It was no landslide

[Politruk]

Peter Baker of NYT points out:

On the night he won a second term, President-elect Donald J. Trump rejoiced in the moment. “America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he boasted. In the two weeks since, his campaign has repeatedly heralded his “landslide,” even to market Trump merchandise like the “Official Trump Victory Glass.”

But by traditional numeric measures, Mr. Trump’s victory was neither unprecedented nor a landslide. In fact, he prevailed with one of the smallest margins of victory in the popular vote since the 19th century and generated little of the coattails of a true landslide.

The disconnect goes beyond predictable Trumpian braggadocio. The incoming president and his team are trying to cement the impression of a “resounding margin,” as one aide called it, to make Mr. Trump seem more popular than he is and strengthen his hand in forcing through his agenda in the months to come.

Just to put things in their proper perspective. There is no actual MAGA mandate here, and nothing to suggest the 2026 midterms will not go against the administration as midterms usually do.

 

[Saint_Ann]

It beats losing.

 

[Politruk]

It's a victory. But it's no realignment, no Reagan Revolution, nothing on that scale of significance.

 

[BabyBoomer50s]

43% of the popular vote.

 

[Politruk]

43% of the popular vote.

Of course that was no realignment election either. The U.S. has never really had one since 1980.

 

[Politruk]

The next realigning election will come when a critical mass of cultural conservatives have died off without being replaced.

 

[UltraChad]

Peter Baker of NYT points out:


Just to put things in their proper perspective. There is no actual MAGA mandate here, and nothing to suggest the 2026 midterms will not go against the administration as midterms usually do.

Cope harder...there is a MAGA mandate, you lost EVERYTHING.

The next realigning election will come when a critical mass of cultural conservatives have died off without being replaced.

Nope....Zoomer men and Alpha guys are all trending HARD right.

 

[Politruk]

Nope....Zoomer men and Alpha guys are all trending HARD right.

Not in social/cultural terms. You probably won't even find a majority of believing Christians among them.

 

[Politruk]

The present 50/50 polarization will persist -- until a critical mass of social/cultural/religious conservatives die off -- because, unlike the bizcons, the theocons will not be replaced by younger generations.