Glass Ceiling has been smashed!

[keefe]

The United States is truly the greatest political experiment in history.

I have never felt ashamed to be an American. People who cannot comprehend just how special is America are the true 'deplorables.' 

I fought and bled for this country under three different CinCs and I would gladly do so in January 2017 as I did in January 2009. America is not about the man in the office but the office itself. 

[4everwarriors]

Yup, just like everyone did fine the last 8 years.

Respect da process, hey?

[Galway Eagle]

The media and the elites were smoked last night.  The people have spoke. The person for whom laws didn't matter and laws were for little people, lost. 

For those of you claiming to move, why don't you move to Mexico?  Why is it always Canada or Europe?  What is wrong with Mexico?

Yes the people have spoken and Hillary won the popular vote, unfortunately the country doesn't work that way

[4everwarriors]

If not for Bubba's pecker tracks on Monica's blue dress, she'd be 6 ft. under now, ai na?

[Jay Bee]

The pollsters who projected a Hillary victory also believe team FT% is important to a team's success.

PS-"I skipped class bc of my accent bc Trump won"...not sure whether to laugh or puke. C'mon, bud

[jficke13]

I saw a comparison of four maps of the elections in 2012, 2008, 2004, 2000 (sorry, having trouble finding on google). If a county voted for one candidate by a large enough margin (I think the cut off was 20 or 30 points), it got colored in red or blue respectively. In 2000, there were some counties colored in, but most of the country wasn't, i.e. most counties were split pretty closely. The map grew increasingly red and blue in the areas you would expect with each successive election. Geographically, the country is becoming ideologically polarized. Thinking of it that way, it becomes more believable that people could be so stunned. Many (myself included) literally did not run into Trump supporters, certainly not in droves, certainly not in numbers that made me think he had a ghost of a chance.

Wherever you live, strive to seek out differing opinions. Provide differing opinions of your own. Engage with respect. Learn about those you disagree with. Combat the bubble-mentality.

[Babybluejeans]

The United States is truly the greatest political experiment in history.

I have never felt ashamed to be an American. People who cannot comprehend just how special is America are the true 'deplorables.' 

I fought and bled for this country under three different CinCs and I would gladly do so in January 2017 as I did in January 2009. America is not about the man in the office but the office itself.

Unless of course the man in office has no regard for the office itself, or the institutions that allow the American experiment to unfold. You folks are going to really regret this.

[Lennys Tap]

Trump won because his supporters were more motivated. Who motivated them? Hillary Clinton. She summed up people not inclined to vote for her as racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, irredeemable deplorables. A lot of Republicans came "home" when they heard such a morally flawed candidate call out such a large swath of Americans as her inferior. It didn't moved me from the "none of the above" column but I think it moved a lot of wavering minds and motivated those already committed.

[StillAWarrior]

And I don't know why people were so shocked that the polls were so wrong.  Who is going to admit that they are going to vote for Trump, even as the lesser of two evils, when you are immediately going to be labeled an ignorant bigot?

I said for a long time that I didn't know who would win, and I'll admit I'm a bit surprised (but not shocked).  I also said that the polls would be off and Trump would outperform his polls.  I find it amusing that pollsters last night were saying, "we're going to have to figure out what happened here."

Tip for the press and pollsters:  you're not going to get accurate poll results if you say, "Anyone who votes for candidate X is a racist, sexist, homophobic deplorable.  By the way, who are you planning to vote for?"

[StillAWarrior]

Obama was different because we did not already know him to be all the horrific things every one of us knows Trump is. There was mystery to Obama, hope for something different.

And therein lies the reason this election turned the way it did.  This is exactly why people voted for Trump.

Obviously, people are going to disagree strongly about a lot of things in this election.  But it's the Democrats insistence that Trump's popularity was solely a function of racism/sexism/xenophobia that cost them the White House.  Trump's election is all about "hope for something different."

[Pakuni]

Trump won because his supporters were more motivated. Who motivated them? Hillary Clinton. She summed up people not inclined to vote for her as racist, misogynistic, xenophobic, irredeemable deplorables. A lot of Republicans came "home" when they heard such a morally flawed candidate call out such a large swath of Americans as her inferior. It didn't moved me from the "none of the above" column but I think it moved a lot of wavering minds and motivated those already committed.

In all fairness ... that's not exactly what she said, and she's not entirely wrong. Polls do show that a not insignificant portion of Trump's support came from people with racist, misogynistic or xenophobic viewpoints (see more below). I think it's wrong and unfair to paint all or even a majority of Trump supporters with that brush, but it's likewise denying reality not to address the fact his campaign intentionally stirred up and benefited from those viewpoints.

That said, it was an exceptionally stupid thing to say publicly, right on par with Mitt's "47 percent" remark.

According to a Economist/YouGov national poll conducted in January, nearly 20 percent of Trump's supporters say they do not approve of the Emancipation Proclamation, Abraham Lincoln's executive order that freed the slaves in the Southern states during the Civil War.
Of the 2,000 U.S. adults who participated in the poll, 13 percent said they either slightly or strongly disagreed with Lincoln, while 17 percent said they weren't sure.
The same survey found that a third of Trump's supporters believe that Japanese-American internment during World War II was a good idea.
According to a Public Policy Polling survey conducted earlier this month, a third of Trump's supporters in South Carolina say they would "support barring gays and lesbians from entering the country."
https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-supporters-free-slaves-poll-193745865.html

[keefe]

Unless of course the man in office has no regard for the office itself, or the institutions that allow the American experiment to unfold. You folks are going to really regret this.

You have no basis for this statement other than hubris and angst.

There was a similar emotional outcry in 1980 when Dutch was elected. What America got over the next 8 years was some of the more inspiring and effective leadership  we have ever enjoyed as a nation.

In November 1980 the prime rate was over 20%, unemployment was double digits, our military capability had been gutted, Soviet expansionism was a reality, and a third rate power had seized sovereign American soil and was holding our embassy staff hostage.

Before the end of that decade both the prime lending rate and unemployment were below 4%, our nation's military had been rebuilt, and the Berlin Wall came down as the Soviet Union crumbled.

Our hostages were released by Iran as Dutch Reagan was being sworn in. Apologists would have you believe it was one final dig at Carter by the mullahs. Far more likely, they feared the new CinC as a man of commitment and righteousness.

People saw Reagan's election as a sign of the Apocalypse; those same folks, and fellow travelers, are saying that once more. As Dutch Reagan once said, "Now there you go again."

[StillAWarrior]

Quick request for my fellow Scoopers (and the Mods):

Let's keep this thread civil, and let's keep the election discussion completely limited to this thread.

Thanks Mods, for not locking this.  I think it's a great thing for this community -- with varying viewpoints -- to be able to discuss this truly historical event.  Hopefully everyone will keep it right here and be nice and we can continue the discussion.

[GOO]

The United States is truly the greatest political experiment in history.

I have never felt ashamed to be an American. People who cannot comprehend just how special is America are the true 'deplorables.' 

I fought and bled for this country under three different CinCs and I would gladly do so in January 2017 as I did in January 2009. America is not about the man in the office but the office itself.

Well said and thanks for your service, always always a sacrifice to serve in the US Military.  I know what members in my extended family do for little pay in the military.  Lots of risk, lots of sand, time away, bad living condtions, and horror (at war, or even humanitarian missions after natural disasters; we ask a lot of the same people over and over to experience and live through a lot of "difficulty" if they are fortunate enough to live through it).  Amazing that anyone will sign up for that... truly great people that keep us safe and allow us to continue to exist as a country and debate who should be president and how terrible one party is versus the other party. 

Whenever I want to complain about something in my life, I stop.  I always remember how great I have it as to where and when I was born... how much more lucky could I have been?  The USA changed the world and continues to be a leader for democracy.. the USA is still a place of opportunity...I also remember when I want to complain that there are literally 6 Billion or more people in front of me in the complaint line with more pressing grievances.  I should include everyone who serves in the military in front of me as well, and get back further in the complaint line. 

Our founders were diverse with different view points, fought it out in nasty political battles, and that made us a better country... If either of the extremes dominated during our founding, we would have been a weaker country and we probably wouldn't be a country today... the same can be said today, we need different views to continue to succeed... different party's to come in to power and not have one view point dominate...

If you pick a political side, expect to lose some and win some, and that makes us stronger not worse off. 

And in case anyone somehow reads this as supporting one candidate or party over another or a two party system, that is not at all what I'm saying.  Respect what we have, it is not perfect and is not meant to be perfect... almost everyone knows what Churchill said, in paraphrase: Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all of the other forms of government.

[StillAWarrior]

The United States is truly the greatest political experiment in history.

I have never felt ashamed to be an American. People who cannot comprehend just how special is America are the true 'deplorables.' 

I fought and bled for this country under three different CinCs and I would gladly do so in January 2017 as I did in January 2009. America is not about the man in the office but the office itself.

Agreed.  We live in a great country.  Several times in my lifetime we have had what has amounted to a bloodless revolution.  That is truly remarkable, and ours truly is a remarkable system of government.  I've said the same both when I was disappointed by the results and when I was pleased by the results.

I'll admit that Trump scares me, but I believe we'll be fine.  Today, as always, I pray for our country and its leaders.

[Spotcheck Billy]

nm

[Vander Blue Man Group]

The United States is truly the greatest political experiment in history.

I have never felt ashamed to be an American. People who cannot comprehend just how special is America are the true 'deplorables.' 

I fought and bled for this country under three different CinCs and I would gladly do so in January 2017 as I did in January 2009. America is not about the man in the office but the office itself.

The fact that the American people voted this particular man into that office and what it should represent is a travesty.  Just my opinion.   

Obviously I respect your service to this country. 

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I didn't vote for any candidate on the ballot, but I'll tell you, I sure am enjoying all of the pundits, experts, pollsters, party officials, etc. writhe in intellectual agony/defeat right now. 

All y'all who cast a ballot today - whether you voted D or R - every single one of you is responsible for this mess.  So own it.  Unless, of course, you honestly voted for Hillary or Donald believing that they are truly representative of who you are... in which case, you're not responsible, you're just a schmuck.

So can we start talking about compulsory voting in the US yet?  Or is everyone still afraid about having elections where candidates campaign on issues rather than turnout?

I'm disgusted and not the least bit happy with the results last night, but I live in the country I love with the electoral system we have which means I live with the results it spits out and life will go on. 

I'm with you on compulsory voting.  I heard in Australia, who uses it, that you don't have to vote you just have to show up at polling station to say your abstaining or fined $1,500.  I don't think it's good that we are going to have a popular vote winner again who lost the electoral vote for the second time in 16 years. 

[Babybluejeans]

You have no basis for this statement other than hubris and angst.

There was a similar emotional outcry in 1980 when Dutch was elected. What America got over the next 8 years was some of the more inspiring and effective leadership  we have ever enjoyed as a nation.

In November 1980 the prime rate was over 20%, unemployment was double digits, our military capability had been gutted, Soviet expansionism was a reality, and a third rate power had seized sovereign American soil and was holding our embassy staff hostage.

Before the end of that decade both the prime lending rate and unemployment were below 4%, our nation's military had been rebuilt, and the Berlin Wall came down as the Soviet Union crumbled.

Our hostages were released by Iran as Dutch Reagan was being sworn in. Apologists would have you believe it was one final dig at Carter by the mullahs. Far more likely, they feared the new CinC as a man of commitment and righteousness.

People saw Reagan's election as a sign of the Apocalypse; those same folks, and fellow travelers, are saying that once more. As Dutch Reagan once said, "Now there you go again."

No, I have Trump's entire platform as a basis to support the statement that he disregards the office and the institutions that undergird our society. He wasn't elected on a platform of respect for law or institutions--or, for that matter, decency. Why would we expect that to change now?

Reagan and 1980 are like this election in that there was an election with people. On every other count, it's a false analogy.

[Galway Eagle]

I'm disgusted and not the least bit happy with the results last night, but I live in the country I love with the electoral system we have which means I live with the results it spits out and life will go on. 

I'm with you on compulsory voting.  I heard in Australia, who uses it, that you don't have to vote you just have to show up at polling station to say your abstaining or fined $1,500. I don't think it's good that we are going to have a popular vote winner again who lost the electoral vote for the second time in 16 years.

This cannot be understated. Clearly the population distribution amongst states no longer reflects the electoral votes each has to give. If this really is the standard barer for democracy then it should be popular vote over electoral vote. 

[CTWarrior]

I'm disgusted and not the least bit happy with the results last night, but I live in the country I love with the electoral system we have which means I live with the results it spits out and life will go on. 

I'm with you on compulsory voting.  I heard in Australia, who uses it, that you don't have to vote you just have to show up at polling station to say your abstaining or fined $1,500.  I don't think it's good that we are going to have a popular vote winner again who lost the electoral vote for the second time in 16 years.

The popular vote isn't what the candidates are trying to win.  The popular vote would have come out differently if that was what the candidates were trying to win (may have been in Trump's favor or a bigger margin for Clinton, who knows?) 

I think in some states the electoral college does discourage voting, though.  If you vote red in a strong blue state or vice versa, you may not bother voting since you know it won't matter.

[MerrittsMustache]

I'm disgusted and not the least bit happy with the results last night, but I live in the country I love with the electoral system we have which means I live with the results it spits out and life will go on. 

I'm with you on compulsory voting.  I heard in Australia, who uses it, that you don't have to vote you just have to show up at polling station to say your abstaining or fined $1,500.  I don't think it's good that we are going to have a popular vote winner again who lost the electoral vote for the second time in 16 years.

This cannot be understated. Clearly the population distribution amongst states no longer reflects the electoral votes each has to give. If this really is the standard barer for democracy then it should be popular vote over electoral vote. 

If your candidate won the electoral vote but lost the popular vote, would you be saying the same thing?

[jficke13]

[...]
I'm with you on compulsory voting.  I heard in Australia, who uses it, that you don't have to vote you just have to show up at polling station to say your abstaining or fined $1,500.  I don't think it's good that we are going to have a popular vote winner again who lost the electoral vote for the second time in 16 years.

I'm sorry but I cannot square compulsory voting with the 1st amendment. The state cannot compel speech. Voting is speech. Not-voting is speech.  Therefore, the state cannot compel voting (or use state-action to punish someone for failing to show up and saying they are abstaining).

This isn't a close legal question either. If people are serious about compulsory voting, that would require a constitutional amendment.

[HouWarrior]

Shouldnt this be in the politics board? lol

Thanks mods for the window here to lets folks chat on this. A presidential election is a big deal, and its nice of you to permit the venting.

Trump won Texas easily, but Harris county (very large area, includes all of Houston) went democratic sweep including about 20 judgeships, all dems. Most of Our Texas cities are blue, but our state is red, go figure.

One of the more interesting red blue splits is to see (on last night's TV coverage)...blue urban america compared  to red rural america. Those electoral maps poignantly showed  this same split nearly in all 50 states . Interesting.

[manny31]

I am astounded at the outcome of this election,as many of us are. I hope people can be civil, and respect the office. I hope the office deserves our respect as well. I think that everybody that has an opinion on this election and the president elect needs to get involved no matter what side of the aisle you find yourself. Let your congressmen and senators know where you stand, do this often. I am pleased with the apparent repudiation of the "establishment" I don't want people to fear. God Bless America and God Bless all of you.