Navigating America's uncharted territory

Editorial by Burlington Times-News, November 10, 2016.

We’re in uncharted territory, folks. The old rules no longer apply. The two major parties that have defined American politics for more than a century face challenges endangering their futures that few expected even a year ago.

And that was before the surprising result of Tuesday’s election, which really should not have been much of a shock to anyone who paid attention to what’s occurred locally and nationwide for the past few weeks. Donald Trump, a developer and reality TV star with an up and down record of success interchanged with bankruptcy and epic failures, roared past former first lady, U.S. senator and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to capture the presidency. Clinton herself was a candidate embroiled in scandals past and present with a poor history of transparency and a loose association with the truth.

The win by Trump, against most conventional wisdom and long odds, capped an improbable year in which most were stunned that he captured the Republican nomination to start with. That and the Brexit election in the United Kingdom were clear signals that most in the media overlooked or ignored.

Trump’s unprecedented path to the White House included months of scorn by his fellow Republicans, weeks of mean-spirited, vulgar, often bigoted and sexist language filled with inaccurate or wholly made up statements by Trump himself, few actual policy declarations and accusations of sexual misconduct. It featured a curious run of debates with Clinton that were each more bizarre than the other. He narrowly lost the popular vote.

And yet, despite all of that, he easily won the Electoral College, and in January, Donald J. Trump, a candidate with no government or political experience, will be sworn in as the 45th president of the United States.

Like we said, uncharted territory.

The nation is sharply divided and had been for a while. That by itself is not new. It has been split before and sometimes along fractures that seemed impossible to repair. And it is delusional to think that this election won’t divide our nation even more. While we certainly hope not, it is clear that accepting a Trump presidency is going to be painful for Clinton supporters. But unless that happens, we’re doomed to more of the same divisiveness and anger that has held our nation hostage for almost two decades.

We believe that those who voted against Trump must find ways to work with him and a Congress that has a Republican majority in both chambers. That doesn’t equate to agreement on all demands no matter how foolhardy. It means finding common ground in order to forge our nation ahead in a positive direction. As Clinton stated in her concession Wednesday morning, President Trump deserves an “open mind and a chance to lead.”

And Trump faces potential pitfalls should he disappoint his loyal supporters, who will exhort him to “drain the swamp” in Washington. His backers are angry about the present and anxious for immediate change. Much of it he won’t be able to do and perhaps has little interest in doing.

Larger questions nag the two major political parties. As Trump took the Republican nomination, Democrats seemed to delight in what they deemed the demise of their longtime opposition. Tuesday left little doubt that the Democrats are on the edge of extinction, too.

“A new unwritten chapter in American politics has opened. Trump’s win was an ugly, divisive victory not supported by a majority of American voters. But it has overwhelmed the old Democratic and Republican establishments,” said Pope “Mac” McCorkle, an associate professor of public policy at Duke University.

If Democrats and Republicans are to regain credibility, it will start with the party leaders themselves. In order to stay viable, both parties must recognize their shortcomings, define principles and work together to salve the nation’s deep wounds.

It’s the only way to chart this new territory.

http://www.thetimesnews.com/opinion/20161110/editorial-navigating-americas-uncharted-political-territory