When you get invested in politics, losing elections sucks. Liberals, after suffering through Obama's cult of personality wins in 2008 and 2012, I feel your pain - or vice versa. Herewith I'd like to suggest a few silver linings to this morning's outcome:
1. Trump's mandate is smaller than his thumbs. It is essentially this: (1) Rid Washington of corruption; (2) pursue more aggressively pro-American trade deals; (3) stricter immigration enforcement; and (4) fix Obamacare. That's about it. I'm not saying he will succeed on any of these points, but even liberals should agree with some of them.
2. The corporate candidate lost. For all the liberal moaning about Citizens United, it was Hillary that was the corporate candidate. She had the overwhelming support of the Wall Street financiers, and she outspent Trump 2-1. She still lost. Proof that money alone can't buy the presidency.
3. The Clintons are the very definition of corruption, and it is healthy for America and the rule of law that they have not returned to the WH. As I said in the other thread, this is the woman who set up a private server in her basement and later a bathroom closet to handle all manner of classified information, just to illegally dodge FOIA requests. These are the people who set up the Clinton Foundation as a SuperPAC to accept illegal pay-to-play contributions from foreign entities in exchange for State Department access. This is the woman who conspired to rig the nominating process against Bernie Sanders. This is the woman who started the Kenya narrative against Obama in 2008. This is the woman who stood on the tarmac and told the family members of Benghazi victims that it was due to a YouTube video, while privately telling her daughter it was terrorism. This is the woman who took the hatchet to Bill's numerous sexual assault victims while claiming to be a champion for women's rights.
4. Hillary's loss is a win for the rule of law, and that is important. The rule of law - that laws mean what they say and they are applied impartially - is the cornerstone of our society. In the short term, unraveling the rule of law has been helpful to liberal objectives (see, e.g., Obamacare rulings and executive actions, amnesty by executive action), but in the long term the rule of law is good for everyone.
5. Obamacare is a disaster. It needs to be fixed, but it is going to be really hard to do so. The GOP now gets to take all the blame for the hard choices that have to be made.
6. The media went full tank for Hillary, much as they did for Obama. The COLUSION between the Clinton campaign and media exposed by Wikileaks is appalling. Unlike with Hillary, the media will serve as a check against Trump, and perhaps restore some credibility in the process.
7. Donald is not going to start WWIII, and I think you know it. (Hillary wouldn't have either, btw).
8. Think about it: Donald Trump is the next president. As horrific as that may be to you, it is also going to be pretty funny.