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http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/08/the-election-of-donald-trump/401579/ “It was the terrific leader of India, Gandhi, who said, ‘First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they attack you, and then you win.’ Well we won, didn’t we?” That’s how President Donald John Trump began his inaugural address, that clear morning in January of 2017. The fact that Gandhi never said these words was among the very least of our problems. Besides, the line drew rapturous applause from the crowd. According to a joint statement released by the White House and Nielsen, the Trump Inaugural drew the largest television audience in human history. As President Trump himself pointed out in his second press availability that afternoon, the numbers would only go up, once you factored in DVR. It’s amazing, isn’t it? How adaptable we are as human beings? It was only a year earlier that Trump was a punch line. Obviously, everyone knew, he could never actually get anywhere once the votes were cast. American democracy was too robust to let that happen. He was too dangerous to win, and to win would be too dangerous. It couldn’t happen because it couldn’t happen. And then, just like that, it did. There’s no need to rehash how it all went down. He won the nomination, and then he won the general election. It wasn’t more complicated than that. Some have compared the tenor of the news on election night to the coverage of a tragedy or disaster. But that’s not exactly right. It wasn’t like a meteor strike. It was more like finding out a meteor is heading our way. The anchors were dazed and somber. There was a real effort on the part of journalists to assuage viewers. Twitter was a poo poo show, but Twitter is always a poo poo show. Many immediately expressed their regret for voting Trump. Some had just wanted to register a protest, not realizing that they would be swinging the election to an insecure, undisciplined narcissist unfit for public office. The next morning, President Obama declared a bank holiday, to the chagrin of President-Elect Trump, who blamed the fear mongering of Washington elites for the massive sell off roiling global markets. No one seemed more surprised by the returns than the Donald himself who—at the one moment in his life when it was truly needed—couldn’t muster the bravura for which he was famous. Being elected president made him seem tiny, and of course it did. Those were the darkest moments. Yet, in the dull terror of those first days, there were the stirrings of redemption. You could see it in the pride that journalists—even cynical, sneering political reporters—took in covering this historic and surprising transition. You could see it on display in the meetings that President Obama and White House staff held almost around-the-clock with congressional leaders and aides of both parties. But most of all, you could see it everywhere. Everyone was talking about the news. Everyone was watching and reading the news. There was a sense, in those weeks between Election Day and Inauguration Day, that Americans were all in this together, preparing, girding, for what we didn’t know. And maybe it’s crazy, but we grew closer to each other, kinder, as we all participated in this event as one country. Some still scoff at this, and as time passes, it’s harder and harder to prove. But I think it’s true. I think we are different now. quote:Looking Backward on the Presidency of Donald Trump I think the fundamental takeaway from this is while a Trump presidency would be a disaster (and an unlikely one) America does have enough checks and balances to mitigate it and survive.
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# ? Aug 24, 2015 12:09 |
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# ? May 3, 2024 02:58 |
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What even is this article, other than left-wing masturbation? This is on the same level as the people who were certain Obama would remove all the conservative justices from the Supreme Court after the 2012 election.
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# ? Aug 24, 2015 13:50 |
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It is Friday, the twentieth of January, and the people of the United States have elected Donald Trump's hair as President. A chill wind blows a strand on top of the Bible offered by Chief Justice John Roberts, but the hair does not speak. Donald Trump's hair cannot give the oath of office, as it has no vocal cords. The nation is unsure of what to do.
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# ? Aug 24, 2015 14:13 |
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The Larch posted:It is Friday, the twentieth of January, and the people of the United States have elected Donald Trump's hair as President. A chill wind blows a strand on top of the Bible offered by Chief Justice John Roberts, but the hair does not speak. Donald Trump's hair cannot give the oath of office, as it has no vocal cords. The nation is unsure of what to do.
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# ? Aug 24, 2015 14:27 |
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America doesn't have bank holidays. Ever.
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# ? Aug 24, 2015 21:04 |
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Wooten posted:America doesn't have bank holidays. Ever. http://www.federalreservehistory.org/Events/DetailView/22
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# ? Aug 24, 2015 21:08 |
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Oh. Look at that.
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# ? Aug 24, 2015 21:12 |
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# ? May 3, 2024 02:58 |
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Primpod posted:Unfortunately, it will be only be remembered as a one perm tressident. Garbage thread now redeemed.
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# ? Aug 24, 2015 21:39 |