Americans put Trump in the Oval Office. What does that say about the country? - By Colbert I. King

[DonViejo]

The vaudeville show that’s running at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue didn’t book itself into the White House. Nearly 63 million Americans sent that burlesque comedy with headliner Donald Trump to Washington. That 66 million other voters thought otherwise is beside the point. Trump didn’t anoint himself president. Millions put him in office.

What does that tell us about the country?

Was hatred of President Barack Obama, fear of Hillary Clinton, outrage over America’s perceived direction enough to transfer the reins to Trump?

It’s not as if the Trump on display in the Oval Office is not the same Trump we saw on the campaign trail or on reality TV or out and about touting his businesses. He was, by any yardstick, the most unqualified presidential nominee in modern history.

Trump didn’t seize the presidency by deception. For months on end, he was out there for all voters to see, measure and judge. Some of us did offer our preelection assessments, based upon his campaign, well before time came to cast ballots.

In my view, Trump showed himself to be one who could be neither out-demagogued nor out-nastied.

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https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/americans-put-trump-in-the-oval-office-what-does-that-say-about-americans/2017/07/14/e6dd8996-67e8-11e7-a1d7-9a32c91c6f40_story.html

[bronxiteforever]

1. The dumbing down of the US is complete.

Trump is and will ever be what he is. It also shows how little the pundits knew of him when they bet on a pivot. The depth of their ignorance was astounding. It is hard to believe that the country that tells itself tales of defeating fascism, the ultimate bully on the block, elected the class bully to be the leader.

The country is a dark plutocracy run by a leadership class of inherited wealth.

[DavidDvorkin]

2. Americans voted for Hillary Clinton by a margin of three million votes

Corruption, voter suppression, and the outdated, undemocratic relic called the Electoral College put him in office.

This isn't just a quibble. It's a vital distinction.

[Doug the Dem]

3. Yes

And I'm getting sick and tired of hearing how "we elected him." No we didn't, and this is one College that needs to be burned down!