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TAKING OUT DONALD Trump is a big deal. It is relatively seldom that a sitting President of the United States is denied a second four-year stint in the White House. George HW Bush was the last incumbent to suffer this sorry end in 1992.
Donald Trump is the most controversial president in living memory. And it was arguably his ugly persona and unbecoming behaviour, together with the administration’s mishandling of Covid-19, rather than any of his policies, that sealed his fate.
That key sliver of the electorate who neither love nor loathe the man had enough of him and yearned for a calmer era and a more measured leader.
Enter Joe Biden. After flirting with a few of his rivals for their party’s nomination, Democrats made the wise choice to opt for a senior statesman who may have lost some speed off his fastball, yet retains the respect of an overwhelming majority of Americans. He faces a difficult and unenviable task.
No clear Democratic victory
Significant as it may be – especially in terms of what it has said to the rest of a mystified world – the decision of the US to install Joe Biden as commander-in-chief is only one element of this election.
The scenes of jubilation in city streets after everyone except President Trump and his unthinking adherents realised that he had lost were a justifiable release of tension and expression of hope. Democrats can find little cause for celebration or optimism in the other election results, however.
Although some have pointed to an impressive raw number of votes or other promising indicators, the bottom line remains. Expecting to take over the US Senate, Democrats have failed, barring huge upsets in two upcoming run-offs in Georgia.
Poised to expand their majority in the US House of Representatives, they lost seats. And the outcome was even bleaker locally.
In a postscript, that bible of the American left, The Nation magazine, put it bluntly: “Nowhere was the news worse than at the state legislative level, where despite unprecedented investment by Democratic organisations and outside groups, and expectations that they’d flip from four to eight legislative bodies – or more, in a ‘blue wave’ election – the party lost ground.”
The Nation quotes strategists who cut to the quick in their assessments. “Bloodbath,” “shit show” and “no way to sugar coat it” are some of the descriptions offered.
Progressive activists are endeavouring to reach a defensible conclusion as to why.
They have floated possible explanations. Democrats were responsible to a fault and didn’t engage, as Republicans did to great effect in Florida and elsewhere, in the ground game due to the pandemic.
Their enemies lied and painted them as socialists, communists and anti-law enforcement. The party’s overarching message attempts at mobilisation and social media tactics were poor.
Latino outreach was weak. Joe Biden didn’t pull Democrats further down the ballot over the top with him because there was scant enthusiasm for the 77-year-old personally.
The depth of the disappointment is directly proportionate to the widespread internal buoyancy ahead of 3 November. Democrats saw a president who they regarded euphemistically as a disgrace and who fired up their wealthy supporters to commit monumental sums of money to beat him and put the US on a radically divergent track.
What they believed to be Trump’s blatant misogyny and racism had engendered the #metoo and #BLM movements and would definitely drive participation and translate into votes for the many women and people of colour who were on the ballot.
As such, they needn’t worry unnecessarily about traditional Democratic constituencies or trying to persuade independents and soft Trump voters. A transformative election was in the making.
As wrong as these mainly leftist Democrats were beforehand, their analysis in the aftermath may be even further off the mark. The factors to which they ascribe defeat played a role.
But politics is a tough business and perception has always been more important than truth in campaigns. The question that has been studiously avoided is why were Trump and the Republicans so successful in caricaturing them as extremists?
For one thing, notwithstanding the prevalent journalistic narrative of two Democratic camps at odds – liberals like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez versus moderates such as the Clintons and Biden – swing voters don’t discern a sizable ideological gap between them. There may be differences in emphasis, style and tone, but the two ill-constructed factions really aren’t all that far apart on most issues.
Failing to win the centre
Actual centrist Democrats are an endangered and broadly scorned species. That, not one of the aspirants to be the party’s nominee for president – when asked at a debate about the just re-elected Democratic governor of deep red Louisiana, John Bel Edwards – would extend a welcome and offer congratulations to him spoke volumes.
The governor is pro-life and pro-gun. Yet he has also fought tirelessly for equal pay for women and for enhanced access to quality healthcare.
Surely it is better to have a part-time ally than a full-time foe? Why would these putative standard bearers not posit that, while they do not agree with John Bel Edwards on every topic, his triumph proves that Democrats can compete and win in all 50 states when they accommodate deviations from dogma?
Here’s the reason for the silence on that debate stage: The governor is a genuine moderate from Middle America and hence persona non grata in the mindset of the well-heeled donors on the coasts who write the cheques and call the shots.
Whether this proposition is true or not is immaterial. It is what millions of middle of the road voters – disgruntled and former Democrats foremost among them – perceive. In rejecting John Bel Edwards, Joe Biden and Co slighted them, too.
As long as this politically crucial segment of the population feels this way about what ought to be their natural home, the party will underperform, even on its good days. I am convinced that it is nearly that simple.
Of course, much has been made of the Republicans’ drift to the hard right and Trumpism and the fork in the road imminently confronting the GOP. It has to be profoundly disheartening for those whose conservatism is akin to Ronald Reagan’s.
Conversely, there have been political gains from this largely unanticipated and unintentional realignment. Plus, the re-election of two Republicans who are a long distance away from the ascendant right – Maine Senator Susan Collins and Vermont Governor Phil Scott – suggests that their tent may be more open than the opposition’s at this stage.
I’ll leave it to them to solve their own problems. For now, I am perplexed as to why my Democratic Party seems determined to make lots of us feel unwanted. And I am absolutely flabbergasted by the steadfast refusal to recognise the consequent political costs of doing so in the wake of Election 2020.
Larry Donnelly is a Boston attorney, a Law Lecturer at NUI Galway and a political columnist with TheJournal.ie.
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Trump needs to be investigated for obstructing the democratic process.
@Paul Mcnevin: Putting aside emotional arguments, by what legal measure was he “obstructed the democratic process” – please be specific? The States go through a process to certify their elections; the media can “call” the election, but they don’t certify the election and there is no legal obligation on Trump to accept the results until there are certified. Cleary Trump’s failure to accept the results is irregular, but the election, including the use of unsolicited mass mail in ballots was also unprecedented.
To be clear, at this point in time, what law are you suggesting that Trump violated that would warrant an “investigation”?
@Fintan Mac Giolla Pharic: plus the fact there have been 30× less rejected ballots than that of the democratic primary, and the very peculiar counting irregularities in Georgia and other key states
@Fintan Mac Giolla Pharic: Well said Fintan.
@Fintan Mac Giolla Pharic: how were the mail votes unsolicited? Trump is entitled to query results but not to subvert the democratic process. I suspect there are lots of crimes he should be indited for and can’t wait to hear the real stories when he is kicked out
@Paul Mcnevin: nonsense
@Fintan Mac Giolla Pharic: Trump doesn’t respect the process, he is trying to subvert. He tried to claim victory on the night, holding a conference with his family and others. That in itself should warrant investigation. Also claiming he won on twitter when he clearly didn’t is obstructing. Ever since it became apparent he wouldn’t win the electoral college he disputed counts in several states with no evidence. Not one
attempt has been successful, all being discussed by judges. Would he have done the same had he won, obviously not. He also used the Whitehouse briefing room to make election announcements during the election. Probably not against any law but is it respecting the process and fair? No its not. Not to mention transition to Biden when all points a loss for Trump.
@Paul Mcnevin: I’m no Trump supporter but Fontana is right at least to this point. He has not broken any law by not conceding. That said, he is approaching the point that he might start crossing that line in the coming weeks but that is just speculation on my part.
@Noel Madden: Fintan not Fontana….. spellcheck strikes again
@Paul Mcnevin: clearly you no nothing about politics he is most definitely within his rights to make sure he didn’t get the election stolen. anyone who thinks like yourself is revealing that they’re a holy show and needs to back to their basement
This just sums up Trump
When world leaders are trying to work together to defeat this awful Virus, here’s Trump playing golf and not giving a s**t about his own country’s horrible ordeal where there’s over 254k people dead.
The man doesn’t have a compassionate bone in his body
@ianglen: population of US about 350m, 254k dead. Population of EU and UK 450m, 290k dead. Our figures are about the same, so do all these separate country leaders equally lack compassion? https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/cases-2019-ncov-eueea
@Ricorico: US population is 330 million. The EU is not a country it is a group of countries. Not a comparison you can make.
@Ricorico: Did you miss the point on purpose?!
@Ricorico: so what, he goes golfing as people die.
@SteoG: I think it’s a fair point, deaths per million is the only fair comparison
@Ricorico: The US has one of the worst Covid death rates per capita in the world. Your alternative facts aren’t going to work.
@DJ François: while ours drink Bud in the Phoenix park!
@Ricorico: Population of EU28 (EU+UK) in 2020 was 514 million
@Oscar Leary: Ive just done the calcs. Our figures are not the same at all. There are 775 deaths per million in the USA, compared to 560 deaths per million in the EU28 (EU + UK). The USA figure is 40% greater than the EU28 figure. They are not in the same ballpark! Furthermore, if you take out the UK’s figures, the USA figure represent a 48% increase on the EU27 figure. Were you trying to mislead with your post?
@ianglen: what riccorio said, your opinion is laughable, every other country in the world that has been overwhelmed with coronavirus not a mention about them, just another anti trump rhetoric, move on and worry about your own country, stop having your opinion formed by mainstream news media, do some research of your own
@SteoG: of course it is a day comparison what is so different, each state in America has its own mayor, laws, rules etc, its a fantastic comparison u just don’t like hearing the stats
@Ben Darley: Facts are facts, they’re not “alternatives” – and it’s a fair point, the facts say that covid deaths per capita are comparable between US and EU.
@Hugo Bugo: lol, “do your own research”. Where, on you tube? Outer space?
@Fintan Mac Giolla Pharic: it seems you don’t understand what “comparable” means. These cows are small, not far away.
@Drunk in Dublin: Do you think if Biden was in charge there would be 0 deaths? He wanted to keep airports open to international travel and objected to Trumps travel ban. Every country has problems with this virus not just the US.
@Hugo Bugo: Research ha ha … One only needs to look at Trump’s tweets. But yeh we know it’s all some conspiracy to make him look bad. But you’ve got it all sussed heh.
@Ricorico: you ignore the fact that trump got better warning and population density is much much higher in Europe
@ianglen: The awful Trump-16 virus is now defeated with the Biden vaccine!
@Jamo: Donald Trump openly micked people for wearing masks and for social distancing. He continually for large political rallies with thousands of Trumpanzees, standing shoulder to shoulder and maskless. All defense of his handling of covid pandemic, as leader of the US goes out the window. The man is clueless, and anyone who defends him as a leader is even more so
@Ricorico: Ah but the EU countries, on the whole, havent ignored the pandemic or actively encouraged its people to not take necessary precautions
Good article. Trump managed to articulate in his own inimitable but often cack handed way how much working people had been alienated from the political class. The Democrats continued to increase that alienation with ‘deplorable’ Hillary and their focus on identity politics, much as the left do here and in Britain. Those hailing Biden’s success as a return to the pre Trump era are misguided. Democrats failure to make headway in the other institutions proves this. If either Dems or GOP can produce a centrist leader not wedded to the extremes of Chicago or Frankfurt School politics but attuned to economic issues of working people then they can gain the White House and Congress next time out.
Finally a great article to explain to all the anti trump Irish that Biden winning didn’t achieve anything whatsoever, if anything after these election results America is more divided than it ever was, Republicans Co trol the senate gained seats in the house of representatives and have control over the right leading supreme Court which is vital in America, but I know all this is above most of the people celebrating trump out due to mainstream media helping them form there opinions, lol
@Hugo Bugo: “Biden winning didn’t achieve anything whatsoever”. Well apart from getting rid of Trump and saving the USA from the direct rule of the billionaire elite.
Dominion.. enjoy the show
@Clark Hetherington: This show probably doesn’t have ending you’re hoping for…
@Clark Hetherington: Trump won 14 counties in Pennsylvania where Dominion was used.
Why does the author think being more conservative / centrist would’ve been a better strategy. Biden barely scrapped it against one of the worst US presidents in our lifetime.
So he can’t really be used as evidence. Arguably Obama’s biggest policy was progressive (Health Care) and Hillary was centrist & a disaster.
Was it progressive or centrist candidates who lost out in the other elections? – maybe if this was explained it would make more sense.
But the few progressives in swing states I heard of got true, so not convinced that’s the case.
Younger voters, and increasingly older ones seem to be more worried about the basics: healthcare, the environment, the economy rather than old fashioned ideas of left, right and centre.
The centrists seem to have nothing on any of the above, apart from wanting to pretend the last 2 decades didn’t happen.
Maybe I’m wrong, if so be great to hear what their plans for the basics above are. Anyone I ask gives hobbled progressive policies as an answer
@Ronanfitz: Larry Donelly is obsessed with abortion. Read through a few of his articles – he nearly always brings it up as soooo important. This despite: https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2019/08/29/u-s-public-continues-to-favor-legal-abortion-oppose-overturning-roe-v-wade/
@Felicity Rawson: I do wish that the journal would stop giving him so much column space- I enjoy reading varying opinions but not when they are rambling screeds of insanity
@Ronanfitz: don’t no how you can say trump is the worst in history he’s done more for the USA than any single president or any single politician has in recent times its just ignorance to deny it it makes me laugh how clueless people really are.its a serious worry about are future with gobsh**es like ye walking around without supervision
I’m no fan of that orange sociopath….but without the political system’s worsening out-of-touch dissociation from common people the last few decades Trump wouldn’t have happened. Too many average Americans feel disenfranchised and helpless while the untouchable politicians, bankers and corporations seem to be making the world their own. FG and FF here are no different…they seem, to many people, to be working for themselves and a minority of powerful ‘interests’ and not us…with the media being used to condition and pacify, often through the use of fear. Like other examples in history like Nazi Germany this makes people vulnerable to charismatic nutjobs who give them ‘hope’…even if it’s irrational pie-in-the-sky.
@Tom Goss: FG and FF are losing support because their opposition consistently promise fairy-tale solutions. Mary Lou is a populist leader whose policies will most likely be put to the test after the next election.
@Cynical: I think they’re managing to lose support all by themselves without Mary Lou’s help. Nice try…
Sorry am I missing something, did the headline say the Democrats don’t get it? Shouldn’t that be Republicans.
@Tom Smith: you obviously didn’t understand the article properly. The Democrats won the Presidential election and did badly on everything else
@Tom Smith: dont worry this is not an article for u, trump is out so u be happy
@Tom Smith: I don’t know what Donnelly’s take is here, it’s a completely bizarre rant of an article that doesn’t make a lot of sense. Donnelly’s just upset that his saviour did not win. This is part one of his stages of grief- DENIAL
@Ronanfitz: I think it’s pretty self-evident.
It’s better to say Trump lost than Biden won.
The voters repudiated Trump. The did not repudiate the Republicans in the Senate who approved Amy Coney Barrett.
They did not repudiate the Republicans in the House of Representatives who went along with Trump (no incumbent Republican lost a race, and have even gained enough that Democrats can count their majority on one hand).
They did not repudiate Republicans in state governments who, having the actual powers to implement lockdowns and distancing, did the bare minimum, if anything at all. Republicans now are in control of 31 governorships and hold total power in 16 states which they will use next year to redraw legislative districts after the 2020 census.
The voters didnt gift Republicans these down-ballot victories because Democrats weren’t progressive-enough. It was a warning what they want is a return to normalcy at the top, not – as Sanders calls it – a “political revolution”. And if Democrats don’t heed it, they’re in for disasters in 2022 and 2024.
@Steven C. Schulz: that because Mitch McConnell falsified votes in Kentucky to win a SEVENTH term. The man has never gone over a 40% approval rating, but yet he won in a landslide? I’m not buying it.
@Drunk in Dublin: you are still believing in the polls? One bitten twice shy – but three times now?
A very poor analysis aimed it seems at maintaining the status quo. The behaviour of neo-lib politicians in the USA, UK and in Ireland demonstrates the dangers of centrism. Listening to Latin commentators like Democracy Now’s Juan Gonzales indicates voting behaviour at odds with the assumptions in this piece.
@Bert McCann: The mainstream media worldwide have shown themselves to be mere propaganda outlets for the powerful in their respective states, be they political or corporate powers. Listening to any of them is one thing, believing what they are telling you needs to be taking under advisment. Particularly now.
The description of this period of time between the election and the inauguration is commonly known as the lame duck.
While it accurately describes President Trump for the next two months, the above article from Mr Donnelly makes it clear that it will equally apply to Mr Biden until he is eventually deposed, whether by increasing old age and decreptitude, or more directly by Ms Pelosi and the House Democrats.
The Biden campaign resembled a dog chasing a car tyre, it’s obsession with removing President Trump meant that they hadn’t planned for the eventuality of it happening.
Biden’s campaign was a policy vacuum, now he is making it up on the hoof and every corner of the party wants it’s pound of flesh.
Who would have thought that winning could be so awkward.
Time to move on from the over analysis and get cracking on effecting change for the American people. As an Irish person with a keen interest in the planets welfare, I am hopeful Biden team will drive real change. He talked the talk re climate action and yet still got 80m votes. I am heartened with the turnout in the election and feel better times are ahead for an embattled nation.
@john mounsey: then you clearly haven’t heard whats going on he didn’t get no where near 80 million votes the dominion software stole nearly 7 million votes off trump and it will be proven knowledge soon enough
@Michael Patrick: If that is the truth that dominion software “stole” 7 million votes why is the evidence being held back? What are they waiting for? How do you know this dominion software did these naughty naughty things if they havent offered any proof?
Only 74 million Americans would disagree with you Larry Donnelly with your partisan view on their election..
Joe Biden is not the answer to Americas problems. Trump being gone is a positive thing but the votes he got shows he had huge support. It means trumpism is still alive and lives just below the surface. Biden may actually reignite it.
Biden has won nothing. I really pity your students.
The journal is biased as fek
This is an interesting and more objective article from 2015 about research into voter attitudes in the US titled ‘In politics, most Americans feel they’re on the losing side’. I imagine things haven’t changed greatly since then.
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2015/11/25/winners-and-losers-in-politics/
It’s the system that’s broken – we’d never have had a Trump (or Brexit ) otherwise. But I’m bereft of ideas on how it can be replaced while vested interests run the show
Trump has been and is still raising funds from his base since the election. Just visiti his website if you want to co tribute to his defence fund. This is the only reason he is keeping this charade going. It has nothing to do with votes or recounts. Its all about the money. The mulah.
Made no difference. The virus was already in the country and Trump left one side of the country wide open anyway. Even after flight restrictions thousands returned from China.
have your say