The Inevitability of President Trump
I know that word is going to upset a lot of people.
Inevitable.
You read that right. The results of this year's presidential election were inevitable.
Let's examine the evidence.
Dating back to President Truman, the same party has only held the presidency for 3 consecutive terms once.
ONCE.
When George Bush (now commonly referred to as Sr.) won the 1988 presidential election it marked the only time that either party had won 3 consecutive presidential elections in most of our lifetimes. Yes, there were consecutive presidents of the same party (for a variety of different reasons: assassination, resignation, etc.) but this is the only time that a single party won the presidency in 3 consecutive terms.
In other words, the presidency usually turns over between parties every 8 years. Clinton to Bush. Bush to Obama. So it only makes sense that the next incoming president would be (you guessed it) a Republican.
So history was on Trump's side.
"But it's Donald Trump!" I hear some of you screaming. "The most polarizing political figure of a lifetime!"
Perhaps.
Or is it just possible that he is the 2nd most polarizing political figure of a lifetime?
And is it possible that THE most polarizing figure was actually on the other side of the ballot?
Consider this: a lot of people would still tell you that Hillary Clinton wasn't qualified to be a Senator back when she ran in one of the most liberal districts in the country. Those same people would argue that she was equally unqualified to serve as Secretary of State.
"Then how did she get those jobs?" I hear someone asking.
I believe the work is "nepotism."
Yes, I know she was elected to two terms in Congress. But she had to pull up roots in Arkansas and move to the ultra-liberal state of New York to win that seat. Oh and by the way, she started that whole process while her husband was the President of the United States. And I think we all can agree that her appointment to Secretary of State was prearranged before she agreed to step aside in the Democratic primary of 2008 to clear the way for the Obama presidency.
It's time to face facts.
Hillary Clinton did not lose this election because of race or gender bias. She did not lose because she was a woman or even because she was a white woman trying to follow the first black president into office.
She lost because she was Hillary Clinton: THE most polarizing political figure of the last 25 years. No one in the United States is apathetic about Hillary. You either love her or you hate her, there was never a third choice.
So as we prepare to welcome President Donald Trump into the White House let's set all the squabbles and excuses aside.
The man won fair and square.
No he didn't win the popular vote...but he won't be the first president to get elected that way.
Yes, he is a polarizing figure.
But the truth is both of these candidates were polarizing figures. And at the end of the day, Americans decided they could stomach Trump over Hillary Clinton for the next 4 years.
I know many of you are still shocked by this... I for one wasn't.
I'm 38 years old and can honestly say I have never felt good about a single presidential candidate that has ever been on the ballot in my adult lifetime. Ask yourself is Donald Trump any more offensive to you than Bob Dole or Mike Dukakis was in their time?
I believe those two names should give us all a bit more perspective.
John Eric Buckley is the author of The Worst of Times crime series, the Elsewhere sci-fi collection, the Disgruntled romantic comedies and the political thriller Shadow of Benghazi. Find his books on Kindle, Nook, Amazon and most major online retailers.
Follow him on Twitter and Instagram @johnericbuckley
