This election was lost in the primaries, when a plurality of people decided to support the one individual who consistently polled behind Clinton in a head-to-head General election.
Assigning the blame for the loss is all that's left to be done at this point.
Trump is already setting in place the "rigged system" narrative to blame for his loss. The GOP is blaming Trump's lack of discipline. His supporters are blaming those who don't support him, and his detractors are blaming his supporters.
The ONE thing they all have in common, is that they are all anticipating a Hillary victory.
Luis, it is good to have an opportunity to discuss this with you. I read your post that begins with...
Earlier this year, the GOP and right-wing voters in general had two things going for them:
1. A half dozen experienced candidates polling ahead of Clinton in a head-to-head match, and
2. The understanding that all that any one of those candidates would have to do to win the Presidency was to keep the voter's eyes trained on Hillary's scandals and shortcomings, and basically STFU about everything else.
I liked it and couldn't agree with you more about point #2. Trump really, really, just simply does not know when to STFU! He has caused his own campaign so much grief over stupid nonsense that he says without thinking.
These are unforced errors. If he could tamp down his ego a little, it would give the press a little room to discuss the dozens of scandals that Hillary is dealing with. He keeps them so busy talking about him, he does this intentionally, that they don't have time to talk about Hillary and her problems even if they wanted to.
And obviously they are going to give Trump all the rope to hang himself with that he wants. They don't want to talk about Hillary, and Trump is helping them more than they ever expected.
But I disagree with some of what you wrote. I do not agree that the game is over already except for assigning blame. No. I think it is far from over. That seems to be a very defeatist attitude.
Also, if
"a plurality of people decided to support the one individual who consistently polled behind Clinton" then that means it is over. That's it? I mean by that, the way I see it is we should help the "plurality" out. Who am I to stand against what the majority in the party want, and still claim to support that party. If the majority voted, and that is the vote, then I will support it. They voted Trump. They want Trump. I am able to admit that I may be wrong and they may be right.
To me this is all math and facts. I am not taking this whole thing to the personal emotional level that others do. But above and beyond all that. No matter what, I would not be able to live with myself two years from now knowing that I had an opportunity in front of me to vote against Hillary and Bill Clinton, and I chose not to take it. That would be impossible for me.