Never understood why anyone would cut his/her nose to spite his/her face. Made no sense. Until now. Notice lotsa noseless folks these days?

People voted on policy not personality. 

Well then they didn't vote at all, did they? 

Thank you for your contribution 2cents. In my *study* which I admit was adhoc but you can see I AM very interested, you are truthfully only the second person I heard say that. Nothing is meant by that comment - just saying. I am somewhat a collector of such things... my prime interest to date has been sexology, the thoughts, feelings and motivations re sex but when the US election run up began, I became interested in the phenomenon called Trump and why anyone would even consider him, that interest, fascination (rather a macabre one I admit) extended when Trump won.. So now my informal studies are re Trump and the election... so I did talk to a lot of people and as I say I only heard one other say that it was because of policy.. 
As an interest the other person took the trouble to forward me trump's policy, albeit with added notes on how Hilary was anti everything blah blah on each point.. From what i read, (and surely I did read it!) there wasn't a lot of substance to it, and apart from that all most people knew re policy was the hate-fueled kind that we heard Trump spouting rather ignorantly... Much of which, we might add, he has backtracked on since.. 

I guess from my perspective.. the man had THE most abhorrent personality I have ever witnessed in a politician and I was appalled at his childish behaviour and the things he was saying about policy were unachievable.. (just as they were when Obama was elected) 

I think for me too.. and perhaps for Brits in general, we could never have voted for Trump - he behaved in a narcissistic way that was unprofessional.. which would lead one to have serious doubts about how well or otherwise he could effect any of the policies anyway.. I dont think, (I spoke to many Brits about it too) we would ever have voted someone like that to represent us - it would reflect badly on us.. so I guess I am saying.. personality plays a part.. I couldnt vote for someone so objectionable even if his policies were fabulous as it would reflect badly on our country as a whole and make us look stupid in the eyes of the world.. 

Then what have other people said was the reason for their vote?

various reasons were given,

One was the least worse alternative, one was WE want a change, one was Hilary hate and citing her greed and dishonesty, (never mind that Trump hasn't exactly been honest either) some voted cos they have right wing supremacist views, some were erm not very bright people who seemed oblivious to Trump's behaviour.. as in they knew he was awful, shocking and made himself look bad but they were willing to overlook that... one aside from you said policy..

Indeed it is that. I live here. Among them. They are all around me. And I am terrified of them. Aliens in a country I love. Acting robotic in response to some siren call they can hear. Thank you for your thoughtful reply DdbTD! If I ever figure it out I'll share it with you. :(

Exactly. The Dems don't get it and won't get it. They are in denial and cannot accept the fact that what the dem party had been doing was rejected by the people.

That is not what this meant.  

Not even close.  The DEMS don't GET it?  LOL  I think you should look in the mirror when you say that again about not getting it. 

Then how do you explain the dems loosing the House, Senate and White House as well as many state Govs and Legislators to the Repubs'?
Only seven states remain in Dem control.

ahem... I am not, as everyone knows, the expert on US politics but I do know that more people voted for Hilary... soooo the only explanation possible is that it was due to a quirk in the American system.

The querk is the founders new the danger of having the popular vote decide the Presidency. The majority of states decide the Presidency.

The Senate and House are by popular vote. The dems lost them. States are by popular vote. The dems lost them.
How may losses do the dems have to have before they get it?
The people do not want what they want.
Plain and simple.

LOL... erm thanks.. it's hard to see how much simpler the one who gets the most votes could be 

Simple. Seven welfare states have enough population to control the Presidency and exclude the remaining 43 states. To prevent that the founders implemented the Electorial College to have the states decide federal policy rather than a few states deciding. State law is governed by popular vote for those rights pertaining to the states.

Our federal government was never intended to be the almighty power over the states. States Rights are spelled out in the Constitution. We have allowed the fed to assume more and more control over the states. 
Now the voters have rejected that for less federal control and more state control as the Constitution intended.