Why I think Trump won

[Ddrak]

A friend of a friend posted this to Facebook. I think it sums up nicely why Trump won, and not because of the words but because of the fact that a very large part of the country actually believes these words. It's a painful read firstly because it's wildly misguided in pretty much every way, but if you read it a few times it's more painful because she actually believes everything she's written to her core.
http://www.chicksontheright.com/open-le ... t-country/
I could rebut her point by point, but that's pretty much a fail for the same reason any pointwise rebuttal always failed here. It's not the points that matter but the belief behind them.

The center has lost its connection with the heart of America and the fringes have kicked in - not just on the right but on the left as well. Trump and Sanders were the two candidates with actual positive traction on what I'd call America's heart and (in terms of US politics) both were fringe. Jeb Bush and Clinton were the center candidates and they were just disconnected.

I don't know where the Democrats go from here. They need someone connected to common people that won't be shut down. I don't think Michelle Obama is it - she's too tied to Barack and would get every bad thing that could be connected to him thrown at her. Finding someone that's not "political elite" but can energize the funds or free TV time that's required to win an election will be a very hard ask. If Trump does moderately well as a President, and it's quite possible he will in 4 years, welcome to a populism driven cycle for a very long time.

Dd

[Lurker]

Michelle Obama isn't interested in running. That's a non-starter.

It's really too early to tell why Trump won, and it's too soon for me to read what you linked.

As for why the most unfit major candidate in the history of our country is now president-elect... just like in 2000 I put a lot of the blame on the media. They assisted the Republicans in treating a minor issue like her emails as a major scandal. Her emails got 3x more coverage than all policy issues combined. I blame Comey and the zealots at the FBI for the unprecedented last minute letter and subsequent 'never mind'. I blame a media that spends all their time on feelings and perceptions and momentum and almost never does their job of informing the public. I blame a public that doesn't care enough to be informed.

In spite of everything, Hillary won the popular vote. More people voted for her than for Trump. Unfortunately, the coalition she had was slightly different from Obama's and was too concentrated in safe states.

So here we are. The inmates are running the asylum.

[Xican]

I was never interested in voting (I have dual citizenship, but I primarily reside in Canada, so I choose not to vote on US elections) and for the most part, I don't follow the US political scene and elections too closely. Forgive me if this is a stupid question, but was the voter turnout this year standard? Roughly 50% of eligible voters actually did so. For what has been touted as one of the most contentious and important elections in recent memory, that seems abysmally low. Is that figure indicative of a greater problem (voter apathy in general) or a product of just how disconnected (and discouraged) most people were with these two candidates?

As an outsider looking in (I haven't lived in the States in several years), this whole thing seemed to just be about so many people being completely disenfranchised with the entire process.

[Kulaf]

For the first time ever, since attaining voting age, I refrained from voting for President.

I could not in good conscience vote for either of these broken candidates. And yes, Hilary is every bit as broken as Trump. Not since Bob Dole have I seen a candidate more convinced that they "deserve" to be President.

As for why Trump won......I think a lot of people are discounting the working class who lost jobs because of NAFTA. In the words of one of my friends who's entire industry was wiped out in the US, "I owed Clinton for NAFTA and I stuck it right in his wifes ass."

[Kulaf]

My suggestion for a candidate the Dems should put forward is from my current state of residence, Maria Cantwell . I am not sure she is interested in running, but I really like her. She seems to be a pretty moderate Dem who is willing to cross the aisle when necessary and work for the betterment of America.

[Kulaf]

I don't agree with Michael Moore very often, but his analysis of why Trump won lines up pretty well with my thoughts.

[Ddrak]

Given the recent election, I'd just go and run John Stewart. People want an entertainer, not someone with actual experience or policies, apparently. Al Franken seems to be doing a pretty good job at least, so there's precedent.

Trump's cabinet picks are not given me any comfort that he'll come back to the center. :/

Dd

[Garrdor]

Trump won because it's so perfect. Perfect for us losers. An empire in decline is mighty fine. The fact that he was even nominated by a party was too far. Now he's commander in cheif. I love it, we can all burn together now.

[UltraBurz]

Hi, I voted for Trump. Was pretty funny.

[Ddrak]

WTF!!?! I thought you *were* Donald Trump!

Dd

[UltraBurz]

WTF!!?! I thought you *were* Donald Trump!

Dd

My hair isn't that great.

[Fallakin Kuvari]

Burz isn't a Trump?! I thought for sure his sister was actually Ivanka.