It is not surprising that Trump was selected as the Republican candidate. The Republicans and right wing media have spent the last 20 some years demonizing everything: government, bureaucrats, experts, all of science, and especially Hillary. They spent the last 8 years doing everything they could to cause gridlock. All the moderate Republicans were driven out. Establishment Republicans were hoping this would lead to small government and lower tax rates. The base had other ideas and basically became white nationalists. They chose as their candidate one that talks the way they think. Very unlikely such a person could win a national election over anyone. But if the right hadn't spent the last 20 years demonizing, then Hillary would be seen as what she really is, a competent bureaucrat who's policies are really rather centrist. Except when it comes to foreign policy. She's way too hawkish for me. Same as Obama.
From 20 years of demonization, the Republicans couldn't nominate anyone not like Trump. But if there had not been 20 years of demonization, Hillary would be able to beat pretty much any moderate Republican.
What this election has done is to speed up the demographic changes that were already occurring. You think Hispanics, Asians, Muslims and others are every going to vote Republican again? You think working or educated women who have faced misogyny will support a party that tolerates it in their candidates? The Republican party is all but dead on the west coast. That will be what happens in any state with large number of minorities: AK, AZ, NV, TX, FL
