An 80-year-old voter, known on X (formerly Twitter) by the handle “Bob South Florida Water Man”, has gone viral after sharing a deeply emotional message to his followers, lamenting the outcome of the recent election and what he perceives as America’s defeat. In a raw post following Donald Trump’s victory over Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, the Navy veteran expressed his frustration and despair at what he described as the loss of both the country and the future.
“I said I would be leaving Twitter, because in the next 24 hours, but I’m leaving. I can’t say anymore. There’s no more to say. There’s nothing else to say. We lost both houses and the White House, and America,” Bob wrote, capturing the sense of overwhelming defeat he felt.
The post, which has since garnered thousands of reactions, reflects the deep disillusionment many voters felt in the wake of the election results. Bob went on to highlight one of his biggest concerns: the possibility of Trump pardoning individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riots, a pledge that Trump had made throughout his campaign.
“Do you know how many people he’s going to pardon now?” Bob asked, expressing his fear of what might come next. “It’s just… there’s no stopping him. There’s no stopping him. And frankly, I’m afraid to stay here.”
The voter, who has been politically active since 2017, continued with an emotional outpouring, confronting the years of struggle and activism that now seem to have ended in vain. He reflected on his hopes for the future, only to see those hopes dashed:
“I’m almost 80 years old. I’ve been fighting since 2017. For what?” he asked. “I actually thought people with live, active brain cells would win. Women would win. And we lost. We lost to the dumb fcks.”*
In his message, Bob also expressed a sense of finality, bidding farewell to his online community. His words were a mixture of love and sadness, as he said:
“I love every one of you out there, you’ve been part of my life, and I’m going to miss it. You take care of yourselves, all of you.”
Bob’s message, filled with raw emotion and frustration, quickly went viral as followers poured in with responses offering support, solidarity, and encouragement. Many expressed their shared sense of pain over the election results, while urging Bob to stay involved in the fight.
“Stay with us, Bob! The Resistance needs you!!” one user replied.
“Brother, I feel your pain!!! Goddamnit man… we’re all hurting,” another user wrote.
Others acknowledged the difficult moment but reassured Bob that his voice was still needed:
“We all succumb to despair sometimes. Today is gonna be a tough one, no doubt,” one follower commented. “But I need you, Bob. Take some time, and I will see you on the front lines.”
Bob’s viral post serves as a powerful reminder of the emotional toll this election has had on many voters, especially those who feel they have fought tirelessly for a different future. His message speaks to the heartbreak and frustration of feeling that the political battle has been lost—but also to the unbreakable bonds of community that can emerge in the face of defeat.
Watch the clip below:
Goodbye I love you all pic.twitter.com/39ADbx0JGf
— Bob south florida water man 🇺🇸 (@WaterDean) November 6, 2024
