Tuesday 6 November 2018

Gathering storm or new dawn?

By about midnight tonight, we in the U.K. will know whether or not the U.S.A. - and consequently the rest of the world - will have changed forever.

Predictably, Trump is using immigrants to inspire fear and hatred in an attempt to strengthen his position. There was no need to send all those troops to the borders, but it looked good to his supporters in the run-up to the mid-term elections. People are turning out in unprecedented millions, but nobody can predict which way they will vote. Unpredictability is the hallmark of Trump's office and the key to his success.

There was a very wise Democrat Senator on British radio this morning, advising his fellow Democrats not to make the very same mistake that got Trump elected in the first place - namely by categorising his Republican supporters as ill-educated idiots and alienating them to the extent that they believe Trump to be the only politician who listens to them, hears what they say, then acts on it.

They have to offer something else, but as yet nobody can quite figure out what. Trump has already taken their best bit by claiming credit for the upturn in the economy, when in fact he just jumped on the front of an upward trend which began 10 years ago under a Democrat administration.

If I had to put money on it, I would say that by the end of today, Trump will have many more Republicans in positions of power than he had yesterday and a new era of global politics will begin.

20 comments:

  1. God, I hope not. My prediction is that Democrats will take the House, but probably not the Senate. I'd love to see supermajorites of Dems in both, but I imagine that's a pipe dream.

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  2. You have no idea how dreadful it feels to be living in the US, especially on this day. My stomach is in a knot, my heart pounds whenever I think about all those rat-faced, shit-for-brains, racist dupes voting for their Republican heroes, and my brain screams for anesthetization until the results are in, and when I think about the results I want to throw up. This is horrible. I just want good people to get off their lazy asses and VOTE.

    But even Trump's people are conceding that the Democrats will get the House. I die not hope that we'll pull off a oracle and get the Senate too. Then we can impeach Kavanaugh, hold the seat open for 2 years, and ride Trump and his vile spawn out of office and out of public life on a slew of felony indictments.

    I have never been a morning drinker but this might be the day that I make an exception.

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  3. I really hope they get rid of Trump. He is an idiot.

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  4. Thank goodness I am not a US citizen - not that it doesn't affect us here in the UK (or indeed anywhere in the world) but living there at present would be a nightmare.

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  5. I'm not going to respond to your comments tonight, but I may give myself that luxury tomorrow.

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  6. I think Spanky Trump will get his butt handed to him, but then again I never thought he could win an election. It's been a nightmare to watch the hatefulness vomiting out of that tiny mouth and so many people thinking that he is so right.

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  7. I am a nervous wreck tonight and will not watch the news as the votes are counted. My country and the future of my children rides a lot on this election. I do hope you are wrong. If you are right, it means America has lost its soul.

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  8. At the last report, I hear that the Senate has remained Rep, and the House has gone Dem. There could even be impeachment on the books.

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  9. It's morning now. Not too bad a result. I think even if you are a Republican, it would not be good to allow a man like that to do whatever he wants without some sort of moderation.

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  10. I stopped ingesting political news November 9, 2016. On that day I decided I did not understand my fellow Americans anymore and I would focus on my garden, my health and my loved ones. Yesterday I voted for my moderate Republican governor because we need more moderate Republicans. Now I will go back into hiding for two more years. God, please send honor and wisdom to the US Senate. Mary in Maryland

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    1. In Britain we need that sort of balance too, but we have no real opposition when we need it. Everywhere is divided and the far right exploit it. We need to unite and dilute and defuse.

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  11. With Democrats heading the House Committees on Intelligence, Ways and Means, Oversight, and Judiciary, Democrats now have the power to subpoena Trump and expose his tax records, his business frauds, his financial con jobs, and his dealings with Russia. Oh, Happy Happy Day. In 2020, when the suburban states have a lot of Republican senators up for reelection, this Blue Wave will crest again and we will absolutely take back the Senate. I have hope, for the first time in two years, for the future of my country.

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    1. As you should! The tide is turning already.

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    2. Be careful. Trump is capable of riding on mistakes made by over enthusiastic Democrats. Choose your words carefully and bide your time. Don't rush to destroy him as you obviously want to. It will only increase his support in the next 2 years if the attacks are not successful.

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    3. Oh, I'm quite aware of everything you say, Tom, and I agree. I'm actually glad the Senate didn't flip...Trump supporters would have been mad as hell and would have stopped at nothing to make sure he gets reelected in 2020. I don't want Trump impeached (Mike Pence is no better) I want him voted out. We have to be very, very careful in how we proceed, and most especially in who we choose to be his challenger. We can't afford any more fuck ups.

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  12. I helped my niece get the vote in New York out. I am glad I could do that, It was a productive and positive thing to do, at least for me.

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