Donald Trump victory brought sense of relief, ‘a pleasant surprise’

At the beginning of the campaign season, I was encouraged by the large number of well-qualified Republican candidates to be president. But as the campaign moved along, the large field made it difficult for any of them to stand out and the campaign quickly turned ugly.

Donald Trump was not my choice in the primary. There were several candidates I felt more qualified to be president and who better represented my conservative Republican views.

The tone of the general election was even uglier, and each of the candidates was shown to have many flaws. I wasn’t alone in wondering how this great nation ended up facing the choice we did.

Almost anyone who was running against Hillary Clinton would have received my vote. She would surely continue the destructive leftward movement of the past eight years: bigger and more intrusive government, a single-payer “solution” to the problems of the Affordable Care Act; more regulation and taxation; growth of already excessive debt; and further emphasis on dividing us into superficial groups (my biggest disappointment with President Barack Obama). And I was concerned with matters of corruption and integrity, both in the current administration and in a Democrat follow-on.

I voted for Trump based on my belief that despite his personality shortcomings (my mother would have kindly said he is a little rough around the edges), his lack of knowledge about some fundamental things (like the nuclear triad) and his lack of governing experience, he would halt the nation’s leftward drift. In addition, I strongly support his stated intention to focus on jobs for the middle class, especially in underperforming communities, by reducing job-killing regulations; by making our trade agreements more balanced; by reducing corporate taxes to entice businesses now headquartered overseas to return (with their money); and by simplifying tax laws and eliminating loopholes. I also expect him to support equal opportunity by advocating for charter schools and voucher programs that provide alternatives to traditional public schools. Finally, I expect Trump will restore balance on the Supreme Court by replacing Justice Antonin Scalia with another conservative.

After Trump surprised me by winning, my immediate reactions were relief that we would not have to endure a divisive Florida 2000 challenge and relief that for at least a few years we would be spared a further move toward a hard left and corrupt government. As his victory sunk in, my relief turned into cautious optimism. Certainly Trump is no ideologue — it was clear to me that he formulated many of his positions as the campaign went along. While that is not what I normally expect from a candidate, it may turn out that our divided nation needs someone more flexible and pragmatic than ideological to wrestle with the difficult and contentious issues that face us. I have been encouraged by the sober and conciliatory tone of his conversation in recent weeks, especially after the election, and by his inclusion of Vice President-elect Mike Pence and House Speaker Paul Ryan, two sober and moderate men, on his team.

To be fair, I have concerns about Trump: His unfamiliarity with government and some issues will make startup messy; he tends to the autocratic — a characteristic for which I have faulted President Obama; and he has not spoken much about getting entitlements/deficits/debt under control. I am counting on a wise choice of seasoned advisers to help overcome these weaknesses.

I have no illusions that the deep philosophical differences between the two parties will disappear overnight — or anytime soon. Trump will certainly honor his campaign promises to restore the balance on the Supreme Court and support the traditional Republican side on matters related to abortion and gun control.

Democrats will surely oppose him. But common ground may be possible in matters related to the economy, restoring middle class jobs in particular; in foreign affairs; and, although it is more of a stretch, in providing alternatives for those not well served by traditional public schools.

Had Clinton won, I would have been as devastated as many of her supporters are now. But, as President Obama said, “Elections have consequences.” While this is a challenging time for anyone to govern, given some good will (I don’t believe that the attempted anarchy we see in many cities is supported by most Democrats) and a little time, Trump just might provide a pleasant surprise — to many of us.

Buckley, a La Mesa resident, is a retired U.S. Navy officer and Helix High math teacher.

We asked two San Diego County voters for their views on this month’s election and what’s next.

See also: Hillary Clinton defeat a ‘personal’ loss, fresh start for ‘assertive’ woman