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© Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.Trump cruises to Electoral College victory despite protests
By STEPHEN OHLEMACHER WASHINGTON©2024 GPlusMedia Inc.
102 Comments
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yakyak
The snowflakes have melted.
CrazyJoe
There won't be any Democrats riding to the rescue this time.
All the people who voted for Trump are going to get what's coming to them, The Bush Administration - Part 2!
Fred Wallace
(sigh)
Calm down crazy-joe!!
katsu78
No, you obviously don't. If you did, your party wouldn't have chosen a hate-filled, opportunistic narcissistic bigot out of a crowded field of candidates. You want hate and division, because that's what your party voted for.
FizzBit
THE POWER OF THE MSM COMPELS YOU!!
Tools
Fred Wallace
And the alternative was Hillary?
Steven C. Schulz
From what I understand, six faithless electors have been confirmed: two in Texas against Trump, and four against Clinton in Washington state (half their delegation).
turbotsat
Trump widens his mandate by two!!!
And in the ENTIRE HISTORY OF THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, has ANYONE lost FOUR votes to faithless electors??? If so, how many CENTURIES ago was it???
Just trying to get a jump on the breathless commentary sure to come from the media on this historic event. At least, judging by their commentary of the last few weeks.
Laguna
Yeah. Well, Trump just chose Mick Mulvaney as director of the Office of Management and Budget. The man is at the core of the Tea Party faction who has never met a tax or a government program that he didn't want to slash. The upshot is that it appears all that soothing cooing from Trump on the campaign trail about how he'd preserve social programs was just so much BS - they'll be slashed, and as the savings will be directed towards upper-income tax brackets, the deficit will rise nonetheless.
Woof. It's gonna take decades for America to extract itself from the mess Trump has in store.
ReturningGrace
I wonder what happened with all the 2 mil difference in popular votes and all the protest and the Russian hacking plot, and still Trump's win remains overwhelming. I guess plan C failed. Now let's move on to plan D. Not to worry because there are E F G, etc.....
inkochi
Some figures yesterday were that Clinton had raised well over $500,000,000 and Trump $300,000,000. Probably a bit more cash has been splashing around too.
Anyway, it all seems like such a waste of money, time, energy and good faith.
It all reminds me of a debating topic we used to have at school': 'That we get the governments we deserve'.
And good luck to you too!
Blacklabel
and Trump wins even more bigly again! While poor Hillary lost double the number of electors than Trump did. Dems got anything else left or can we move on now?
bass4funk
You are joking right? I don't think we will get out of the **** mess Obama put us and the Middle East through in Trump's first 4 year term or maybe even his 2nd term, that's how much of a mess the anointed one has put us in.
By the way, what was Hollywood thinking? Did they really think Trump could have been dislodged and then Hillary would have been the alternate? The left is so desperate, I feel almost sorry for them....almost.
Moderator: Sorry, but you have been requested before not to use the expression "the annointed one," which is meaningless.
Wolfpack
Watching the American Left meltdown again today has been almost as fun as the first time on election night. It's apparent that the snowflakes are having a hard time learning to accept losing without throwing temper tantrums that would put a four year old to shame. The American Right was every bit as disgusted by the election of a racist Socialist in 2008. In my opinion Obama has pretty much ruined America by racially polarizing the country and by the $10 trillion in debt he has burdened America's children with. There is no reason to believe that Trump will be able to reverse all of the damage that has been done by Obama and his immediate predecessors.
In is so very unfortunate that education in America is so poor that citizens do not learn about America's form of democracy. They do not know that America is a constitutional republic. This person is ignorant of the fact that the United States is just that, a union of states that are equal to each other. The electoral college is one of many mechanisms in the Constitution that protects basic rights. The American Left, like all Socialists, do not care much for basic rights that conflict with their ideology.
Texas A&M Aggie
American political history was made today. Hillary Clinton is the first person ever to lose a U.S. presidential election three different times in a little more than two months. Now, that's what I call a glass ceiling shattering legacy. . . .
Simon Foston
WolfpackDEC. 20, 2016 - 10:12AM JST
And where in the Constitution does it stipulate that the Electoral College works on a winner takes all basis?
fxgai
Despite pre-election predictions that his getting elected would crash the economy, US stocks have posted all-time highs in the wake of the Trump election, and the US dollar is the strongest it has been in ages.
So those who still think that things are looking bad despite the real-world reaction to Trump's election are invited to short the US stock market and the US dollar and make a fortune, if their money is where their mouth is.
sangetsu03
Do the logical math and understand why these people voted for Trump. It was not because Obama has done such a great job over the last 8 years, or because people feel better about themselves and America. Were such the case, Hillary would have won in a landslide.
8 years ago when Obama was elected, many people said the same thing. After all, Obama was completely unqualified. He had no professional, military, economic, or diplomatic experience. All he had was his teaching experience, and 2 years as a junior senator who had never written or sponsored a single piece of legislation.
In the end, it is all about the economy, it always is. Americans are not better off after 8 years of Obama, and before anyone tries to argue otherwise, if things were better, Trump would never have been a candidate, let alone president.
bass4funk
Are you saying the country should let California, New York and Massachusetts dictate the outcome of the presidency and the rest of the country should just deal with it? Uh-oh..Fascism is slowly creeping in....
Laguna
Word has it that the Trump regime will not submit a budget for the coming year. While doing so is legally required, the law is murky on transition periods - whether it's the responsibility of the outgoing or incoming president. Of course Trump would prefer not to have to convert his Pollyanna to quantifiables - especially so soon after the election - and would rather leave it up to Paul Ryan. Then, next year, he can blame Paul Ryan. I am glad that I am not Paul Ryan.
To all those gloating: If you think you have any idea what Trump will do, you are either deluded or seriously foolish. Trump himself does not know what he will do. His cabinet is a mish-mash of contradictions; everything is mutually contradictory. America's first Chimera president. I have to admit that, having very little skin in the American game, I'm perversely looking forward to watching this unfold.
Wolfpack
It doesn't - but that's the genius of the electoral college. A candidate can win the most states and still lose in the electoral college. In Trumps case, he won 3/5ths of the states and put together enough of a margin to win. Each state gets equal representation in the electoral college just as they have in Congress. I've yet to hear Democrats make the case that small states should get lesser representation in Congress.
fxgai
Some sore losers out there.
I'm not an American voter, and thought both Hillary and Trump were pretty poor candidates - but I'm just telling it like it is. There is reason for optimism about the incoming administration's economic plans - the stock market would have done nothing in the wake of his election, were this not the case. The doomsday predictions about Trump were completely off the mark.
That Trump won the electoral college without winning the popular vote suggests to me that he gathered support from a broader type of American voter than Hillary was able to. I think the Democrats need to come back to the centre some more, and focus on policies that will make the economy better. I have a real sense that the economy improved during the Obama terms inspite of the government's policies, rather than because of them.
Again - not an American voter, just telling it as it seems!
Laguna
fsgai, read my above posts - NOBODY knows what will happen. The market is reacting to the tendency GOP presidencies have to forgo any fiscal restraint and open up the spigots when in power (as happened with Reagan and Bush II). But then, this is not the '80s or '90s - the Tea Party (which formed in reaction to Bush's profligacy) is in town, and they demand a balanced budget. A hell of a fight is in store, the results of which no one knows.
nath
January, 2017. Coronation, followed by impeachment in the Senate.
MrBum
Hey Trump supporters, stop gloating over your "win" and look at his cabinet picks. Is that really what you wanted?
Tokyo-Engr
It will be interesting to see what President Elect Trump will do come January. I think he will find being President of the U.S. a bit different than running his current business (to say the least).
He has an uphill battle to say the least. This is the first time in my life that I have heard of electoral college members getting death threats or people making advertisements/videos to try to coerce electors to vote against a candidate.
We do live in interesting times.
Texas A&M Aggie
As predicted, the U.S. alt left media is showing images of cry baby liberals' heads exploding as they come to grips that a President Trump victory has consequences. They now have 32 days to dry out as drug and alcohol testing will be required for all those living on welfare. It's a policy that is long overdue. . . .
bass4funk
And if everything goes the opposite direction, he can praise him as well. Be careful what you wish for, remember, liberals are horrible when it comes to predictions.
When Hillary made a comment like that it costed her the election.
Most leaders don't that's why they need to rely on large part of their council.
It's funny, the stock market is exploding and Democrats after 8 long stagnant and disastrous years are really wanting to see this incoming president fail...all I can say to that is WOW!
fxgai
Laguna,
I did read your last post, but I do see reason for optimism. First I do not mean to say that anyone knows precisely what the new administration will do, but what is probable does not strike me as being at all bad for the economy - more likely good than bad.
E.g. fewer and lower taxes, less regulations. These things, if implemented, will be good for the US economy.
JeffLee has tried to tell me this also, and some media outlets are also pushing this angle (same media outlets as which wrongly forecast the election result). However consider that "the biggest investment in American infrastructure in decades" was a key plank of Hillary's campaign. What more is a Trump administration promising in excess of Hillary's spending promises (which were baked into the market cake) that has driven the market to such record high levels? Is Trump going to spend the money soooo much better?
No, I think not. The reason the markets are up (and why I myself see signs for optimism) is that the Trump administration is likely to try to lower taxes and get rid of some useless regulations, as priorities. These factors were not baked into the market cake when Hillary was favourite, as she campaigned on higher taxes and even more regulations. But these things are now a distinct possibility, and I sure believe that despite all their stupid policies, the GOP does want to cut taxes and useless regulations.
Also, see the recent story, "Donald Trump and Paul Ryan learn how to get along - for now". In that story it was noted that lower taxes and regulatory reforms were likely, whereas an 'enormous infrastructure bill' has been pushed to the back burner. (You also note the Tea Party forces want a balanced budget, so good-bye trillion dollar infrastructure spending package, I suspect). Despite this news against the infrastructure stimulus spend up, the markets are still well up from where they were on election day, which strongly suggests to me that they weren't up on hope for spending with reckless abandon in the first place.
True there is some uncertainty. But I am fairly certain that at least some pro-growth economic policies are on the way next year. (I had hopes for the Abenomics 3rd arrow too when that first got bandied about, but as we know there is no 3rd arrow and the optimism has thus faded.)
Texas A&M Aggie
Current electoral count:
President Trump lost 2 votes
Hillary Clinton lost 5 votes
"You can't always get what you want". . . .
Simon Foston
bass4funkDEC. 20, 2016 - 11:02AM JST
Whatever you think I'm saying, I'm almost certainly not. Imagine for a moment, if you can, a scenario in which the Electoral College votes get split in each State, a Republican storms home in Texas with 30 out of 38 votes, but also puts on a good enough show to pick up 10 in New York and 20 in California. Doesn't sound all that bad, does it?
WolfpackDEC. 20, 2016 - 11:26AM JST
But that's nothing to do with the Constitution, is it? I mean, there are some States that do split the Electoral College votes according to the number of popular votes that each candidate got. Do those States have any less representation as a result?
Wolfpack
Is this supposed to be a joke? Obama is the most fiscally irresponsible president by a factor of two. In other words, Keynesian trickle down government is twice as bad as voodoo economics.
On the night of the election, all of the shell shocked Liberal commentators in the mainstream media were talking up the fact that the overnight futures market were turning sharply down. Once the news sunk in that Trump was the president-elect, the markets bounced upward at the prospect of growth higher than the new normal of 2% or less. The mainstream media? Quite as mice - doesn't fit the narrative.
I'm not convinced Trump will do much of anything to stop the death spiral of debt that the Feds are racking up. His selection of the Tea Party budget director is a good sign. But I don't trust Ryan, McConnell, or Trump to fight the Dems hard enough to actually put the nation on a path to a balanced budget year in and year out. Kicking the can down the road is just too easy for both sides.
Raw Beer
Indeed, the powers that be will not simply sit back and give up their stranglehold on America. Donald, don't forget your Kevlar undies...
Texas A&M Aggie
The American liberal media said:
"Donald Trump has a difficult path to reach 270 votes";
Hillary had a "98 percent chance" of winning on Nov. 8;
the recount would overturn things in Hillary's favor;
the Trump Electoral College vote would defect to Hillary.
What Americans have learned this election cycle is the U.S. liberal media will say whatever serves their far left agenda, not reporting objectively. . . .
fxgai
By Keynesian I take it we are talking about government spending our money better than we can spend it ourselves and thus producing a "fiscal multiplier". I think that's bogus myself and if people are left to do what they want with more of their own money the economic effects are greater.
Yes, I was fortunately able to enjoy the election coverage live on the day and managed to buy some things on the cheap. I think the selling was by all those who agreed with the mass media predictions about Trump being bad for the economy, followed by buying by those (such as me) who thought that a new administration intending to cut taxes and useless regulations would be good for the US economy and thus good for the rest of us as well. That could be just my imagination, but I do get a sense that the news media are out of touch with the way most people see things.
Personally I'm not a fan of huge government debts in accordance with my views at the top of this comment, but I do think the new administration needs to focus first on getting US economic growth really pumping again as priority. Once you have higher private sector led economic growth leading to new better paying jobs, then it becomes easier to reform government's wasteful spending than it would be trying to fix the debt problems first, and make for growth later. (Doing both at once is another idea, but I gather that the political processes may make that infeasible/difficult.)
Wolfpack
In the end the Democrats effort to steal the election has resulted in five Dem electors ditching Hillary. Only two GOP electors decided not to vote for Trump. What a horrible candidate - five weeks after the election Hillary has managed to lose by three more electoral votes. Should have picked Bernie instead of putting the fix in for the only candidate bad enough to lose to the most disliked candidate in history.
plasticmonkey
wolfpack
False. Although the number of people per representative in Congress is pretty much equal across all states, it is absolutely not so for electors. For example, in presidential elections, residents of Wyoming have 3.6 times the voting power of Californians. Texas is even more underrepresented. So is Florida.
An unfair system, at least the way it is set up now.
fxgai
They were both terrible candidates. In the end the voters had to make a choice between them, and the result is that what the three elected branches of government can agree on is what the people are gonna get. That currently looks like less tax and less regulation, to me. (Maybe a slightly better fence along the Mexican border too, but if the economy roars as a result of the aforementioned policies then I guess few are really going to care much about that.)
Hillary was quite polished as a political candidate, with all the right mannerisms etc, but in the end the policy matters most of all. Trump himself hardly talked much about his economic growth policies, so if Hillary had a better message on the economy to resonate with more people she probably could have won. (I doubt Bernie would have done better than her, to be honest.)
Frederic Bastiat
Clinton and the Democrats got yet another slap in the face for their hubris.
"
Four Democratic electors in Washington state broke ranks—with three casting ballots for former Secretary of State Colin Powell(a REPUBLICAN) , and one for Native American activist Faith Spotted Eagle...
Several other attempts by electors to cast ballots failed. The Associated Press reported that attempts by Democratic electors in Colorado and Maine to vote for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders failed. In Maine, the elector was ordered to vote again, while in Colorado an elector was replaced."
So, in total there were EIGHT attempted faithless DEMOCRAT electors, three of which not only ditched Hillary but switched major party!
Seems like the campaign to damage Trump actually damaged Hillary far worse. Poetic justice!
Tom Webb
Crybaby Democrats. Just because Hillary, the woman and a Democrat, didn't cut muster, the crybabies tried their best to derail Donald. But hey folks, he may not be Your President, just like Obama wasn't our President, get on with life and quit bitching.
Frederic Bastiat
Simon Foston, your question about the electoral college and allocation of electors is answered by the 10th Amendment, "The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."
That's why and how Nebraska and Maine have their own system.
That said, I personally think it would be better to split the electors down to the Representative District level. The two Senatorial electors would go to the majority winner. But, I doubt the Democrats would accept such a change because the current system is actually more advantageous to them.
plasticmonkey
Riiiiight . . . I sure didn't hear any complaints from Republicans, Tea Baggers, and "independents" during Obama's tenure. Nope. Nothing at all about birth certificates, death panels, socialism, tyranny, golf, teleprompters, race baiting, mom jeans, Benhaaaaaaazi!, Solyndra, taxes on rich people, bathroom bills, fascist school lunch programs, Iran laughing at us, Israel under the bus, gun confiscation, baby parts for sale, Pizza Gate, the MSM . . .
No hysteria at all from the GOP. The epitome of gracious cooperation. Yessiree.
You elected a buffoon. Get used to the blowback.
maxjapank
I will never support Trump in spirit. I cannot have faith in someone who rode on a platform of hate. And until now, I have seen little sensitivity from his supporters towards Americans of different races, religions and ethnic backgrounds, even on JT. So no. I will not support. And no. I will not get over it.
It's a shame the electoral failed in its duty. They and his supporters chose a unfit man who doesn't have the experience or respect for all Americans, is heavily influenced by a foreign country (Russia), has had and continues to have shady business dealings (and still hasn't release his tax reforms I might add), and behaves like a demagogue by suppressing media, bullying, and threatening people.
Yes. Democrats failed to provide a better choice. But you, Republicans stood by quietly while allowing such a man to become your leader. Well...he isn't mine. And he never will be till you and he show that you will respect and protect the rights of all.
bass4funk
Interesting, well, now back to reality, Trump won! Kudos!!!
Serrano
Whew!
"The Bush Administration - Part 2!"
Not even close, Crazy. Believe me. Believe me. Oh, man, this incoming governent is going to be sooooo much better than the mess we have now.
Oh my...
Trump Wins Again With 304 Electors And The Hillary Zombies Go Crazy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DqxVljjCwKE
plasticmonkey
Tom
Riiiiight . . . I sure didn't hear any complaints from Republicans during Obama's tenure. Nope. Nothing at all about birth certificates, death panels, socialism, tyranny, golf, teleprompters, race baiting, mom jeans, Benhaaaaaaazi!, Solyndra, taxes on rich people, bathroom bills, Orwellian school lunch programs, Iran laughing at us, Israel under the bus, gun confiscation, Planned Parenthood, Pizza Gate, the MSM . . .
No hysteria at all from the GOP. The epitome of gracious cooperation. Yessiree.
You elected a demagogue. Get used to the blowback.
MrBum
We'll never really know, but I have to disagree. Hillary lost a lot of Bernie voters, but I doubt Bernie would've lost many Hillary voters. He probably would've picked up the Green votes and some of the independents who voted Trump as well.
My hope for the Democratic party is for them to put their progressive wing (i.e., Bernie wing) in charge, and oddly enough, a successful Trump presidency would probably be better for moving in that direction. If Trump is a disaster, the neo-liberal wing will have an easier time selling their establishment policies. It puts me in a weird position of rooting for Trump, but things are looking bad already.
Laguna
Plastic, wrote about that yesterday - "The only thing worse than sore losers are sore winners. They have the victory, the field is theirs, but still they scream bitter abuse at the defeated," as a Guardian author phrased it.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/dec/18/brexit-leavers-fear-their-lies-will-haunt-them
Trump will face serious blowback. The question is whether the more severe will come from the Democrats or his own party as they begin to consume themselves.
bass4funk
It comes with the territory you are right, although I don't think liberals are as patient and as the meltdown continues on the left, I'm just worried how they will live through 4 or 8 years of Trump. Oh, the agony!
Democrats, most definitely!
dogz
Oh Dear! Ma Clinton didn't win after all! Anyway she has the Clinton Foundation to finance her lifestyle.
plasticmonkey
bass
I share your assessment that Trump will be a terrible president. As you yourself said about the Donald:
Truest thing you ever wrote.
Alix Hooper
The Trump presidency represents actual hope, as signified in the markets since election day, and real change(for the better) unlike the false hope and change less change under Obummer.
plasticmonkey
. . . liberals are bad at doing stuff, smell funny, and think there better then everybody else.
SuperLib
Was this the rigged elections that Republicans were going on about?
Texas A&M Aggie
Elitist candidate Hillary Clinton spent $1.2 billion to earn the title of losing this election a record three different times.
Populist candidate Donald Trump spent 1/3rd of that amount and got a new bumper sticker that reads: My Other Plane Is Air Force One
plasticmonkey
= Rich, obnoxious, cynical media 'personality' got lots of free coverage from the media he loves to mock by appealing to the lowest common denominator, and got a new sign to hang on the front of his new house: Grab Them By The P----
theeastisred
To the posters commenting on Democrat 'faithless electors': are you really unaware that the reason any did not vote for Clinton was to protest the Electoral College and the way it has yielded up this perverse and anti-democratic 'win' for Trump? Are you so uninterested or ill-informed as to now know that?
bass4funk
As bad as Obama? That's a very difficult mountain to climb.
I also used to once think that Democrats were sensible people.
I totally agree! No arguments here.
Blacklabel
Its just hilarious that now that Hillary lost, electors have and Dem media types have a problem with the concept of the Electoral College. When Trump had *no path* to 270 and the Electoral College results basically guaranteed a Clinton victory even with any popular vote differences, no one said it was unfair or not democratic.
We also know that if Trump had won the popular vote but not the Electoral College, these same faithless electors and the media would have just said: oh thats too bad but the rules are the rules and we cant/shouldnt change them, sorry.
Simon Foston
bass4funkDEC. 20, 2016 - 02:05PM JST
Yes, I can see that it's probably better for you to stick with concepts that are very easy to grasp.
Frederic BastiatDEC. 20, 2016 - 01:50PM JST
Right, so the winner take all approach is not mandated by the Constitution. The States could allocate the college votes in a way that actually represents the views of their voters, they just don't.
plasticmonkey
Look over there! A squirrel!
Tatanka
Here's a thought. I'm all for eliminating the Electoral College, but in its place every US citizen must have a federal I.D. only issued by U.S. government. To obtain this I.D. the person must produce a birth certificate, U.S. Passport or naturalization certificate or any verifiable form of I.D. (not including a Drivers License) that proves citizenship. This I.D. would be required to vote in any U.S. election. Instead of just criticizing my post how about anyone propose a system that would improve the current electoral system....
Graham DeShazo
This is the end of days. Go do whatever you'd like. Make your bucket list because the short-fingered vulgarian is going to get us all killed.
bass4funk
Donald J. trump president of the USA. Yes, very easy to grasp.
Douglas Macarthy
Hate to say ,but i told you so Ha Ha LOVE TRUMP
Texas A&M Aggie
It was a great night here in the Lone Star State. We were celebrating the fact that Texans were the ones who cast the electoral votes that were needed to put America's 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, into the White House.
As for Hillary, after spending $1.2 billion, her (and her radical alt left following) failure is now complete. She has blamed Anthony Weiner, James Comey, Carlos Danger, fake news, Jill Stein, hackers, the Russians, Huma & now she can add deplorable electors to her list of reasons she got shellacked not once, not twice but three times since Nov. 8.
The cry baby left will continue to stamp their feet like children, but the fact remains that adults will be retuning to U.S. power at noon, January 20th. Get used to it libs or else it'll be a long, miserable 4-8 years for y'all. . . .
lostrune2
Man, this US presidential election has resulted in the record number of electoral college voter defections
The previous record was set way way back in 1808, in the election for just the 4th President of the US, lol
plasticmonkey
Sounds like y'all Texas Trumpsters need to get a life. Or maybe celebrating the denigration of the other is what that Lone Star is all about.
Love yer cliches: alt left (how original), fake news (how original), crybabies. Tthose who can't articulate go the Limbaugh route.
Laguna
Nice to see your naive optimism there, Tex - the idea that Trump will complete four years. You might have rather celebrated the nomination of your former governor, Rick "puts on glasses so people will think he's smart"* Perry, to the Department of "Whoops - brain fart" Energy - the very department Perry had vowed to eliminate during a debate but failed to remember. Ah, Texans - always good for a laugh.
*Trump quote
Nathaw
Some people from Taxas want to become confederate southern state or independent. If many Texans want to do Texexit from USA belong to Trump the President, Any possibility for amendment of constitution?
Texas flag will be the Lone Star. Will Trump become another Abraham Lincoln for waging civil war with this Lone Stat state?
Simon Foston
LagunaDEC. 20, 2016 - 09:30PM JST
I think it's pretty naive to suppose that he'll be on the side of the little guy, or that he'll do a better job as President than he has running his businesses. Well, with the GOP controlling Congress and her own shortcomings I rather suspect that if Hillary had won, liberals would have four years of crushing disappointment ahead. Now however I think that's what the average US conservative has coming up - and some of them, the ones who sound like they're parroting Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh all the time, are very welcome to it.
Texas A&M Aggie
Congratulations to Hillary for finally breaking a glass ceiling: First U.S. Presidential candidate to lose an election three times in two months.
jackass
Ha, didn't vote for the man but I'm loving the tears he produced from his critics. To top it off, Clinton gets the most faithless electors in the 19th and 20th centuries - how humiliating. I'm looking forward to some commenters doing nothing but whining (or blowback, whatever you want to call it) from their keyboard for the next 4 years.
SenseNotSoCommon
Trump tweets to congratulate himself:
"@mike_pence: Congratulations to @RealDonaldTrump; officially elected President of the United States today by the Electoral College!"
The Ego Has Landed
CaptDingleheimer
The protesters stood around with their little signs hollering in front of the Massachusetts State House yesterday as electors went in, all to vote for Hillary anyway, as this state is as blue as they come. That's like forming a picket line around a McDonald's to demand that nobody go in and have a Whopper for lunch. But I guess the Democrats are just mad and they have to protest. I heard some Republicans wanted to go too, but they had to work yesterday. Man, Democrats haven't been this mad at Republicans since they took their slaves away from them.
Serrano
You elected a demagogue"
WRONG. We elected someone who's putting together a team to make America great again. The man's already done more in one month than Obama has done in his 8 years as POTUS.
"Nice to see your naive optimism there, Tex - the idea that Trump will complete four years."
Laguna... Howz about 8 years of Donald, followed by 4-8 years of Ivanka, or possbly Donald Jr or Eric?
"Trump cruises to Electoral College victory"
Jordan fades back... Swoosh! And that's the game!
Laguna
That's clearly the plan, which is why Donald is inviting his children to his meetings with foreign dignitaries even while proclaiming that his sons will run his business empire independent from him. I'm not saying that America won't allow that to happen - Trump was elected, after all - but remember, he was not elected with a majority. He was not even elected with a plurality. Neither was the Senate: those 52 seats the GOP control represent 47% of the population. Hubris is a dangerous thing, and Trump is plump with it.
Simon Foston
LagunaDEC. 20, 2016 - 11:53PM JST
Have you noticed that the conservative types here are determined not to acknowledge that? Anyone reading their posts would think it was Reagan vs Mondale all over again.
Texas A&M Aggie
For those keeping score, the final Electoral College count: (270,votes are needed to win):
Donald Trump: 304
Hillary Clinton: 228
Colin Powell: 3
John Kasich: 1
Ron Paul: 1
Faith Spotted Eagle: 1
Heh, so, it winds up more "Faithless Electors" bolted from Hillary (7) than from President Trump (2). The far left smack down continues.
President elect Donald J. Trump: Making America Great Again, one whiny radical alt left hissy fit at a time. . . .
ReturningGrace
I'm not really into this fanfare business between the two candidates but I have to say Trump played the game well up until now. He crushed elite hypocrites' souls and had them crying then some who used to stab him come crawling back and kiss the ground he walks on. That was very amusing.
mukashiyokatta
Hillary 65 million votes, FDT 62 million votes. Winner? Hillary, I presume...what do you mean, "no?" What a weird election.
Texas A&M Aggie
Rigging the DNC convention to assure a nomination, $18 million. Presidential run, $1.2 billion. Winner? Hillary, I presume ... What do mean, "no?" What a weird election.
SuperLib
Well Texas it was nice for you to hop back on JT the day after the election. Must be a "safe space" for you now. It was a bit touch and go there for a bit.
Soon you will run out of "witty" attacks on Democrats over the election which means you will probably be moving in again?
bass4funk
We will get a life as soon as Obama waves and leaves us all next month.
More like Reagan vs Carter with the same shocked deer caught in the headlights look. But on a serious note, liberals ever had a problem with the Electoral College system and it was never mentioned until the Dems lost, after that, they all had a complete meltdown. The Dow is about to hit 20.000 since Trump won and the only thing that Dems can whine about and drone about is the popular vote. If California didn't exist Trump still would have won. To all of my liberal friends, I seriously worry about you guys, how will you guys make it over the next 4-8 years??
SuperLib
Oh, we will be fine. We might even get some victories from Trump, but I think we know the establishment Republicans were the real winners.
Hopefully Trump will make North Carolina a priority. They've gone a bit rogue.
Kuya 808
Oh come on CaptDingleheimer, don't you know that "those" Democrats were really Republicans and "those" Republicans were really Democrats. Its true.....really. If you don't believe it just ask a Democrat and they will set you straight.
Simon Foston
bass4funkDEC. 21, 2016 - 03:03AM JST
Yeah yeah, so what. I keep reading stories about the Nikkei going up, Japan Inc. making record profits, Japanese trade surpluses etc etc, and it never makes any difference to anyone except to corporate balance sheets and rich old CEOs who are loaded already. I'll be impressed when employment rates and wages for ordinary Americans go up.
With all the spleen you vent you actually have some liberal friends? I mean, if I were a conservative I'd feel mildly embarrassed reading your comments, so I can't imagine what liberals make of you in actual conversations.
Anyway, I have zero expectations of the next four years so I can't possibly be disappointed. If Trump actually does a good job, and I see very little indication that he will thus far, I will be pleasantly surprised. If he screws it up like everything else in his misbegotten existence, I'll be a bit more concerned about conservative blowhards looking and feeling just a bit stupid.
SuperLib
Let's not forget that for a great many Americans this will be their first time seeing a Republican president since they became politically aware. The younger generation will define the GOP by Trump.
bass4funk
If you're a job creator, it's everything.
They should make profits, have you ever been to Watts?
It probably will.
Most of my friends are liberal.
They are all levelheaded and rational thinkers.
After what the Democrats and liberals been through this year and again, yesterday with the Electoral College results, you just might once again be surprised when he does do a good job at turning the country around from the disaster Obama will leave behind.
Yeah, "IF" that happens.
Texas A&M Aggie
Since Mr. President elect Trump's election victory (actually, three victories) over Mrs. Bill Clinton, the Dow is nearing the 20,000 mark, the dollar is strengthening against other world currencies, jobs are remaining and coming back to America. All before he's even been sworn into office.
In two years, it's going to be pretty hard to convince Americans that prosperity is a bad thing and that they should vote for democrats. . . .
SuperLib
A strong dollar is good, Texas?
Serrano
"I think we know the establishment Republicans were the real winners"
Like Romney? Tee hee!
IT'S OFFICIAL. TRUMP WINS ELECTORAL COLLEGE. FBI Search Warrant for Clinton Email Probe Released:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iTWeKpj_Yc
fxgai
He was elected though, Laguna, whatever the details. (The details suggest to me that Hillary's appeal was not as broad as Trump's outside the vote-rich states, which is something the Democrats probably ought to have a good think about. All this talk about Putin and FBI Comey stealing the election from her in recent days makes me think they might be missing an important message.)
Actually, Simon, I do believe lots of ordinary Americans are invested in the U.S. stock market, if not directly, indirectly through pension funds etc. So I think ordinary Americans have done pretty well so far, considering that a Trump election was supposed to crash the stock market, not shoot it to record highs. Even those ordinary Americans who don't like their new administration.
SuperLib
Fxgai, I think some people remember what Republicans did to the stock market the last time they were in power. Obama, on the other hand, took it from 7,800 to 20,000. Trump has a long way to go to match that.
Simon Foston
SerranoDEC. 21, 2016 - 12:45PM JST
Know how you're always chanting that "drain the swamp!" mantra? Well, according to The Independent...
So I don't know about establishment Republicans being the real winners, but it doesn't look as if they'll be leaving that swamp any time soon.
fxgai
No doubt, some people will have such thoughts. And I suspect they'll be quick to forget the post-election Trump rally when it suits them, that's how it is with politics.
However, the dow closed at 18,332 on Nov 8, so at best you can chalk the Obama recovery rally up that far, but the post-election rally towards 20,000 comes down to hopes for the new administration. (Hopes that may be dashed next year, but I'm an optimist for now.)
In reality the US stock market tends to rally over long periods of time in any case, and I think over the medium to long term it's never all just down to what the politicians of the day are doing, although they can both help and hinder. There's the central bank's actions as well, and various other factors. Short term though, the market likes what it thinks the new Trump administration promises.
I think there will be a recession during Trump's term, but that's likely because of the natural business cycle more than anything. I personally will be buying more USA should everything seem to have turned sour.
Serrano
Here's one of the many reasons Trump cruised to his Electoral College victory:
Boeing promises lower Air Force One cost after Trump meeting:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk22iq9FCBk
Simon Foston
SerranoDEC. 22, 2016 - 01:56PM JST
Well, it certainly wasn't because all that many people actually voted for him.
Wolfpack
Fake. The number of electors is equivalent to the number of Senators and Congressmen for each state (plus 3 additional electors awarded to DC). The electors and Congressional electors is a blend of two votes per state in recognition of their equal standing in the union and a number of representatives commensurate to their population. Crying about federalism will not get you anywhere. Accept the loss and move on.
talaraedokko
Time to move on. It's all water under the bridge. I do expect changes both good & bad, just as all presidents have. My take is that Hillary with all her Wall Street, Washington, D.C., Hollywood, media brainwashing & going on 1$billion fund raising elite couldn't beat an unpolitically correct candidate, plus all the ranting of her people on the eve of the electoral college vote couldn't get a change in Hilary's direction, then the US voters saw something deeply flawed. I'm proud of them. They have deeper minds then credited. I hope Trump proves all the Nay-Sayers wrong. See you all in 4 years.
bass4funk
Here we go....guys, keep telling yourselves that and you just may believe it, the only thing that matters at this point is the result. Did Hillary win the election or not, it's just as simple as that, she lost, it doesn't matter if she was popular, blah, blah and all that it won't change the outcome and it won't change the presidency, she will not be on the cover of TIME magazine, she will not give anymore (thank God) speeches, she is a grandma now and that is the best thing for her at this point in her life to be with the grandkids and to live happily ever after, she tried twice and failed....miserably! She won't be president and I am ecstatic about it! Yes, it's time for you guys to suck it all up and move on.