Clinton 302 - Trump 236

All goods things must come to an end. The 2016 U.S. presidential election may have adverse effects on the concept of democracy for many years to come, one thing, however, is certain: It was great theater. What began as a farce morphed into reality as Donald Trump became the Republican Party's nominee. Hillary Clinton ended a 16-year-long meticulously planned campaign that ends with her becoming president-elect before sunrise on Wednesday. The United States will have its first female president and the global economy may be spared a mini-implosion. While Clinton's victory is a foregone conclusion in my mind, the reaction of Trump and his followers is anyone's guess.Trump is the most popular Republican nominee for the presidency of the United States. In fact, he literally received twice the number of votes during the Republican primaries as President George W. Bush and 40 percent more votes than 2012 nominee Mitt Romney. Not only did more people vote for Trump, but his victory came as the Republican Party enjoyed the largest surge of newly registered voters in modern American history. Trump galvanized the Republican Party and its electorate. These are all indisputable facts. What is disputed is what these millions of voters will do following a Trump loss and what if any steps will be taken to address their concerns.

Trump has proven that he is a magnetic entertainer. His success on reality television is what propelled his success in the political arena and will continue to propel him as he turns to a project combining both entertainment and politics, a cable news network. Trump is rumored to be recruiting TV personalities to join him at his network. "Trump News" or whatever it will be called will be a slightly more populist version of what Fox News currently is and will unite Trump supporters long disenfranchised by the political process.

Following FBI director James Comey's Sunday repeated disclosure that Clinton will not be prosecuted for violations relating to her use of a private email server during her tenure as secretary of State, Republicans immediately called foul. Trump has already claimed the election process was rigged before any votes were cast and that a Clinton win was already predestined by those who control said process. Such rhetoric may be good for riling up his base of supporters but will these same supporters resort to violence when Trump's self-fulfilling prophecy is realized?

Ten days ago, former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh tweeted: "On November 8th, I'm voting for Trump. On November 9th, if Trump loses, I'm grabbing my musket. You in?" Short of outright calling for armed resistance to the outcome of the election, Walsh's tweet implies as much. Growing income inequality will only lead to more disenfranchisement and demographic shifts in the United States will guarantee that this minority, nearly 45 percent of the population, will never again win the White House. Democrats cannot continue to ignore this problem, lest people like Congressman Walsh attract a following.

Now for the election itself and predictions on its outcome. As of Monday morning, the ESPN owned polling website, Five Thirty Eight, predicts a Clinton victory of 289.5 electoral votes to 247.7 electoral votes for Donald Trump. I predict that the vote will be more in Clinton's favor with an electoral vote total of 302 votes for Clinton versus 236 votes for Donald Trump. While Nate Silver and 538 predict Trump will win Florida, recent polls and Sunday's Comey disclosure make it more likely that Clinton will win the Sunshine State. I also predict the Democrats will take control over the U.S. Senate and Russ Feingold of Wisconsin will upset incumbent Ron Johnson to retake his senate seat. The U.S. House will continue to be dominated by Republican lawmakers reflecting a divided nation.

The U.S. economy has historically performed very well with a divided congress as gridlock is seen as good for the U.S. economy and thus the world economy. If Bill Clinton's presidency is any reflection on what Hillary Clinton's will be, Wall Street will rejoice. Bill Clinton was as fiscally conservative as any other U.S. president in modern history and therefore another Clinton presidency will most probably be more of the same. What does this mean for you? Falling oil prices, a stronger U.S. dollar and more free trade - place your bets accordingly!