please empty your brain below
Worried about the 'shy conservatives' who didn't show up in the polls but did show up at the ballot box (here, at least) at the last General Election and in the referendum.

Gordon | 08.11.16 - 7:05 a.m. | #

The scary thing is how many millions of people seem happy to hand this man the keys to the nuclear missiles.

Dan | 08.11.16 - 7:14 a.m. | #

Are we (or anyone) really viewing from a safe distance. I hope the polls are correct this time. Why a country with over 300 million people cannot find two better potential leader candidates amazes me.

Brexit only makes just over half the people who voted feel better. It will not be just a slow economic decline for the UK now but could also be self destruct if Scotland breaks away.

John | 08.11.16 - 7:18 a.m. | #

Shows how awful Hilary is, she is struggling to stay ahead of someone like Trump, if she didn't have a husband who used Monica Lewinsky as a 'cigar holder' then Trumps attitude to women would have had more impact, as it is Trump can just say 'Look at Bill'.

Even if Hilary wins, it'll be a gridlocked government as the Republicans will probably still have the majority in the other chambers, so the drift will continue.

Still anon | 08.11.16 - 7:18 a.m. | #

It's astonishing how a country with an estimated population of 324,720,797 (Wiki) can have a political system where they are given a choice between a potential maniac, and a marginally less-worse option.

Shame the media don't concentrate more on the US Congressional elections as this is the seat of the real power.

Frank F | 08.11.16 - 7:36 a.m. | #

"appealing to the baser prejudices of a downtrodden demographic, given legitimacy by success at the ballot box, then seeking to overrule democracy with a series of dictatorial pronouncements"

Also, whipping up hostility to foreigners, attempting to overrule legislation by fiat, and tacitly condoning the labelling of the independent judiciary as "enemies of the people". Wait...

Andrew | 08.11.16 - 7:39 a.m. | #

"In this environment women are second class citizens, best used for decoration, and always susceptible to a casual hand. A brash misogyny underscores the dialogue, where women expect to have no say, and the Bechdel Test is never passed. In this brave new world it's men who dominate the wider debate, and great strides towards equality can be reversed overnight."

Well said! I like Hilary, and think that she will make a perfectly competent President. How is she any more corrupt than many male Prime Ministers and Presidents? But she gets far more vitriol.

GO HILARY!!!!

Antipodean | 08.11.16 - 9:22 a.m. | #

Blown away by your writing this morning dg. I love the clever parodies and deadpan irony of many of your other excoriating posts, but the sheer passion and open anger here - still in brilliantly constructed prose... Breathtaking.

Anon. because a bit embarassed to be gushing so much, but had to say it.

| 08.11.16 - 9:24 a.m. | #

"Trump can just say 'Look at Bill'."

Yes, because in Trump world, a woman is judged by the actions of a man - just another manifestation of the sexism and misogyny underlying the world view of him and his supporters.

Sarah | Homepage | 08.11.16 - 9:27 a.m. | #

Some months ago, someone wrote an article comparing Brexit with Trump winning, and pointing out that Brexit would be worse because it would be forever. In contrast a Trump presidency would be over in a maximum of eight years.

At the time I could see some sense in it, but I haven't for some time. A Trump presidency has the scope - and is highly likely to - unleash the absolute worst in America. The seeds of fascism are already being sown; the white supremacists will rise. At the end of eight years Trump would be gone, but who would follow.

And even if Hillary wins, there's a serious problem at hand. The genie has been let out of the bottle. People are being pumped up to believe it's all rigged. If Hillary wins (and oh I do so hope she wins) the most important thing on the list will be to calm everything down. She can't do it alone. Will she get the support from the Republicans that she needs? Or will the flames be fuelled even more?

2016 is a bit like living in that supposed Chinese curse: may you live in interesting times.

Andrew Bowden | Homepage | 08.11.16 - 9:40 a.m. | #

Literally.

Roehamster | 08.11.16 - 9:54 a.m. | #

Just as I quoted in a comment on an earlier post: democracy is a slippery concept.

B | 08.11.16 - 10:34 a.m. | #

The world is screwed either way.
No one country should be able to wield that much power over other nations.

Having lived many years in America, I can safely say they don't expend nearly as much energy on their news reporting international affairs as we do. If you'd asked any American in 2010-2015 who the UK Prime Minister was most wouldn't have known. Yet ask any British schoolchild at the same time who the US president was, they would mostly be able to name him!

I suspect Trumpites have probably only heard of Brexit because Trump mentioned it - and the majority of them probably haven't bothered to google what it might be!

And we thought we were provincial and inward looking as a nation!

Cornish Cockney | 08.11.16 - 11:13 a.m. | #

A friend told me a saying she had read on teh interwebs "2016 has been brought to you by David Lynch'. Makes sense.

Antipodean | 08.11.16 - 11:55 a.m. | #

As one who will be heading out to cast my ballot shortly, let's just say I won't be voting to "make America hate again". Not that the unbelievable amount of misery and fear that has been unleashed by this misogynistic nightmare will go away anytime soon (too many congressional do-nothings will feed at that trough), but, at least for the time being, I can still vote.

Mary | 08.11.16 - 12:19 p.m. | #

I always suspect Clinton would have press the red button more likely than Trump. Of course, the First Gentleman would probably advise otherwise.

Patrickov | 08.11.16 - 12:25 p.m. | #

@ Andrew Bowden

Unfortunately the fallout of a Trump presidency could last for far longer than just four or eight years, and I'm not referring to the nuclear winter which might be his worst case legacy.

He would have the power to appoint a Supreme Court judge even more abhorrent than the late Antonin Scalia. That person might be around for another forty years or more...

Scary stuff indeed.

Gerry | 08.11.16 - 1:20 p.m. | #

Interesting fact: there is one vacant seat on the UK Supreme Court, after Lord Toulson retired in September. Another 5 of the 11 justices will be retiring before the end of 2018 (all men; the other 6, 5 more men and the only woman, should be carrying on).

So half of the UK Supreme Court will be newly appointed in the next two years.

In the US, as well as the one current vacancy, you might ask how long Ginsberg (84 next March) or Kennedy (now 80) or Breyer (78) will carry on. Only one has ever served for more than 35 years.

Andrew | 08.11.16 - 5:15 p.m. | #

Both are bad, one's slightly less bad. Their political system has led them to this "choice" between idiot and slightly less of an idiot.

nameless | 08.11.16 - 6:01 p.m. | #

@Cornish Cockney

What is so special about the UK that you would expect Americans to know who the PM is?

John2 | 08.11.16 - 6:43 p.m. | #

@ John2

Because they need to know with whom they will be dealing.

Maggie May won't put up with any nonsense if Donald or Hillary try to put the UK at the back of the queue when it comes to trade relationships post Brexit.

Gerry | 08.11.16 - 7:11 p.m. | #

@Gerry
American diplomats and politicians, maybe. But ordinary Americans don't need to know, any more than the UK Public needs to know the prime minister of, say, Switzerland.

Don't kid yourself that there is any sort of special relationship between the UK and the US.

timbo | 08.11.16 - 8:18 p.m. | #

DG, You have masterfully said what I think and believe. And the above commenters have it mostly right. Believe me folks, most of us 'Merricans' are not at all pleased with this election.. But I firmly believe that most of us will be smart enough to vote for "the lesser of two evils". And I believe that Hillary is really not all that evil. Well we'll all know 'Wha Happen' on Wednesday. God have mercy on all of us.

Colesville Garth | 08.11.16 - 10:37 p.m. | #

I have been following for the past 18 months. At the start I thought we would have Clinto Vs Bush. It's been crazy watching all the up and downs. 😳😳

Rick | 08.11.16 - 10:39 p.m. | #

Can't understand why everyone is so scared of Trump? Sure, he's an oddball but the American political system is rammed full of checks and balances eg the Senate can, and previously has, reject Presidential nominees for the Supreme Court. The Yanks are electing a President not a dictator and, for all his many faults and crudities, it is possible that he might just shake up the system.

Berkshire Boy | 08.11.16 - 11:30 p.m. | #

@Berkshire Boy

Two words. Nuclear codes.

the orange one | 09.11.16 - 12:26 a.m. | #

@Berkshire Boy
You might like to read this magazine article.

| 09.11.16 - 12:38 a.m. | #

****** ***** ****** ***** ****** ***** ****** ***** ******?

Sprout Eater | 09.11.16 - 3:03 a.m. | #

... f*** it. He's currently ahead in the count :( !!! @@ @@ !!

Antipodean | 09.11.16 - 5:08 a.m. | #

And the House and the Senate. So the brakes will largely be off.

Andrew | 09.11.16 - 7:02 a.m. | #

Something really bad has happened.

It must be for no 6.59 update from DG.

eric | 09.11.16 - 7:22 a.m. | #

(holding back Wednesday's post for a few hours)

diamond geezer | Homepage | 09.11.16 - 7:22 a.m. | #

Thanks dg for the update on today's post. Presumably today's post is a follow on to Tuesday's otherwise that would be a commenting misdemeanour

louise | 09.11.16 - 7:29 a.m. | #

Hmm i'm out of the job then.

Once again, people fed up with the establishment, as Obama was like Paul McCartney, I.e. wheel him out, tell a few wise crack comments to get some laughs, wheel him back in. Pretty much ineffective.

I hate the fact that race always plays a part, Its nothing to do with that in the majority of people.

Finally as with the Brexit punchline, "Take Back Control"... Trump had "lets make America great again".... Hilary had nothing. On a subconscious level this works too.

Now just stop getting involved with wars and help me deal with the USA Trump. There's only so much i can do since Robin is a bit portly these days!

Bruce Wayne | 09.11.16 - 8:07 a.m. | #

Hate to be right (see first comment).

Gordon | 09.11.16 - 8:25 a.m. | #

I predict DG's delayed but much anticipated post will be on the hot topic of the day - Toblerone.

Frank F | 09.11.16 - 9:31 a.m. | #

@dg: He will not be in office before January. So please don't stop blogging now.

| 09.11.16 - 9:53 a.m. | #

Note from today to DG's blog post of 10th June... Option 3: BREXIT, NOT BORIS, TRUMP

James Armitage | Homepage | 09.11.16 - 10:09 a.m. | #

I hate to point this out but if anyone was paying attention to the two candidates, Clinto's most common response to Trumpet was to grin and bear it. Inane grinning was never going to win over the population who need/feel the need for someone to fight their corner. Clinto's grinning was also seen as 'deceitful'. Trumpet's loud and awful 'revelations' were just seen as 'honesty' or 'joshing'. Clinto could never have won with her history/strategy.

B | 09.11.16 - 10:46 a.m. | #

@James Armitage - thanks for the reminder of the eight alternative futures on 10 June.

And kudos to the related comments from PC and Ttintinhaddock, who both tipped Theresa May to replace Cameron in a Brexit scenario.

Andrew | 09.11.16 - 10:58 a.m. | #

I must admit that I am very pleased to see the result - so pleased that we have named our plastic bath duck after the new president.

There could be no greater compliment.

Temp | 09.11.16 - 1:45 p.m. | #

OK Gang..the highly intelligent US voters have spoken. Now we all need to put on our seatbelts and hang on tightly.. for we're in for one heckuva ride for the next four years.

Colesville Garth | 09.11.16 - 7:12 p.m. | #

Well, it turns out that Trump was right, the election WAS well and truly rigged !

Hillary received 200,000 more votes, but Trump was elected.

Gerry | 10.11.16 - 11:12 a.m. | #

Trump got fewer votes than the losing candidates in the last two elections, and only just edged Kerry's 2004 total.

And there are several states where no candidate got 50% of the vote, so the "others" were decisive in the result.
Florida (29 college votes) - Trump 49.1%
Pennsylvania (20) - 48.8%
Michigan (16) - 47.6%
Wisconsin (10) - 47.9%

had there been STV, it is possible Mrs Clinton might have won any of those states on second preferences.

The original idea of the "electoral college" was to choose the people who would choose the president. I don't think there is a precedent for it, but in theory the college could choose someone other than the party's nominee.

timbo | 10.11.16 - 5:17 p.m. | #











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