When folks talk about the reasons they were voting, the economy was high on most lists.
For example, 81% of registered voters said the economy would be 'very important' to their vote, according to a
Pew Research poll from September.
According to another September poll, this time from
Gallup, the economy was the only issue where a majority said a candidate's positions were an 'extremely important' influencer on how they were going to vote.
A post-election survey from
AARP found that more than half of aged 50+ voters 'prioritized economic issues.'
Many other pre- and post-election surveys, and a few boatloads of TV hosts and other pundits (perhaps I should refer to them as potential cabinet members?) have said the same thing, using many more words to explain it than James Carville gave us back in 1992.
There's one part of the economy that may have defied expectations: the 'support your favorite billionaire' part. You know, the political Name, Image, and Likeness, or NIL, sector. And nobody does NIL better than Donald Trump, the Once and Future President (OAFP).
If you ask me, the person who shouted the loudest about our horrible economy and how it contributes to our becoming a failing nation is doing pretty darn well with his followers. On
his Bibles alone, he made $300,000, for heaven's sake.
Don't believe me? Take a look at all these things you can get with his political brand - and remember that this is separate from all the stuff emblazoned with the Trump name sold by the Trump Organization. And that merch is separate, of course, from all of the buildings, golf courses (with and without burial plots near the first tee), the winery, and so on.
Hats
Ties
Pins
Pens
Flags
Elves
Coins
Shirts
Access
Bibles
Knives
Decals
Scarves
Wallets
Watches
Magnets
Stickers
Jewelry
Pardons
Banners
Sneakers
Troll dolls
Tote bags
Yard signs
Keychains
Backpacks
Sunglasses
Ornaments
Corkscrews
Dish towels
Shot glasses
Medallions
Wristbands
Golf towels
Cigar boxes
Money clips
Tee holders
Beer glasses
Cigar cutters
Beach towels
Garbage bags
Playing cards
Rubber ducks
Laptop covers
Ear maxi pads
Trading cards
Bottle openers
Books for kids
Cutting boards
Pieces of a suit
Greeting cards
Stuffed animals
Digital 'artwork'
Framed pictures
Bumper stickers
Books for adults
Beer can koozies
Funny eyeglasses
Cabinet positions
Cartoon drawings
Zippered pouches
Government secrets
License plate covers
Orange-haired visors
Talking Trumpinators
White privilege cards
Masks (oh, the irony!)
Mugs (beer and coffee)
Commemorative cigars
Oddly-crafted figurines
Pet attire and accessories
Framed newspaper articles
French fry counter trinkets
Bronze busts (made of resin)
Signed mug shot photo pictures
Decanters (with/without glasses)
Bobbleheads (too many to count)
Two-dollar bills (several versions)
Bronze bust (on sale - save a penny!)
Wine glasses (stemmed and stemless)
Personalized artwork (your name here!)
Personalized merchandise (your religion here!)
Glasses (golf ball- and bullet-impaled versions)
Imagine how much money people are spending on this stuff, in this 'horrible' economy, and imagine how much money he's making off them.
If you're interested, here's a fun bit I found on Quora where someone valiantly tries to figure out if there's a way to figure out how much money the OAFP makes on all of this nonsense.
