As I write this blog on Saturday November 2nd, 2024, I am very cautiously optimistic that in three days’ time we may be able to finally say goodbye to Donald Trump.
The polls are close. Very close.
To make matters less hopeful, almost all the polls for the 2016 presidential election had Trump losing, up until he won. It is still quite possible that today’s polls are just as inaccurate as those from eight years ago.
Hopefully that is not the case this time. Pollsters are now adjusting their results to take into consideration the fact that there are many individuals who vote for Trump but are too embarrassed to admit their intention when contacted.
What I still find hard to believe — and literally inexplicable — is the fact that Kamala Harris is not leading in the polls by double digits. The entire Democratic Convention, from start to finish, was flawlessly choreographed, and Kamala Harris was a huge success on all counts.
As I explained in my September 24th blog, Harris annihilated Trump in their one presidential debate. The overwhelming majority of economists strongly prefer Harris’ economic plans over those of Trump. And even long-standing Republicans, such as Liz Cheney, not only support Harris but are actively campaigning for her.
How can it be that there are still over 70 million Americans expected to vote for Donald Trump?
I hope that what may have finally lost Trump his bid to regain the presidency is his October 27th rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Among the worst of the crude and racist comments made there by various presenters, including Trump, was comedian Tony Hinchcliffe referring to Porto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.”
Negative fallout from that rally was immediate and significant.
Puerto Rican celebrities, including Bad Bunny and Jennifer Lopez, condemned those comments and came out in support of Harris. It is estimated that they could reach up to 300 million followers. Over five million Puerto Ricans live in the USA, and recent polling indicates that Puerto Rican and overall Latino support for Harris is now solidifying, particularly in key states with large Puerto Rican populations, such as Florida and Pennsylvania.
I am afraid to say, however, that even if my optimistic prediction of a Trump loss comes to pass, indications are that he will not depart without a fight. And unfortunately, we will also not be saying goodbye to his way of thinking any time soon — I mean the authoritarian, xenophobic, form of politics that has now firmly lodged itself into the political landscape of a large number of countries.
Even here in B.C., the virus has infected our politics. Just a few years ago, it would have been inconceivable that a candidate seeking office would not have been immediately dropped by his party if he had accused Muslims of inbreeding. Brent Chapman, a BC Conservative elected in Surrey South, did just that. He has also compared public health policies to the Nazi holocaust and made statements questioning whether mass shootings actually occurred in Sandy Hook and at a Quebec City mosque.
Not only did BC Conservative leader John Rustad keep Chapman on the ticket, but Rustad’s team continued to include, and even elect other extremist, right-wing candidates.
Racism, extremism, lying – all the behaviours that mimic Trump – should have no place in politics. I have my fingers crossed that on Tuesday November 5th we will finally be able to say goodbye to Donald Trump the individual and then begin the long and arduous task of turning the tide on Trumpism itself.
Daily atmospheric CO2 [Courtesy of CO2.Earth]
Latest daily total (November 2, 2024): 423.22ppm
One year ago (November 3, 2023): 419.28ppm
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