I do have to admit, his victory speech and statement after meeting with Obama were both good. But they are not enough to make up the deficit of his statements during the campaign.
I really want to see a breakdown of Trump voters:
- How many were the racists I kept seeing interviewed at his rallies
- How many just hated Hillary (for real or imaginary reasons)
- How many were voting to burn the whole thing down
- How many were just voting party line to save the Supreme Court
- How many really support his immigration, healthcare, trade, etc. "policies"
Nate Silver points out, we're still a really divided country. What A Difference 2 Percentage Points Makes.
Cabinet appointments will be really interesting. Scientific American reports Trump Picks Top Climate Skeptic to Lead EPA Transition
Donald Trump has selected one of the best-known climate skeptics to lead his U.S. EPA transition team, according to two sources close to the campaign. Myron Ebell, director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the conservative Competitive Enterprise Institute, is spearheading Trump's transition plans for EPA, the sources said.
This seems pretty speculative but Polico writes Meet Trump's Cabinet-in-waiting. And Vox writes Meet President-elect Trump's economic advisers. Businessmen and just a few academics. Expect corporations to do well. The people and enviornment not so much. And I heard this morning that he's having problems finding National Security people willing to work for him. That's good, but I fear what he may select from.
The next leading indicator is if the Senate suspends the filibuster.
For what it's worth, Here is Donald Trump's plan for his first 100 days based on a speech he gave in October. But it's worth noting, Muslim ban statement disappears from Donald Trump's website. Still Dylan Matthews points out how Donald Trump's presidency is going to be a disaster for the white working class and other Vox articles point out what we can expect from President Trump, a nightmare for LGBTQ, disabled, climate change, and even gun makers.
Update: NPR has annotated his first 100 days plan, FACT CHECK: Donald Trump’s Plan For His First 100 Days As President
So Trump's agenda might not line up with establishment Republicans. E.g., infrastructure spending, Trump wants a lot more, Ryan fought Obama on raising it. A friend suggested that they'll finally have to work together to address the issues in serious ways. I don't see that as a given. So far, almost all of the establishment Republicans have fallen in line behind Trump. House members are up for re-election in just two years, and Trump just won, I don't see them fighting back so hard. Lee Drutman explores this with more expertise than I can muster, How will Donald Trump govern?
Salena Zito wrote in The Atlantic Donald Trump Makes His Case in Pittsburgh The press takes him literally, but not seriously; his supporters take him seriously, but not literally.
Tons of navel gazing opinion pieces:
- David Remnick's An American Tragedy in The New Yorker got a lot of links. He did a great job capturing the view of everyone who was crushed Wed morning.
- Michael A. Cohen in the Boston Globe I was wrong about America
- If you're still in the anger phase, I highly recommend Catherine Rampell's Americans have voted for Trumpism. Let them have it.
- He's one from a fictional character that used to be on TV, A letter to America from Leslie Knope, regarding Donald Trump
- I don't know if Reggie Hamm is fictional or not but in PRESIDENT TRUMP tells everyone to calm down, who knows what will happen.
- Emma Grey Ellis writes in Wired The Alt-Right Will Fail. Even Under President Trump.
- Well here's some anecdotal evidence of Day 1 in Trump's America
So far this is my favorite opinion piece, I'm a Coastal Elite From the Midwest: The Real Bubble is Rural America
We, as a culture, have to stop infantilizing and deifying rural and white working-class Americans. Their experience is not more of a real American experience than anyone else's, but when we say that it is, we give people a pass from seeing and understanding more of their country. More Americans need to see more of the United States. They need to shake hands with a Muslim, or talk soccer with a middle aged lesbian, or attend a lecture by a female business executive.
We must start asking all Americans to be their better selves. We must all understand that America is a melting pot and that none of us has a more authentic American experience.
If we pin this election on coastal elites, we are excusing white working-class and rural Americans for voting for a man accused of violating the Fair Housing Act by refusing to rent apartments to black people. If we pin this election on coastal elites, we are excusing white working-class and rural Americans for voting for a man who called Mexicans rapists, drug dealers and criminals. If we pin this election on coastal elites, we are excusing white working-class and rural Americans for voting for a man who called for a complete ban on Muslim immigration.
I have friends and acquaintances who are Trump supporters. They genuinely do not understand today's shock, particularly from minorities. These Trump supporters do not understand that many minorities believe the people who voted for Trump endorse his racism and bigotry -- that those voters care more about sending a message to the political establishment than they do about the rights and welfare of human beings.
And, of course, people on the coasts could stand to meet more rural and exurban people, to understand why they are anxious about a changing world and less economic opportunity. But rural and exurban people need to see more of America. People do not understand the depths of how little rural America travels and sees other people and cultures.
I'm from the Midwest, and I love the Midwest, but it's not representative of modern America. We cannot fetishize it as “real" America. It's part of America -- a great, big, beautiful, messy republic -- but just a part.
Looking forward to 2020 when it's Trump vs Kayne.
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