A valuable lesson was taught early on Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, 2024, when it was declared that Donald J. Trump had been elected to be the United States of America’s 47th president.

Only time will tell if those who were taught this lesson will learn anything from it.

Trump winning the election for a second time exposed a flaw in the political system, the polling profession and the media and it was on display for all to see.

They all got it wrong. Not just in that they were off in calling the vote, as it clearly was going to turn out, but in how they labelled this man, his family and his supporters in the vilest of terms — Nazis, misogynists, traitors, white supremacists, racists, Russian assets.

Those were all nasty, mean and unfounded smears. Those who used those tactics were among the same people on the media panels overnight who seemed to be as unwilling to call this a decisive victory for Trump as his opponent, Kamala Harris, was reluctant to show the class of a loser and concede the election to allow the winner the full spotlight.

It was bush league.

It was not surprising, in a way, because it was how they have all operated in the eight years since Trump first went down the escalator at his famous tower on 5th Avenue in New York City and later became the 45th president. They haven’t been fair. They have, in fact, been incredibly unfair — pushing fictional, scurrilous allegations that led to assassination attempts.

They allowed the Washington political swamp to cover for the Biden administration and family and didn’t push back on the constant attempts to cancel Trump. All of the media — and the swamp — need to look in the mirror today. The public they work for has lost confidence in them.

That said, it’s time to lower the temperature and admit their loss and poor performances. Trump is owed an apology. Trump is owed a chance to fulfill his mandate and agenda. The public that gave him that are owed their choice being respected.

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