A Take on the Election

For John, BLUF:  This year, 2016, is not yet over, but I am hoping things are going to finally calm down.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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What Now?

Commentary by Thomas Sowell,♠ today, the 15th.

This is a review of both the election and the path forward.

Here is a key point in the essay:

Donald Trump's unexpected victory should send a lot of people back to the drawing board to rethink their assumptions about many things.  That includes not only the political left but also the Republican establishment.  But don't count on it.

The Republican establishment has been called many things, but introspective is not one of them.  One thing they might reconsider is their assumption that they alone know just what kind of presidential candidate is needed to win elections.

But the two most surprisingly successful Republican candidates of the past half century -- Ronald Reagan and now Donald Trump -- bore no resemblance to the candidates who epitomized the Republican establishment's model, such as Bob Dole, John McCain and Mitt Romney.

I think he is correct on that point.  I can see the establishment Republicans says, basically, "Thanks Donald, but we have it from here.  Watch while we show you how it is done."  That would be a mistake.  Not just a mistake, but a gross error.

Here is the other thing from Dr Sowell:

Among others who could also use some rethinking is Donald Trump himself. When he acted like a petulant adolescent, he may have gotten the adulation of his core constituents.  But it was only toward the end, when he began to act like a responsible adult seeking the highest office in the land, that he began to overtake Hillary Clinton.

Donald Trump is a wild card. We don't know whether he was play-acting when he carried on like a juvenile lout or when he played the role of a mature adult.  But he and the country could both benefit from some serious introspection on his part.

And a heartfelt thanks to Ms Kellyanne Conway for her help in bringing Mr Trump across the finish line ahead of Mrs Clinton.

Hat tip to the Rasmussen Reports.

Regards  —  Cliff

♠  Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305. His website is www.tsowell.com.