But at that point he was 84, and I couldn't hold anything he did against him.

This is not 100% accurate imo. You could have taken it against him. I believe most people in this position cannot handle it and hold it against their elders. Which we both probably know is a level of cruelness that most people do not appreciate.

Given the bait they are offered

I think you are smart because you understand that they were baited. It sucks and I think people have started to vote differently.

I never thought republicans would have so much power like they do today. I used to think the republican party would disappear. It changed for sure but both parties are fundamentally different today than they were even 10 years ago.

BTW, I do not think politicians are our friends. I think that relationship people have with their politicians is very strange. Politicians are contractors, when they are not doing a "good" job we need to vote them out. That being said, our options for politicians are usually bad and we normally have to pick between crap sandwiches which we have to eat. I do not enjoy eating the crap sandwich but a lot of people do and that is strange.