Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by xenadu02 3358 days ago
If Hillary Clinton didn't have such high unfavorables it wouldn't have been a contest. If Bernie hadn't siphoned off some of her support it wouldn't have been a contest. Russian meddling and Comey's last-minute maneuver definitely cost her the election, but only by swinging the vote less than 1% in a few key states.

I don't think Putin seriously believes he can control US elections and probably recognizes this as a one-off lucky break.

The whole point for him is the PR value: having Trump claim elections are rigged is pure PR gold for Putin. Having Trump claim protesters are paid Democratic shills (rather than real people who don't like him) is Putin cover. He gets to point at those words and say "see, it's the same everywhere". It gives Putin supporters cover to believe his lies and it takes the wind out of the sails of Putin's detractors.

My guess is Putin's original plan was to take advantage of Trump claiming he lost due to election rigging but we'll probably never know.
2 comments
3131s 3358 days ago
> If Hillary Clinton didn't have such high unfavorables it wouldn't have been a contest. If Bernie hadn't siphoned off some of her support it wouldn't have been a contest.

How about if Hillary simply picked Bernie as VP? Is there anyone here that thinks she wouldn't have won on that decision alone? Don't blame Bernie supporters (I am not one, to be clear), why should they walk a mile to Clinton's positions when Clinton herself won't even make the most modest concessions to their side?

link
Consultant32452 3358 days ago
Hillary was pro-war, only half-ass wanted a minimum wage hike, pro free trade agreements, pro fracking, and said Single Payer was never happening. I honestly don't understand why any liberal would have voted for her.
link
3131s 3358 days ago
Right, I would have never voted for her, and not saying that she would have been any better with Sanders, but I think it's very likely she would have won.
link
Consultant32452 3358 days ago
>having Trump claim elections are rigged is pure PR gold for Putin

The majority of Dems I know saw the election as rigged too. The Dem primary was absolutely disgusting, and then of course CNN got caught giving debate questions to Hillary.

link