Oh god America.
Oh god. Oh lord. Oh my word.
You know not what you've done.
You must be full of regret.
Grasping handfuls of straws,
there's so much I don't get.
Where should we resume?
Let's start with the elephant in the room,
all sixty million of them.
The dejected, the fearful, the privileged poor,
the battered ventricles of the heartland.
This has all been very uncomfortable.
So get comfortable.
Them who liberals like me lump together and tease.
Them told over and over about their life of ease.
Them dealt in by deindustrialization.
Refusing to accept there's no room for them in this nation.
I get it, actually, I get it,
I was only being dramatic,
check explanations at the door.
There are some thoughts I want to share,
though some you may have heard before...
I get it's unlikely for a party to reign longer than eight years.
I get why it's hard for some to look in the mirror.
I get that conservatives had the Supreme Court to consider.
I get that young progressives felt disconnected and bitter.
I understand tons of disenfranchised voters felt finally addressed.
I understand there are worlds outside of myself.
But face it, sixty million trusted a con-man with the keys.
The one who said, that'd be a pretty picture,
you dropping to your knees.
But hey, back then he was on TV.
Was on TV when he said they're not bringing their best.
I'm sure you remember the rest.
Was on TV when he said he'd bring back worse than water-boarding.
Now is the time for anger you've been hoarding.
Was on TV when he said the military would bend to his will.
Claimed terrorist's wives and kids are fair game to kill.
Was on TV when he asked black people what do you have to lose?
Maybe I'll go back to drinking booze.
Was on TV when he accepted our highest office.
The man who preached, we can do anything, and they let us.
Was on TV when he said Planned Parenthood does wonderful things.
Was on TV when he gloated for being right after the Orlando shooting.
Was on TV when he alluded to the size of his dick.
Which Trump? Which Trump? Take your pick.
For so long we treated it like a joke,
sort of like laughing when your friend says my mom died—
because you thought they were kidding.
Life skids and burns.
Swearing with conviction
won't make it true. Believing— not enough.
Smug and sure, we dismissed concern
and said "you think you've got it rough?"
I the worst among them.
I owe those closest to me an apology.
I have a skeleton to pick with this country.
I have bones been chewed to marrow.
Starting to see the whole body of democracy.
Starting to see again how much I don't know.
Which Trump? Sixty million votes cast
for sixty million Trumps— sad.
Which Trump? Barking up the patriarchy,
basking in the warmth of the climate conspiracy.
Which Trump? Grabbing, shaming, promoting,
mocking, lying, disgracing, nothing stopping voting.
Which Trump? Playing footsie with David Duke.
Which Trump? A conservative 'fluke.'
Which Trump?
See though America changes, sure and slow,
those who oppose just tell us where to go.
Their triumphant strategy: suppress the vote.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965,
the one people marched for and fought for and died,
got stripped of its teeth in 2013
by our Court they call Supreme.
America do you see my plight?
The House, the Senate, The White House,
all can be reclaimed.
But the Supreme Court is our national shame,
and will continue to tilt from our favor.
They don't want you voting if you're not white.
158 fewer polling places in North Carolina.
New ID laws in Wisconsin and Virginia.
Poll workers in Pennsylvania and Michigan
telling lies that folks need a photo to get in.
How many weren't told to sign an affidavit,
and decided instead it just ain't worth it?
How many in Ohio missed the golden week,
where you vote as soon as you get on the registry?
How many? How many?
We rejoiced Obama's win four years ago.
They got to work gutting access to the polls.
Not to say this wasn't our due fate.
But when so many are turned away,
and in such a close race,
we are right to be outraged.
Yeah, the Democratic Party led us astray,
it fooled us, it raked in monstrous donations,
it tried too hard to sell us the jolly-good way,
but brought no good news for the swing states.
I will bring your jobs back, they wanted to hear.
We told the truth, they're never coming back,
and that's part of the reason we ended up here.
Those who feel that Sanders would have won,
I can only say:
Hillary won the primary by 3 million votes.
Reality aside, maybe Sanders was the solution.
But Democracy does not always reward who is right.
We learned that lesson on Election night.
Those out protesting, I salute you.
I reject that protest must meet measurable goal.
I reject you are not making America whole.
My words, my rambling heart, they are with you.
They are but parts— "Any thing is but a part."
Fight so our neighbors feel safe.
Fight to tell the world, this is not okay.
Fight for the faith of our conscientious electors.
Fight for the worldwide rights of protestors.
Fight for rasping breath of the Earth.
Fight for every person's dignity and worth.
If the Electoral College is meant to help us,
why does it strangle consensus?
Twice this century is two times too many.
Give us the democratic power to appoint.
I mean, no matter where you're comin' from,
this is the reason people say, what's the point?
In these dying times there is no room on the fence.
We are losing patience.
America I am on your side.
It has hurt me in ways I can't describe.
It was always like this, we know,
we know this country was forged
in the foundries of violence.
Who's got the time?
Who's trying to prove how free?
Who's not falling asleep?
Who's seen the Statue of Liberty?
What does it mean, to root for your enemy?
What does it mean, to dare see what they see?
What does it mean, to make excuses for the wicked?
What does it mean, to stand naked in public?
What does it even mean to love your neighbor?
Does it mean talking, and laughing, and strolling, and listening?
Does it go beyond some person you care for?
Some say, it might not be so bad.
Some say, wait for what the future might bring.
I say the future's always happening.
I say the picture is pretty clear.
We the people must never give in to fear.
Oh god. Oh lord. Oh my word.
You know not what you've done.
You must be full of regret.
Grasping handfuls of straws,
there's so much I don't get.
Where should we resume?
Let's start with the elephant in the room,
all sixty million of them.
The dejected, the fearful, the privileged poor,
the battered ventricles of the heartland.
This has all been very uncomfortable.
So get comfortable.
Them who liberals like me lump together and tease.
Them told over and over about their life of ease.
Them dealt in by deindustrialization.
Refusing to accept there's no room for them in this nation.
I get it, actually, I get it,
I was only being dramatic,
check explanations at the door.
There are some thoughts I want to share,
though some you may have heard before...
I get it's unlikely for a party to reign longer than eight years.
I get why it's hard for some to look in the mirror.
I get that conservatives had the Supreme Court to consider.
I get that young progressives felt disconnected and bitter.
I understand tons of disenfranchised voters felt finally addressed.
I understand there are worlds outside of myself.
But face it, sixty million trusted a con-man with the keys.
The one who said, that'd be a pretty picture,
you dropping to your knees.
But hey, back then he was on TV.
Was on TV when he said they're not bringing their best.
I'm sure you remember the rest.
Was on TV when he said he'd bring back worse than water-boarding.
Now is the time for anger you've been hoarding.
Was on TV when he said the military would bend to his will.
Claimed terrorist's wives and kids are fair game to kill.
Was on TV when he asked black people what do you have to lose?
Maybe I'll go back to drinking booze.
Was on TV when he accepted our highest office.
The man who preached, we can do anything, and they let us.
Was on TV when he said Planned Parenthood does wonderful things.
Was on TV when he gloated for being right after the Orlando shooting.
Was on TV when he alluded to the size of his dick.
Which Trump? Which Trump? Take your pick.
For so long we treated it like a joke,
sort of like laughing when your friend says my mom died—
because you thought they were kidding.
Life skids and burns.
Swearing with conviction
won't make it true. Believing— not enough.
Smug and sure, we dismissed concern
and said "you think you've got it rough?"
I the worst among them.
I owe those closest to me an apology.
I have a skeleton to pick with this country.
I have bones been chewed to marrow.
Starting to see the whole body of democracy.
Starting to see again how much I don't know.
Which Trump? Sixty million votes cast
for sixty million Trumps— sad.
Which Trump? Barking up the patriarchy,
basking in the warmth of the climate conspiracy.
Which Trump? Grabbing, shaming, promoting,
mocking, lying, disgracing, nothing stopping voting.
Which Trump? Playing footsie with David Duke.
Which Trump? A conservative 'fluke.'
Which Trump?
See though America changes, sure and slow,
those who oppose just tell us where to go.
Their triumphant strategy: suppress the vote.
The Voting Rights Act of 1965,
the one people marched for and fought for and died,
got stripped of its teeth in 2013
by our Court they call Supreme.
America do you see my plight?
The House, the Senate, The White House,
all can be reclaimed.
But the Supreme Court is our national shame,
and will continue to tilt from our favor.
They don't want you voting if you're not white.
158 fewer polling places in North Carolina.
New ID laws in Wisconsin and Virginia.
Poll workers in Pennsylvania and Michigan
telling lies that folks need a photo to get in.
How many weren't told to sign an affidavit,
and decided instead it just ain't worth it?
How many in Ohio missed the golden week,
where you vote as soon as you get on the registry?
How many? How many?
We rejoiced Obama's win four years ago.
They got to work gutting access to the polls.
Not to say this wasn't our due fate.
But when so many are turned away,
and in such a close race,
we are right to be outraged.
Yeah, the Democratic Party led us astray,
it fooled us, it raked in monstrous donations,
it tried too hard to sell us the jolly-good way,
but brought no good news for the swing states.
I will bring your jobs back, they wanted to hear.
We told the truth, they're never coming back,
and that's part of the reason we ended up here.
Those who feel that Sanders would have won,
I can only say:
Hillary won the primary by 3 million votes.
Reality aside, maybe Sanders was the solution.
But Democracy does not always reward who is right.
We learned that lesson on Election night.
Those out protesting, I salute you.
I reject that protest must meet measurable goal.
I reject you are not making America whole.
My words, my rambling heart, they are with you.
They are but parts— "Any thing is but a part."
Fight so our neighbors feel safe.
Fight to tell the world, this is not okay.
Fight for the faith of our conscientious electors.
Fight for the worldwide rights of protestors.
Fight for rasping breath of the Earth.
Fight for every person's dignity and worth.
If the Electoral College is meant to help us,
why does it strangle consensus?
Twice this century is two times too many.
Give us the democratic power to appoint.
I mean, no matter where you're comin' from,
this is the reason people say, what's the point?
In these dying times there is no room on the fence.
We are losing patience.
America I am on your side.
It has hurt me in ways I can't describe.
It was always like this, we know,
we know this country was forged
in the foundries of violence.
Who's got the time?
Who's trying to prove how free?
Who's not falling asleep?
Who's seen the Statue of Liberty?
What does it mean, to root for your enemy?
What does it mean, to dare see what they see?
What does it mean, to make excuses for the wicked?
What does it mean, to stand naked in public?
What does it even mean to love your neighbor?
Does it mean talking, and laughing, and strolling, and listening?
Does it go beyond some person you care for?
Some say, it might not be so bad.
Some say, wait for what the future might bring.
I say the future's always happening.
I say the picture is pretty clear.
We the people must never give in to fear.
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