You think that would have changed the narrative with Latinos or young voters? Trump making inroads in those demographics played a big role in him winning the election.
Oh I’m not talking about Trump’s rally crowds and flag fetishists. I’m talking about the “but her emails” crowd who had that fig leaf to vote against Clinton in 2016 but, faced with nothing to hide behind in 2020, just played at being undecided despite planning to vote for Trump all along.
It was disappointing, though not surprising, the discussion last night on why Joe Rogan made the difference with young voters. I’m not suggesting that we raise the voting age back up, but it sure seems like today’s 18-22 year olds have all the seriousness of yesterday’s 8-12 year olds. I’m sure that’s just me being a grumpy old man though.
I’m talking about a world where black people and women are seen as less capable leaders. It’s full-on display every day. I’m surprised that your surprised it’s manifested in elections.
Walz added absolutely nothing but comic relief. Harris lost in Pennsylvania. Perhaps, just maybe, the popular Democratic governor of Pennsylvania running for vice president would have added enough to win the state. Maybe not.
Because we have a ton of one-issue voters. For example, abortion, the border or the economy.
We also have people that view American politics as supporting their favorite sports teams and will vote for one party for the rest of their lives regardless of changes in the party, candidates, etc.
The problem with Trump is that there is sooooo much shit that it’s impossible to cover it all and picking one or two risks not gaining voters who don’t care about those but might’ve cared about some other things.
His first term was a new existential crisis every day so that yesterday’s existential crisis went down the memory hole. Same with his campaign.
I know relatives who are that way and see plenty of “Own the Liberals, Fuck the Liberals or Demonrats” references in online communities/social media. Many people aren’t voting for what’s best for the nation as a whole.
The problem is higher up on the ticket than the VP pick. Harris was the VP in an administration that has been massively underwater on approval ratings since mid-2021, and she was clearly unable or unwilling to distance herself from a lot of that baggage (e.g. milquetoast stance on Israel/Palestine, to name just one example).
Harris just wasn’t that good of a candidate. She probably never was: for a third straight presidential election, the polls undersold Trump by an amount greater than the margin of error. All the warning signs were there and we simply ignored them again. With the benefit of hindsight, she never had a chance. I don’t know why, but that brings me a strange sense of comfort today.
It’s that dad gum social media. It has stunted the development of social awareness in young people. I guess saying that makes me a grumpy old man too. Also, I don’t think they teach civics as a requirement in high school anymore. Not even sure if it’s an elective.