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Comment by Trasmatta | Hacker News Reader

Thank god.

Now I want the last 4 years of my life back.

I am sad to say that it is likely not over; the people who voted for Trump didn't wink out of existence. The Democrats barely won the presidency and lost ground in Congress. It's really a tremendous slap in the face for them by the public, given how unfit his opponent and those who aligned with him were.

Things could easily flip the other way in 2024, particularly if the economy goes south as it's been projected to do in 2021.

> particularly if the economy goes south as it's been projected to do in 2021.

"As you know, we've inherited quite a budget crunch from President Trump." -- Lisa Simpson

I know you said it in jest, but I am continually impressed how relevant Simpsons were/are in the areas of politics. I don't know whether it is the question of the human condition ( robot radio host saying "can you believe these clowns in Washington?" ) or just some careful time travel, but it is fascinating.

You're overlooking the most chilling explanation of all: The Simpsons are bending reality to make their predictions come true.

Seriously though, "The best way to predict the future is to create it" as Alan Kay once said, and there are cases of science fiction inspiring technologists to create actual products and inventions.

I doubt the next 4 years will be better.

I have little doubt they will be worse.

The process isn't over yet (AP News opinion withstanding) but this wasn't really a victory for Democrats at all in my opinion assuming the probable happens.

The polls at minimum were very wrong which means either fixed or stupid take your pick.

We are going to see a lot of incidents of shady doings around the election (how could we not?) brought up over the next couple of months.

Biden and team won't really be able to deliver rainbows and ponies and may have to get quite authoritarian to quell dissent.

Trump leaves on a high note with a large amount of support and Republicans made big gains and greatly expanded the party.

A whole lot will have to go right for this to be anything like a victory for the Democrats. It almost would have been better for them if they let the chips fall and Trump take the rap for what's going down next.

These 10's of millions of people aren't going anywhere, they'll be even madder next time around and in the polls watching like hawks with court sanction. And Trump will be talking the whole time about the injustice and how he was railroaded. Rightly or wrongly people will listen.

Or 6 years, if you also count the 2016 primaries.

If you thought the Trump presidency was bad, wait till you see Trump News or Trump TV.

You still have to deal with a 6/3 hard-right supreme court, courts packed to the gill with FedSoc pasties, and most likely (though depending on a GA runoff) the same senate which basically gridlocked Obama's second term and prepared the grounds for Trump's term.

Getting Trump out of office was the number one priority. We can doom about the other stuff later.

Disagree. I think getting McConnell out of office would’ve been a much bigger win.

There are enough other Republicans in the Senate from safe states that I'm sure one of them would be happy to play obstructist on any Democrat policy. Eliminating any one senator without gaining majority is just a morale victory.

I would easily have rather have Trump and Democrat super-majorities in both houses.

(Not even counting one can just impeach Trump successfully.)

My prediction is that McConnell retires. Without a willing patsy to play against, there is not much to be gained by staying in office. He rammed a court nomination through, mission accomplished.

You will not get them back, because that is how democracy works. Lots of people will want their last 4 years back in 2024.

No, I won't get them back because that's how time works.

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