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A modest list of election winners and losers

Every election has its winners and losers.  The 2024 election has some of the most notable listings in both categories.  The list is too long for a single commentary, but here are a few from my perspective.  Let us start out with the biggest winner of all.

WINNER: Donald J. Trump.  His historic come-back victory in the 2024 presidential election is not the only thing that makes Trump a winner.  He won both retribution and vindication.  He prevailed over the most pernicious attacks … two impeachments … several court cases … provocative statements … and a political rebellion within his own party.  The various efforts to bring Trump down in dubious court cases will come to  an end.  The demographics of Trump’s victory blunt political criticism of his being a racist, sexist, homophobe, Islamophobia, etc., etc. etc.

LOSER: Joe Biden.  President Biden’s dubious legacy of presidential accomplishment is further tarnished by both his decision to not withdraw earlier – and to ultimately withdraw at the last minute.  Both decisions set the stage for Trump’s triumphant comeback – and the crushing victory of the down ballot Republicans.  Biden’s claim to a legacy as one of the most accomplished presidents in American history is no longer credible.  He leaves office as a very unpopular President – even among a significant number of Democrats.

LOSER: Democratic Party.  Not only did the Democratic Party lose an election to a candidate with more baggage than Samsonite – and a pugnacious personality – it lost BIG. And it was more than just one election.  It lost its connection to John Q. Citizen.  This was not just a one-time defeat, but a potential realignment.  Democrats may well have lost their connection with the people for the foreseeable future – relegating the donkey party to a regional bicoastal political party.

LOSER: Republican apostates.  The 2024 election had an unprecedented number of Republican leaders abandoning Trump.  They not only abandoned Trump, but the entire GOP and often their alleged conservative principles – becoming full members of the Democrat political and propaganda operation.  No longer useful idiots for the Democrats, they will mostly be relegated to the more obscure edge of the political world.  A few may maintain some role in left-wing media.  They have no political future.

LOSER: Liz Cheney.  She is among the apostates but deserves personal mention since she has lost a lot.  Once a GOP leader in Congress – with the prospect of one day rising to Speaker of the House or even a future Republican presidential candidate – she is now a political has been.  As a woman scorned, Cheney took down her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney.

WINNER: Mitch McConnell.  He will be stepping down as one of the longest serving Senate Majority Leaders – and one of the most effective.  He is not a political bud of the re-tread Trump, but he did deliver for the Republican Party if not always to Trump’s liking.  He delivered three Supreme Court justices … he blocked two impeachments, that otherwise would have prevented Trump from running a second time … and, as a last contribution to the cause, he oversaw the new upcoming GOP Senate majority.

WINNER: FOX News. The Rupert Murdock cable news channel is by far the number one platform – attracting more viewers than CNN and MSNBC combined.  Despite its conservative lean, the network’s philosophic viewpoint was consistent with the mood and view of the voters.  It has overcome the harsh criticism of the elitist left-wing media outlets. FOX is a winner because its competitors are among the losers.

LOSER: Labor leaders. The heads of the Unions have been losing clout for generations.   Representing less than 6 percent of American workers, union leaders have more bark than bite.  Union workers were the backbone of the so-called “Reagan Democrats.”  Today’s union leaders can deliver money, but not votes.  Trump’s victory in Michigan, for example, proved it.  Alternatively, a winner may be right-to-work legislation.

WINNER: Conservative issues.  In the tug-of-war between political issues and political personalities, issues proved to be the winner in 2024.  That is notable in view of how much of Democrat strategy was focused on demonizing Trump.  And as a subtext, it is the conservative issues that prevailed.  While Democrats focused on Trump, it turned out to be the economy, stupid.

WINNER: School choice.  One of the most important benefits for inner city students is school choice – and the ability to get away from failing schools. School choice has been opposed by big city Democrat machines and school unions as a threat to their political power and money.  This will be a top priority for the new Secretary of Education, whoever it may be.

LOSER: DEI.  DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion) has been sold as a program to create greater racial tolerance.  Instead, it is a radical left-wing program to promote racial friction by arbitrarily creating a sense of White guilt.

LOSER: Men in women’s sports.  The political environment under Trump will lead to a national pushback against transgender men playing on women’s sports teams.  Transgenders are a very tiny portion of the population, but they are having a disproportionate impact on women’s sports.  That issue played a discernible role in Trump’s election.

WINNER: Israel.  The election of Trump ends the Biden administration’s duplicitous approach to the Hamas War – that has now expanded to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran.  Israel is free of the constraints and limitations imposed by Biden – and can expect more support in Washington.

LOSER: Ukraine.  Trump’s stated interest in ending the war at all costs – especially for Ukraine – can end the conflict with most of the win going to Putin.  Any victory for the Madman of Moscow is a threat to world stability and a national threat to the United States.   It will all depend on Trump’s actions as opposed to his statements.

LOSER: Sanctuary Cities.  Trump has promised to end sanctuary cities – a practice that Democrats have used to shield illegal aliens, even criminals, from federal law enforcement.

WINNER: men.  For the first time, the interests of men have manifest themselves as a major issue in a presidential campaign.  Men have exerted a collective influence – and have played a major role in Trump’s victory.  It is a backlash from the “toxic male” messaging coming from the radical left.  The backlash was seen across all male demographics.

WINNER: American worker.  Whether it is the end of inflation … lower taxes … higher income … the American worker will see increased purchasing power.

LOSER: Chuck Schumer.  The Senate Majority Leader will become the Senate Minority Leader in the next Congress.  In addition, he has seen his New York City Democrat base declining.  Under the arcane rules of the Senate, the minority has virtually no power. 

LOSER: Allan Lichtman.  Lichtman is called the Nostradamus of presidential election predictors.  He bases his predictions on his 13 keys.  He has correctly picked the winner in 9 or the past 10 presidential elections.  He was wrong this year.  Alluding to him as a political Nostradamus is  appropriate since the sage of the 16th century is about as accurate as a newspaper horoscope.

WINNER: Democracy.  Despite the claims that the 2024 election would be marred by mobs of individuals disrupting the polling – and the ridiculous security arrangements to address the imaginary attack – the voting went off smoothly.  It will also put to rest the outrageous and insane claims of insurrection, coups, planned violence and the end of the Republic that preceded the election.  The American experiment in democracy worked well — and will continue to work well for the foreseeable future.

WINNER: Me.  Against the “wisdom” of the polls and the pols, I predicted Trump would win – and forecast victory for the GOP in both the Senate and the House.  Those predictions were greeted with hostile pushbacks peppered with mendacious accusations and personal insults impugning my intelligence and integrity

LOSERS: Those impugning my intelligence and personal integrity.

So, there ‘tis.

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