Students react to Trump’s victory
Harris, Democrats show no ‘fight’ in defeat
By Jonathan Mason
The results of what was assumed to be a close 2024 presidential election left many shocked, as former President Donald Trump won a decisive second term, securing all seven swing states and the popular vote. It seems like some Americans have forgotten how chaotic and messy his first term was. There were many factors to his victory, but I believe these to be the main reasons for why, not necessarily Trump won, but how his opponent, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Democrats as a whole, completely missed the mark.
“It’s the economy, stupid!” is a phrase coined by James Carville, Bill Clinton’s chief strategist during the 1992 election. Sure, social issues like LGBTQIA+ and abortion rights are important, and everyone loves it when we get a big win at war, but worries like whether or not folks can get a job, feed their families and put gas in their car are everything. In 1991, at the end of the Persian Gulf War, President George H.W. Bush had a nearly 90% approval rating, but he lost to Clinton in 1992 because of a slipping economy. While economists say that Trump’s plans of tax cuts for the rich, mass deportations and high tariffs would sink the economy, many have nostalgia for the low prices and good job market of 2017-19, which could be more rightfully attributed to President Barack Obama’s recovery efforts following the 2008 recession. In fact, the economy was already slowly dipping before COVID, with job and manufacturing numbers dropping due to Trump’s trade war with China. The Biden administration brought the United States back from the 2020 recession with record unemployment, high stocks, investments in infrastructure and increased manufacturing in the U.S. Yet, prices are still high, wages are still low, and people still cannot afford homes.
Democrats also cannot message for their lives. If things were going so well under Biden, how come Democrats did not run hard on his Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPs Act or the Inflation Reduction Act, all of which could help bring back jobs, invest in our roads, bridges and railroads and begin anti-climate change initiatives?
Once speaking with my Rider friends that support Trump, I realized that social issues do not completely matter. As long as they are “left to the states,” it is fine. My counter is that, the last time we left something to the states, the result was 100 years of Jim Crow, but I digress. Either way, Republicans managed to successfully hammer Democrats on the economy and the border, as well as portray the party as the “elite,” as if a billionaire did not just buy his way into the White House. Meanwhile, Democrats continued to produce memes. There is a serious disconnect between Democrats and the common man. Democrats need to figure this out quickly, because the “I’m not Trump” card will not work in 2028 when there is someone new on the ticket who is not an accused rapist, convicted felon and racist individual.
Republicans’ narrative control also influenced their victory. As a member of the wrestling team, I often learn about how important it is to “have fight,” how it is important to get mean and be a real jerk when the time requires; it’s all mental. Democrats seemingly do not have that. From networks like Fox News, famous podcasters like Ben Shapiro and Candace Owens and Elon Musk’s ownership of Twitter, conservatives have a wide ranging media apparatus to say whatever they want about liberalism. Republican candidates themselves have made various charges towards Democrats since the 1980s, and Democrats have been stuck playing defense. Instead of trying to always play the moral high ground when it comes to rhetoric, Democrats must get in the mud with Republicans to win back their base. While I do not like negative attack ads, it seems to be the only way to win in this day and age, especially with the Republicans’ fear-mongering.
Lastly, President Joe Biden’s presence hurt this past campaign. If Democrats were really serious about winning this election, they should have had Biden announce he was not running much earlier in 2023 so more candidates had a chance for selection. Instead, Biden waited until the 11th hour, after a terrible debate performance, leaving Harris scrambling to do in 120 days what many people take two years to achieve. No wonder people were questioning who she is or what she stood for. There was just not enough time to mount a serious campaign.
Was the U.S. ready for a woman of color as president? We could not even elect a white woman. It sure is a shame that you could spend more than 20 years in elected office and folks will still chop up your record to “DEI” and dating some mayor in the 1990s. But maybe that’s the country we live in. Obama’s two big wins seem more and more like an anomaly every day as Trump enables these divisive voices. I guess there’s hope for next time.
Jonathan Mason is a freshman political science major
Trump’s strong policies outweigh flaws
By Patrick Crome
This year’s presidential election was the first time I ever voted. I, along with about 75 million other Americans, chose to vote for former President Donald Trump.
I chose to vote for Trump not because I’m racist, sexist or homophobic, as some have referred to me as being, but because Trump will help this country more than hurt it.
I voted for Trump for three main reasons: the cost of living, the state of the world and the fact that I did not believe in President Joe Biden or Vice President Kamala Harris.
Over the past few years, the price of groceries, gas and just about anything we buy has gone up. When I started driving in 2022, gas was $4.55 a gallon for 93 octane. The prices dropped a bit going into the winter, but paying $3.91 a gallon still was not cheap. Grocery prices have increased an astonishing amount as well. The cost of milk, eggs, steak and everything in between has gone up. The average grocery price has increased over the past four years; meanwhile, our wages remain stagnant. These prices affect the nation as a whole, but they are most detrimental to middle-class and lower-class Americans, as their wages do not reflect the cost of living.
Trump is also better equipped for rising global tensions. Over the past two and a half years, two foreign countries with whom America has close ties, Ukraine and Israel, were invaded. Additionally, under the Biden administration, tensions between America and other countries, specifically Russia and China, have skyrocketed. With foreign conflict on the rise, concerns about a possible war have crossed the minds of many, including my own, as young Americans might be called to serve in unnecessary conflict. I do not feel that going to war for either Ukraine or Israel is within this nation’s best interests, and, under the current administration, it seemed as though that is where we were headed.
Finally, I voted for Trump because Biden seemed senile. Watching the first presidential debate of 2024 was hard, as it seemed like Biden could barely speak, let alone run the country. After Biden dropped out and endorsed Harris, I started to pay attention to her campaign. Harris called for changes around the nation, but I questioned why those moves were not made under her and Biden’s administration. I also felt that Harris focused too much on social issues. She focused on abortions, gender-change operations and aid for illegal immigrants. Therefore, Harris was not helping Americans survive in such an expensive world where middle class families are constantly struggling to make ends meet.
I think Harris should have focused more on how she would jump-start the American economy, reinforce our border and lower prices across the country. At the end of the day, I voted for Trump because I want my family, friends and all citizens to prosper. I feel that, with Harris at the helm, this would be harder than with Trump. I’m glad the country spoke and agreed with me. I feel relieved that the current administration will be out as of Jan. 20, 2025.
Patrick Crome is a freshman and is undecided on a major
