Ten Reasons Why Kamala Harris and the Democrats Lost

It sucks that Donald Trump has seemingly won the 2024 Presidential Election, despite so many things working against him.  I, for one, am surprised at the result.  I thought if he were to win, it would have been by the narrowest of margins, but it ended up not being that close.  We will just have to get through those four years as best we can.  January 20, 2029 cannot come quick enough.  But I was wondering why this happened.  Why did Harris lose when it seemed she had momentum and experts picking her to win?  I have my top ten reasons.

10. People got too comfortable
I don't know what demographic in particular, but I think a decent amount of voters felt 2024 would go the same way as 2020 and, therefore, stayed home or didn't mail their ballot.  I really hope the people that fall under this category regret it, and I'm sure they will come 2028.  

9. Some sympathy for Trump
There were 81 million anti-Trump votes in 2020.  There won't be as many in 2024.  I think a few of those people decided they didn't want to vote against him again, feeling perhaps sympathy for him, which could stem from his assassination attempt, his prosecution (which he claims is political), or something else.  Also, in 2020, there was the recent COVID-19 pandemic that was fresh in people's minds and how Trump poorly handled it.  This time, there wasn't anything like that. 

8. Didn't debate Trump enough
At least Kamala didn't.  Only one debate happened between her and Trump.  Yes, she came off better in the one debate they had, but it wasn't enough to sway a large part of the undecided voters.  I really feel like she could have benefited from a second debate against him, closer to the election.  But I believe Trump refused.  Smart of him, I guess.  

7. No catchy campaign slogan
She had "We're Not Going Back" and "A New Way Forward", but they weren't catchy enough.  They don't hook people.  Honestly, they might be a bit too wordy for the American people.  It's hard to compete with the popularity of the "MAGA" slogan.  Obama ran on two words: "Hope" and "Change".  That's all you need.  And he won twice.  Kamala really could've used a simple, catchy campaign slogan that would've possibly appealed to those of lesser intelligence (maybe).  

6. Harris didn't distance herself enough from Biden
I touch on this in the next reason, but I really wanted to emphasize that I don't believe Kamala did enough to distinguish or distance herself from Biden.  Biden didn't have the best approval rating, so while it may not have been easy to do, she should have explained how she would improve upon what Biden had done.  She should've also explained better how her being president gives her powers she didn't have as Vice President and how she'd rally Congress and both parties to work together.  I think too many voters saw that she was part of the Biden regime that they thought caused inflation and high prices, and they didn't want another term of that.  

5. Didn't explain how they'd fix the economy well enough
One criticism I heard of Kamala Harris was that she didn't articulate well enough how she'd reduce the prices of things.  She said she'd go after corporate price gouging, but not how.  Trump's idea of imposing tariffs, while idiotic, at least was articulated and repeated to his voter base.  I think too many people thought of Kamala as a continuation of Biden and that prices would remain high if she were to get elected.  They obviously didn't do their research, but I hope this will be a learning lesson to future Democrats.  You have to spell it out for voters like they're ten years old, because, unfortunately, a lot of American voters have that level of intelligence.

4. The change from Biden to Harris was poorly-timed
What the Democrats should have done was have Biden continue to run for re-election, then, if and when he wins, step down at some point in his second term for health concerns.  He had beaten Trump once, and he could beat him again.  Granted, I think it would've been a lot tougher, but it certainly would've been a better result than what we got.  And I know, back then, we were calling for him to step down, but I think some voters saw the switch to Harris as like a "bait and switch" and didn't approve.  Also, there just wasn't enough time for Harris to build momentum and a substantial voting base.  If Biden had declined to run for reelection, that would've boded better for the Democrats as well.
 
3. More apathy in 2024 than 2020 from Independents/Moderates
I think too many people were apathetic towards the election.  I believe there will be fewer votes in 2024 than 2020, which is saying something, since our country is growing like most other countries.  People were more passionate about their vote in 2020 than they were this year.  This reason may only be third, but it may be the largest reason why Harris lost.

2. Kamala Harris is a woman
I know many people in this country will always refuse to vote for a female president.  Biden selecting her as his running mate may have been a mistake.  It's not that she did a terrible job as VP.  But her being Biden's successor was not the right call.  When Biden stepped down in July, she was the logical replacement as his VP.  But her gender alone could've been enough for a huge handful of voters to not vote for her.  Hillary Clinton lost in 2016, and many point to her being a woman as a reason why she lost.

1. Americans are fucking stupid
We are.  As a whole.  Some of us are smart.  But man, we have a LOT of dumb-dumbs in this country.  Too many of those dumb-dumbs believe Trump's lies and believed he was being prosecuted for political reasons.  And it's not just what they believe, either.  It's the things they seem to forgive, like being a convicted felon, being a sexual abuser, being a morally awful human being.  All because he's on their side of the political spectrum.  I honestly believe if Satan himself ran for the presidency, he'd have a good chance as long as he was a Republican.  

It looks like we've gone from the Democrats and Republicans alternating the presidency every four years rather than every 8 years.  I guess I hope we continue that pattern in 2028, and get back to a Democrat in office.  I believe we will, as I am predicting Trump will either A) Not finish his presidency, or B) Do something during his presidency to lose support.  I feel like A is more likely, as he seems to be able to get away with anything with his supporters.  Let's just hope we can get through the next four years without our country changing too much for the worse.

2020's Highs and Lows

Boy, 2020 has been some year.  Most would consider it one of the worst years in recent memory, and I can't argue with them.  However, this year isn't without some positive things happening, which I will get into.  Some are personal to me, some aren't.  But this has certainly been a year I will remember for a long time.  

Let's get the bad out of the way first: COVID-19.  You knew I was going to mention it.  It has put such a damper on the things we usually enjoy in life.  The family barbecues, going to sporting events, flying to see relatives, a lot of that most of us cannot enjoy at the moment.  These are the things we live for.  The things we work 40 hour work weeks for.  Instead, we are forced to sequester at home and find other joys in life.  

COVID-19 has impacted me both positively and negatively.  I did really want to go to a Mariners game and/or a Seahawks game (at least one) this year.  I wanted to take Amanda to her first Seahawks game since 2011.  I moved this year (closer to my grandparents) and I did want to make an effort to see them more often, but I haven't been able to as they fear catching COVID-19 (and I fear possibly passing it to them).  I don't mind spending a lot of time at home finding ways to keep myself occupied/entertained; I usually do that anyway.  

But as I said, COVID-19 has had a positive impact on me.  Because of the pandemic, I got a new (and better) job.  My old job wasn't the best fit, I wasn't making enough, and I didn't really enjoy it.  They put me "on standby" in March, which is like a suspension, but without the employee doing anything wrong.  I then went on unemployment while I waited for them to possibly take me back.  I also used this time to look at other jobs.  I slowly and ultimately got to a point where I realized I wanted to use this opportunity to change jobs.  I eventually found one in August and I have loved it ever since.  I enjoy it so much more, I feel more useful/needed, and I get paid more.  It beats my previous job in every way.  Even the commute from my current residence is better.  

Like I mentioned, I moved this year.  Amanda and I are now on our own just the two of us.  I really like our new apartment and the complex.  We moved right as COVID restrictions were getting put in place.  Unfortunately thanks to COVID, we are not able to enjoy the luxurious amenities this complex has.  I did use the gym a bit when they opened it for a short time, but it certainly was short-lived as they closed it not long after.

One last good thing that happened--I need to mention it: We will be getting a new president.  Thank the lord.  Donald Trump has never been fit to be president, and boy is he just an awful human being.  He is now refusing to concede the election (pathetic), but regardless, we will be getting a new president in 2021 in Joe Biden.  I don't want to get into politics too much in this post, but I know this is a reason for optimism next year for so many people, myself included.

On a more personal level, I really wanted to lose weight this year.  Like I mentioned earlier, I made an effort to go to our apartment complex's gym when it was open.  I have tried eating healthier, but it's been tough.  Now that the holidays are basically here, I might have to focus on losing weight for 2021.  I have a few ideas in mind that may help.  But I'm no skinnier now than I was at the start of 2020.  I'm going to work hard to change that for 2021.

Honestly, 2020 hasn't been too bad for me personally.  I've lost out on a few things I would want to do (including going to the movies), but I got a newer better job, I still managed to move during the pandemic, and we will be getting a new president.  I don't mind having to wear a mask in any situation.  And no one else should mind, either.

But I am really hoping 2021 is an improvement.  Hopefully we can eradicate this disease and be able to do all the things we live for again.  I don't think our country can take another year of this.  I could, but I'd hate to see what happens if this pandemic doesn't at least start going away next year.  I will continue at my current job for the foreseeable future as I have no complaints about it.  For the first time in a while, I am really looking forward to the following year.  In my opinion, 2021 can't get here fast enough.  To anyone reading this, let's work hard to make 2021 the opposite of 2020.  Wear your mask, socially distance yourself, and be nice to others (even if they're the other political party).  Thank you.