There's UFOs over New York,
and I ain't too surprised.
--John Lennon
Congratulations, Mr. President-Elect. There were rumors in the commentariat, some of them even printable, that you didn't really want the job, but were improving your brand in hopes of branching out in some sort of media venture. Instead, you won. You really won. And now the job is yours, or soon will be. The American people hope you're successful. For all of our sakes.
Once again, the two-party system that Hamilton and Jefferson began continues to assure continuity. Even in the midst of the uncertainty that will surely go down as the Strange Election of 2016. But even in a year such as this, those bewigged gentlemen of two centuries ago gave us a document that would survive the most surprising challenges. Talk about the greatest generation. Our own challenge, as ever, is to emulate it. Or try for all we're worth.
This year there was no contested cliffhanger a la Bush v. Gore in 2000. When Americans woke up Wednesday morning, there was a concession and (correct) newspaper headlines. No embarrassing "Dewey Defeats Truman" moments anywhere. Which can't be said for the pre-election polls. A prediction: It will be a long time before America forgets the failure of the pollsters to even get close to the results of Election Night 2016. On Tuesday morning, your march to 270, Mr. President-Elect, was nigh-impossible. And by 11 p.m. Tuesday night, the White House was yours.
Although the Democrat got more votes, the rest of us have been mercifully spared the expected talk of ending the Electoral College in favor of a popular vote. (It's not un-American, it's not anti-American, it's French.)
This was what the experts called a Change Election, but it's doubtful all that much will change. The country isn't built to change direction on a dime. You might have promised to review free trade agreements and impose tariffs, but Congress, your administration, your ambassadors, your cabinet and even We the People will have something to say about that. A president isn't the owner of a business who can fire contractors who buy the wrong silverware. There's a whole bureaucracy set up that a president has to work with, through and around. And the political pendulum hasn't swung that much at all, even though the presidency changes hands.
Here's hoping that your administration is not just a successful one, but a wildly successful one. The American people need one. Many of us are tired of economic doldrums. Two percent growth isn't good enough. Roller-coaster health care costs aren't good enough.
An America in retreat from the world isn't good enough. A Russia and an Iran on the prowl isn't good enough. China bullying half the world isn't good enough.
Now's the time to change not only America's place in the world, and our hopes at home, but to change the scenery, and the cast and costumes too, and get on with the show. Complete with, please God, the happy ending.
Soon it will be time to fill in the now blank outline that will be the Trump administration. Here's sincerely hoping that in four years, Americans think back and are proud of this week's choice. Again, congratulations and God be with ye. And the rest of us, too.
Now let's congratulate the loser. For her concession speech might have been her finest hour of the campaign. As concession speeches usually are. Who remembers a victory speech?
"Donald Trump is going to be our president," Hillary Clinton said Wednesday morning. "We owe him an open mind and a chance to lead." She's right.
But still, Mr. President-Elect, there is a lesson that can be learned from the man you're replacing. He also won the presidency in something of a surprise, and he also went into office with a friendly Congress. And what happened circa 2009-2010? He and his party ran roughshod over the opposition, imposed government-run health care, and the papers have been full of the problems associated with it since. It wasn't just over-reach. It was bad policy, government running amok.
This election was no mandate, Mr. President-Elect. In fact, it's likely Tuesday's vote was just a repudiation of the big-government policies of the current occupant of the Oval Office. No matter what you might have said during the campaign, please do rely on experts and advisers to guide you as you guide the country. Greatness in some presidents might be measured by how far they rise above their campaign promises.
Editorial on 11/10/2016