I absolutely do not deny the systemic racism and misogyny of America (I write about it often enough). But in writing this piece, it was not to rationalize Trump voters or justify them (they are not justified by my personal view of the science of economics, but that is whole 'nother discussion).

My point writing this was just to note that the Trump victory turned out to have been easily predictable by one cold hard impersonal number. (And I just wish I had know that in advance to save myself the heartbreak.) At least I know it for the 2028 race, whomever the candidates are.

As far as the singular reason that Harris didn't win being that she was a Black woman... well, here is part of why I did not land squarely on that conclusion. There is a puzzle here: Trump got basically the same number of votes that he got in 2020. Voter turnout indicates that a bunch of people sat this race out and didn't vote.... and since Trump got the same as he got before, that would mean a large chunk of the sit-this-one-out people had voted for Biden in 2020....

... they showed up in 2020 to vote for Biden... and a Black woman.

So, it seems odd to conclude they were racist and misogynist.

They were okay with showing up to vote for a Black woman VP but could not be bothered to show up for a Black woman prez? I suppose that is possible... especially considering my view that many people are irrational and can thus be counted on to be inconsistent... but racists and misogynists are usually consistent about that.

It is a puzzle, and I don't know the answer to it. But I just don't see the racism and sexism the clear-cut decisive factor. *shrug* Just my perspective though.

I certainly do not dismiss out of hand though those who argue for it being a factor. Obviously there was some element of it. Many Latino men, for example, just flat-out said so: They said they would never vote for a woman.

Anyway, I do get your arguments.