[Alberta's Child]

I think your assessment is a good one, but I would always predicate my analysis of the 2016 election on the understanding that Donald Trump isn't a Republican at all. He's an independent who hijacked the GOP nomination process to get on the ticket, and he appeals to a wide range of voters from all parts of the political spectrum.

This is why I was very critical of Freepers who decided to punish any House and Senate candidates who didn't support Trump. A Trump presidency with Democrats in control of Congress would have been an absolute disaster.

[Norseman]

I’d agree that Trump doesn’t have a Republican pedigree, but he did run as one, and as essentially an anti-liberal in nearly all respects, so I think it’s a stretch to say the appealed to “voters from all parts of the political spectrum.”

The question in my mind was whether he meant what he was saying (since he obviously exaggerates in many obvious ways). Judging from his appointments so far, he is serious about “draining the swamp.” That alone will go a long way to fulfilling his MAGA pledge, and I’m quite optimistic at this point.