We are still trying to figure it out.
At first "The Donald" was simply comic relief in the reality show; one that provided low level amusement and below the belt entertainment in a perceived long and drawn out boring battle for the White House. Trump was completely outrageous and as politically incorrect as one could possibly be with his comments calling Mexicans "rapists", mimicking a handicapped reporter, promises of a wall on the southern border amd a ban on all Muslims entering the country. Then he claimed that a Federal judge hearing the fraud case against Trump "University" was not qualified because he was "a Mexican". Nonetheless, as the primary season progressed Trump began resonate with enough voters to win New Hampshire and other States' primaries along with Bernie Sanders and it seemed like both of these "outsiders" might actually be gaining traction. Hillary began overtaking Bernie and soon it appeared more certain that she would be the presumptive Semocratic nominee.
It was about this time that the FBI Director came forward and announced that even though Hillary Clinton showed poor judgement she hadn't done anything illegal and there would be no criminal prosecution. This was curiously unusual to say the least because the FBI is an investigative agency and does not decide whether anyone will be indicted or prosecuted. That decision is made by the US Attorney.
Then came the well orchestrated conventions a week apart in July. Just before the Democratic convention someone leaked some emails that showed that some of the Democratic National Committee conspired to derail Bernie's momentum. DNC Chair Debbie Wasserman Schultz was thrown under the bus, sacrificed and publicly purged. But this event really infuriated many of Bernie's supporters, some of whom refused to support the coronation of Hillary as the Democratic candidate.
The Repubican convention was also a coronation and was staged as would befit a Hollywood reality show producer.
As the campaign progressed beyond the convention stage it because nastier and meaner. The debates were very unpleasant to watch because Trimp was rude and talked over Hillary constantly. However it was the unanimous opinion of the media pundits that she won all three debates.
Then in the Fall came the famous video of Trump's outrageous and completely unacceptable comments and vulgar references about women in general. That in itself should have ended any chance of him becoming president. Over 50% of the electorate are women. Since he also insulted Hispanics on numerous occasions it seemed very unlikely that he would not get much support from that community as well. The African American community traditionally votes Democratic and it did not appear that Trump could expect much support there. His constant referral to his opponent as "crooked Hillary" and unrelenting charges of dishonesty and "Pay-for-Play as Secretary of State repulsed many more as well. All the polls showed Hillary Clinton would win the general election on November 8th and become the first woman to be elected President of the United States.
To make matters worse as the campaign neared Election Day many of the establishment Republicans distanced themselves from their candidate perceiving him to be a loser. The House Speaker refused to campaign with him and would not even mention his name. It is funny now to watch them shamelessly kissing Trump's ass angling for a job in his administration.
Despite the fact that Hillary received the majority of the popular vote; over 2.75 million more than were cast for Trump. However, Trump scored more Electoral College votes and so won the election.
So how did he pull it off?
Eleven days defore the election the FBI director revealed that more of her emails were found on a computer that disgraced former Congressman Anthony Wiener and his (now estranged) wife Huma Abedin, Hillary's top aide. Clinton was under investigation again and this might have been what swayed many voters. Even though he announced several days later that the investigation was "complete" it was too late. The damage was done.
Trump's supporters were perceived to be White, undereducated working class voters in the South and the Heartland but this bloc in itself would not be enough.. However, for some some unfathomed reason, Trump received about 30% of the Hispanic vote. Hillary's support came primarily from the Northeast, West Coast and the major urban area of the country. Many people are simply tired of "political correctness" and "affirmative action" that denies them an equal chance. Donald Trump came to them as their champion promising to "make America great again!" This is a very odd phenomenon because the voters that elected Trump were the most unlikely to do so because they are not true Republicans under the traditional definition. Then again, neither is Trump.
Another important fact: Just because the media calls a state's results it does not make them official. Several states are still counting and recounting. Plus there is the Electoral College.
There was some speculation at the time that some of the Electoral College members may become "faithless electors" and cast their notes for Hillary Clinton in December. Although they could be fined their votes would count. So it is conceivable that Hillary Clinton could still have become the 45th President of the United States. However you can be sure there would have been be a major court battle the likes of which we have never seen before.
Is there a lesson to be learned from this? I believe there is. About half the qualified voters didn't bother to show up at the polls to cast their ballots. Perhaps had more of these people cast their ballots the outcome would have been very different. We will never know for certain.
"In a democracy, people get the government they deserve," So said Alexis de Tocqueville, (1805-1859) French political thinker and historian writing in Democracy in America.
