Some post mortem thoughts of mine on the election, based on an email exchange with a friend over the past few days.

 

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I am fundamentally apolitical, although I follow politics pretty closely. Let’s put it this way: I would have voted for Bernie Sanders without a second thought.

My younger son was wildly enthusiastic about Bernie. Then, once Bernie lost the nomination, he lost interest in the election.

I believe that if Bernie had gotten the nomination, he would have defeated Trump.

My wife quoted to me a remark she read or heard somewhere about Hillary: she ran on her resume. Also, “it’s my turn.”

Not an inspiring message.

If Bernie had run, I believe he could have counted on solid Democratic support, including from the Hillary haters. I believe the college students and persons in their twenties would have come out in droves for him; there would have been a groundswell of support.

The PARTY closed ranks around Hillary. Democratic VOTERS would have elected Bernie.

The reservations and ambivalence which many voters felt for Hillary worked to Trump’s advantage.

I suspect that Bernie would have won. They trotted out Hillary because she was the next in line. She didn’t inspire people. A policy wonk with no charisma. Highly competent but uninspiring. Programmed to the nth degree.

I never could forgive her for voting for W’s war.

 

— Roger W. Smith

   February 2017