He's a New Yorker, born and raised in NYC. Historically, NYC has not been a place of ideological politics. Politics here has traditionally been more about practical matters such as cleaning the streets, fixing schools, hospitals, and prisons, and providing jobs for people.
That depends on your definition of "practical." If you mean effective then yes, it got him elected. And did he really piss off everyone else, or just those who chose to be? Obviously, the voting results indicate the latter.
This post was edited by Stu Spelling Bee at December 5, 2016 2:11 PM MST
And? You're the one who's apparently pissed off. I don't take election results so personally. I have, you know, a life to live with a career and family that require more attention and energy than I have for people like Trump and Clinton. I need to get up in the morning and go to work no matter who's president. It must be nice to have time on your hands as it appears that you do.
@StuB -- Actually, no. I'm sure you're aware Trump lost the popular vote by about 2 million voters, including losing New York State (supposedly the formative crucible of Trump's politics) by 1.5 million votes (58% HRC to 37% Trump).
Explain to us again how Trump's NYC background explains his politics...;-D...
@StuB -- I fully understand the Electoral College.
But just as I wouldn't put much stock in the "voting results" of a dictatorship where everyone votes for Beloved Leader (or else!), I don't necessarily think Trump's "electoral success" says as much about him as it does a distored undemocratic system.
As I pointed out in a recent question I posted, Trump ***could*** have won the election by "winning" 40 votes while his opponent received 70,000,000 votes. Would you consider Trump a successful and skilled politician under such circumstances. Or would you consider such an electoral system an abomination?
Funny. We used to accept that nobody but White property-owing men could vote. Then that changed.
We used to accept race-based slavery. Then that changed.
We used to accept Senators being chosen by back-room deals in state legislatures. Then that changed.
We used to accept sending young me to war without allowing them the right to vote. Then that changed.
Etc., etc., etc.
Yes, under the existing rules of our Constitutional system, Trump won the election (unless the recounts produce something unexpected). That doesn't mean he is Lord High Dictator who can do whatever he wants...unless we let him. And, if we so chose, we can change the system which allowed him to be elected even though 2 million+ more people voted for his major opponent (an outcome which would NOT be acceptable ANYWHERE else within our system of government).
This post was edited by OldSchoolTheSKOSlives at December 5, 2016 7:34 PM MST
Hi Stu. So PET is pragmatic? I know he is a doer on behalf of himself but is he a doer on behalf of others? Uh-oh. Look out for a question that asks that. I appreciate the info. I was born in Michigan but have lived in California since I was 3 except for 5 years living in Massachusetts. Isn't New York a blue state? I know California is. I thought both coasts were known for Liberalism and I'm not sure what PET is. Is pragmatism a political philosophy? Anyway I appreciate the insight and now we get to see exactly what he plans to do. Happy Tuesday to thee SB! :)
We really don't and cannot know what he is yet as he's never held a political office. He did become somewhat famous in NYC for taking Wollman Rink, a popular but somewhat decrepit public ice skating venue in Central Park, and renovating it fairly quickly at his own expense after the city dragged out the process due to civic red tape and budget issues.
I did not know that Stu. So he paid for something to benefit the city and did not get repaid for doing so? That is a good thing to know. I suppose the publicity of that good deed doesn't hurt. So prior to the prez campaign was PET held in high esteem in New York or low? Was there any kind of consensus about the man pro or con? Thank you for the additional info. I appreciate it ! :)
Probably mixed. As a real estate developer, he's been more of a private figure than a public one - unlike Mike Bloomberg, who went from being a private businessman to a 3-term mayor. I think many folks have never given him a second thought other than when they see or pass one of his buildings such as Trump Tower or the Grand Hyatt Hotel, which was his first big Manhattan deal. He and his people did a magnificent job rehabbing a rundown but classic NYC hotel, the Commodore next to Grand Central Terminal, into today's Grand Hyatt.
BTW, here's an interesting quote about the nature of politics in NYC from a book on the history of Brownstone Brooklyn:
"The (Democratic political) machine distrusted political ideology altogether. Machine politics cared little about issues, focusing instead on personal relationships, patronage, favors, ethnic identity, and mutual self-interest. Voters supported politicians whom they knew personally and who provided them with jobs and city services. Politicians cared little about national or international issues, and instead were inextricably tied to a local web of institutions: small businesses, the unions, organized crime, the Catholic Church, local restaurants and bars, and ethnic fraternal organizations."
That's the political New York in which Trump was born and raised. It's impossible to say how it may or may not affect his presidency.
Crony politics? Isn't that true of everywhere? Grease someone's palm sufficiently and you own him/her? Go along to get along. Quid pro quo. Surely it isn't unique to New York. I've heard stories of pols cruising the streets BRIBING people to vote certain ways. It's called "walking around money" or something. Everyone knows about it. There is corruption up and down the scale of politics. Probably if we knew how endemic it is we'd all be depressed as he**! :( Thank you for your reply SB and Happy Wednesday to thee! :)
Definitely uncategorizable! Stu said PET is a practical guy. I guess we shall find out once PET starts his job. Were gonna have a whole bunch of new words bh, all incorporating the letters TRUMP. Thank you for your reply and Happy Tuesday! :)
Stu Spelling Bee 