2024 Presidential Election Thread

[Moliere]

Yep. Certainly some of those issues played roles (not an insignificant part of MAGA is clearly racist and misogynist), but Harris wasn't going to get those voters anyway. It saddens me that it exists and is now even more emboldened, but it is what it is I guess.

So what was it? Inflation? Illegal immigration? Biden actually did some very good things, but they weren't sexy and the benefits will not be seen for a few more years. How does one run on that? I guess people had nostalgia for the first Trump presidency? I saw it as chaotic, so I don't understand that. I guess we can put the the strength of the Pro Choice movement to bed. Just doesn't seem to be there.

My greatest fear is Trump breaking things on the international front. That just doesn't move voters.

It was inflation and immigration. Biden didn’t do anything material for inflation. The fed took care of it after Trump started the fire and Biden threw gasoline on it. Just because inflation is currently 3% doesn’t erase the 9% inflation we had last year. If you didn’t get a 9% raise, then you fell behind and your paycheck doesn’t go as far as it used to.

[myboynoah]

You really think Trump is going to deport US citizens?

If he thought he could, I'm sure he would.

I think that is reference to those who are here illegally.

I doubt he will do a lot of things he promised to do, like mass deportations and all the tariffs. That would be just too economically disruptive. He'll do some minor things and claim he did what he said he was going to do. I know others feel differently.

[Maximus]

You really think Trump is going to deport US citizens?

he believes illegals could be from 2 million to 20 million

of course citizens will get caught up in his poorly thought out plan

[BlueK]

You really think Trump is going to deport US citizens?

Children of immigrants who are citizens by birth may not have a choice but to go with their parents. Trump doesn't consider them to be rightful citizens anyway regardless of what the 14th Amendment says.

[BlueK]

If they attribute the loss to racism, stupidity, etc. they will get their butts kicked again in 4 years.

It was higher prices and the economy. If Trump's tariffs and mass deportation happen, the inflation will be worse than what we've seen yet and the Republicans get slaughtered in 2026.

[myboynoah]

It was inflation and immigration. Biden didn’t do anything material for inflation. The fed took care of it after Trump started the fire and Biden threw gasoline on it. Just because inflation is currently 3% doesn’t erase the 9% inflation we had last year. If you didn’t get a 9% raise, then you fell behind and your paycheck doesn’t go as far as it used to.

Polls show that the economy and immigration were the two biggest issues. Biden spent money like a drunken sailor early in his presidency and it made inflation skyrocket, making life seems miserable for the average person. Yes, stocks are higher than ever, but inflation is way more visceral for most people. And the border has been a disaster.

I think this election is also a referendum on DEI, identity politics, extreme trans/LGBTQ issues, etc. The democrats are popular in the faculty lounge, but they have lost the working class and much of the middle class.

Yeah, inflation and immigration. As UT notes, Harris had an uphill battle.

The DEI et al referendum also resonates, but like crime, are issues over which presidents have very little real administrative power.

[myboynoah]

It was higher prices and the economy. If Trump's tariffs and mass deportation happen, the inflation will be worse than what we've seen yet and the Republicans get slaughtered in 2026.

That's why it will not happen.

[Uncle Ted]

Polls show that the economy and immigration were the two biggest issues. Biden spent money like a drunken sailor early in his presidency and it made inflation skyrocket, making life seems miserable for the average person. Yes, stocks are higher than ever, but inflation is way more visceral for most people. And the border has been a disaster.

I think this election is also a referendum on DEI, identity politics, extreme trans/LGBTQ issues, etc. The democrats are popular in the faculty lounge, but they have lost the working class and much of the middle class.

Can't afford investing in the stock market when you are just trying to put food on the table.

And with the border disaster their kids' schools have been flooded with immigrant kids, for example. Not to mention all the money that has been diverted to address this problem that the Harris-Biden administration created. Just ask the folks down in the Rio Grande valley why they voted for JD Vance (and that other guy)...

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Places in the heart of the Rio Grande valley had a 60 point margin when Hillary Clinton ran (79 D - 19 R).

People are tired of the Dems' BS and don't care about the other issues. They are just trying to live.

[BlueK]

Polls show that the economy and immigration were the two biggest issues. Biden spent money like a drunken sailor early in his presidency and it made inflation skyrocket, making life seems miserable for the average person. Yes, stocks are higher than ever, but inflation is way more visceral for most people. And the border has been a disaster.

I think this election is also a referendum on DEI, identity politics, extreme trans/LGBTQ issues, etc. The democrats are popular in the faculty lounge, but they have lost the working class and much of the middle class.

Absolutely dumping all that money into the economy caused inflation. And I definitely think they went too far with that. But also because of covid there were an insane number of people out of work. So don't give them the help you probably end up with an enormous problem with mortgage defaults and other things leading probably to a severe and long lasting real recession. Again, I do think they went a couple of steps too far with the amount of money they gave out.

[BlueK]

That's why it will not happen.

He really seems to want it though. He seems to love the idea of tariffs and has talked them up for years. He doesn't seem to like foreign countries or foreign things and that seems to be driving it along with a complete willful ignorance of basic economics. Lots of Republicans tried to talk him out of the idea in his first term and weren't successful.

I used to think he couldn't do it without Congress but they found a silly and forgotten 1940s era law still on the books that says a president can raise tariffs if it's about national security. And voila! Toys made in China were now about national security so the tariffs got put in. All he has to do is increase them and add more by the stroke of a pen. Court challenges to come after he does that? Maybe, but if it gets to scotus they will defer to the chief executive. They will say he had the authority to decide how to enforce that dumb law however he wants because he's the top guy for deciding what national security means.

[myboynoah]

He really seems to want it though

If he does, then yikes.

[LVAllen]

It was higher prices and the economy. If Trump's tariffs and mass deportation happen, the inflation will be worse than what we've seen yet and the Republicans get slaughtered in 2026.

Unless they blame immigrants and trans people again.

[Jeff Lebowski]

I think this election is also a referendum on DEI, identity politics, extreme trans/LGBTQ issues, etc. The democrats are popular in the faculty lounge, but they have lost the working class and much of the middle class.

This guy agrees with me. He is a democrat, btw.

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[BlueK]

Unless they blame immigrants and trans people again.

They would but it would not be enough to overcome the financial pain. Also, for the last several non presidential elections, a decently large number of maga folks don't show up to vote if Trump isn't on the ballot.

[LVAllen]

They would but it would not be enough to overcome the financial pain. Also, for the last several non presidential elections, a decently large number of maga folks don't show up to vote if Trump isn't on the ballot.

You mean the financial pain they will say is caused by the immigrants and trans people?