Do you agree with Katy Tur about this?

[karynnj]

34. Katy Tur and many others ignore the elephant in the room

Who Trump was was known by everyone. What he did in his first term was known, the crimes he and his company committed were known. The election was between two very different versions of the US. It can also be seen as a referendum on Trump.

I suspect that the keys to understanding the election are two things.

The first is that there is a large right wing bubble that has many outlets, all telling the same story. Their stories are lies, mis characterizations and character assignations of anyone not on their side. They attacked Democrats and even non MAGA Republicans, who had shown integrity , commitment and love of country. Even when their goals were 180 degrees from ours, it was because their values, which were in line with their actions, were 180 degrees from ours. Democracy needs people to have facts they agree on, differing on what to do based on those facts. That block was very motivated to get out and vote. They actually believe that Trump was both a great President and unfairly persecuted and threatened with jail.

The second problem was that we felt enormous relief when Biden took office and nominated a cabinet of qualified people. We relaxed further as he reassured the world, led an economic recovery better than any economist thought possible, and with narrowest margins passed legislation that was sorely needed. Meanwhile, January 6 and other Trump felonies were exposed and even though the courts slow walked things, he was convicted in NY of felonies and the other crimes were laid out in great detail. Yet even before the terrible debate, Trump was outpolling Biden and Biden had very low approval. Still, we really did not believe people would vote a convicted felon as President. We were the side with less fear of losing and less motivated.

As to motivation, both sides more and more see the other side in charge as not just a setback towards moving on our goals, but an existential danger to what our country is.