman column.

I’d long ago finished unwrapping what I thought was my last gift on Sunday and figured that was it for another Christmas. But I was wrong. I had yet to read the Perspective section in The Denver Post. And while the gifts I’d received in the morning were blessings, none quite matched the gibberish in Diane Carman’s column. It was like manna from heaven, especially juxtaposed next to Jon Caldara’s piece. Like Caldara, I, too, sheepishly admit to delighting in the left’s meltdown. Good God, it’s fun. So after wading through Carman’s non-sequitur-laden scrawl (“sells us fake food with models who bare their fake boobs” … really, that’s all you got?), it was positively entertaining to follow it with Caldara’s “And that’s why Trump won.”

Please, do all of us deplorables a real solid and continue to publish the blather from Carman. It’s that very exposure to that element of the left that underscores, as Caldara says, “how Trump-phobes help Trump.”

Jon Pitt, Golden

Diane Carman wrote: “We’ll tell the whole world that we all aren’t rude Trumpsters.” Really, Diane? You made a rude comment about the people who voted for Trump.

Irene Eggers, Wheat Ridge

Diane Carman should be made a regular part of the Sunday Perspective section. She is a sound thinker, and one who cares deeply for her fellow human beings. We need many more like her in the business of writing for the public. Maybe we could then be a little more realistic and sensible in our thinking and doing, instead of the way we now seem to be heading, growing hatred for all those who may be in any way different than us, a serious surplus of greed and very little concern for our fellow humans

John Ruckman, Lakewood