The United States Presidential Election of 2016 was a historic controversial election spawning heated ideological and social strife across America over the qualification of seizing the oval office. The 2016 election towards the end, came down to the Washingtonian Establishment versus the American Anti-Establishment movement. 2016 also shined light on the Republican and Democratic parties, separating members of both into establishment and anti-establishment (outsider) camps.
Businessman and corporate executive, Donald Trump (eventually elected 45th President of the United States of America) was deemed anti-establishment, an outsider, an American nationalist that declared presidential candidacy for alarming concern over the America’s health as a nation, national security, and sovereignty. Trump was not the only outsider in the presidential playing field, Texas Senator Ted Cruz also announced his nomination for the presidency, considered that Cruz was grassroots conservative and constitutionalist, Cruz was also deemed an outsider, gaining support from many members of the anti-establishment movement that had not endorsed Trump at the time. The Republicans were not the only anti-establishment figures on the spectrum. Bernie Sanders of Vermont increased overwhelmingly as an outsider, describing himself as an “democratic” socialist, against the Washington and “economic” establishments, Sanders main support was from college students (Universities at the time were heavily left-wing biased, few shared other points of ideological viewpoint). The Anti-Establishment movement, disregarding its right-wing, left-wing division, had one mindset in common, infiltrate Washington and disrupt the Washingtonian’s regime.
The other camp, known as the Establishment, was compromised of former well known political office initiates. The Republicans had former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, the brother of former president George W. Bush (in office 2001-2009), and son of former president George H.W. Bush (in office 1989-1993). The Democratic Party had former Secretary of State, and First Lady to (controversial) President William “Bill” Clinton (in office 1993-2001), Hillary Clinton (identifying as a “progressive”, a popular term during the Digital Age time period for the Democrats or other leftist (and or “moderate”) politicians). The Establishment was what it implied, keeping the congressional establishment in political control of the Washingtonian Era United States of America.
The campaigns ran by the individuals aiming for the office of President of the United States would be rather in best descriptive terminology, controversial, and fulled by economic strife, “identity politics”, the use of racial cards in the political field. Clinton (sorting down to the more major candidates) used “identity politics” for political advantage over the supposed “ethnic groups”. Sanders, although anti-establishment, used similar tactics although called for socialistic economic attributions (Sanders was an Independent Senator that ran his presidential bid on the Democratic platform). Trump, the Republican candidate, ran a more right-wing populist/conservative platform, appealing to industrial workers, veterans, businessmen, and the anti-political correctness crowd. Cruz (being the last Republican to oppose Trump), was a grassroots conservative having support from evangelicals (later switched to full swing from Trump), constitutionalists, and other traditionalists.
Sanders faced off against Clinton several times over policy, in supposed “debates”, Sanders although supported by the “new young left”, withdrew and endorsed Clinton, angering many of his supporters. Cruz, although a staunch conservative, was forced into a feud with “moderate” Republican, John Kasich (Governor of Ohio), and withdrew, leaving Trump and Clinton. The campaigns sought and gained nominations, Trump accused Clinton with corrupt politics and morality, Clinton sired supposed “true” stories from Trump’s past, attempting to paint him as “unqualified” candidate (see President Bill Clinton and political controversy, pg. 180-195, chapter III). Trump emerged victorious after winning the key battleground states of Ohio, Florida, and Pennsylvania, getting over 270 electoral votes. Leftists, for years, refused acceptance of Trump’s Presidency and the Rightist triumph.
The Independent Americans 