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Trump’s decisive victory rooted in appeals to the disaffected

A day of reckoning for out-of-touch Democrats

Letters to the Editor. Illustration: Paul Scott
The Irish Times - Letters to the Editor.
Thu Nov 07 2024 - 00:08

Sir, – It is evident that many individuals are facing financial struggles and are prioritising their basic needs over other considerations.

The call for politicians to focus on securing borders, providing affordable housing, and controlling costs is loud and clear. It is essential for our moderate leaders to take heed of these demands and take action to address them.

The voices of the people cannot be ignored. This is a real wake-up call for Europe and Ireland. – Yours, etc,

PETER MALBASHA,

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Booterstown,

Co Dublin.

A chara, – In the US, democracy ensures that 150 billionaire families can make donations to a presidential campaign to ensure ordinary Americans get the president they deserve. – Is mise,

DERMOT O’ROURKE,

Lucan,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – The fifth of November will be remembered for two reasons: Guy Fawkes, who failed, and Donald Trump, who didn’t. Let the fireworks begin. – Yours, etc,

DAVID MURNANE,

Dunshaughlin,

Co Meath.

Sir, – The editorial direction of much of the Irish media over the course of the US elections was dreadfully one-sided, and that of our national broadcaster RTÉ was appallingly so.

It’s navel-gazing time for the Irish media. – Yours, etc,

TERRY CONNAUGHTON,

Ranelagh,

Dublin 6.

Sir, – It was gracious of the Taoiseach to congratulate Donald Trump but he was possibly just observing the niceties. Mr Trump has his eye on Ireland’s corporation tax regime. – Yours, etc,

PAT O’CONNOR,

Cork.

Sir, – This “golden age’' that Donald Trump speaks of has uncanny echoes of Bob Dylan’s lyrics in The Tempest.

But what do I know?

I’m a pensioner, not a prophet. – Yours, etc,

LIAM POWER,

Dundalk,

Co Louth.

Sir, – Michael Brendan Dougherty brilliantly explains the underlying tension between populist and anti-populist forces in American politics (”Trump has been campaigning as if he anticipates a win, while Harris has narrowed her map”, Opinion & Analysis, November 5th).

Whether the result of the presidential election is “a cosmic joke or divine judgement” is an open question. – Yours, etc,

Dr JOHN DOHERTY,

Gaoth Dobhair,

Co Dhún na nGall.

Sir, – Seeing as how virtually all who make up Official Ireland have a visceral hatred of US president-elect Donald J Trump, can we now expect the State to sever diplomatic ties with the US?

Failing that, how about diplomatic representation to Washington that at least understands the Trump appeal and doesn’t think that those who voted for him are idiots?

I await the call. – Yours, etc,

BRENDAN CORRIGAN,

Granada,

Colombia.

Sir, – It’s yesterday once more. – Yours, etc,

NUALA DELANEY,

Killiney,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – Prior to the actual event, the mainstream media consensus was that the result of the US presidential election was “too close to call”. As it turned out, it was a convincing victory for Donald Trump. Not for the first time, the pollsters and the press got it egregiously wrong. – Yours, etc,

PAUL DELANEY,

Dalkey,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – Having worked much of my life as a medic, I don’t blame diseases for being diseases, nor people for getting them. I do, however, often blame myself or my colleagues for failing to recognise their nature or deal with them appropriately. Similarly, I completely blame the US Democratic party for bringing about the dismal scenario of a second Trump presidency.

It has been obvious for some time that the main emotion that President Joe Biden inspires in the public is sympathy at his declining health. The lack of success that Kamala Harris delivered as vice-president is equally inescapable. In a situation akin to the emperor’s new clothes, it seems nobody could call out what was obvious for fear of how they’d be perceived, with all unwilling to see that neither had the presence or charisma to inspire the US electorate.

While I’d say it’s unlikely to happen, I wonder if the Democrats might consider salvaging something from the remaining few months of the current administration. A short but potentially meaningful period remains in which President Biden could step aside and allow Ms Harris to succeed him. History would record that she was the first female US president or whatever other identity criteria might be used to characterise her. The main benefit of this would be that for any future elections, should they arise, they can choose candidates based on the content of their character rather than motivated by optimistic attempts to break barriers. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN O’BRIEN,

Kinsale,

Co Cork.

Sir, – From riding in a garbage truck to becoming, yet again, the most powerful person is the world, Donald Trump is here for the next four years.

Let’s hope he doesn’t trash the economy, the health system, the fight against climate change, the freedom to oppose, the rights of women to live their lives as they want, the safety of the downtrodden and endangered, especially in war-torn countries.

Many will worry about the path he is likely to follow and the people he will take with him. – Yours, etc,

DENNIS FITZGERALD,

Melbourne,

Australia.

Sir, – As a child of the 1950s, I was brought up to always tell the truth, to respect others (notably girls) and to be polite, never forgetting to say “please” and “thank you”.

My consequent life and development as a human being flourished because of this grounding imparted to me by my parents.

The re-election of Donald Trump as American president sends a message to my grandchildren that dishonesty, misogyny and arrogance are central requirements in dealing with people and succeeding in life.

This more than anything else (and there is so much more) upsets and dismays me at Mr Trump’s re-election. – Yours, etc,

MICHAEL GANNON,

Kilkenny.

Sir, – Many on this side of the pond are now assessing the economic and security ramifications of the US election. While discussing such implications in the public sphere is right and healthy, everyone in Government Buildings seems shocked, surprised, and concerned, having entirely failed to plan for this eventuality.

A small, open economy carries its own risks. Yet now, after the largest giveaway budget in the State’s history, it appears that no one in Government has developed any “Plan B” for the Irish economy.

There was always some risk that Mr Trump’s ideas would find their ways into American policy. I find that even with many of my Democrat friends, there is disdain for our tax model, a view that it amounts to chicanery.

And on this side of the Atlantic, some decry our weakness in domestic innovation.

Will we look back on the budget passed this week as a catastrophic misstep in the dying days of Ireland’s current economic model?

A missed opportunity to deliver a robust domestic environment for innovation and a new engine for economic prosperity independent of the political bets of CEOs in Texas or California?

I hope not. But we need a plan. – Yours, etc,

Cllr EOIN HAYES,

Social Democrats,

City Hall,

Dublin 2.

Sir, – I wonder if there is an Irish Times subscription package available that would exclude coverage of US politics for the next four years or so? I have my card details ready if such an option were to exist. – Yours, etc,

GRAEME McLEAN,

Cork.