The US Election.

Just saw a report predicting more women will vote for Harris due to Trump’s attitude to abortion and women in general. Usually it is estimated 10 million more women than men vote in the US. But of course many women support Trump, especially I would think from the Bible Belt where women are traditionally anti abortion and have far more outdated opinions on the role of women.
Certainly if Trump gets in there will mass protests by women like last time but let’s just hope that all those women who are prepared to protest on the streets now protest by voting for Harris.

Yes, I've got a sub to the Washington Post and also look at CNN, it's really interesting to see how different the reporting is. TRIP US is done by Katty Kay ( British but has been in Washington a very long time and Anthony Scarramucci , who briefly worked with Trump and has been involved with the GOP for most of his working life). Totally agree, neither candidate fills me with hope but one fills me with fear.

I read only the American press, and comments. Interesting to see one journalist in the States saying " these are the two most mediocre candidates to come on the scene for many years".
As I have relatives over there, Democrat voters, it will be interesting to see which of these mediocres get to be , apart from China and Russia, leader of one of the most powerful countries in the world.

foxie48

I find TRIP US and Americast really interesting and informative a much better source of information than most of the media either here or in the States.

They’re going to be in America on election night aren’t they. I don’t know where they get their energy from, especially Rory who seems to spend most of his life in airports.

I really hope Harris wins for the sake of the women of the USA and the thought of what might happen if Trump loses is worrying.

I find TRIP US and Americast really interesting and informative a much better source of information than most of the media either here or in the States.

Interesting comment in TRIP’s in that it’s a different scenario this time if Trump loses because he isn’t actually in the White House. Kind of obvious but I hadn’t thought of it that way. I listened to a Things Fell Apart podcast last night about the paranoia that swept through America after George Floyd’s death which was partly fuelled by Trump ( and his sons) comments. It gave quite an insight into some parts of America.

What an awful situation for American Grans. Be assured of our good wishes. Can only hope for satisfactory outcome and grown up behaviour all round.

Nmama, you said it exactly how it is. If anyone put a candidate support sticker on their vehicle, their windows would be smashed. I am near Canada so everyone has their passports ready. I believe Harris will win but there will be some crazy Trumpers and military in the streets. I like your idea of stocking up on some food just in case. Also, besides angry Americans if Trump doesn't win, we will also have some particular angry leaders from Iran, Russia and N. Korea so might as well add some duct tape and plastic tarp to your grocery arce al. 🤞

foxie48

Scary isn't it? Trump, Vance and Musk! What an unpleasant trio. I see Musk didn't turn up for the court hearing in Pennsylvania, another who thinks he is above the law.

Kennedy is scary, too!

@Nmama, NZ is a lovely calm place, lots of beautiful countryside and not so many people.
Would look at booking flights.

I'm sorry to go on so long. Slightly anxious 71 year old American woman here, not looking forward to my birthday, which is also election day here. I desperately need a new sofa, and if Harris wins I may order it. If she doesn't I'm going to give some thought to a prolonged stay in New Zealand, if that's legal for me . . . I love Britain and I'd think of a stay there if I could afford it, but my child is in NZ.

Who knows if Elon is drunk or on drugs? He certainly seems to have an "elevated mood". It's not his statements that are illegal--it's the fact that he's trying to encourage people to vote by given them big whacks of cash.

Trump, ever daffy, recently called him Leon. Yeah, Elon, that's your buddy, Donald . . .

Donald Trump has announced he is going to protect me and all the rest of American women, whether we want him to or not. I keep thinking of Orwell, 1984, and Animal Farm.

My husband just left to get Halloween candy. I've also asked him to get a lot of chicken to put in the freezer and various items we can eat if Trump isn't elected next week and things get a little tense here in semirural California, so that we don't have to leave home. It's not as though Harris supporters are going to strut down the street in a threatening way if she loses.

The Guardian today mentioned several indications that Trump admirers might cause problems. There have been rumors that his admirers will check people's political party and if they voted (though not how they voted) and may cause Democrats problems. This wasn't mentioned in the Guardian, but I have read that one thing they may try is cutting off the electricity. Hooray for our gas stove that one can cook on and that keeps the house warm. If they somehow manage to cut off the gas we'll start head over to my brother-in-law's--he has a wood burning fireplace. He also has guns. I don't believe it will come to that.

It all feels a little too much like a potential zombie apocalypse on Little House on the Prairie. What a world to live in! I have grown nephews who are Trump fans (and yes, I still love them) and they tell me they no longer wear their red hats in public. Meanwhile here in my liberal household we have plumbers in and aren't talking about the election while they're here; they're great and I feel comfortable with them, but we just don't talk about Trump, Harris, or the election in restaurants or the grocery store, etc. So that's BOTH sides who feel they can't reveal their political beliefs! When I was a kid 60 years ago we used to hear tales about people in Communist countries who couldn't reveal their opposition to Communist governments. The idea was that such a thing could never happen here. Well, now you can't wear a Trump hat or put up a Harris sign in your front garden for fear of repercussions. God help my country.

@Dickens, indeed.
I really don't want this 'special relationship' if it means aligning ourselves with the likes of Trump and his creepily awful cronies. They are like the villains out of a Stephen King novel, except I bet even he couldn't write it.

Babs03

And Elon Musk is the strangest man I have ever seen who says the kind of stuff he says without being drunk or on drugs.

Possibly 'drunk' on his own ego - a legend in his own head. I once saw a photo' of him dressed as 'The Devil's Champion' at some Halloween bash - all black and red leather, posing like Superman.

The fawning of so many over the world's richest man is nauseating. But you know, all Empires come to an end, as do the Emperors.

The thing is with wealth - it doesn't just allow you to buy what you want, it gives so much power. And, he's flexing his power muscles. He has the power such that he can say to Swift that he would give her a child. IMO - knowing as he must, how she dislikes him, it is tantamount to suggesting that he would rape her - that is how he's using his power over her, to intimidate her.

... and now, Trump is threatening another woman - Michelle Obama - because she was nasty to him. She has - apparently - "opened up a box".

"Shouldn't be that way. That was a big mistake she made. With your support on November 5 we will achieve success that no one can imagine."

... he said at a rally in Atlanta. Ominous.

Trump, Musk, Vance - an unholy trinity. What is so alarming to me is the number of women - and Trump has his admirers on here, too - who will cheer and whoop if he wins, which I think he will.

I don't often now think about Brexit - leaving the European Union, but never before have I felt more closely aligned with European culture than I do at this time. We are supposed to be deeply tied with our close friend and ally, the United States. This historic friendship has never felt so alien and unwanted. For me.

And Elon Musk is the strangest man I have ever seen who says the kind of stuff he says without being drunk or on drugs.

I wouldn't trust someone like Trump with watering my plants let alone running a country.

That would be excellent, Casdon.

Bannon used to be the leading light in his "War Room" podcasts. (as in his war cry, "Victory or Death". According to CNN, pundits say he's not likely to have a major influence on the election but if it's a close ballot would go for his warlike cries.
On the other hand, if he starts going OTT hopefully he'd put off a few more Republicans who have found Trump depart too far from traditional Republican values...

He also used to be Trumps bessie mate, and wonder just how well he'll get on with Musk who has stepped into the role....

We definitely need more politicians who don’t demean women. I hope Taylor Swift administers a Swift verbal knee in the groin to Elon Musk, the creep.

But Zelensky was previously a comedian so perhaps we need more of them.

I'd forgotten Bannon (is that possible?)

foxie48

Scary isn't it? Trump, Vance and Musk! What an unpleasant trio. I see Musk didn't turn up for the court hearing in Pennsylvania, another who thinks he is above the law.

You can throw Bannon into the mix, too…

I really don't know what politics has come to in most parts of the world, there just don't seem to be leaders of substance. The only leader I can name is Zelensky, he has led from the front during a terrible time for his country and never appeared weak or uncertain. I dread to think what the US or UK leader or other leaders would be like under that kind of pressure. They are all so lightweight or crazy, probably both. Appealing to the voters fears and prejudices, saying what they want to hear rather than what they need to hear.
IMHO we need people not personalities who would be more at home on reality TV.

Pretty sure Elon Musk's remark surely would be illegal here?

Scary isn't it? Trump, Vance and Musk! What an unpleasant trio. I see Musk didn't turn up for the court hearing in Pennsylvania, another who thinks he is above the law.

Casdon

Meanwhile, Trump’s colours are being nailed to the mast.

On CNN:
“Trump says he is “going to protect women whether they ‘like it or not’” - there’s a clip of him saying it, the patronising …

How any woman could vote for him I don’t understand.

“Trump says he is “going to protect women whether they ‘like it or not’”

In any other situation, that would be called oppression.

What, exactly, is the idiot going to protect them from?

There's Elon Musk responding to Taylor Swift, telling her he will "give her a child"...

What is wrong with these uncivilised, uncouth men - it may only be cyber words, or verbal observations, but their comments are tinged with menace... they are oppressive.

Gilead comes ever closer.