US mid=tern elections seem to vindicate Trump

An anti-trump wave did not eventuate.

The Republican Party’s increased majority in the US Senate is a vindication of Donald Trump, while the Democratic majority in the lower house equals the long-term average swing against the White House in mid-term elections.

A tsunami of Democrat victories, projected by the political media class, did not materialise and the self-certainty of the intelligentsia still separates them from the reality and the sentiment and aspiration of Americans. A clever endorsement of candidates that reflect the demographics and polling of individual seats has further entrenched identity politics but there is little evidence Trump’s support base is waning.

Greg Jones, Kogarah, NSW

Only a third of the US Senate faced re-election this year, and Donald Trump was lucky that most of the contested seats this cycle were Democrat-held in conservative states where he won easily in 2016. It’s no surprise that Republicans gained three Senate seats because Trump has consolidated his support among his base with his hardline policies. He made no attempt to attract swinging voters, resulting in sweeping victories for the Democrats in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, the three states that handed him the presidency.

Democrat numbers were reduced in the Senate even though they have 10 million more votes than the opponents, a sad reminder that when the founding fathers designed the system, no one anticipated California’s population would grow to 40 million and that Wyoming would remain static at 600,000, while both states send two senators to Washington, DC.

Han Yang, North Turramurra, NSW

Your front page story (8/11) tells us “the Democrats are expected to launch a range of investigations into the personal and business life of the President”. They are hopeless and embittered losers. They have given up all hope of beating this President politically and, out of sheer spite, simply want to frustrate and injure him.

Phil Tucker, Rosemount, Qld

The anti-Trump phenomenon continues unabated by the majority of the media. The only time in recent memory that a sitting president has not lost lower house seats in the mid-terms was 1934. The average loss of seats by a sitting president is about 30 — much the same as these elections.

Except of course the Republicans have clearly retained control of the Senate. Not a bad result for a President endlessly attacked by a media that predicted a wave against him.

Stephen Jones, Dawesville, WA

Cartoonist Jon Kudelka exposed the depths of delusion required to suggest that this was a very good result for Donald Trump and for Republicans, while affirming that the true Trump derangement syndrome is exhibited by media boosters who ignore the lies to exploit the gullibility of conservatives best described by John Stuart Mill.

The laughable suggestion that losing control of the House of Representatives is a good result can only be sarcastic irony.

Chris Roylance, Paddington, Qld

There is a possibility that the President is correct in criticising the behaviour and manner of some reporters. This is not to say that the manner in which the President expresses his ire is the most civil or polite. At times, he could do with a course on how to win friends and influence people. There is always room for comment and opinion but not in a press conference.

Some reporters are trying to score points rather than asking for information or clarification. Moreover, it is not even pleasant viewing. It also ignores the fact that given the news and information, readers are quite capable of coming to their own views without any biased interviewing.

James A. Athanasou, Maroubra, NSW

Were I a Trump fan, or Trump hater, I wouldn’t know whether to smile or cry. Experts have different opinions on the mid-term results, though Donald Trump seems to be bragging, and Nancy Pelosi looks even more antagonistic than usual.

Rosemary O’Brien, Georges Hall, NSW

The US mid-term elections have delivered something for everyone. Control of the lower house allows the Democrats to snipe at the President more effectively, while an enhanced Senate majority affords Trump a real shot at ending Supreme Court activism for a generation.

Terry Birchley, Bundaberg, Qld