The Punditocracy

The Punditocracy

OVERHEARD

Here’s what some of our alumni political observers have to say about the 2016 presidential election.

“Perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that Republicans fell in line once Trump clinched the nomination. As the country has grown more polarized, voters have been less willing to cross party lines in presidential electiotis.” —Harry Enten ’ll political commentator, FiveThirtyEight

“Sanders’ campaign showed...that ' America will follow a leader with real vision even when not every element ofthat vision seems immediately attainable or even in line with an individual voter’s priorities.” —Seth Abramson ’98 columnist, Huffington Post, and assistant professor, University of New Hampshire

‘Trump has the magic sauce. He just has to sprinkle it on the issues, and then he has to serve it up in a very pleasing, interesting atid sometimes provocative atid entertaining way.” —Laura Ingraham ’85 host, Laura Ingraham Show

“Nothing important can be accomplished...until we J reclaim our democracy from' the moneyed interestsI —Robert Reich ’68 professor of public policy, UC Berkeley, and former labor secretary

“We are left with two candidates Tfor president so awful that their fiercest supporters spend most of their time pointing out that the other one is even worse.” —Grant Bosse *94 editorial page editor, New Hampshire Union Leader

Í[Obama] views a Hillary Clinton victory as an extension of his legacy atid, in some ways, I think it’s going to be his job to mobilize the Obama coalition that isn’t all that thrilled about her. I’m talking about young people, in particular, and minorities.” —Paul Gigot ’77 editorial page editor, The Wall Street Journal

“This will be the most contentious, rmost bitter, most polarizing and most unappealing race for president since James G. Blaine and Grover Cleveland competed in 1884. —David Shribman ’76 executive editor, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

“Bewilderment. Incredulity. And even grief. These are some of the emotions coursing through the well-appointed conference rooms and offices of Washington’s powerful think tanks when it comes to Donald Trump.” —Victoria McGrane ’02 staff writer, The Boston Globe

; ‘Civil’ and ‘normal’ are not the first words that spring to mind to describe this election.” —Joe Rago ’05 editorial board member, The Wall Street Journal

“If Clinton can win white, collegeeducated voters, it’s hard to see how this doesn’t end in a landslide.” —Grace Wyler ’09 politics editor, Vice

“Anyone who 'says there’s no difference' between Hillary Clinton ayid Doyiald Trump is not payiyig atteyitioyi or not telliyig the truth.” —Keith Boykin ’87 professor of politics, Columbia University, and TV commentator

“Comfortiyig yiewsfor Republicayis: IfCliyitoyi had been prosecuted, JoeBideyi would have becoyne presideyit. Now Trump can bang the drum ’til Noveynber.” —David Martosko ’91 U.S. political editor, Daily Mail