Katherine McCulloch: You're correct that Clinton was a flawed candidate. A vote for her would have been a vote for the status quo, or perhaps worse. She supported Bush II's disastrous Iraq war and was seen by many as a military hawk. Real progressives lost their candidate when Sanders was defeated. Of course, during the primaries it became apparent that the Democratic Party establishment clearly backed Clinton. So what were disaffected American voters to do? Well, many, and especially those in the rust belt states, either stayed home or crossed their fingers and toes and voted for Trump, who at least promised to shake things up.