What Just Happened?

[jeff_duntemann]

Note well: I don't talk about politics on Contra very much. When I do, I impose what I call heroic courtesy on myself. I suggest that you do the same in the comments. Furthermore, I demand civility. (This is not the same thing as courtesy

Comments

[billroper]

There's a phrase that I've seen to describe partisan politics: "I'd vote for a syphilitic camel before I'd vote for X!" In this election, the major parties managed to nominate two syphilitic camels.

In a discussion over the weekend, I noted that the Democrats had made the mistake that the Republicans usually make -- nominating someone because it was "their turn". It didn't work for Dole, McCain, or Romney; it didn't work for Clinton either.

(Note that Bush the Younger was nominated out of turn and actually won, if only barely for his first term.)

[madfilkentist]

It was only last night that I realized "I'm with her" really was Clinton's campaign slogan. It's one of the weakest ever. Compare that with Obama's "Hope," or even the vacuous but catchier "I like Ike" for Eisenhower. I'm light years away from Trump's definition of greatness, but we all have to admit "Make America great again" is an effective slogan.

[apostle_of_eris]

Candidate "explanation": Half the electorate (which is half the population) feels completely unrepresented by either party. And they have a good case.

An aspect which I have been watching but not seen extensively discussed is that both parties self-destructed, each in their own way.

[chris_gerrib]

I think what's lost in this analysis is that Trump lost the popular vote and both candidates received less votes than Romney in 2012. The states that put Trump over the top, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, he won by 68,000 and 20,000 respectively. Yes, Trump is President, but the idea that this is some great groundswell of support for him or his party just isn't supported by numbers.