The most bizarre presidential election in memory is
now over. Donald Trump has won a decisive victory
not only in the key electoral college, but also in the
national popular vote, something a Republican ticket
has not done since 2004.
Many of the predictions about this contest did not
happen. There were, however numerous surprises
and sudden dramas throughout the cycle.
As President Biden said in his remarks after the
voting, an election is a contest in which one side
wins and one side loses. To his credit and to Vice
President Kamala Harris, his party’s presidential
nominee’s credit, they called and congratulated
President-elect Trump and graciously accepted the
result, assuring an American tradition of the peaceful
transfer of power after an election.
In the seven-week period until Inauguration Day,
there is time for voters on both sides to reflect on the
campaign just passed. The winners. of course, are
celebratory, but that does not mean any gloating is
useful. Republicans should remember how they
felt four years ago when they were on the losing side,
and be respectful of how most Democrats now
understandably feel.
Winners in politics can lose in a subsequent election,
and losers can win in one. In fact, Republicans face
their next voter test in only two years, and the historic
frequency of defeat in the first mid-term after a
presidential victory. Their challenge is compounded by
their numerical disadvantage in the U.S. Senate races,
an advantage they had and which helped them in 2024,
In the meantime, Mr. Trump is choosing his cabinet and
other executive branch leaders, and preparing to take
the executive reins of government. The U.S. House and
U,S, Senate are both controlled by his party, albeit by
narrow margins. As a so-called lame duck president, he
will need to work quickly to enact his policies.
Voters did give Mr. Trump a mandate, and now they
expect hum to deliver on his promises.
Democrats now are the Opposition. After a period of
reflection and discussion., they will decide what directions
to take, and what changes they need to make. Their
2024 campaign and many of their candidates did not
resonate with a majority of voters, so new ideas, policies
and leaders are likely to emerge.
Foreign governments, both friendly and unfriendly, have
already begun adjusting to Mr. Trump’s election. By
selecting Senator Marco Rubio as his Secretary of State,
and Congresswoman Elisa Stefanik as his U.N. ambassador
he has signaled to our allies, competitors, and those
who are hostile, that his administration will pursue a robust
and articulate foreign policy —- and one different from the
one conducted in the past four years.
Judgments about President Trump’s domestic and foreign
policies in his second term will have to wait until he is in
office again. In the meantime, it is a relief to be past the
now-concluded campaign cycle and its especially
melodramatic and divisive tone.
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Copyright (c) 2024 by Barry Casselman. All rights reserved.
