I, Iike Mark Cuban (wish I was more like him!), was optimistic about Donald Trump running for President. When people asked Mark Cuban "what happened?" He and I have the same response - "He opened his mouth." "Make America Great Again" should have been about expanding job opportunities through education and training, improving our infrastructure, celebrating our diversity, and expanding trade. In my opinion he could have easily won the election had he stuck to the facts. Instead Trump made it about blaming minorities - Muslims, Jews, and Hispanics. He insulted everyone including all of his Republican challengers (bullying Jeb Bush mercilessly), Carly Fiorina, Marco Rubio, overweight people, disabled people, prisoners of war, Muslims and on and on. Trump appealed to the worst instincts in people when he easily could have made a case that we need a change and he could deliver that change.
He didn't need to insult one person or blame anyone to do that. By being so toxic and nasty not to mention all of his lying (Obama not born here, he didn't gripe any of the women, he never supported the war in Iraq), he disqualified himself. It's as if you wanted to hire an attorney and one candidate never went to law school and was a convicted felon and the other one was an attorney with all the credentials but maybe not the best record. Who would you hire? For me it was as if Hillary ran unopposed.
Trump has no business being President of the United States when he disrespected so many people and participated in pitting us against each other based on race, religion or ethic background. Trump has no one to blame but himself for what will be a solid defeat tonight. He has said many times if he loses he will consider all of this a waste of time. I wish that's all it was. Unfortunately he brought out the worst in so many people, hurt a lot of people, made many people feel like they are second class citizens and didn't use his full ability and potential to contribute to our society. He wasted our time and made out country look bad. He also made his family and his brand look bad (his name will be removed from many properties and new projects will not bear his name). He brought all of this about showing the World that's he was mean spirited, bigoted, and didn't know how to be a leader.
Trump will pay the price tonight. Hopefully he will exit quietly and with some class. The "good Donald" (and I believe he has good attributes) knows the right thing to do when he hears its all over which I predict will be swift and early on in the evening.
I hope that everyone will rally around President Clinton and we - all Americans - can work on "really" helping the disenfranchised and downtrodden by creating educational opportunities, job training, job creation and making sure everyone has shelter, food, and medical care (how about that for a goal!). We have to respect each other help our fellow citizens not just worry about ourselves. There is so much wealth in our country. If everyone who is doing well can open up their heart and wallet just a little, we could really help . . . a lot of the Trump supporters and people who need help. If you made it this far - thank you for taking the time to consider my thoughts!
David S. Waller is the Founder and CEO of Storeboard.com - a social media site changing how we search on the Internet for people, places and things. Storeboard.com has its headquarters in Rutland, Vermont.
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