Quote (ThatAlex @ 16 Sep 2018 01:06)
Imagine if Hillary Clinton won. Sure, Democrats might get a SCOTUS pick or two, but it would be the same shit as second term Obama. GOP would strengthen their grip on both chambers of Congress and then likely take the WH in 2020.
With Trump, the Democratic base has been reignited for decades to come. Trump helped make the ACA, previously an unpopular piece of legisglation, and universal healthcare popular. He's been an absolute boon for liberalism in America.
no, I gotta disagree. if trump had lost here, the GOP leadership would push for what they have been wanting for a long time anyway: that the party pivots to the center on cultural issues, embraces minorities and immigrants, even the illegal ones. this is the exact opposite of what the base wants, hence, trump. but if trump had gotten defeated in 2016, the party leadership would take this as the definitive proof that such a platform cannot win elections anymore in a rapidly diversifying country. the result would be intra-party civil war, a lot worse than what we currently have in the Democratic party between progressives and establishment candidates.
then, in 2020, the GOP would either field an uninspiring mitt romney type of candidate who lacks the backing of the cultural conservatives, or a radical guy who isnt electable for moderates. with this post-2016 development in mind, I consider it far from certain that the GOP would retake the WH in 2020.
I'm also sceptical that trump really has ignited the democratic base for decades. If anything, it was Bernie who woke up the Millenials and far-left progressives. Sure, trump is one of the most polarizing figures in american history and will push Dem turnout for as long as he's in office. But this energy will dissipate once the Dems had controlled the WH for 4 years and didnt get anything from the progressive wishlist done either due to a republican-controlled congress.
This post was edited by Black XistenZ on Sep 16 2018 03:32am