The 2016 US Elections - UNPRECEDENTED!

Clinton or Trump?

This is it! This is by far the most anticipated elections of all time. I can boast of being there from the beginning. From the chatter of Clinton's candidacy after she dropped her book "Hard Choices". Not forgetting Mr. Trump who has always nursed the ambition, only this time he cashed in on it " bigly".

UNPRECEDENTED!

From the GOP primaries in New Hampshire to Iowa, to the Republican Convention, to this day, same for the Democratic party - I have followed rather religiously. The last time this enthusiasm reached fever-pitch was in 2008 when Obama ran for the Oval Office. The narrative back then was "putting a black man in the White House". This is 2016, suddenly it's more complicated.
First, neither of the both candidates have actually been president before. Clinton at best was once a First Lady and presently the Secretary of State. Donald Trump, the real estate mogul also of "The Apprentice" fame with no political history is now the Republican nominee.
Americans have never been faced with a tougher choice.

Make America Great Again!

Who would have thought that Trump, the business man would get the nomination ahead of 16 career politicians? Well, that's a story for another day. Trump with his eccentric personality comes in with a distinct message. He makes it abundantly clear he is anti-establishment. Anti Wall Street. Anti Special Interests. He slams the current political structure as being highly corrupt. Owing largely to a "weak" president who has negotiated deals that put America at a disadvantage, weak immigration laws and abysmal economic policies.

Perhaps his most sensational proposal is his plan to build a wall across Mexico that will stop illegal immigrants and wait for this - he promises to make them pay for it!
He basically appeals to the fears and anger of american voters - a message that strongly resonates with his supporters. Accused severally of being devisive and maintaining a demagoguery stance, Trump seeks to put America first. With a skinny purse in comparison to his opponent, Trump is giving his rival a run for her money. He has by some ingenuity steered himself onto the biggest stage of all - the biggest of his life.

Stronger Together!

Hillary Rodham Clinton. Almost needs no introduction. Wife of former president Bill Clinton. A former presidential aspirant herself with over 30 years of public service in her bag - you could say it was written in the stars. After a fiercely contested primary with Bernie Sanders which was riddled with controversies no thanks to Wikileaks operations, Hillary emerged as the Democratic candidate.

All that counts for little in 2016 as what should normally be an advantage for her may become her undoing. Chief amongst her travails is the use of highly classified emails on a private server. Also the Clinton Foundation which has been severally accused of a "pay-for-play" system. Not forgetting Bill Clinton's indiscretions during his time in the Oval Office.
Clinton is playing the Woman Card with ruthless abandon. The narrative of a first female POTUS is key on her campaign messaging.

Blue or Red? Left or right?

So back to the American voter, I can tell you for free that they aren't exactly excited about both candidates. Trump with his baggage of alleged women abuse, racist opinions and labour exploitation. Clinton with her email scandal, Foundation and spillovers from Bill. Make no mistake, this election is beyond the two main candidates running. Many people voting for Trump are doing so because they say they can't endure another four years of Clinton who is seen as an extension of Obama. Clinton supporters hinge their case on their aversion for Mr. Trump.

However one must be president. So it is clearly a case of "the lesser of two evils". Trump has been bashed about his lack of temperament to sit in the White House. Clinton is seen as an integrity-challenged person. Both of them are aware of this. Clinton is deploying her surrogates; mainstream media, music and sports superstars, Bernie Sanders, POTUS, FLOTUS, Bill Clinton and the rest. Trump is unleashing his family, including Ivanka and Donald Trump Jnr. on the campaign trail after most GOP leaders including speaker Paul Ryan have refused to stick their necks out for him.

In most polls (depending on which one you believe), it is unimaginably close. More battleground states are emerging because traditionally Blue and Red states are now being keenly contested.

Post-November

The biggest issue for me is the fallout of the elections. If a Trump presidency emerges, the political, economic and social landscape of America will never be the same. The world would have to get used to "Trumpism". Also America will have to deal with voters who thought Clinton was the best thing since sliced bread.
If a Clinton presidency emerges, it would suggest a continuum of the status quo. She would be a familiar face with the politics of Washington. However, America will be "left" with Trump voters who see him as the face of anti-establishment politics.

Whichever way it pans out, it would be UN-PRECEDENTED!
Will HIS-STORY be made? Or will HER-STORY be made?
Will TRUMP TRIUMPH? Or will CLINTON CLINCH it?
At the polls on November 8th, 2016 American voters will decide!




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