Dejected Hillary Clinton voter Nick Rutledge was yesterday finding solace in the checks and balances that will limit Donald Trump’s power when he takes office.
Mr Rutledge, an accountant, said the most significant impact of the "shocking result" would probably be the ability to control Supreme Court appointments.
There is a Supreme Court vacancy because of Justice Antonin Scalia’s death earlier this year, and it was possible a second vacancy would crop up in the next four years.
The appointments could tilt the court towards issuing "very conservative" judgements. Mr Rutledge believed big funding cuts would be made to women’s health and early education.
Mr Trump’s spending promises concerning infrastructure would be difficult to fulfil. Much of what Mr Trump had said he would do, particularly on trade barriers, would be opposed from within his own party, Mr Rutledge said.
Republicans will control the Senate and the Congress and many strongly favour free trade. In foreign policy, the president’s directives and whims would be moderated by the non-partisan foreign service staffed by professionals.
"I think it will be an uncomfortable administration for a lot of people, but I don’t think the doomsday scenarios will play out."
Mr Rutledge said Trump supporters would probably be disillusioned if their hopes for change were not realised. The Republican Party could be punished for that in the mid-term 2018 elections, he said.
"It comes down to rural economics and the fact that neither the Democratic, nor the Republican, party was really representing the several million people who lost their jobs in the last 16 years.
"People are angry that neither party has represented them, so they picked a wildcard candidate."
