That was a big factor, as was Comey. However, let’s not forget Julian Assange releasing her emails and also how the DNC snuffed out Bernie. Her arrogance about it being her turn was just the nail on the coffin.
Republicans hated her and had spent decades nurturing and perfecting that hatred. None of them were ever going to vote for her, and her presence energized them in favor of any opponent, regardless of who that might be.
So naturally, her campaign did their best to promote Trump as her opponent, falsely believing that he would be easier to beat than the bowl of lukewarm unflavored oatmeal from an unpopular political dynasty that was Jeb Bush.
Add to that, we were at the end of the Obama administration, which for progressives was a pretty big disappointment. And we were expected to vote for the person who ran to his right in 2008, and who fought bitterly for a healthcare policy that was essentially the disappointment we got. No public option and an individual mandate was what she ran on, what we voted against in 2008, and exactly what we got stuck with anyway. Add to that, there was still a lot of resentment because of all the flag pin/“as far as I know” bullshit she pulled during the '08 primaries.
And then there was all the fuckery her and her pets at the DNC pulled against Sanders and all the resentment that followed that.
And then she picked someone to her right for VP as a huge slap in the face to progressives. There was no reason to pick Kaine. No Republican was going to be swayed by that pick. It was exclusively a “fuck you” to everyone to her left.
And then she didn’t bother to campaign in swing states she needed to win.
And THEN the email investigation broke.
2016 was absolute proof that voter enthusiasm beats “Shut up, I’m the boss. You’re voting like I order you to or you’re getting this guy I selected to use as a threat against you.” Clinton was a uniquely garbage candidate with terrible political instincts.
Exactly this. My mom’s convinced that Harris won’t win because “if America couldn’t elect a woman in 2016…” Like no, America couldn’t elect a presidential candidate who was an arrogant asshole and took their victory for granted. And I hope that holds true this round, Harris 2024!
I think she was so obsessed with it being a coronation, she just like fully forgot to register some places?
also being a delusional piece of shit lib when america signaled thats not what they wanted in the primaries? not super helpful. it took skill to lose to trump, a special gift.
Calling 9%* of the population deplorable wasn’t what did it.
It was the fact that her policies were uninspiring and to the right of what most Democrats wanted and to the left of what Republicans wanted.
It was her arrogance and entitlement, acting, as you so rightly point out, like the presidency was owed to her.
It was her lack of respect for the left two thirds of the Dem base, including her baseless smears of Bernie, her demands for voters to shut up and accept her as inevitable and also right about everything.
It was not campaigning in crucial states out of an unjustified certainty that they’d vote for her no matter what.
It was all the conspiracy theories and pseudo-scandals that Republicans have been making up about her and her rapist husband since she was First Lady.
It was Comey choosing to announce right before the election that, while she hadn’t broken any laws, he thought that her emails were Super duper problematic.
And yes, it was also Russian meddling. However, Trump would never have gotten within cheating distance of the EC win if not for all of the above.
*while people keep saying she called half the country deplorable, she said “half of them are a basket of deplorables” about Trump voters, who were only 18% of the population.
Also didn’t help that Clinton was so unlikeable and out-of-touch. Militarily and Economically she fell along Republican lines too often and she wasn’t particularly progressive beyond Socially. Even then it always felt like unless it was Women’s rights she was reluctant to rock the boat.
She was a rich white lady career politician with a cheating former President husband and a hawkish reputation. Don’t get me wrong: I voted for her and think she’d have been a decent president, but Kamala and Tim are FAAAAR better than her and her forgettable VP pick ever were.
This comment above goes in to full detail and I think sums Clinton up perfectly - but I agree with you: Comey was the death knell. Without that I still think she would have gotten away with everything else.
While it may not be the sole reason, it is where I would point to as where she lost the election. It was as bad or worse than Romney’s binders full of women comment.
I still think Hillary only lost because of her “Basket of Deplorables” hubris speech, she acted like she didn’t have to earn the position.
That was a big factor, as was Comey. However, let’s not forget Julian Assange releasing her emails and also how the DNC snuffed out Bernie. Her arrogance about it being her turn was just the nail on the coffin.
in the same vein of arrogance… not campaigning in battle ground states…
also she had an uphill battle. She was facing an anti-establishment platform as the one person who practically embodied the establishment.
snuffing out sanders was also arrogance though.
Clinton lost because of a number of factors:
Republicans hated her and had spent decades nurturing and perfecting that hatred. None of them were ever going to vote for her, and her presence energized them in favor of any opponent, regardless of who that might be.
So naturally, her campaign did their best to promote Trump as her opponent, falsely believing that he would be easier to beat than the bowl of lukewarm unflavored oatmeal from an unpopular political dynasty that was Jeb Bush.
Add to that, we were at the end of the Obama administration, which for progressives was a pretty big disappointment. And we were expected to vote for the person who ran to his right in 2008, and who fought bitterly for a healthcare policy that was essentially the disappointment we got. No public option and an individual mandate was what she ran on, what we voted against in 2008, and exactly what we got stuck with anyway. Add to that, there was still a lot of resentment because of all the flag pin/“as far as I know” bullshit she pulled during the '08 primaries.
And then there was all the fuckery her and her pets at the DNC pulled against Sanders and all the resentment that followed that.
And then she picked someone to her right for VP as a huge slap in the face to progressives. There was no reason to pick Kaine. No Republican was going to be swayed by that pick. It was exclusively a “fuck you” to everyone to her left.
And then she didn’t bother to campaign in swing states she needed to win.
And THEN the email investigation broke.
2016 was absolute proof that voter enthusiasm beats “Shut up, I’m the boss. You’re voting like I order you to or you’re getting this guy I selected to use as a threat against you.” Clinton was a uniquely garbage candidate with terrible political instincts.
Exactly this. My mom’s convinced that Harris won’t win because “if America couldn’t elect a woman in 2016…” Like no, America couldn’t elect a presidential candidate who was an arrogant asshole and took their victory for granted. And I hope that holds true this round, Harris 2024!
thank you for not letting me succumb to simplistic explanations 😊
Saving this comment, thanks
I think she was so obsessed with it being a coronation, she just like fully forgot to register some places?
also being a delusional piece of shit lib when america signaled thats not what they wanted in the primaries? not super helpful. it took skill to lose to trump, a special gift.
She wasn’t wrong though
Sure, but if yelling at self defeating morons worked there wouldn’t be living billionaires.
Calling 9%* of the population deplorable wasn’t what did it.
It was the fact that her policies were uninspiring and to the right of what most Democrats wanted and to the left of what Republicans wanted.
It was her arrogance and entitlement, acting, as you so rightly point out, like the presidency was owed to her.
It was her lack of respect for the left two thirds of the Dem base, including her baseless smears of Bernie, her demands for voters to shut up and accept her as inevitable and also right about everything.
It was not campaigning in crucial states out of an unjustified certainty that they’d vote for her no matter what.
It was all the conspiracy theories and pseudo-scandals that Republicans have been making up about her and her rapist husband since she was First Lady.
It was Comey choosing to announce right before the election that, while she hadn’t broken any laws, he thought that her emails were Super duper problematic.
And yes, it was also Russian meddling. However, Trump would never have gotten within cheating distance of the EC win if not for all of the above.
*while people keep saying she called half the country deplorable, she said “half of them are a basket of deplorables” about Trump voters, who were only 18% of the population.
Her husband won with “third way” bullshit, which totally did not work the third time around.
Correct on both accounts. And it seems like even the DNC might have finally found that out now!
I think she lost because of Comey at the end. It shaved whatever margin she could have won
Also didn’t help that Clinton was so unlikeable and out-of-touch. Militarily and Economically she fell along Republican lines too often and she wasn’t particularly progressive beyond Socially. Even then it always felt like unless it was Women’s rights she was reluctant to rock the boat.
She was a rich white lady career politician with a cheating former President husband and a hawkish reputation. Don’t get me wrong: I voted for her and think she’d have been a decent president, but Kamala and Tim are FAAAAR better than her and her forgettable VP pick ever were.
This comment above goes in to full detail and I think sums Clinton up perfectly - but I agree with you: Comey was the death knell. Without that I still think she would have gotten away with everything else.
I know it wasn’t likely the cause, but the “Pokemon go to the polls” quote still lives rent free in my head over how cringy it was 😅
Hawk Tuah to the polls, kids
Vote on that thang!
While it may not be the sole reason, it is where I would point to as where she lost the election. It was as bad or worse than Romney’s binders full of women comment.