Open Mike: Who You Gonna Call? (OT)

Sorry I'm late getting started this morning, but I'm feeling physically ill.

Can't quite figure out why. It's not my stomach; I don't have a headache; I don't have a fever. What could it be?

Oh yeah, it's my soul.

My soul is nauseous and it feels like barfing. Yeah, that's it.

Let's just stipulate right here that I probably shouldn't write anything this morning. The reason I'm getting a late start is that I had to take a block of time and bash out a towering screed—just to try to make myself feel a little less ill in the soul, you know? But my English reader/friend Tom, who screened it for me, says it's "a little raw" and I take it that's an example of English understatement.

But I have to ask my fellow Democrats and anti-Republicans (and now, anti-Populist-Insurgents) a question: who we gonna get next time? Who are we going to choose to champion the flag of traditional American liberal democracy in 2020? Should be someone who sees clearly, if you get the allusion. (Waaanh-waa.)

It can't be a cranky hundred-year-old Jewish socialist with a clear view of what's wrong but no plan to make it right.

It needs to be somebody with enough moxie for the fight, someone broadly likeable, someone without a lot of baggage—and, clearly, a male, because America would probably, I don't know, elect a male orang-outang from the forest over a highly qualified female with tons of experience who spent her whole life preparing for the job. Hypothetical example.

Russ Feingold is one of the best politicians in the history of the United States, but he's going to be 67 in 2020 and he just lost a Senate campaign to a [highly insulting description deleted] plastics manufacturer, albeit one seated high atop a giant heap of Koch millions, which doesn't speak all that well for his (Feingold's) draw in the hinterlands. Elizabeth Warren has the moxie and her views are right on track, but she didn't want to run this time and darn, she doesn't have the right chromosomes for this particular country, more's the pity. And she's going to be 71 in 2020. I'm only 59 and I get tired at the thought of driving to Buffalo once.

So who we gonna get? We need a champion. We need somebody good. And we need to start looking right now, because I don't know if you noticed but the house just caught fire.

One thing seems clear—20/20, pardon again the same bad pun—we have to decide. The party rank and file, that is. Us grassroots. If we let the DNC decide, the DNC that served us up the female Walter Mondale, avatar of the Clinton Restoration, '90s nostalgia, business as usual, it will no doubt give us whatever loyal insider who's next in line, and then any fool fake billionaire from reality TV could probably beat her. Him. Whatever.

Suggestions?

I've written too much, I see. I really shouldn't write anything today. I know that.

I have a feeling I will, though. It'll be good for my soul.

Mike
(Thanks to Tom Burke)

"Open Mike" is the off-topic editorial page of TOP, when Yr. Hmbl. Ed. rambles afield. It normally appears on Wednesdays.

Original contents copyright 2016 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

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(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Terry: "Mike, Mike, Mike! It's not that America doesn't want a woman president. It's that the Democrats don't. Let's look at the numbers:

Turnout 2012 for Obama: 65.9m; 2016 for Clinton: 59.1m; difference = –6.8m

2012 for Romney: 60.9m; 2016 for Trump: 59m; difference  = –1.9m

"Bear in mind that we just elected a person with negatives in the 60% range. The Democrats own this mistake. They didn't even have an opposition candidate like the Republicans did—Evan McMullin."

Mike replies: It's true. It looks very much like this election was the fault of Democratic voters...about 5 million of them, or thereabouts, who all told pollsters of their support for Clinton and then didn't bother to go vote.

Ironically, many (as individuals) might have not voted because the polls were so certain Clinton was going to win. It made them complacent. The pollsters weren't even that wrong, although it certainly looked like they were. They just needed to add a crucial caveat to their forecasts: "Clinton has an 85% [or whatever] chance of winning assuming everyone who supports her actually votes." 

Bruce: "God bless America. And keep Trump safe. Personally, I'm having a great year. First the Scottish referendum, then Brexit and now Donald. I can't see how any sane person could possibly have considered voting for Clinton given everything that's known about her. As Trump rightly said, 'A nasty woman.'"

John: "Any other Democrat could have beaten Trump. The system needs a shake-up. The problem is that the voters picked the wrong person to provide it. What amazes me is that half the country could vote for such a vile person. Where's decency?"

Michael Roche: "To the concerned outsider looking at America it is blatantly obvious your country is a deeply unequal society in both opportunity, living standards, healthcare, education, etc., etc., and your political establishment is either incapable of doing anything to remedy these problems or the people elected to public office are not concerned about these injustices. Quite honestly there was not a lot of difference between a career political insider of long standing who seemed to be happy with the status quo and could not be bothered to come up with even half a plan to improve things and a charlatan TV personality/business tycoon whipping up hatred and division and false hopes for the poor and disenfranchised of the richest country in the western world. All this played out in some sort of dystopian reality show daily for all to see on TV and in print media and all the overpaid pundits and so-called experts could contribute was that Trump cannot win, i.e. Hilary will win, and we can carry on as normal, nothing will change, people will continue to lose their jobs and homes, African Americans will still get shot by law enforcement officers and stand a much greater chance of getting put in prison than their white fellow citizens. None of this will improve under Trump but if these are the only choices presented to the electorate of this once great land of opportunity then no one should be surprised if tweedledum gets elected and not tweedledee."

Al C.: "Mike, another crushed soul here. I am a naturalized citizen. America gave me so much, for which I am eternally grateful, and which I can never fully repay. However, is this still my country? Why do 50% want to take it back? Back from whom?"

Mike replies: My sister-in-law had a neighbor explain to her that he supports Trump because he hates immigrants. My sister-in-law has a heavy Ukrainian accent. Evidently her neighbor did not make the connection.

John Camp: "I'm a lifelong liberal Democrat, voted for Hillary, was stunned by the election, and at the same time, think the Democrats (but not the county) got what they deserved. The Democrats were beaten by people for whom they've shown nothing but disdain for decades, Democratic elites who have lived lives that began with Harvard and Yale, and who constantly let slip their disdain—the 'clutching to guns and religion,' from Obama, and 'basket of deplorables' from Hillary. Our free trade agreements have undoubtedly helped lift much of the poor world, from Mexico to India to China, to some prospect of prosperity, while leaving our own Midwestern rust belt in despair.

"Trump is a racist, a sexist, quite possibly a criminal in several different ways. I'm hoping the shock of his election will help create a Democratic Party that goes back to its working-class roots; that would not include anyone like Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris, but there are a number of good solid Democratic governors out there who might fill the bill, though they are not yet political stars."

Mike replies: A book for ya.

Amin (partial comment): "I didn't sleep at all last night. My kids woke up this morning asking if this means everyone hates us. Have been trying to convince them and myself that everything will be okay.

"I do admire you for writing about this today. You could easily lose some readers over it."

Withheld: "Well I guess this is the last time I read this blog, despite having enjoyed it otherwise for years. I felt the same as you four years ago. Life goes on. Take care."

Mike replies: Wait, you're confused. Your guy won this time.

Alan Carmody: "Mike, I know this is your blog but with the greatest possible respect, one of the reasons I come here is...to get away from the politics."

Mike replies: Well, there won't be much of it. With a blog as wide-ranging as this one, not everything is for everyone. Some things are for most of the readers, some things are for just a few; like a newspaper or a magazine, as a reader you have to pick and choose.

I'd hope that as much as 80% of the contents are appealing to most readers, and I don't know how low the percentage could go before a particular reader would go wandering away...60%? 40%? But not everything is for everyone, that much is certain.

Comments

[Paul De Zan]

It’s no small thing to discover you don’t live in the country you thought you did. I'm listening to piano jazz (Mulgrew Miller at the moment) and doing nothing today. Then we'll see.

[James Gaston]

I share your anguish and admire you for publishing something, anything today. As for me, today is a day to try to think about something else than politics. This quote, attributed to Churchill, gives me a little comfort:

“Many forms of Government have been tried and will be tried in this world of sin and woe. No one pretends that democracy is perfect or all wise. Indeed, it has been said that democracy is the worst form of Government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.”

[Sal Santamaura]

Mike, I think you're being a bit premature writing about a candidate for 2020. The first concern ought be survival, not re-taking control.

When things looked like they were over at around 11:00 PM Pacific Time, we retired for the evening, unwilling to watch the end. After a restless night, we awakened to confirm the worst. My wife's reaction has been very strongly negative.

After some discussion, we conclude this is like a death of our country, and we're going through the stages of grief. Optimistically, perhaps there will be a recovery four years from now. If, that is, global thermonuclear war doesn't obliterate humanity in the meantime. Either way, I'm grateful to be old and childless.

If not irreligious, I'd say "God help our country." As an atheist, I feel much better since I gave up hope.

[Alan]

Good mourning, America...

[Chuck Albertson]

Good question. It's not like they have a deep bench, or even a decent farm system.

[Fritz]

Just a thought from the commiserating outside world:
The person you are looking for in 2020 must exist and be nationally visible right now -- as a governor or a senator, at the least. And he/she must not only have the vision and the skills, but also the huge ambition to change the world.

I wish you and the rest of the world the best of luck in selecting the short list.

[Andy]

Yeah Mike, it's absolutely sickening. At least now half of America knows what half of the UK feels..

[Eliott James]

Stunned.
I don't have a candidate in mind that could have done better this round. But part of the dynamic of 2020 will be a reaction to what Trump does or does not do. He will upset the apple cart, for sure. Can he possibly deliver what he has promised? No.
I understand that people want change but I didn't think so many people would buy into his nonsense.

[Stan B.]

Elizabeth Warren is indeed the person you described, but as just proven- we are now well beyond any form of logic or intellect. The blind steamroller of ignorance, arrogance and bigotry Trumps all the above.

The only way sanity may be restored is when we are all left to pick up the pieces...

[Larry Gebhardt]

I don't think the problem the country as a whole had with Clinton was her gender. She has been subject to a decades long smear campaign (some of which probably originated with her gender). So much crap was thrown her way that it should be no surprise that some of it stuck. I think a different woman with her views could be accepted by Democrats and moderate voters, so long as the Right doesn't have decades to try to tear her down.

I have no suggestions other than we need to wait and not create another "chosen one". In the mean time as wide of an array of competent candidates should be identified without regard to gender, race, etc. As 2020 draws near the mood of the country should be clearer and one will make the most sense to primary voters. But we need to start the public conversation about quality people and ideas now.

Democrats also need to work on reclaiming the state governments. In 2020 the next census will take place and the gerrymandering will only be worse. Another decade of few Democrats in the state governments will spell disaster for the party. The "good" news is I have high expectations Trump and Co will screw things up so bad over the next two years we might see a backlash in the midterms. No, that's not really good news.

[David Zivic]

OK...Several of your "comment guidelines" are in violation so a precident has been established for todays reply comments. (I'm still waiting for yesterdays BTW). So here it goes....Never mind I don't really writing today either ! OK, one to address one of your issues today. The problem wasn't that Hillary was Woman, the problem was that Hillary was Hillary. That being said, four years now or before the impeachment, I want the best man to win or Elizabeth Warren.

[Michael]

Still, life goes on. This morning I was much comforted to note that I was breathing just fine, the traffic seemed in no hurry, and the common milk of human kindness still flows, as it always does, somewhere.

[John Sarsgard]

Tim Kaine.

[Gary Boyd]

Ditto

[Jack]

It's a pointless exercise. The DNC and RNC weren't involved in selection of candidates. Since 1972, both parties' candidates have been selected by the American people, voting in primary elections (or caucuses or whatever).

I think it's arguable that the primary system has served us poorly, compared with the smoke-filled rooms of 1968 and earlier. But that's democracy for you.

[k4kafka]

Mike
IMO, politics isn't your forte. And I,for one, don't look to "The Online Photographer" for political opinions, be they...right or left.

[Josh Hawkins]

Al Franken?

[WayneT]

You said it! Thank you.

[David L.]

https://visualsciencelab.blogspot.com/2016/11/i-woke-up-this-morning-ready-to-get.html

[Mike R]

Mike,
Having spent the weekend going door-to-door, and most of yesterday working a phone bank, I also feel the sense of loss, and mourning. But ...

a) please don't discount Elizabeth Warren, because

b) sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom in order to really, really know it's time to do something different.

(And, not to close on a downer, but there's a chance that rock bottom is yet to come. We'll just have to wait and see)

Peace!

MikeR

[Sarge]

Tim Kaine

[Steve Justad]

Time to hope for the best.

Richard Nixon was certifiably insane. Yet, he could be considered one of the country's best presidents, if it were not for a few legal issues.

Perhaps the Trumpster will rise up from where-ever he has been residing and be an effective president. He seems to be qualified by the certifiably insane Nixon standard.

Perhaps.

[Andrew Lamb]

I felt ill for days after the EU referendum.

[Jim Kofron]

Yeah, I hear you, Mike.

[Frank Petronio]

Sorry about your angst Mike. At my household I set out a sympathy card, a link to Breitbart News, and a selection of chocolates for my domestic Hillary voter. And I didn't gloat that I was right for the last 18 months.

I think Trump and the Republican control of congress and senate will do great things for all Americans, even disgruntled Democrat photographers. Working people won for a change, populism defeated globalism and I'm happy for that. It really would have been unacceptable to elect a blatant criminal... I hope Julian Assange can finally go free.

I don't see the correlation to causation you imply here, I would have gladly voted for a female or black version of Donald Trump over any liberal white male regardless. I went to several Trump rallies (photos on my website) and the crowds were far more diverse (and polite) than was (not) reported by the mainstream news.

Best wishes, try to keep an open mind, and if you live in a violent city (my daughter lives in Oakland) please stay indoors.

[Kurt Shoens]

In your fantasy politics article, you wrote about a proposal for essentially a new primary process to choose attractive candidates for the general election. Due to how the political parties control the primary process and to, oh, I don't know, maybe game theory, I doubt the primary process will change for the better.

You'd think that what's best for the country as a whole would be best for the state political parties (who control the primary process), but it isn't working well these days.

tl;dr version (you know, for the kids): curse the parties for not finding better candidates for the general election.

[Gary Alessi]

Ok....this person does not fit many of your requirements.....but Kamala Harris....who just got elected to the Senate fits the bill.....

[Gunny]

It's Wednesday morning in America. Get on with yourself.

[Dennis]

"I have a feeling I will, though. It'll be good for my soul."

But will it be good for your blog ?

Just askin' ...

[Kenneth Wajda]

The media made Trump: The media sold the game show host because he was good for ratings, the media kept the spotlight on him because it kept adding up to more profits, they betrayed Bernie by refusing him coverage, and then the media preached poll numbers guaranteeing a Hillary win. I have to stop reading the media. http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/upshot/presidential-polls-forecast.html - I think the media touting polls influences the election--"If Hillary is a sure win, I don't need to bother to vote."--and publishing them is irresponsible.

Maybe we are all too connected electronically, and instead need to spend more time getting to know our neighbors, half of whom are so disillusioned by the system, that they voted for the game show host.

Hopefully the new reality show, The White House, isn't a horror story. And some good comes from shining a light on America's bigotries and hatred. And Trump's narcissistic need to look good and be a winner helps him make some good choices for the US.

[Edward Taylor]

Hang in there buddy. I'm with you, and so are the majority of Americans. I noticed that the sun rose this morning as always. We will get through this, somehow.

[Stephen Gilbert]

Yeah, that queasy soul thing is going around.

I'm thinking it might be related to the news.

[Michael Aubrey]

Cory Booker

[Jona]

Mike,

I know you and a lot of other people are very upset, but please, please, stick to photography if you can. This year has been an on-going deluge of everything bad about America and more divisiveness is not going to improve the anger, hostility, racism, etc. that has been dragged out in plain view. Views that I thought we had long moved past. Everyone believing they are right and not compromising an inch has gotten us where we are today. We are Americans and that includes acceptance and tolerance of all who have chosen the US as home, even if you disagree strongly with their viewpoint.

Let's all celebrate why we are here: a love of photography and your writing. Mental health researchers and practitioners both believe that society and happiness relies upon finding compassion for all. The Dalai Lama holds no anger against China over Tibet because anger causes one's self suffering.

[Wayne]

I think the problem for the left is the fact that the left does not do a very good job of projecting what the goal is....What does this liberal utopia look like? When will we be there? Will it just be an ongoing effort to identify what is not acceptable and altering the lives (moral and financial) of citizens who do not step into line? Is it just an effort to eliminate rednecks and hangers-on? What is a redneck? What is a hanger-on?

Democrats and anti-Republicans did not get it handed to them by a skilled, articulate politician. They got it handed to them by an inexperienced "outsider" who has never won an elected office; furthermore, he forged his way through a level of political ineptitude (his ineptitude) like a runaway train. This wasn't about packaging, it was about the mood of the electorate. Trump, like him or not, presents a pretty clear lesson for everyone.

Consider W's response to the "butt-kicking",(W's words) following the Democrat take-over of congress during W's second mid-term election: "We got our butt's kicked.People don't like our plan. We are going to have to change things." I think W had that right.

[Omer]

It's a little too easy to suggest that Hillary Clinton was ineffective after the election. Nobody foresaw this outcome. One stat that is telling of American society is that 52% of white women who voted did so for Trump. Some Democrats voted for Trump because they do not believe a woman can be a tough leader and may be perceived as being weak in the international arena. Many Americans simply do not believe women can be leaders, period.

[Richard Sandor]

Rather surprising to read a left wing, political diatribe on a photography web site, but it's your web site.

[The diatribe was the one I didn't publish. --Mike]

[Bill Mitchell]

There has been no one really suitable since Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan.

[Dave Van de Mark]

Right on Mike - I must take the same stand as you and die in the fire if need be. As you just said, I too could say more - a lot more - but won't. Instead I'm going to take a long 5 mile photo walk in a beautiful forest this afternoon before it gets sold off to the highest bidder! I need to cool off...

[Peter Croft]

I'm glad you wrote this Mike, and made your political persuasion plain. We share the same values and I can tell you, I am dismayed, disheartened, aghast, anxious and just plain angry. Clearly, you can fool some of the people all of the time.

I truly believe that America had better be ready for body bags, because this lunatic is going to lead the US into armed conflict or even a nuclear exchange. Putin is rubbing his hands with glee. He now has carte blanche to start pushing the envelope, and places like Latvia will be the start. He will be emboldened to test NATO, because the Trumpet has sown doubt about the USA's resolve.

In my region, China will be emboldened to push the militarisation of the South China Sea islands even harder. We will be drawn into that if there is a conflict.

This result is just so depressing. It's clear that 51% of Americans are racist, xenophobic, ignorant, credulous fools. Armed to the teeth fools, with big guns. I am frightened for you and for the world. This will cause a world recession. The man is an idiot.

I fully agree with your post, but I have no answer, except to draft Barack Obama back in. I know you can't, but ... this is a good man and he will be remembered as a GOOD president.

I wish the USA luck. You're going to need it, as we all are now. This disaster affects all of us.

[c.d.embrey]

I'm someone that Obama referred to as a professional lefty.

It's been a long time since LBJ's great society. Recently we've had corporatist Demo's running the country for the benefit of Wall Street. That, along with a hawkish HRC wanting a no-fly-zone in Syria (WW3?) is why the Democrats lost.

What we need is a pragmatic anarchist/marxist—but that will never happen.

I expect that the country will go back to 1930s style non-intervention, but with a modern enhanced social safety-net. Like Molly Ivins said "You Got to Dance with Them What Brung You," So there is little chance that that Social Security, etc. will be effected. We need to remember that Otto von Bismarck started single payer health insurance, because he thought that a worry free employee was a harder worker. Trump seems to think the same way.

[Yonatan K]

Joe. Biden.

(mic dropped)

[Dalvorius]

Waking up in a rich country full of opportunity that happens for the next few years to be led by a figurehead from the opposite side of politics?

Definitely a first-world problem...

Back to photography I hope! :)

[Joe Holmes]

After Obama's four-year break, he's eligible to run again in 2020.

Just saying' (to quote The Mike).

[Manuel]

Mike, did you do enough to avoid the outcome of this election? Or did you just take for granted Hillary Clinton would win?
These are rhetorical questions and they're not specifically addressed to you. I believe many Americans failed to see the danger that was coming and didn't bother to mobilize. Maybe they would have if they could care to even have a glance at what happens outside the US; then they would have seen what is going on in Europe (especially in Poland and Hungary), with the rise of extreme right-wing movements, and do whatever possible not to let it happen in America.
As it stands, now you'll be stuck with a clown at the White House. Let's hope he surrounds himself of such incompetent, ignorant people that his administration won't last a whole term. (But even an incomplete term can be enough to produce irreversible damage to the US and the world.)

[Dan Wells]

Kamala Harris is one name I'm watching. She's been a terrific AG in California, and is one of the few younger, bright, charismatic Dems we have... Also, Tammy Duckworth, freshly in the Senate from Illinois. Dear Canada, can we borrow Justin Trudeau, PLEASE... Michelle Obama has never indicated any interest in politics, but she's perhaps the most gifted politician in the country... Any of the above!

[s.wolters]

You insulted the orangutan.
(Hopefully they are still with us by 2020).

[John Krumm]

My wife feels kicked in the gut by white America. I had to go out and take some photos, which helped.

For 2020, if he's vulnerable, I like Tulsi Gabbard a lot, rep from Hawaii. She was a strong Bernie Supporter, as was I. http://gabbard.house.gov

[Dick Drake]

Best to keep politics out of photo websites. But....I suspect the voter revolt (Sanders and Trump) is due to current politicians not meeting the citizen's needs and wants.

[Chris]

Appalling result and and a rejection of all decent standards by Republicans during the whole election campaign. One day the Trumpists will look back and regret they ever did such a thing as vote for the orange man with small hands. They will pretend they didn't: like all those who pretended they didn't vote for George Wallace, or for the Iraq war. Even Nixon, as awful as he was, at least knew a thing or two about the world out there. The Reagan legacy (such as it was) is now officially dead. As to whether Trump will accomplish anything: prepare for profound disappointment, unless of course curbing citizens' rights (abortion, LGBT, health care etc) is what you want. This was a bad day for America and the West.

[Al C.]

The DNC needs to hire Michael Moore as a special consultant. As a blue collar Michigander, he saw this coming. From your former rural Wisconsin perch, could you have seen it coming, too?

[PDLanum]

My put - over the next two years or so.
20 Million without health care - including me.
Out of NATO.
Out of the UN.
Trade wars with EU, Mexico, Canada and China.
Russia will be our new ally.
Muslims, Hispanics and a lot of people of color will be in internment camps.
Due to alt-right Supreme Court - Roe v Wade, voting rights, Gay Marriage -- all gone
EPA -- gone.
NPR/PBS -- gone.
Drilling in Arctic Refuge.
Native American rights/reservations -- gone.
Ultra rich pay no taxes -- at all.

This is just some of the things on the list alone with the Republicans desire to get rid of Medicare/Medicaid and Social Security.
Education Dept. -- gone.

Yes, the USA is dead - long live the USA

[Stephen F Faust]

Cory Booker seems like the best hope!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cory_Booker

[Bruce McL]

Lateral thinking is called for here.

Beyoncé could whip Trump in an election tomorrow. I don't think she'd want the job - too much like a demotion for her. Still, there have to be a dozen or so musicians or actors with enough star power to win.

I'm only half kidding.

I also want to recommend a Sci-Fi novel about American elections called, "Interface," by Stephen Bury.

https://www.amazon.com/Interface-Neal-Stephenson/dp/0553383434

We haven't made it to that particular future yet, but we're getting closer. Neal Stephenson, one of my favorite writers, is half of "Stephen Bury."

[Ken]

I don't think the problem is a lack of qualified and attractive candidates - I think there are plenty on both sides, including working at nearly all levels of government. It is just that, how do you get them interested in running for president in this toxic political environment, to the idea of subjecting themselves and their families to months or years of abuse, venom, hate and sometimes violence? The answer is, for most of the sensible ones, you don't. Add to that the long, expensive and painful road to the nomination via our bizarre, outdated primary system, and we end up with the two most unpopular candidates in modern American history.

This may not be a great example, but just looking at the very close Senate race in New Hampshire - between Gov. Maggie Hassan and Sen. Kelly Ayotte - you probably have two candidates that many if not most Americans would have preferred to either Trump or Clinton. (And no I don't live in New Hampshire nor have any ties to the state - it's just an example that crossed my mind. I bet you can go across the country and pick numerous candidates who also would have been preferable to either Clinton or Trump.)

p.s. Joe Holmes, Obama is constitutionally ineligible to run again, no matter how much time elapses after the end of his term.

[Dave Van de Mark]

To my way of thinking, the Democrats over reached beyond what was necessary to win the presidency. They failed to see that they already had a solid "blue wall" of 272 electoral votes - enough to win the election with what they already "had". But given the crazy they were up against, I feel they wanted to go for the "slaughter" and bring in every "battle ground" and "swing" state they could. In doing so, they overlooked some much needed "maintenance" inside the blue wall. Clinton & company simply made too few visits and examinations inside their own assumed strength to sustain it.

[Ken James]

I'm agreein with ya Mike

[David Bennett]

Who is the"It can't be a cranky hundred-year-old Jewish socialist with a clear view of what's wrong but no plan to make it right."?

[Dave Jenkins]

Tough cookies, Mike.

While Shakespeare thought a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet, that only works in the garden. In politics, a biased choice of words just plain stinks.

It is presumably well known that whoever controls the terminology controls the debate. Yet, conservatives have been getting their semantic plows cleaned by liberals for decades and have not yet understood this basic form of thought control. The left does not underestimate, as conservatives do, the power of word selection in manipulating ideas and opinions. As Barack Obama himself has said, “Words matter.”

To begin with, let’s note two major errors in the previous sentence:
1. The use of the word “conservative” to describe those who hold to the principles of the founding fathers of this nation. The founding of America was the most liberal act ever committed by mankind. The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution are the two most liberal documents ever to arise from the mind of man.
2. The use of the word “liberal” to denote those who essentially believe in Socialism/Marxism, a philosophy which is antithetic to freedom and which caused the deaths of more than one hundred million people in the 20th century and the enslavement of countless millions more.

The basic meaning of “liberal,” according to Mr. Webster, is “free” or “generous.” He also defines the word as “Favoring political reforms tending toward democracy and personal freedom for the individual.” That is exactly what the Declaration and Constitution do.

Conservatives are both conservative and liberal, in that they seek to conserve those “political reforms tending toward democracy and personal freedom for the individual” which our founders established.

In contrast, the “reforms” advocated by so-called Liberals may appear on the surface to advance individual freedom, and do in fact often advance license, which is not the same thing. But their reforms always, ultimately, advance government control, which always and inevitably leads to loss of freedom. They present themselves as liberal, but in practice their philosophy always kills true liberalism.

"Traditional liberal democracy," as espoused by the Democratic Party, is nothing but thinly-veiled Marxism currently traveling under the name of Progressivism and bears not even a passing resemblance to the genuine article.

The Declaration of Independence states that "All men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness."

Marxism, of course, denies the existence of a Creator. Progressivism may give lip service to the concept, when it seems convenient, but is basically skeptical, agnostic, if you prefer. But if there is no Creator, there can be no inalienable rights. Rights become whatever the powers that be say they are.

If there are no inalienable rights, then there is no right to liberty. Including freedom of speech and freedom of religion. Political correctness, which is cultural Marxism (Progressivism at work) has already done a great deal to suppress free speech. Both Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine spoke of the need to force religious groups to change their doctrines to hue to the Progressive line. Really, Mike? That is "Traditional Liberal Democracy?"

[Don]

The problem is you don't have a liberal democracy, but a puppet for neoliberalism.

You can start by reading "Killing the Host", the author outlines much in this interview, well worth watching, then build a political movement that reflects the reality of inequality:

http://renegadeinc.com/meet-renegades-michael-hudson/

[Eric Rose]

You want Justin Trudeau? You can have him. Canada will have to build a wall to keep all the disaffected Americans out. You keep them, we don't want them. The US has gotten what it deserves. Both parties are corrupt along with the entire political system. Do I hear a fiddle playing??

[Amin]

I didn't sleep at all last night. My kids woke up this morning asking if this means everyone hates us. Have been trying to convince them and myself that everything will be okay.

I do admire you for writing about this today. You could easily lose some readers over it. But yes, we have to make the most of this scary situation, hope for the best, and do what we can for a better outcome in future elections.

It sickens me that so many people don't vote and that somehow multiple critical states came down to less than 1% margins. All seems so unreal.

[Bruno Masset]

The Electoral College is a great system...

[Steve Mason]

Actually it's my belief that, as ironic as this may sound, it would be Michelle Obama. She has a consistent, heartfelt, somewhat liberal delivery that seems to strongly resonate with voters from the entire spectrum, well many spectrums, we all know the ones who under no circumstances would accept her.

[Art]

Phew, thank goodness for Donald J Trump. After Brexit I feared the UK was going to assume the mantle of the world’s dumbest country - sad to say that the US has now grabbed that title back with great aplomb. You guys don’t do anything by half-measures do you ? To think, a man with no qualifications, no political experience, a short, foul, temper and degenerative views on a whole range of social issues will soon occupy the most powerful position on the planet. And he achieved this with the oldest trick in the book - promising to take a country back to some mythologized golden era, whilst demonizing minorities and promising to imprison his political opponent. Now, when was the last time that all happened ? Hmm, let me think.

[Jim Bullard]

I'd like to correct a couple of misconceptions that I spotted reading through the comments:

1) 51% didn't vote for Trump. He didn't even win the popular vote. Hillary had more votes. He "won" due to the Electoral College system of "winner take all" for allocating the actual electors who elect the president.

2) Obama can't run again after a 4 year break. The two term limit is a lifetime limit.

[anthony reczek]

I share your pain. Am willing to follow Hillary's suggestion that we give him a chance. On a very short leash, as far as I'm concerned though.

P.S. It's your site, any thing you write about is fine with me.

[Earl Dunbar]

I hope to have moved back to Canada by then. That's not to say I don't care about 2020 (should the planet not be annihilated by then) but, at my age, I'm exhausted by the stream of old white guys whose privilege ends their view of the world about 2 mm short of their noses.

[Sal Santamaura]

...there is little chance that that Social Security, etc. will be effected...

Indeed, very little chance they will be effected for much longer after January 20. The affects on them, however, will be substantial, and will impact those who voted for him.

[rusty]

I'm sure that the dust will settle and life will go on, however... http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-immigration-lawyer-americans-crash-website-1.3844043

[David Miller]

To quote an earlier Republican President: It is said an Eastern monarch once charged his wise men to invent him a sentence, to be ever in view, and which should be true and appropriate in all times and situations. They presented him the words: "And this, too, shall pass away." How much it expresses! How chastening in the hour of pride! How consoling in the depths of affliction! ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Mattias]

Unfortunately, the varnish of democracy is thin.

For an indication just have a look at us in Europe, the trend can be seen in many places and USA only joined the queue. Respect for democracy and the norms that Western democracy has developed since WWII is not a characteristic of this new nationalistic and xenophobic movement, in spite of them using it for gaining a platform for their discontent and disengagement.

Fortunately, in the long term globalism is here to stay, because the millenials will not have it any other way, they will just have to wait for their elders to die away. And the new economic powers will remind us in the West of the new distribution of power in the world, as they should. The soft power of economy and culture is always under estimated and the hard military power over estimated and the former tend to flourish in an interconnected, compassionate and curious set-up of human relations.

[Chris Y.]

One takeaway: we have got to stop calling people "uneducated" - AKA "without a college degree." It can't be constructive to divide people between 'smart' and 'stupid' which is what that seems to do. I always winced when I heard that.

[Thomas Turnbull]

Still unbelievable, how matter how one voted, but here was a correct prediction based on historical models which might possibly ease your pain to certain extent, Mike, as it ignores or bypasses both the personal characteristics and past performance of either candidate:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016/10/28/professor-whos-predicted-30-years-of-presidential-elections-correctly-is-doubling-down-on-a-trump-win/?wpisrc=nl_most-draw10&wpmm=1

Still leaves us all with a lot of work to do ~ again, no matter how one voted.

This is especially true for those of us who also pray.

[Kenneth Tanaka]

I'll just say that this has been the most surreal few weeks to me. It's as if I was presented with a deal with the devil for the Chicago Cubs (baseball team) to win the World Series.

I feel like "barfing", too. (As I write this there are thousands of angry people marching outside my home in protest amidst the now-halted Lake Shore Drive traffic...at nearly 9pm. They're within a few thousand feet of where many hundreds of thousands attended a victory rally for the Cubs just days ago.

It's surreal.

[David Owensby]

I second Michelle Obama and Joe Biden.

[Steve Jacob]

I feel for you Mike, but at least you have a chance to change things in 2020, unlike those of us reluctantly dragged out of the EU. I will be dead before that choice comes around again, and I don't plan to die any time soon. It feels very lonely in little England.

The world seems a cold and unfriendly place sometimes, full of rhetoric and invective that goes, seemingly, unchallenged. Perhaps the saddest part is that it always involves blaming those even more desperate and worse off for our personal misfortune.

There is a cruelty in that assertion that I can never understand or sympathise with. Nor can I understand why so many turn to the very people who are mostly responsible for it, indeed profit from it, and expect them to help.

But think on this. The greater the edifice that protects a bad system, the bigger the pile-driver needed to demolish it. That pile-driver has started, now the challenge is to hold everything together while you build something better.

And the main issue seems to be your electoral system and the way it has been hijacked by the media and turned into a circus.

[Mike Kukulski]

This is your blog, so you can write about whatever you wish. But...

I come to this blog to read about the art and science of photography. Please do not assume that your readers' interest in photography implies shared political views. I personally look to other venues for reasoned political analysis and discourse versus emotional hyperbole.

With no disrespect intended, I understand that my political opinions (about which you should make no assumptions) have no realistic influence on you or your attention, and I similarly have little interest in your political leanings.

The old school British elites had it right - no discussion of wives, religion, or politics in the club - that keeps the conversation civil. (Photography definitely allowed!)

[See my reply to Alan Carmody in the Featured Comments.

I'd hate to lose you, Mike, as your comments are generally excellent, even if they are relatively (too) few. --Mike]

[Chuck Holst]

One bright spot: One day after Trump warned Minnesotans about the Somali immigrants in their midst, the citizens of Minneapolis elected a hijab-wearing Somali woman to the state legislature.

[Bob Rosinsky]

I hereby declare that I am a secular Muslim. Now I am sure that I will fail the Reich Test.

[robert e]

Apparently I'm lousy at predicting the electorate so I'm sure my suggestions for who to run would be just as bad.

But the choice shouldn't be made assuming things will look substantially the same in 2020. The civil war within the GOP may flare up. Trump can be impeached if he's not wily or popular enough. If this is a con, we'll see the predictable kleptocracy and incompetence, and the resultant suffering. If it's for real and there's genuine fundamental change, well, that seldom happens without suffering.

But it would be too soon to run a political elite. I like Michelle Obama a lot, and she's hugely popular, down to earth, and hard to tag as "elite". Stephen Colbert might be a better choice, though.

Yes, Colbert. Look, a whole lot of voters are clearly not interested in qualifications. Yet Colbert is knowledgeable, smart, and will bring the right people in. And he's popular and funny. He'd be credible running as an anti-establishment wild card after four years of most likely not anything pretty.

No doubt there will be significantly more restrictive voting laws in place, aimed at urban areas, minorities and immigrants. It's sad, but a white male would have an advantage. And whoever runs will have to be able to compete with well-funded bread and circuses.

Because I don't know of any fake billionaire boobs on the left.

I told you, I'm lousy at this.

[Albert Bronson]

Mike, to you ant many commenters: there is only one consideration for the next Democratic presidential nominee--no more baby boomers. We had our chance and we blew it.

[Alan Farthing]

Mike what about this:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-37924687

Alan

[Gary]

Mike, the election put me in mind of the Leonard Cohen song, "Nevermind." Find the lyrics online and you may agree.

[Ken Brayton]

John Camp said "working class roots". He is right, the Democrats need to go back to their working class roots. They need to be the party of the working class. The problem, they have no idea of what today's working class is. They are to busy managing coalition's.

[Christer Medin]

Joe Holmes: "After Obama's four-year break, he's eligible to run again in 2020.

Just saying' (to quote The Mike)."

That is not correct. The 22nd amendment limits you to two terms, period.

[Rod]

Greetings and commiserations from Australia. Our only complaint is our politics is predictable and boringly safe. Might stop complaining for awhile!

[Rod]

We all (Australians) would have voted for Michelle Obama given the chance. Maybe next time.

[Paulo Bizarro]

As an outsider (Portugal), I was not surprised. Yesterday, there was a lot of discussion about how the polls had failed (like in Brexit). However, many of the polls were either not-representative (more than half of the people did not reply), or not taken seriously (the ones saying that Trump would win). People only want to see/believe in what they like or expect, and then if the result does not go their way, they act like the rest of the country betrayed them.

Life goes on, and after all it is not the first time, and it will not be the last, that the USA has elected for president a ill-prepared, lying, and egotistic person.

[Ben]

Mike, if you lose a reader or two because of this post, good riddance. I've been meaning to, but I'm finally becoming a regular supporter of your blog today.

It is a sad, sad day. The politics of obstruction and character assasination have won. Only they could have elevated this troll to power. Hillary Clinton, whatever her faults, is clearly not the person she has been made out to be.

So here we drift, aboard a true ship of fools...

[Arg]

All you guys have to do is change the system so you don't have to be rich to get elected President. Isn't that simple?

[Andrew]

Amin

You can tell your kids the world doesn't hate Americans. We're just a bit concerned for your sanity....

(Durban, South Africa)

[William Cook]

I too feel crushed and my soul squeezed out of my body. No more to say about what's in the past though--it's akin to thinking a dead body will rise. To the future then! Right now I think Gavin Newsom (Lt. governor of California) should be the torch bearer for the future of the Democratic party.

[William]

O Canada!
Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

[Nigel]

To return the subject to photography, the Guardian has rather a good article about those who have shot Trump (no, sorry: with a camera);
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/nov/10/photographers-best-trump-shot

[JG]

It's your party and you can cry if you want to, but I don't recommend it, because it diminishes the experience of your guests, which is just bad manners on your part. I'm just sayin'...

[Ed]

Another Brit here. With yourselves as with Brexit I have faith in the establishment ruling class looking after their own interests and not permitting too much instability. Didn't you think Trump's results speech was a bit too classically presidential? I wonder who wrote it? I think he has already had a talking to.

And yes, you write whatever you want to. Whether I approve of it or not.

[Matt]

Overreact much? Good lord.

[Keith]

Hmm... A female candidate for 2020, Ann Coulter perhaps? Seriously, both sides would do well to pull back from the extremes of liberalism and conservatism and move center, where most of the country reside. Until then, the basket of deplorables have spoken. And for that I'm grateful.

[David Miller]

A note to William, who posted the lyrics to Canada's national anthem:

In June of this year the House of Commons passed a bill changing the words "in all thy sons command" to "in all of us command'.

Creeping slowly into the 21st century…