I'll admit I'm immature (despite this being my first comment in this discussion) if you can explain how the mockery that was invariably a part of Malloy's defeat in fact actually empowered him... despite his loss. That's a very interesting argument to present, and I'd really like to see how that works past just saying that's what the case is. It's hard to equate it to Trump considering this isn't a nationwide thing, it was a Vermont thing, it's not exactly equivalent (some might call it a false equivalence...). But I'll let you explain, since I clearly don't get it.