Very well said, Ross, couldn't agree more with your analysis. It's a marathon, not a sprint. And as to your point about the loss of respect and professionalism in Congress, I'd single out the odious and intransigent Freedom Caucus as the major impediment to anything getting done. It's astounding that 40 or so extremists (10% of the total membership) can so gum up the works. Any hint of working across the aisle with Democrats is akin to treason.

Today's On-point podcast concerned a sociologist who spent 4 years studying many blue collar Louisiana residents who eventually found themselves solidly in the Trump camp. After listening to it, my big take away was that a lot of them mourn the loss of the way of life that they grew up with. And yes, that most definitely included male privilege and white privilege. Combine the sting of those losses with the tsunami of globalization and job loss, and what do you get? Fear, anger, and the desperate desire to cling to anyone or anything that offers hope.

http://www.wbur.org/onpoint/2016/10/25/trump-country-tea-party-conservatism

Peter T.