I would be remiss not to mention the significance of the woman issue on this blog. Never before has a woman been one of the candidates from a mainstream political party. Yes, it is a big deal.
I can remember when President Obama was first elected. There in that park in Chicago, on election night, one could see famous blacks like Jesse Jackson and Oprah Winfrey standing there listening to the newly elected first black president who addressing the huge crowd. Tears were streaming down their faces. It was then that I realized I would never understand how blacks, rich or poor, felt about seeing the election of a first black American president.
I thought about how I would feel if a woman were elected. I didn’t think it would hit me quite as hard but it would hit me. I guess I am now on the precipice of testing my theory.
This morning I though about my own personal history. My grandmother was 30 years old before she could vote. My mother was born just 4 months after the passage of the 19th amendment. WWII began when women had only had the vote for 21 years. Now on November 8, 2016, some 96 years after getting the right to vote, a woman could be elected president of the United States.
Yes, as a female, I am standing in awe. I don’t think I will cry when it happens. I am not that moved. However, the special social and political significance is not lost on me. It’s about damn time!
People are still voting as of this writing, but what I find remarkable in my lifetime is that such milestones are getting less attention. It’s as if a large segment of our population just assumes that’s the way it ought to be now. That could be a good thing in a certain way.
My most fervent hope is that she can bring mainstream leaders of both parties together to solve problems. The gridlock from hyperpartisanship gave the alt-right a chance to exploit public frustrations in dangerous ways. We need to put a stop to that.
I agree. No more gridlock.
President-elect Donald J. Trump. Did you ever consider this reality?
I would like to see a woman president. I’d just hoped it wouldn’t be Hillary Clinton. Apparently, the country agreed with me and for that I am happy.
No. I can not imagine what so many Americans were thinking.
@Steve Thomas
I’m not thrilled about Trump.
I’m happy about not having Hillary win.
Thank God.
I am totally sick over what this country has done. We have elected a misogynistic nasty human being. I will never get over what I heard come out of his mouth with my own ears.
I fear the electorate. There is nothing to say really. I only wish my country good luck. It will need it. I do not know what its people were thinking.
It was not meant to be. Unlike Steve, I would have been fine with Hillary being president.
I am proud of Virginia and I am especially proud of my county.
Prince William County once again was a bellwether county.
Hillary Clinton
Democratic 83,093 56.92%
Donald J. Trump
Republican 54,065 37.04%
@MoonHowler
It was close.
Trump lost by just about the same number of votes as McAuliffe allowed with his voting felon program
And about 175K votes went to third party candidates, taking mainly from Trump.
@Cargosquid
Yeah, felons that have served their time and we want to reintergrate into society does not deserve that chance by applying for having their voting rights restored. (Note the sarcasm)
Maybe next time the DNC won’t rig their primary
I too would like to have a woman as president. Just not Hillary.
My sentiments are the same as Cargo. I am not thrilled with Trump, but am thankful that he won. Thank you, God.
It would also be nice to see Congress return to its rightful role as a check and balance on the power of the Executive Branch.
The Wunder kid won. The Rust Belt will be shiny again,
the Inner City will be Paradise, the schools all over the US
will be the best ever, turning out super well educated kids,
but who are the ones that wash dishes, make the beds and
clean the toilets in his Trump hotels? Will he send some of
them back, whence they came and hire “real” Americans?
Stoop laborers on California farms will be US citizens only.
No more taking jobs away from Americans.
Etc. etc. etc. “We’re going to be rich again …”
@punchak
Is this really any different than Obama’s claims to stop the rising seas, peace on earth, a level playing field and a chicken in every pot?
No.
What is noteworthy is the fact that Trump won without the backing of his party’s establishment, and without a compliant mainstream media. The GOP will be remade, just as it was remade after Reagan’s 1980 win. I suspect a similar change is happening on the Dem side. I heard it last night: Trump has killed traditional ideology. Knives will come out in both parties, and populism is ascendant.
I know many here were expecting history to be made, with the election of the 1st woman president. History WAS made last night. Probably one of the most powerful, connected, (and corrupt IMHO) political machines in history was defeated by a non-traditional populist.
I’m going to do my very best not to rub my few Democrat friends noses in this. That would be very disingenuous of me. I was a Trump voter, as he was the nominee of my party, but I didn’t support him, as I define “support”. I didn’t send money, or door-knock for him. I didn’t sport a bumper-sticker or a sign in my yard. I thought him the better of two bad choices.
But I also know how it feels to look at my fellow Americans and say: “How could you hand our future over to THIS?”. I’ve felt it for the last eight years. Obama didn’t represent me. He didn’t even bother to try to build a bridge or try to reach me. His positions, policies and actions were anathema to mine. I suspect Hillary would have been the same.
I am also trying to put myself in the shoes of my fellow Republicans who “held their nose” and pulled the lever for Dole, McCain, and Romney. I had to hold mine this go-around, but faced with Hillary, it wasn’t that hard. I have to admit that “conservatism” as I came to know it, is dead. Trump won the nomination, and he’s won the Presidency. The SCOTUS and the 2A were what brought me into his camp. On-balance, I am happy that he won.
Now we watch Obama try to do whatever he can to preserve his legacy. His over-reliance on his phone and his pen ensured that much of it can be rolled back easily. Obamacare? Kiss that abomination goodbye. GOP Senate and House…there is a real opportunity to get some stuff done.
And for the most-part, my Democrat friends can watch and complain, but can’t really stop it. I know how that feels. 2 years of waiting for the mid-terms, knowing that your party has a tougher road to at least regain relevance, or the power to stop things. It sucks.
So I am promising to do my utmost not to crow or rub it in anyone’s face. Look on the bright side. We live in Virginia. We get to do this again in 2017. Statewide and the House. Much can change in a year, and as a Republican, I again feel the wind at my back. Oddly, I have Trump to thank for that. He even made Virginia competitive again.
@Steve Thomas
As one of those who “held their nose” and pulled the lever for Dole, McCain, and Romney”, thank you, and piss on those at Bearing Left
@Mom
“Bearing Left”…Awesome.
If I were to rub anyone’s nose in it, it would be those guys. Gonna get real cold for Shaun and his toady real quick. On the national scale…Bill Krystal and Glenn Beck are finished.
@Steve Thomas
Same goes for Mick Stanton and the other Conservatives of Convenience at TBE.
@Mom
+1
Obama never said that. That is pure political conjecture.
I am proud of my state and my county.
I would have voted for anyone over Trump. His value system offends me on such a visceral level, I cannot get past it. I would have voted for Ted Cruz or Sarah Palin if someone held a gun to my head and said you must vote for Trump or one of these other people. That is how badly Trump bothers me.
On issues, Hillary was a centrist who supported most of the issues that were important to me. (let’s say 85%)
She was good on reproductive rights which are critical to me.
The good news is, 4 years is 4 years. Democrats and Republicans will rise again with the necessary changes.
Its done. Hillary won the popular vote. She did not win the electoral college. I just hope those people who voted for him are willing to deal with him and his lack of values. I know I am not.
@MoonHowler
Hey Moon
Is this where the party is?
Apparently yes. I am sure it is to enjoy and celebrate my misery. How have you been? I miss you!
I will sleep well tonite knowing our president knows more about Isis than our generals (sarcasm).
@Starryflights
I hear Cher has an empty seat next to her on the next flight out, you’re welcome to join her.