Maureen Dowd skillfully enumerates the evil underpinnings of Trump and his minions in this opinion piece in today's NY Times. Gifted, so should be available to all.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/02/opinion/trump-madison-square-garden-private-life.html?unlocked_article_code=1.W04.UkbJ.kfdzoSRy1aZ-&smid=url-share

Half the country thinks life during the Trump years was great (forget 2020). They think if they elect him their lives will magically improve. Gas for their pickups will be $2 again.

 

Way too late, by now, and very unfashionable among a lot of people I know, but I highly recommend reading some of the recently published books on the topic of what could (not necessarily, as nothing is "pre-written in stone") be coming:

 

This week's edition of The Economist has some really scathing commentary on Bonespurs and what to expect should he manage to return to office. Fasten your seatbelts, folks, we're in for a rough flight - even if Kamala succeeds to overcome all the odds.

 

Maybe all is not lost.......I lifted this from the beeb so apologies if it is not allowed......

Trump also responds a poll from Iowa last night, which suggested Kamala Harris was leading him by three points in the Republican-leaning state. He calls it "a fake poll" conducted by "one of his enemies".

For context: The poll, released by highly regarded pollster Ann Selzer, questioned 808 likely voters in Iowa. It's just one poll - so we should be cautious in interpreting the results. Iowa isn't regarded as a swing state - Trump won it by nearly 10 points in each of the last two elections.

 

Trump has taken Iowa, and is home-and-hosed.

The Greatest Comeback since the Rumble in the Jungle ?

Time will tell - but I bet Starmer & Lammy are choking on their cornflakes this morning. 😅

 

The matter of polls was a topic of discussion today on Meet the Press (the full episode is available on YouTube if anyone is interested) and I just happened to catch another discussion on CNN on the same subject. Evidently, the whole matter of polls is coming into question due to a raft of "cultural factors" - things like, "nobody answers their phones these days, so random calling is no longer useful" and the prevalence of people who simply lie to pollsters (as well as to their friends and families) these days.

 

The matter of polls...

... is, indeed, an extremely challenging matter. Just look at 538 (evaluated as leaning left-center, but not progressive)

 

An interesting "factoid" I heard yesterday is that it's the white male voter who is most likely to lie to pollsters. Apparently, they tell the pollsters they are going to vote for Trump, especially if approached while in a group of their "buddies." But in the polling booth, they actually vote for Harris. But hey, I guess we'll find out....

 

Bev, there is also an ad running in the red states, voiced by Julia Roberts, that slyly informs women "what happens in the voting booth stays in the voting booth". It goes on to say that you can vote for Harris without fear of recriminations from friends or family. This has hilariously sent misogynists like Newt Gingrich and Ted Cruz into fits of apoplexy. Oh, and I read that post-it notes are appearing in women's restrooms repeating that it's OK to voted for Harris regardless of the pressure to do otherwise.

 

Trying to understand the incomprehensible, and drowning in an ocean of print, I read two articles in Saturday's Guardian which helped a bit. "Here’s how the winner of the 2024 US presidential election did it" by Jonathan Freedland, explains why either one could win, quite logically. And the Agony Aunt column "My friend has embraced conspiracy theories and I’m fed up with it" is ostensibly "asking for a friend" (and is probably a confection) but casts an interesting light on why and how some people fall down the rabbit hole. It can't be a coincidence that it was published a few days before the election.

 

With all due respect to a fellow poster..;

Which Oscar-winning celebrity has angered Donald Trump now?

An Oscar-winning actress has hit a nerve for Trump...

www.euronews.com

 

On a lighter side of things, applicable to at least some of us ...

 

Ah yes, stories of those bathroom notes have reached over here, too. Remains to be seen what happens - and I seriously doubt we'll have the results by Wednesday morning. Ah, may we live in "interesting" times... or whatever. Stay tuned.

 

Does an over the hill actress opinion matter?

 

It's the message, not the actress - she is simply doing the voice over. And, in my opinion, the message is compelling.

 

Hm, I guess the Chinese curse applies ("may you live in interesting times"). RIP the late, sometimes great "United" States.

 

Hi Bev. Hope you are well.

I've watched a few of the campaign rallies of both candidates, but Junior likes to hear Trump say 'ChhhhhhI-nar'.

There was one rally - PA I think - where he was waffling on about the new car factories over the border in Mexico, and who was building them.

The crowd were shuffling about a bit behind him then his voice went up to CHINA and two ladies nearly jumped out of their skin.

Junior had it on replay for a week. 😅



He who hesitates is lost....

I think the Dems should have grasped the nettle much earlier and moved Biden to the side, but they continued to cover for him.

Repent at leisure ...

 

Never underestimate the stupidity of the American electorate.

 

How long before Steve Bannon and his cronies are over in Europe giving tutorials on campaigning and drumming up ? People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones, as they say.

 

« Magnifique victoire du peuple américain contre un système. Un espoir pour la paix, une défaite des wokistes. Un chemin pour les droites en comme en Europe. Jusqu’à la victoire » ... Eric Ciotti (Le Monde)

If Bannon &co arrive, as I am sure they will, there will be some willing listeners.

 

We may as well try and laugh before we all die of it.........

I hope this works

 

Ouch. Thanks Conky

 

It doesn't often, but look up Mr. Pie on YouTube

 

Oh well, It's too late now......

 

"When the left offer no solutions, people will begin to believe the lies of the right". I think this sums it up nicely. On another note, Melania Trump's $500 dollar hat seems designed to prevent the Orange One from moving in for a smooch - the rim kept bonking into his head .

 

Watching that just made me even more depressed. Thanks for sharing, Conky!

 

Sorry Barb, seems to have had that effect on most that I`have shared it with.

 

Have to it that what little news of the "new istration" I have followed has been pretty grim. But no one seems to have posed (or answered) the question about whether or not the "new territories" (Panama, Greenland and/or Canada) will incorporate the current residents as full fledged US citizens. Or will the new territories be held off as "colonials" subject to limited "rights" and increased obligations? Has all sorts of implications for all the big deal "immigration" proclamations Bonespurs is making.

 

Puerto Rico are not full fledged US citizens.. That needs to change or they need to go it alone..

 

It's "fascinating" to just watch the official WH news site for changes (scroll through pages)

 

Trump has two sides to his brain.

On the left, there is nothing right and on the right, there is nothing left.

 

OK. Denmark/ Greenland may happen... he's not the first to say it but Canada is not even close to even being a thought. It like saying he's going to take .

 

I used to say that the US and should exchange presidents for a while to educate both countries to what they're missing, and what they should be thankful for. But now that I'm French, I'm perfectly happy for the Americans to "reap what they have sown" without further comment. We've got enough to worry about with the "instability" in our government. But can you imagine Bonespurs having to deal with the Gilets Jaune? (Actually, that's probably an approach the Americans ought to consider if they are serious about "resistance" - except that people die in those kinds of "protests.")

 

I used to think I generally understood the world I live in, but Trumpalumpa has shown me that I am way off!

 

At this point, I have found the "meme" that encapsulates my reaction to much of the recent news coming out of the US.

 

... the recent news coming out of the US.

Like this one: Rep. Ogles Proposes Amending the 22nd Amendment to Allow Trump to Serve a Third Term