Biden narrowly beats Trump for presidency of a polarized United States

[rooster59]

Biden narrowly beats Trump for presidency of a polarized United States

By Trevor Hunnicutt, Steve Holland and Jeff Mason

 

U.S Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden speaks about election results in Wilmington, Delaware, U.S., November 6, 2020. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

WILMINGTON, Del./WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrat Joe Biden captured the U.S. presidency on Saturday as voters narrowly rejected Republican incumbent Donald Trump's tumultuous leadership and embraced Biden's promise to fight the coronavirus pandemic and fix the economy in a divided nation.

 

Winning the battleground state of Pennsylvania's 20 Electoral College votes gave Biden more than the 270 he needed, prompting all major TV networks to declare the former vice president the victor after four days of nail-biting suspense following Tuesday's election.

 

"With the campaign over, it's time to put the anger and the harsh rhetoric behind us and come together as a nation. It's time for America to unite. And to heal," Biden said on Twitter.

 

Congratulations poured in from around the world, including from conservative British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, making it hard for Trump to push his repeated claims, without evidence, that the election was rigged against him.

 

Trump, who was golfing when the networks made their calls for his rival, immediately accused Biden of "rushing to falsely pose as the winner."

 

"This election is far from over," he said in a statement.

 

Trump has filed a raft of lawsuits to challenge the results but elections officials in states across the country say there has been no evidence of significant fraud, and legal experts say Trump's efforts are unlikely to succeed.

 

As the news broke, loud cheers erupted in the halls of the hotel where Biden aides were staying, and in cities around the country.

 

Biden's running mate, U.S. Senator Kamala Harris, tweeted a video of her calling Biden to congratulate him: "We did it Joe!" Harris will be the first woman, the first Black American and the first American of Asian descent to serve as vice president, the country's No. 2 office.

 

Cheers and applause were heard in neighborhoods around Washington, D.C., with people emerging onto balconies, yelling, honking car horns and banging pots. The wave of noise built as more people learned of the news. Some were in tears. Music began to play, "We are the Champions" blared.

 

In the Brooklyn neighborhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, people clapped, and erupted in screams of joy as the news spread. Some residents danced on a building's fire escape, cheering while others screamed "yes!" as they passed by.

 

In a reminder of the divided state of the country, however, angry pro-Trump "Stop the Steal" demonstrators gathered at state capitol buildings in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Arizona.

 

The protesters in Phoenix chanted "Trump won!" and "We want audits!" One speaker told the crowd: "We will win in court!"

 

Former and present political leaders also weighed in, including congratulations from former Democratic President Barack Obama and Republican U.S. Senator Mitt Romney. Trump ally Senator Lindsey Graham called on the Justice Department to investigate claims of voting irregularities.

 

The networks' declaration for Biden came amid internal concerns within Trump's team about the strategy going forward and pressure on him to pick a professional legal team to outline where they believe voter fraud took place and provide evidence.

 

One Trump loyalist said Trump simply was not ready to admit defeat even though there would not be enough ballots thrown out in a recount to change the outcome. "There's a mathematical certainty that he's going to lose," the loyalist said.

 

Biden's win ends Trump's chaotic four-year presidency in which he played down a deadly pandemic, imposed harsh immigration policies, launched a trade war with China, tore up international agreements and deeply divided many American families with his inflammatory rhetoric, lies and willingness to abandon democratic norms.

 

Prior to the election, Trump refused to commit to a peaceful transfer of power if he lost - and he stuck to that approach. He falsely declared victory long before counting was complete.

 

On Saturday, Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien urged supporters to be ready to attend protests or rallies that the campaign is "propping up around the country," according to a person familiar with the situation.

 

"Stay at the ready," Stepien said on a call with Trump allies and surrogates. "At a moment's instance, we may need your help at protests in your states, to make sure the president is represented and our side of the argument is shown."

 

Biden was expected to address the nation after 8 p.m. on Saturday (1 a.m. Sunday GMT) from his hometown of Wilmington, Delaware, according to a campaign aide.

 

DIFFICULT TASK AHEAD

 

For Biden's supporters, it was fitting that Pennsylvania ensured his victory. He was born in the industrial city of Scranton in the state's northeast and, touting his middle-class credentials, secured the Democratic nomination with a promise to win back working-class voters who had supported Trump in 2016.

 

He launched his campaign in Pittsburgh last year and wrapped it up with a rally there on Tuesday. It was a tight race in industrial states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, but Biden did enough to prevail.

 

He faced unprecedented challenges. These included Republican-led efforts to limit mail-in voting at a time when a record number of people were due to vote by mail because of the pandemic, which has killed more than 236,000 people in the United States.

 

When Biden enters the White House on Jan. 20, the oldest person to assume the office at age 78, he likely will face a difficult task governing in a deeply polarized Washington, underscored by a record nationwide voter turnout.

 

Both sides characterized the 2020 election as one of the most crucial in U.S. history, as important as votes during the 1860s Civil War and the 1930s Great Depression.

 

For months, officials on both sides raised the spectre of the United States not being able to pull off a fair vote. In the end, however, voting at the polls proceeded with limited disruption. Thousands of election officials worked for four days under intense pressure, sometimes with partisan supporters protesting outside.

 

Biden's victory was driven by strong support from groups including women, African Americans, white voters with college degrees and city-dwellers. He was more than four million votes ahead of Trump in the nationwide popular vote count.

 

Biden, who has spent half a century in public life as a U.S. senator and then vice president under Trump's predecessor Barack Obama, will inherit a nation in turmoil over the coronavirus pandemic and the related economic slowdown as well as protests against racism and police brutality.

 

Biden has said his first priority will be developing a plan to contain and recover from the pandemic, promising to improve access to testing and, unlike Trump, to heed the advice of leading public health officials and scientists.

 

He also has pledged to restore a sense of normalcy to the White House after a presidency in which Trump praised authoritarian foreign leaders, disdained longstanding global alliances, refused to disavow white supremacists and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the U.S. election system.

 

Despite his victory, Biden will have failed to deliver the sweeping repudiation to Trump that Democrats had hoped for, reflecting the deep support the president still retains.

 

This could complicate Biden's campaign promises to reverse key parts of Trump's legacy. These include deep Trump tax cuts that especially benefited corporations and the wealthy, hardline immigration policies, efforts to dismantle the 2010 Obamacare healthcare law and Trump's abandonment of such international agreements as the Paris climate accord and Iran nuclear deal.

 

Should Republicans keep control of the U.S. Senate, they would likely block large parts of his legislative agenda, including expanding healthcare and fighting climate change. That prospect could depend on the outcome of four undecided Senate races, including two in Georgia that will not be resolved until runoffs in January.

 

Investors said on Saturday the market’s focus was likely to turn on the Senate, which would determine how much a Biden administration is able to do in terms of policy.

 

"Trump is going to fight for a few weeks. That's going to be a little unsettling," said Jim Awad, senior managing director at Clearstead Advisors in New York. "But most commentators believe Biden will prevail, that the election is over, and the Senate is going to have to compromise."

 

For Trump, 74, it was an unsettling end after an astonishing political rise. The real estate developer who established a nationwide brand as a reality TV personality upset Democrat Hillary Clinton to win the presidency in 2016 in his first run for elected office. Four years later, he becomes the first U.S. president to lose a re-election bid since Republican George H.W. Bush in 1992.

 

Despite his draconian immigration curbs, Trump made surprising inroads with Latino voters. He also won battleground states such as Florida, where his pledge to prioritize the economy even if it increased the threat of the coronavirus appeared to have resonated.

 

In the end, though, Trump failed to significantly widen his appeal beyond a committed core of rural and working-class white voters who embraced his right-wing populism and "America First" nationalism.

 

Duane Fitzhugh, a 52-year-old teacher celebrating Trump's loss outside the Trump Hotel in Washington, said it was as if an evil enchantment was being lifted.

 

"It's like a pall fell over the country four years ago and we’ve been waiting years for it to end," he said.

 

(Reporting by Trevor Hunicutt, Steve Holland and Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Michael Martina in Detroit, Michigan; Mimi Dwyer in Phoenix, Arizona; Jarrett Renshaw in Philadelphia, Jan Wolfe in Boston and Doina Chiacu, Alexandra Alper, Raphael Satter, Makini Brice, Aram Roston, Susan Cornwell and Richard Cowan in Washington; Writing by Sonya Hepinstall; Editing by Ross Colvin and Daniel Wallis)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-11-08

 

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[4reaL]

Is Tesla stock going up Monday Nov 9th ?

 

 

[Justgrazing]

Joe your hired ..

Trump your fired ..

Exit quietly please without slamming the door on the way out .. 

[Crossy]

Just now, Justgrazing said:

Exit quietly please without slamming the door on the way out .. 

 

Definitely not The Donald's style, let the entertainment really begin ????

 

[daveAustin]

Doddery and just more of the same. What America needs is young, forward thinking blood, not some old croon in the hotseat. He'll struggle on C19 lest he would upset the populace by completely locking down. I'll be a fan if he takes climate seriously, ups funds for NASA, takes on China, doesn't fawn over EU.

[Justgrazing]

Just now, Crossy said:

 

Definitely not The Donald's style, let the entertainment really begin ????

 

 

Yea your right already after emerging from the golf course bunker he's sounding off about being cheated etc .. most unbecoming when you look back out how past defeated President's have conducted thereselves with humility when engaging with their successor .. 

[meechai]

Well that sure took long enough ????

 

I use to laugh at countries like Thailand's election process but no more I guess

 

Well lets see if tonight there are riots everywhere with crying & gnashing of teeth

yelling not my president like four years ago when Trump was elected & snowflakes went into meltdown mode. ????

 

Sadly I imagine Isis & Taliban (remember them have not heard from them in years really)

will soon be a big subject again as favors are returned to companies that make tools of the trade

 

Lastly...That aside I guess we will soon have Kamala at the helm & hopefully that works out ????

 

 

Edited November 7, 2020 by meechai

[Crossy]

Has an outgoing president ever had to be physically removed from the White House (except in a box of course)? 

[meechai]

1 minute ago, Crossy said:

Has an outgoing president ever had to be physically removed from the White House (except in a box of course)? 

 

Hey come now Joe is old but not that old. I think the box is 9+ months off ????

[simple1]

2 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

Definitely not The Donald's style, let the entertainment really begin ????

 

 

Murdoch owned media have turned against trump. Fox talking heads have suggested trump maintain a degree of dignity for his legacy (IMO not achievable) and not keep resisting the outcome; some within the administration are claiming trump will not make a concession speech - very poor loser - trust he will change his mind for the good of American unity.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/07/rupert-murdoch-owned-us-outlets-turn-on-trump-urging-him-to-concede-with-grace

 

Congrats to Biden and Co, let's hope the republicans will not attempt to stymie every move by the Biden administration.

[PatOngo]

How refreshing to wake up and see that common sense has prevailed in America! Maybe now they can "Make America Great Again!" What a huge slap in the face for the divisive, egotist Trump. Can't wait to see him throw the toys out of the pram in the days to come. Proud Boys, stand down, you are losers! Go Joe! 

[PatOngo]

22 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

takes on China

Yes! ????

[RJRS1301]

8 minutes ago, simple1 said:

 

Murdoch owned media have turned against trump. Fox talking heads have suggested trump maintain a degree of dignity for his legacy (IMO not achievable) and not keep resisting the outcome; some within the administration are claiming trump will not make a concession speech - very poor loser - trust he will change his mind for the good of American unity.

 

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/07/rupert-murdoch-owned-us-outlets-turn-on-trump-urging-him-to-concede-with-grace

 

Congrats to Biden and Co, let's hope the republicans will not attempt to stymie every move by the Biden administration.

Trump dignity? Misnomer.

I only hope that as Biden won the popular and college votes, that the Senate is cooperative and not destructive to a healing agenda.  Both candidates got higher votes than candidates in 2016, however I hope President elect Biden and his administration are able to work towards healing the divisions created over the past 4 years

 

[Tug]

I’m sure donald will try his best to hurt America because he is a reject loser let the crimes of this man be accounted for without hiding behind the mantle of potus stop beeing a crybaby and man up for once

[simple1]

1 minute ago, Tug said:

I’m sure donald will try his best to hurt America because he is a reject loser let the crimes of this man be accounted for without hiding behind the mantle of potus stop beeing a crybaby and man up for once

 

Equally applies to his family members - most of whom appear to have been involved with criminal matters - no wonder they are pressing trump not to concede.

[PatOngo]

3 minutes ago, simple1 said:

 

Equally applies to his family members - most of whom appear to have been involved with criminal matters - no wonder they are pressing trump not to concede.

Lock them ALL up!

[baboon]

35 minutes ago, daveAustin said:

Doddery and just more of the same. What America needs is young, forward thinking blood, not some old croon in the hotseat. He'll struggle on C19 lest he would upset the populace by completely locking down. I'll be a fan if he takes climate seriously, ups funds for NASA, takes on China, doesn't fawn over EU.

Think about it - Kim Jong un is your man...????

[Slip]

27 minutes ago, meechai said:

Well that sure took long enough ????

 

I use to laugh at countries like Thailand's election process but no more I guess

 

Well lets see if tonight there are riots everywhere with crying & gnashing of teeth

yelling not my president like four years ago when Trump was elected & snowflakes went into meltdown mode. ????

 

Sadly I imagine Isis & Taliban (remember them have not heard from them in years really)

will soon be a big subject again as favors are returned to companies that make tools of the trade

 

Lastly...That aside I guess we will soon have Kamala at the helm & hopefully that works out ????

 

 

Search out the video of Rudy whining in front of the 'Four Seasons' (Landscaping) between an adult book store and a crematorium to see the meltdown that this shower have become.  Or keep on your own private gnashing and crying party, up to you- we are here to help your painful transition. 

 

Bring on Kamala!  Time for the racist old dinosaurs to go quietly into the night.

[thaibeachlovers]

51 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

When Biden enters the White House on Jan. 20, the oldest person to assume the office at age 78, he likely will face a difficult task governing in a deeply polarized Washington, underscored by a record nationwide voter turnout.

Washington is the least of it, IMO. The country is divided nearly 50/ 50, and Trump's base are not going to go away quietly IMO.

The senate is still not decided 48/48. Everything for Biden depends on a Dem's win in the senate, IMO.

 

Trump may decide to run in 2024, so if he does expect another 4 years of the same on tv news.

[Somtamnication]

20 Baht going to my local temple as a tamboon!!!

[Chomper Higgot]

I wonder if anyone in Trump’s inner circle has had the courage to tell him yet?

[Tug]

Hey now that donald is a (lame duck) President can we call him Donald Duck?or just Aflac lol it will be nice to have a competent professional in the White House with enough sense to get out of the way of experts when nessary we are back!!!(on Jan 20)

[Scott]

Unapproved social media post and replies removed.

 

[cmarshall]

Biden's win is not particularly narrow.  He will end up with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232, same as Trump got in 2016.  But Trump lost the popular vote by 3 million while Biden will win it by 4 - 5 million.

 

I stand by my prediction that Trump will resign and take a pardon from President Pence.  For the Democrats, this is the best possible outcome since it relieves Biden and his Attorney General from the politically risky job of having to prosecute him, which the NY State Attorney General's office is quite capable of handling.  So win - win for the national and NY Dems.

 

Without a legitimate pardon, i.e excluding a self-pardon, the Dems are morally bound to prosecute Trump since his violations of the law have been so numerous and brazen.  

Edited November 8, 2020 by cmarshall

[Berkshire]

4 minutes ago, cmarshall said:

Biden's win is not particularly narrow.  He will end up with 306 electoral votes to Trump's 232, same as Trump got in 2016.  But Trump lost the popular vote by 3 million while Biden will win it by 4 - 5 million.

Exactly.  The thread title ("narrowly beats") is stupefying   When Trump won in 2016 with the same numbers, he said it was "huge, biggest in history."  And Trump lost the popular vote. 

[thaibeachlovers]

Seems some think that Trump will be leaving the W H immediately, like in NZ when the new government takes over quite quickly after the election. I'm not sure that they understand that Trump remains president till January.

[Dumbastheycome]

28 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Washington is the least of it, IMO. The country is divided nearly 50/ 50, and Trump's base are not going to go away quietly IMO.

The senate is still not decided 48/48. Everything for Biden depends on a Dem's win in the senate, IMO.

 

Trump may decide to run in 2024, so if he does expect another 4 years of the same on tv news.

Trump may be disqualified due to felony convictions within the  next four years. His supporters are now raising funds  to fight a cause they also admit is a lost one.  Maybe better they raise funds for his legal defense than  a pointless attempt to defy his electoral loss.

[Berkshire]

1 hour ago, simple1 said:

 

Murdoch owned media have turned against trump. Fox talking heads have suggested trump maintain a degree of dignity for his legacy (IMO not achievable) and not keep resisting the outcome; some within the administration are claiming trump will not make a concession speech - very poor loser - trust he will change his mind for the good of American unity.

55555....I'm reading that a number of Republicans are refusing to answer calls from Trump. 

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Seems some think that Trump will be leaving the W H immediately, like in NZ when the new government takes over quite quickly after the election. I'm not sure that they understand that Trump remains president till January.

We understand TBL, it’s amongst all the other stuff we understand and have been proven right on.

[cmarshall]

1 minute ago, Dumbastheycome said:

Trump may be disqualified due to felony convictions within the  next four years. His supporters are now raising funds  to fight a cause they also admit is a lost one.  Maybe better they raise funds for his legal defense than  a pointless attempt to defy his electoral loss.

Nothing in the Constitution or anywhere else prevents a felon from becoming president