That's likely an important element. What % that covers is not entirely clear, but yes, it is a factor.

The average American doesn't want to be ruled by a woman. I never expected their sexism to be that severe. — javi2541997

You can't say it's because she's black because Obama was in office two terms, so if you can't call the average American racist, you've still got misogyny to argue.

The average American doesn't want to be ruled by a woman. I never expected their sexism to be that severe. — javi2541997

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 though. Only lost due to electoral college set up.

And Harris could still carry the popular vote. But she's a weak uninspiring candidate is the problem.

I’m not an American - why do you think he won?

I would not call it misogyny. It is just that most of your fellow compatriots might not feel good—or comfortable—about having a woman in the White House, as well as that we don't feel comfortable if we turn into a republic. These factors tend to be intrinsic in the soul and mindset of every nation more than we thought.

Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016 though. — Baden

True! And still...

does anything for them. — Manuel

He'll burn down the system. That's what people want. They're tired of politics, tired of being responsible for the world's ills, tired of worrying about climate change or foreign policy, tired of the current state of capitalism (though the latter they don't identify as the problem).

The solution is to burn it all down. Elect someone obviously hated by politicians and the media. Someone who is "unfit for office", which to their ears means he's a danger to the status quo. He's a danger to "democracy"? Great that means he'll change the system which doesn't work for ordinary Americans.

This is not meant as an indictment. There's stupidity and cultish behaviour around Trump, but their feeling that something is deeply wrong is understandable. It's not limited to the US either. I see a lot of the same sentiment in Europe now.

He'll burn down the system. That's what people want. They're tired of politics, tired of being responsible for the world's ills, tired of worrying about climate change or foreign policy, tired of the current state of capitalism (though the latter they don't identify as the problem).

The solution is to burn it all down. Elect someone obviously hated by politicians and the media. Someone who is "unfit for office", which to their ears means he's a danger to the status quo. He's a danger to "democracy"? Great that means he'll change the system which doesn't work for ordinary Americans.

This is not meant as an indictment. — Echarmion

I totally agree with this. This is the real reason why Trump is elected (or if he get's through to get the second term). And thus it really doesn't matter what a debacle the whole Trump II administration turns out to be, as long as the media is offended and the elites are angry, Trump voters are happy. Because he is tearing down the rotten system. The smug media/Hollywood apparatus doesn't simply understand this and because it fully has gone with the Democratic narrative, it helps Trump to be the contender (and possible winner) he is.

Anyway, these so-called liberals don't understand how hypocrite bigots they are when they talk about white-trash, hillbillies and flyover country and then uphold the woke narrative. Somehow, when it's your own race, whites talking about whites, in the US you can be publicly as offensive as ever. All what this does is that it shows the actual bigotry in the American system.

First thing in a democracy is to respect your fellow citizens who disagree with you and vote differently. And never, ever, ridicule them.

RFK Secretary for Health. Elon Musk, Secretary for Government Expenditure. Steve Bannon, chief press officer. Like when your jetliner starts to fall from the sky - buckle your seatbelts, put your head between your knees, and kiss your ass goodbye.

Some relevant iconography:



This icon is ubiquitous in Buddhist cultures. They are called 'the three poisons', responsible for all human misery. Snake represents hatred. Pig represents greed. Rooster is ignorance. They're running the show now.

Kind of accepted the possibility of Trump winning since Israel started their war in Lebanon in late September so the result tonight isn't surprising to me. Well we get what we voted for. We'll see if prices now magically go down to 2019 levels now that Trump is in office again.

And Harris could still carry the popular vote. But she's a weak uninspiring candidate is the problem. — Baden

I still blame Biden ultimately for tying his party's hands like this. Even Harris herself is incapable of distancing herself from him because she's a part of his administration. His decision to run again and his (even now) stubborn belief that he's capable of winning is the biggest reason why the Democrats lost.

Dude took all the swing states. Wtf?

And now he's protected by the Supreme Court decision that he's granted immunity for 'any official acts'. The Project 2025 ideologues are lined up to purge the bureacracy and, quote, 'take down the deep state leadership.' He's promised 11 million deportations and massive tarrifs. He has a hit list of his 'enemies within'.

I always feared the worst, but I think this is going to be a lot worse than I feared. I think I'm going to get my head out of news broadcasts and go back to just studying philosophy and Buddhism.

And now he's protected by the Supreme Court decision that he's granted immunity for 'any official acts'. The Project 2025 ideologues are lined up to purge the bureaucracy and, quote, 'take down the deep state leadership.' He's promised 11 million deportations and massive tarrifs. He has a hit list of his 'enemies within'. — Wayfarer

Isn't Trump just another celebrity, virtue signalling, identity policies wanker (albeit of the right)? Do you think that he and Vance and Musk and RFK and Bannon will be able to agree on anything and not end up derailing themselves in acrimony in a few months? Seems to me that Musk, Bannon and RFK will need to take out Trump in '25 so they can get to the real work.

Dude took all the swing states. Wtf? — frank

Yeah, it is crazy. Surprisingly, he beat the odds.

Do you think that he and Vance and Musk and RFK and Bannon will be able to agree on anything and not end up derailing themselves in acrimony in a few months? — Tom Storm

Musk says he wants to slash government spending and bust unions, while RFK undermines vaccines. Both of these people could've pushed for climate action on the right given their backgrounds, but why make things better when you can make everything a hell of a lot worse?

When did Musk become a right-wing cartoon?

Isn't Trump just another celebrity, virtue signalling, identity policies wanker (albeit of the right)? — Tom Storm

who happens to now be the most powerful man in the world. The Republicans now control the White House, Senate and House. Forget about environmental policies and climate targets. Forget about all the lawsuits and indictments he was facing, he'll walk away scot free. It's a disastrous outcome.

When did Musk become a right-wing cartoon? — Tom Storm

Around the time he bought Twitter.

Today’s the day we get 4 more years of the old degenerate climate-denying corporatist con man. It’ll do irreversible damage and lock in 50 years of a reactionary Supreme Court and judiciary generally— and put the brakes on the little climate policy we managed to pass— but hey, Americans are fairly stupid and easily brainwashed, and the Democrats should have known better. The lesson they’ll take away from this is that they should move farther to the right, which is insane. — Mikie

@180 Proof?

So a reminder of those confidently predicting a Harris win/landslide:

Allan Litchman (“never wrong in 40 years” 13 keys guy)
Michael Moore
Bill Maher
Nate Silver (barely)
James Carville
…anyone else care to add to this?

The polls turned out fairly accurate— still underestimating Trump but not by as much.

Now it’ll be fun watching the Republicans try to govern and yet still blame democrats when everything goes to shit, as it always does under their leadership.

Today’s the day we get 4 more years of the old degenerate climate-denying corporatist con man. It’ll do irreversible damage and lock in 50 years of a reactionary Supreme Court and judiciary generally— and put the brakes on the little climate policy we managed to pass— but hey, Americans are fairly stupid and easily brainwashed, and the Democrats should have known better. The lesson they’ll take away from this is that they should move farther to the right, which is insane.
— Mikie — Mikie

Some of my friends keep telling me that Trump is what happens when the liberals have lost their way. What do you think are the lessons for Democrats here?

I saw Max Richter in concert last night. He played the album, Blue notebooks, which he wrote 20yrs ago in protest against the Iraq war.
Sublime experience.

What do you think are the lessons for Democrats here? — Tom Storm

Not to run an empty, establishment candidate who runs away from every popular progressive policy there is, and who has no principles. They played this one by the book— and failed yet again. Didn’t help that she, like Clinton (and, to a degree, Biden), was essentially anointed by the DNC.

It gets tiresome having to exclusively vote AGAINST something— that’s extremely uninspiring. Despite all the gaslighting, I never felt the so-called “energy,” and I imagine millions of others didn’t either. It all felt rather bland and formal and forced and coached. Like Hillary all over again: machine-like; robotic. I still voted against the worst, as we all should, but eventually you have to offer something as well. Biden, pressured by Bernie (as he needed that large cohort to get elected), ran on several of his policies. Kamala immediately ran to the “middle,” which every bozo pundit in their infinite wisdom said to do. You see the obvious result.

What will they actually learn? Nothing, probably. Maybe blame Russia again, or run even MORE to the right next time.

When did Musk become a right-wing cartoon? — Tom Storm

Around the time he bought Twitter. — Wayfarer

Musk indeed had been a democrat. Why the Biden administration snubbed Musk, like for example praising electric car makers other than Musk, who has been the leader and the newcomer, is basically typical Democratic fumbling. Yes, Musk may not have been a supporter of trade unions, but still. And likely the real cause is him buying Twitter and not being the DEI supporting political line tower as the other internet corporations.



Hence the outcome was logical and Trump got a great backer for his new administration.

It gets tiresome having to exclusively vote AGAINST something— that’s extremely uninspiring. Despite all the gaslighting, I never felt the so-called “energy,” and I imagine millions of others didn’t either. It all felt rather bland and formal and forced and coached. Like Hillary all over again: machine-like; robotic. I still voted against the worst, as we all should, but eventually you have to offer something as well. — Mikie

That makes perfect sense to me. Thanks. Yes, I said to a friend yesterday that there wasn't a genuine bone in her body and, perversely, by contrast, Trump appeared spontaneous and real, even if he is a carny barker and quite obviously a cunt. What do they say? Shit has its own integrity...

Not to run an empty, establishment candidate who runs away from every popular progressive policy there is, — Mikie

Forgot to ask - what progressive policies are you referring to?

Medicare for all, $15 minimum wage, Green New Deal, free public college, student debt cancellation, the PRO Act (unions), free child care and child tax credit, raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations, gun control, police reform, etc etc. She ran from all of it. Not only does it energize the base, but most of it has broad appeal. Not to mention she’s a war hawk and genocide supporter like Biden.

Also, for the record: Bernie would have won.

:up: