I think Nitro is right, not in totality, but a good portion of what drove this election was a stick it up your ass attitude that cannot be denied. The whole we're going the Nazi route is typically over the top, but the big middle finger has been shown to the political establishment and their media/celebrity minions.
Many people in this country are hurting, that is reflected in the outcome of the election. Some fraction of those who voted for Trump believe he will make a very good president, and some fraction voted for him for other reasons including not wanting to vote for the opposition, spite or anger. After eight years of softening up the American voter by a campaign of ruinous non-cooperation, brilliantly led by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Trump campaign was well positioned to ambush a confident, but oblivious opposition.* In the end, the stream of legislative poison pills, continuous innuendo of Democrat wrong doing giving rise to an endless series of investigations leading to yet another conspiracy theory, worked just as McConnell dreamed it would to ruin the opposition and make them miserable shadows of their former haughty selves. Mr. Trump's campaign managers, much derided in the press, made calculated decisions on how they would conduct their campaign to have a reasonable chance to win in the electoral college despite poor odds in the popular vote, as indicated by the professional pollsters, who have never quite figured out that we don't elect Presidents democratically. The Trump managers found out early on that Trump's support lay especially, but not exclusively by any means, in pockets of the country were there was a lower than average minority population, a higher than average white population, and a lower than average educational level. These demographics corresponded with areas fairly hard hit by loss of manufacturing jobs and a surfeit of relatively low skilled, and unhappy labor. They looked for swing states with pockets of these likely Trump voters. They went into these areas with an appealing message unhampered by truth, and they succeeded in parlaying a large minority of U.S. voters into an electoral night victory that will shortly propel Trump and his spectacular entourage into the White House. Now we will get to see how well Donald Trump gets along with the Republican "establishment" who are also wealthy and egoistic. I'm guessing they will get along splendidly. We should all look forward to eight years of a go-go economy, monstrous deficits, and an anti-intellectual Washington climate immune to carbon dioxide. It is said that the first casualty in war is truth, but I am inclined to think this is even more true of political campaigns. ___________________ *One opposition candidate was decidedly not oblivious to the dangers ahead, and that was the populist candidate Mr. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. When party regulars early on ruled out Mr. Sander's candidacy in favor of tradition and control, they unwittingly lessened their chance of victory, as surely all now realize.
Many people were hurting after Obama won a second term, but we were told to get on with our lives and we did. Even though most of what we feared would happen, did.
Many people in this country are hurting, that is reflected in the outcome of the election. Some fraction of those who voted for Trump believe he will make a very good president, and some fraction voted for him for other reasons including not wanting to vote for the opposition, spite or anger. Or because they love America and hate to see progressives and establishment polticians tear apart a system which lifted so many millions to middle class and above status. Which despite our faults treated women and minorities better than just about every other country save a few. After eight years of softening up the American voter by a campaign of ruinous non-cooperation, brilliantly led by Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the Trump campaign was well positioned to ambush a confident, but oblivious opposition.* In the end, the stream of legislative poison pills, continuous innuendo of Democrat wrong doing giving rise to an endless series of investigations leading to yet another conspiracy theory, worked just as McConnell dreamed it would to ruin the opposition and make them miserable shadows of their former haughty selves. The democrats controlled both houses for 2 years. They did not need republicans. For the next 6 years... the McConnell and Ryan worked with Obama and the Dems to screw the real conservatives. It took the courts to stop Obama agenda. Establishment republicans Kabuki caved on every issue because they we "afraid" of a shutdown. They even gave back the sequester. Mr. Trump's campaign managers, much derided in the press, made calculated decisions on how they would conduct their campaign to have a reasonable chance to win in the electoral college despite poor odds in the popular vote, as indicated by the professional pollsters, who have never quite figured out that we don't elect Presidents democratically. The Trump managers found out early on that Trump's support lay especially, but not exclusively by any means, in pockets of the country were there was a lower than average minority population, a higher than average white population, and a lower than average educational level. These demographics corresponded with areas fairly hard hit by loss of manufacturing jobs and a surfeit of relatively low skilled, and unhappy labor. They looked for swing states with pockets of these likely Trump voters. They went into these areas with an appealing message unhampered by truth, and they succeeded in parlaying a large minority of U.S. voters into an electoral night victory that will shortly propel Trump and his spectacular entourage into the White House. Nate Silver explained that if Hillary won by less than 2% of the national vote Trump had a great chance of winning. The media and its pollsters were crooked... Their poll samples were ridiculously skewed... they knew what they were doing and why they were doing it. Trump brought the truth the Rust Belt. Democrats sold them out for silicon valley and bankers. All they had to do was look at democrats shutting down the pipeline and the coal industry and bringing in a million people a year to suppress wages. Trump message worked because it was very true. Now we will get to see how well Donald Trump gets along with the Republican "establishment" who are also wealthy and egoistic. I'm guessing they will get along splendidly. We should all look forward to eight years of a go-go economy, monstrous deficits, and an anti-intellectual Washington climate immune to carbon dioxide. It is said that the first casualty in war is truth, but I am inclined to think this is even more true of political campaigns. ___________________ *One opposition candidate was decidedly not oblivious to the dangers ahead, and that was the populist candidate Mr. Bernie Sanders of Vermont. When party regulars early on ruled out Mr. Sander's candidacy in favor of tradition and control, they unwittingly lessened their chance of victory, as surely all now realize.[/QUOTE] We will have to see. I look forward to better paying jobs and lower taxes. What is wrong with big deficits? If you tell they create inflation... I will ask you if the money is borrowed. If it should not be responsible for the systemic inflation. I don't like deficits but they are better than income taxes.
Time to stop treating the United States as if it was a giant Food Stamp. That's what this election was about.
So you're the first rightie here (that I've noticed) who "suddenly" has had a 180 deg. change of heart re deficits. I knew it was coming.
Thank you, jem, for representing, very authentically I must say, an important component of the Trump constituency.