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In reply to the discussion: Democrats say they now know exactly why Clinton lost [View all]BlueMTexpat
(15,371 posts)also factor in things like voter suppression, 30+ years of relentless smears, hate bots (all one had to do was to type "Hillary Clinton's name into Google for some of the most nasty, vile smears and lies ever), a media that collaborated with her enemies, an FBI director who collaborated with her enemies, the Russians, and a LOT of hanky-panky in red areas? It's not just data - it's also the daily smears and relentless erosion.
According to most sources, Hillary received roughly as many votes in 2016 as Prez O did in 2012, just not in some of the same states. Here's one example: http://www.latimes.com/politics/la-na-pol-election-final-20161209-story.html
In addition to the above, I frankly blame at least some of this loss on those who are proud to call themselves "progressive" rather than "liberal," because they consider themselves so much purer than "liberals." Right now, I am very wary of anyone who tells me that they are "progressive" rather than "liberal" because what I have seen from too many such people is the kind of rigid authoritarianism that is characteristic of the right.
I will be a "liberal" to my dying day - and VERY proud to be. Most of my stands are exactly what self-styled "progressives" say they believe. But that particular descriptor has lost all its attraction for me after 2016.