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More Election Thoughts
Nov. 10th, 2016 09:50 amVarious election-related thoughts:
1) On a politics as horse race level, this election looks shockingly like 2000's Bush V. Gore. We had two flawed candidates, one representing the status quo and one representing change, running ugly campaigns. On both cases, thanks to the Electoral College, the minority vote-getter won. It's no accident that the winner appealed more heavily to rural whites than to city-dwellers, as the Electoral College by design skews that way.
2) Also on a horse race level, turnout sucked. Neither candidate got as many votes as Romney did in 2012. Nor did anybody really expect Trump to win, including Trump. His campaign did not run to court in Nevada to complain about early voting because they felt comfort in the outcome.
3) On a political level, I have no idea what Trump will do or try to do as President. I can't help but shake the feeling that he's a bit like the dog who chased a car and caught it. I do think he's not as good a person as Bush the Younger, and given the number of disasters under his watch, I expect we're in for a bumpy ride.
4) I do think Trump will not be able to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or "Obamacare." Being responsible means acting responsibly, and taking benefits from 20 million people and money from states and hospitals will cause too much pain. There will be enough Congresscritters not looking for constituent complaints to prevent the ACA from going away. It will change, but not go away.
5) Regarding the crowing of Wily E. Coyote, SuperGenius and his fans, this woman said it all: The "alt-right" will claim Mr. Trump's victory for themselves but they're a by-blow, freeriders; Americans have never much liked Nazis and, soon or late, they stop overlooking hateful fascists. Eventually, the white-sheeted bravos kidnap the wrong woman and it all comes crashing down. I'll be watching them closely and calling them out when merited; the alt-right is a greater enemy to freedom than Bernie Sanders could manage on his best day.
1) On a politics as horse race level, this election looks shockingly like 2000's Bush V. Gore. We had two flawed candidates, one representing the status quo and one representing change, running ugly campaigns. On both cases, thanks to the Electoral College, the minority vote-getter won. It's no accident that the winner appealed more heavily to rural whites than to city-dwellers, as the Electoral College by design skews that way.
2) Also on a horse race level, turnout sucked. Neither candidate got as many votes as Romney did in 2012. Nor did anybody really expect Trump to win, including Trump. His campaign did not run to court in Nevada to complain about early voting because they felt comfort in the outcome.
3) On a political level, I have no idea what Trump will do or try to do as President. I can't help but shake the feeling that he's a bit like the dog who chased a car and caught it. I do think he's not as good a person as Bush the Younger, and given the number of disasters under his watch, I expect we're in for a bumpy ride.
4) I do think Trump will not be able to repeal the Affordable Care Act (ACA) or "Obamacare." Being responsible means acting responsibly, and taking benefits from 20 million people and money from states and hospitals will cause too much pain. There will be enough Congresscritters not looking for constituent complaints to prevent the ACA from going away. It will change, but not go away.
5) Regarding the crowing of Wily E. Coyote, SuperGenius and his fans, this woman said it all: The "alt-right" will claim Mr. Trump's victory for themselves but they're a by-blow, freeriders; Americans have never much liked Nazis and, soon or late, they stop overlooking hateful fascists. Eventually, the white-sheeted bravos kidnap the wrong woman and it all comes crashing down. I'll be watching them closely and calling them out when merited; the alt-right is a greater enemy to freedom than Bernie Sanders could manage on his best day.
