this argument about "ordinary americans" is a bit misleading imo and shows how much of a conman trump was

if you look at most of his core policies on the economy, labour rights, environmental protection and tax, they will actually benefit the so-called elite that most trump supporters were protesting against rather than the "ordinary americans" they consider themselves to be.

Yet with 2-3m more votes what you are saying is that the Democrats should listen to a minority in order to get elected.

Yet in many cases those republican voters were misinformed. Take unemployment - ask Republican voters they will tell you that unemployment went up - it has not it went down. Indeed the US is within range of full employment.

This is the problem Trump is going to have. Because he sent expectations that he is not going to be able to deliver. The victory he had was not by that much and it will not take much to swing the other way. He cannot deliver more jobs growth.

The other problem is not that the Democrats message was wrong, so much as it was not being heard. People now get their news from self-selecting silos - so it matters not that unemployment was going down, if all they heard was massive increase in unemployment from their twitter feed that is what they believed - even though it was not true.

For Potus it's effectively states that vote so low population states have a higher influence in the electoral college than high population states. California should split itself into 10 states

BIB - Tell a Republican that, and they'll tell you the statistics lie - and they wouldn't be entirely wrong! But you're right about the silos, Facebook ensures that people get the news they want to see, and no one is interested in hearing balanced views, because they don't get hits or views the way the more sensationalist stuff does. When people get reinforcing skewed messages of things they were already more likely to believe, it's an entrenched position that they will never be entirely lifted out of, no matter how persuasive you make the facts.

it is the poisonous nature of the system - there is no bipartisanship, because the political capital of pushing for across-aisle solutions is outweighed by the fallout of the extremes of both parties, waiting to demonise (and deselect) anyone who dips their toe in more moderate water. It's notable that very few newer political winners can be called true moderates and those that are, are a throwback to a bygone ere of politics.

Kellyanne is going to be trump's counselor. Would have thought someone medically qualified would be better

What's the alternative? Not listening and not getting elected? It doesn't matter how many votes you get, it never has, and doesn't here in Britain either. The key is to get enough votes in enough seats to win.
So inform them. Make it clear to them that unemployment is down. People trust their own experience and judgment over statistics that they have no way of knowing the veracity of.
The democrats cannot rely on the Republicans messing up to be able to get into power. They need to actually have some policies that will benefit the entire country, not just major cities on the coasts.
There is no shortage of democrat supporting media in the US, look at all the glum faces on news programmes after Trump won. The problem is that people don't trust the mainstream media, people feel these people are aloof and out of touch with middle America. This needs to change, the media needs to move with the times, not sit there pontificating about "how could the American public be so stupid?" Take on board peoples opinions and concerns, don't just dismiss them as ignorant.

Some opinions are ignorant. Trump's trade policy is completely ignorant, and he has millions of followers who don't understand economics, but who are simultaneously outraged that the news doesn't reflect their ignorant thoughts.

We shouldn't coddle the ignorant.

There are numerous major cities inland, for example Albuquerque NM, Atlanta GA, Charlotte NC, Chicago IL, Cincinnati OH, Cleveland OH, Columbus OH, Dallas TX, Denver CO, Detroit MI, Kansas City MO, Indianapolis IN, Las Vegas NV, Memphis TN, Minneapolis MN, Nashville TN, Oklahoma City OK, Philadelphia PA, Phoenix AZ, Pittsburgh PA, Portland OR and Salt Lake City UT.

A lot of what you say is true, but I would point out that this political dis-function is not equally balanced. There are plenty of extremists on the Democratic side, but the Republicans are much, much worse. I don't want to excuse the Democrats from all blame in this regard, but much of the nasty partisanship in Washington should be attributed to the GOP. Although the American people seem to have decided to reward them for their appalling behaviour...

As I pointed out people are listening to news which fits in with their views - the Democrats are just not going to be listened to. If you have a person who only listens to one side and dismisses the rest as the mainstream media or some conspiracy it does not matter - they will still believe that black is white even as they are killed crossing a zebra crossing.

Look at this video of Rachel Madden - it shows how Republican voters literally believe absolutely the opposite of reality.


Why not? There is an old adage in politics that oppositions do not win elections, governments lose them. With the Republicans in charge of both houses and a Republican President - they muck up and the democrats can step up to the plate.


Reducing unemployment does benefit the whole country, I'll grant that it could be spread out and dealing with the unemployment in Detroit but what policies do you think they should have - expelling Muslims and Mexicans!



If nobody trusts what you are saying - you could shout from the rooftops that the Grass is green and the sea blue and they will still look for their alternative sources and even if that source tells you grass is pink with white polka dots they will believe it even though the evidence (their eyes) tell them something else.

Trump got elected by a diet of lies and more flip flops than a pair of beach shoes.

That video clip is CRAZY

In what way?

Coddle them, no. But take their views into account, yes. At least if you want to win elections.



Very few of those cities voted Hillary.


They've done it, and people have voted for them. That's democracy. People don't want to think that politicians are putting on a show and being adverserial in public then cosying up to to the opposition in private.


Why does this problem affect Democrats more than Republicans?

So what you are saying is that everyone should get more stupid?

No, I'm saying that dismissing people and their opinions as "stupid" doesn't win elections. There have always been stupid people. On both sides of the political fence. Their votes are worth exactly the same as everyone elses.

Excellent news.

I hope Kellyanne gets to enjoy an occasional day off - and it also means Kate McKinnon has a guaranteed slot on SNL for 4 more years.

https://youtu.be/Zjbc15X1zSM

Kate would have gotten a slot no matter who won the election, as she also portrayed Hillary.

off-topic but Kate McKinnon has been a regular on SNL for more than 4 years and isn't just there to play Conway or Clinton

Basically you're advocating a politician selling people a line of crap because it's what the want to hear, simply in order to win. We all know that happens, but you rarely come across someone who so openly supports the behavior.

Cool ethics bro.

Always so picky even at Christmas!

She might be too busy doing Ghostbusters sequels to do SNL of course.

facts are facts even at xmas Marty

i'm so disappointed

Trump has just named his Communications team and Katriona Pierson has been overlooked as press secretary

Dan Scavino to be the busiest man in the White House, he's going to be Trump's Social Media Director

Jason Miller is going to be Director of Communications and Hope Hicks will be Director of Strategic Communications - not sure what the difference between the two roles will be. Presumably Jason does Twitter and Megyn Kelly and she does the serious stuff?

I am sure Katriona will get something - but she was rather rapidly dropped when Kellyanne came on the scene. Does the View need someone to annoy Joy Behar?

And what does the future hold for Kayleigh McEnany - she probably needs to leave CNN before Van Jones and Ana Navarro lose it completely with her! Cos I know you adore Kayleigh even more than Katriona.

i know what i'd like the future to hold for her, but she'd probably drive me crazy

John Bolton's moustache meant didn't get a job with trump?

Trump International décor is 'a little garish', say luxury travel experts - Another group who will get a 3:00am trump tweet?