Election postmortem

[Postvieww]

I think it's more than acute in her case

You may be right! It may be terminal.

 

[the Vital One]

I am curious as to what others think, because this wasn't simply a candidate losing an election, it was an entire political party getting wrecked.

Great analysis.

I would add...

5. Concerns over socialism. The far left is determined to bring socialism to America. One reason they keep ringing the alarm bells over climate change is because they want to use it to implement socialism. If Harris wasn't a socialist, she was at least perceived to be one.
6. Immigration. This is covered all the time so there's no need to re-evaluate that one here.
7. Abortion rights and access. This is important, but Democrats overestimated how much it would effect how people vote.
8. Enthusiasm. Trump's supporters were enthusiastic for their candidate while Democrats were not enthusiastic for their own and just stayed home.

 

[o_mlly]

We have to ask seriously, "how could a candidate with twice the money (record amounts), the entire MSM behind her--to the point where it was literal propaganda 24/7 on the news networks, fanatical devotion from her party, and support from foreign leaders, get completely demolished in the election by a controversial and polarizing opponent?

Money and media without a credible message just does not work.

The polls had this election 50/50, and guys like Allan Lichtmen predicted her to win. Surveys of viewers after the debate said Harris won. Democrats interviewed expressed unwavering support for her.

Pollsters can be biased in their sample selection, or unskilled in achieving randomness in their sample selection, or in evaluating the data, or all of the above.

Economists were saying for 2 years that much of the inflation was caused by excessive government spending (the ARA & IRA--and spending during the Trump years), artificially low interest rates, etc. --it wasn't just supply shocks.

The Dem economic advisers disagreed with mainstream economists. The economic advisers to the Democrats should be suing their alma maters for tuition refunds.

Forever wars (Ukraine) make people angry, as they see billions of dollars going overseas, and worry about escalation.

I think that a significant amount of that money goes to companies in the U.S. defense industry engaged in manufacturing the weapons the government approved for export to Ukraine and other countries. If those monies came from a federal government surplus the matter would only be an internationally political one. But those monies are debt-financed making the issue one of setting economic priorities at home as well.

... Transgenderism, DEI/CRT, cancel culture, etc. --people are really sick of this stuff.

These lunatic programs are predictable. Liberals always advocate trying something new and different and on a large scale. Imagine a liberal saying that things are going just swell ... uhhh, that would make them conservative.

Harris was a terrible candidate--historically bad.

Yes. After his debate, the Dem leaders could no longer hide Joe's decline and forced him out. They (Obama, Schumer, Pelosi, et al) went to their bench and she was the "best" they could muster on short notice.

 

[stevevw]

Are you actually trying to say that Kamala Harris and the Democrats losing the election in such a huge fashion was everyone's fault except for Kamala Harris and the Democrats? Let me tell you something. If your party and its followers continue blaming everyone but yourselves, you're going to lose again in two years in the midterm election.

Just let it happen. Let them get it out of their systems. Its a belief and beliefs can be irrational and as we know its near impossible to change a persons beliefs.. They have to come to that realisation themselves.

I think some are realising that they may have been a bit out of touch with what has been going on. But the ideologues in positions of influence are digging in. I heard several Dem State leaders or DA's talking about fighting against Trumps policies. Some in districts which predominately turned red. It shows how out of touch they are in their own backyards.

 

[stevevw]

Some mentioned the Trump decisive victory was a reset and I think that is pretty spot on. Behind the political issues was an ideological battle going on. We seen this coming post 2000 with PC and eventually full blown identity politics (IP). It worked and the Left were able to get into positions of influence and the ideology went into the institutions and mainstream socety. Obama was instrumental in pushing IP and things just ecalated.

But it peaked around the time of the meme 'Go Woke Go Broke' came about. Thats when people began to see the unreality of IP infiltrating everything on a bigger scale besides the individual cancels that were happening. Then Bidens incompetence was exposed in front of the nation and I think this opened a lot of peoples eyes to the games the Left were playing.

But IP is powerful because it appeals to emotion and performance and can trick people and the Left again played the identity card hoping to fool everyone. They knew, their own data told them Kalama was unpopular. But they managed to get a surge with lots of fanfare and many were tricked again.

But as time went on the unreality was exposed once again. Due to other episodes like Bud Light, Hollywood, Disney, Trans issues such as in sports. As all these glitches in the Lefts ideology machine were appearing and people were taking this in. Things were not adding up in reality with what was being claimed.

The ideology wasn't working anymore. What started with the academics and then the Left imposing an ideology some 20 odd years ago had run its course and spilt into everyday life only to be exposed as unreal and even devisive and threatening.

I think for most they did not understand the mechanisms by which this ideology has been cultivated into society. I think they are more practically minded. But they also had an intuition or an unease that something wasn't right, things didn't match up to what was being said and that I think was the tipping factor that pushed most over the edge to Trump.

If it was just the economy then maybe people might give the Left another chance. But along with sense of betrayal and disconnect that pushed them over the edge in great numbers. In fact I would say that it was the disconnect that was the major factor.

So it is a sort of re-adjustment. It had been brewing and the election allowed people to change things. What I find facinating is that elections have become so personal like peoples lives depended on it. Maybe thats a sign of IP in that the political has become the personal for the Left. They are making it far worse than it is in reality.

Now the Right have to be careful not to exploit this. The idea is to come to the middle, go back to basics and not go again to another extreme. The Lefts ideology is a reaction to extreme Right ideology and not Trumps win is a reaction to extreme Left ideology. Now we need to have more moderate ideology. I think Trumps win which increased all demographics is the closest we have been for a long time.

 

[Wolseley]

Joy Reid is the worst one I have seen yet, criticizing black people and Hispanics for voting for Trump and saying they are responsible for their own demise

The Democrats are famous for this. They screw things up, deliberately take a dump in their own mess kit, and then blame everybody else when it blows up in their faces. Look at the way Nancy Pelosi is currently throwing Joe Biden under the bus, for example:

Pelosi blames Harris' loss on Biden's late exit and no open Democratic primary

She also blasted Bernie Sanders in an interview with The New York Times.

Pelosi blames Harris' loss on Biden's late exit and no open Democratic primary

She also blasted Bernie Sanders in an interview with The New York Times.

abcnews.go.com

 

[Fantine]

Put in isn't a world enemy as you project, he was looking to partake in western world partnership trade since 199q and the west shut him out

Obama's CIA, and his vice Secretary of State Victoria Nuland started and oversaw the presidential coup in Ukraine Feb 2014, they started the war that continues today

The MSM propaganda supporting NATO and Western World continuing the war is evil self interest in using Ukranian citizens as cannon fodder in their proxy war $$$ filling the Graves, Ukraine is destroyed "Done"!

Russia has list 400,000 soldiers and has called on N. Korea.
If Ukranians love Russia so much, why are they fighting so valiantly and fleeing to Poland if they have to?
You act as if Putin, trained by the KGB, who murders opponents or sends them to the Gulag is a good person.
Russia wants Ukraine's farmland and ports.

 

[Merrill]

IMO you are overthinking this. The simple answer is Liberal policies were rejected. Kamala was the most unqualified candidate in my lifetime. She was elevated by many only out of unfounded unnatural hatred of Trump. Biden in his dementia was smarter than Kamala. It was the liberal establishment that tried to gaslight the American public into believing she was a viable candidate. Wisdom prevailed and the majority of voting Americans did not fall for the ruse.

Apparently, Nancy Pelosi gave an interview yesterday where she claimed the American people agreed with Harris' policies and those of the Democratic Party in general. And that the only reason she lost was that the country is irredeemably racist and Trump seduced the people into Fascism

looks like they are going to lose again in 2028 if they continue following this theory

 

[Truth7t7]

The prophet Kim Clement even before Trump announced had a word from the Lord that Trump would serve two terms. Many cried “false prophet “ when Biden set in the White House but God truly is in control.

This very accurate prophecy was given in 2007. It has been very sad to see that so many Christians fight against God.

I disagree Clement was a prophet, he was a word of faith prosperity gospel false teacher, following the likes of Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, in fleecing the flock of God $$$

 

[Truth7t7]

Russia has list 400,000 soldiers and has called on N. Korea.
If Ukranians love Russia so much, why are they fighting so valiantly and fleeing to Poland if they have to?
You act as if Putin, trained by the KGB, who murders opponents or sends them to the Gulag is a good person.
Russia wants Ukraine's farmland and ports.

Correction Russia has always controlled the port in Crimea where its Naval fleet has been for decades

Obama and the US started this war in Ukraine in Feb 2014 when the CIA and Victoria Nuland started the Maidan revolt, it's been war ever since the actions of the Obama Admin

Putin is the man who stated so long as he's president it will be Dad, Mom, and Family, Russia has in its constitution that marriage is between male/female, it's the western world trying to push their Sodom and Gomorrah on Russia and it ain't working

 

[Bobber]

I think the turning point for the DNC is when Biden debated Trump. Biden's performance (or lack thereof) made it undeniably clear that he wasn't fit for office going into a second term.

It did cause a shaking.....it became confirmed to voters the thing that was asserted to be true about Biden not capable at least now, was indeed true. Big questions arose.....why was this covered up and always stated not to be true. So now you had credibility issues with a Party people had sought to believe was upfront.

And then after assuring everyone that Biden was sharp as a tack, totally on the ball, and very capable of being President for another four years, the DNC yanked him out and replaced him with Harris.

To be fair I think they're saying now they wanted a leadership convention really quick. Biden then endorsed Harris which is really what the big wigs didn't want him to do. Once done it was hard to pull back but try to make the best of it. According to Pelosi. Not that a different leader would have mattered I think the dynamics were really going Trump's way.

Added to that was the perceived rhetoric of the was Biden is suddenly now Harris campaign. Which came out as "if you don't vote for Harris, you're garbage".

To be fair I don't think the Dems really wanted Joe to articulate something that way. But it was baked in the cake long before this anyway.....voters did not resonate with the current Dems.

 

[Postvieww]

I disagree Clement was a prophet, he was a word of faith prosperity gospel false teacher, following the likes of Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland, Jesse Duplantis, in fleecing the flock of God $$$

You have the right to believe what you wish. From your post I see you probably think no one is prophet today which is not scriptural. Be that as it may the 2007 prophecy was extremely accurate. Please don’t try to give the evil one credit for that.

 

[Postvieww]

Apparently, Nancy Pelosi gave an interview yesterday where she claimed the American people agreed with Harris' policies and those of the Democratic Party in general. And that the only reason she lost was that the country is irredeemably racist and Trump seduced the people into Fascism

looks like they are going to lose again in 2028 if they continue following this theory

I once said liberalism was curable, maybe I was wrong.

 

[eleos1954]

Setting aside my personal views on the candidates, and approaching this at an objective level, I fund the results of this election shocking and unexpected.

We have to ask seriously, "how could a candidate with twice the money (record amounts), the entire MSM behind her--to the point where it was literal propaganda 24/7 on the news networks, fanatical devotion from her party, and support from foreign leaders, get completely demolished in the election by a controversial and polarizing opponent? And not only this, she saw her party lose both chambers of congress"

The polls had this election 50/50, and guys like Allan Lichtmen predicted her to win. Surveys of viewers after the debate said Harris won. Democrats interviewed expressed unwavering support for her. All of this was wrong.

Trump gained additional percentages of votes from virtually every demographic and economic group, including black males, latinos, etc. he won 51% of the women's vote in the country--when many predicted women would vote for Harris to the tune of 60-70%. The electoral map is an ocean of red. This is a realignment.

So what happened?

Some theories:

1. The one thing voters do not tolerate is inflation. People will put up with corruption, war, and even some chaos, but they will not tolerate inflation. The Biden administration's attempt to downplay inflation, and then blame it on Trump, the pandemic, etc. fell on deaf ears--no one bought that narrative save for far-left, partisan Democrats. Economists were saying for 2 years that much of the inflation was caused by excessive government spending (the ARA & IRA--and spending during the Trump years), artificially low interest rates, etc. --it wasn't just supply shocks. And even if people accepted that supply shocks were largely to blame, it was Democratic governors who shut down their states and ports. Inflation is a tax on the middle and lower classes.

2. Underestimating the public's concern over foreign wars and chaos. Forever wars (Ukraine) make people angry, as they see billions of dollars going overseas, and worry about escalation. Many Muslims and people on the left were outraged by what is going on in the ME. Harris simply ignored these issues after she was handed the nomination. She briefly touched on Ukraine during the debate, but basically said that there would be more escalation. Her rhetoric involving Gaza was empty, as it contained no policy proposals or objectives.

3. Backlash against identity politics and far-left lunacy. Transgenderism, DEI/CRT, cancel culture, etc. --people are really sick of this stuff. A buddy of mine who has voted Democrat his entire life voted for Trump, because he is just tired of all this nonsense, and couldn't bring himself to vote for Harris

4. Harris was a terrible candidate--historically bad. She comes off as vapid, empty, weak, and arrogant all at the same time. But what was interesting is that the MSM wouldn't touch on this at all, and lionized her. When she made contradictory statements, flip-flopped, became evasive, etc., they typically covered for her. I wonder how off-putting she really was to the average voter?

I am curious as to what others think, because this wasn't simply a candidate losing an election, it was an entire political party getting wrecked.

It depends where one gets their "news" from .... if one was following independent journalism and social media .... X being the prominent one .... the election results were not surprising at all. The Democratic party (Harris being their installed choice} did not articulate what and how they would accomplish their visions for American ... rather built the majority of their campaign on "hate Trump" (and they will continue this) .... hate does not resonate with most people. Actually Trump is more so a moderate.

If a newly democratic candidate would have been primaried ... likely there would have been a more electable choice on the democratic side. They caused their own problems and either they do or don't learn from it. Largely their campaign was based on emotion rather than substance.

 

[Wolseley]

I once said liberalism was curable, maybe I was wrong.

Oh, liberalism is probably curable; it's happened before.

Trump Derangement Syndrome, on the other hand, is incurable. It isn't based on any kind of treatable cause---it's just a blind, unreasoning, extreme knee-jerk reaction based on a violent hatred of the man, to the point where the mention of his name causes the liberal to react in the same way that Bill the Cat would if he were touched with a live electric wire.....or the way a vampire would react to having holy water thrown in its face.

One of the primary effects of TDS is a complete destruction of the higher mental facilities, turning the victim's brain to mush; it renders them incapable of intelligent thought, and they become brain-dead zombies, stumbling around dazedly, mumbling inarticulately, until they hear Trump's name. Then they become violent and uncontrollable, a complete slave to their exaggerated emotional states (hate, rage, etc.), and they become a danger to public safety, likely to riot and burn down cities, overturn police cars, damage churches, defecate in the streets, etc.

It's a problem, and something will have to be done about them one of these days; perhaps they can be placed in a preserve, where they can roam free and not cause a hazard to navigation....maybe Death Valley, or the Yucca Flats Nuclear Test Site, or the White Sands Missile and Bombing Range. All good choices.

 

[hedrick]

I think it's simpler. Most people don't understand the issues and can't really assess what policy proposals will work. They vote based on whether the candidate seems like them or sympathetic to them. Kamala's campaign appealed most centrally to college-educated women. Trump's appealed to non-college educated, particuarly men. Not that anyone assessed their policies as benefiting those people, but that their language and interests were consistent with those orientations. Will attacking immigrants and raising tariffs really help working-class Americans? Who knows? They will certainly create inflation. But the people Trump appealed to (which is a lot of Americans) think they're being threatened by immigrants, and like the idea of a Dirty Harry president, a vision not so appealing to many college-educated people.

This is a big problem for Democrats. They need to go back to being connected with working-class people culturally.

 

[Truth7t7]

Will attacking immigrants and raising tariffs really help working-class Americans? Who knows? They will certainly create inflation. But the people Trump appealed to (which is a lot of Americans) think they're being threatened by immigrants, and like the idea of a Dirty Harry president, a vision not so appealing to many college-educated people.

Perhaps your ignorant of the fact that there are American laws concerning illegal immigration and President Trump is upholding these laws, 75% of voting Americans are opposed to these laws being broken

 

[Bobber]

So it is a sort of re-adjustment. It had been brewing and the election allowed people to change things. What I find facinating is that elections have become so personal like peoples lives depended on it. Maybe thats a sign of IP in that the political has become the personal for the Left. They are making it far worse than it is in reality.

Most certainly they do. We see that reflected when they went down the slippery slope of using hyperbole to the point where if someone didn't agree with them that makes them a Hitler. You overplay the Extremism Card and people come to the place where they tell you to be quite and go sit down in the corner for they've lost all perspective.

I think Trumps win which increased all demographics is the closest we have been for a long time.

I do too. I think it's been major jolt which has been a long time coming but the day finally arrived. Trump has called it a New Golden Age which could end up being a good way to describe it. Doesn't mean there won't be problems and difficulties that won't always have to be worked out but America seems to be a nation which has now FOUND ITSELF.

 

[stevevw]

Most certainly they do. We see that reflected when they went down the slippery slope of using hyperbole to the point where if someone didn't agree with them that makes them a Hitler. You overplay the Extremism Card and people come to the place where they tell you to be quite and go sit down in the corner for they've lost all perspective.

I remember when ideologues were saying words were violence. This goes back to the idea that words create reality. We seen this with the pronouns and how not using the right words was considered hate. Or saying the wrong words.

It seems theres a disconnect between the worldview of ideologues and reality. I think basically there's a different metaphysical belief in who we are and how we should be ordered. Progressive academics challenged the traditional truths and even objective reality itself and ushered in a new reality that had no truth or objective reality except for self truth and reality. When we abandon Gods truth we also abandon reality itself.

I do too. I think it's been major jolt which has been a long time coming but the day finally arrived. Trump has called it a New Golden Age which could end up being a good way to describe it. Doesn't mean there won't be problems and difficulties that won't always have to be worked out but America seems to be a nation which has now FOUND ITSELF.

I don't think its over. There will be trouble. The ideology runs deep in some and this is a new phase of resistence. Afterall that is what the ideology is really about. Resisting the white supremacists. It is a belief and not based in reality so people won't give up that easily.

The ideology is born out of Marxist academics whose aim is to undermine and bring down what they consider the ruling class and oppressors. Thats why they call Trump and all Rep leaders facists. They still occupy the universities which is the production house for future ideologues and re-engineering the institutions and society with DEI and Trans ideology.

So the ideology still dominates. I think we should just allow things to run their course. Go back to basics and allow the science and reality to be the judge. Ideologues had managed to get into positions of influence and power and many fell for the ideology.

But things were changing even before the election. Health departments were reviewing their practices and going back to evidence based practiced due to problems caused by the ideology creeping into health. Businesses had experienced the pushback from customers from going Woke and had to realign with them.

This will continue. The good thing is that now I think ideologues won't be able to dominate as they have done when the Left was in. There can now at least be a more balanced approach for health and other institutions to get back to the basics.

Afterall that is what a re-adjustment should be. Not a swing to the opposite but getting back to the basics of what works. What we already know works.

 

[Bobber]

I remember when ideologues were saying words were violence. This goes back to the idea that words create reality.

Reminds me how Trump got roasted for saying the word FIGHT in numbers of his rallies. It's a buzz word for violence.....and yet Biden used the term, and if you look at Harris's concession speech....the word fight many times was used. Of course everyone knows we don't mean the word that way.....others however don't get the same privilege! It's called stacking the deck in their favor and not being consistent.