To top off the November blues, the short dark days and frequent rains, there is now the stunning re-election of Trump, defying all polls which are notoriously wrong.

‘Well Camp, what was your reaction?’

‘Stunned, dismayed but not surprised. Fact is: Americans want Trump with all his faults, lack of integrity, character and respect. They got what they deserve.’

 ‘But what about the rest of the world? Is that it, Camp. Simple as all that?’

Camp shrugged his shoulders. ‘I looked at the demographics of the electorate where we see that Trump gained especially amongst Hispanic men, up 18% from 2020 while the Democrats lost 15%, even amongst Latino women Trump gained 7%. Young voters, the GenZ, shifted away from Harris towards Trump by 7% and from those who never attended college Trump gained 8% of the votes. And the glass ceiling is stronger and made of sterner stuff then everybody thought.’

‘It wasn’t just a squeaker but a decisive victory. Trump even won the popular vote. It’s what you call a slam dunk.’

‘Yeah, I think he even surprised himself.  The good news is: There is now no need for any street violence, and no need for insurrection or lawsuits to challenge the election. He’s won this time around in a secure and legal election and we’re all suffering from a mental shock. And the stock markets are going up.’

‘But people will die because of Trump,’ I said. ‘Ukrainians, Palestinians, pregnant teens. Families with undocumented members will be torn apart. Project 25, Bannon’s baby, will tear down the guard rails of institutions. Obama care will be eliminated leaving millions of people without healthcare. But hey, there are already a lot of people who think that Trump is not as bad as we made him out to be, that it’s the democrats that have to look in the mirror, change their ways.’

‘You may be right. I also think he’s trouble for the world. It’s good vs. evil. It’s not just the Donald but the people gathering around him like at a royal court, curtsying and licking his boots.’ 

‘Not just his boots, I think. Bring on the jesters and troubadours.’

They can now do whatever they want since they flipped the senate, will most likely regain the house of representatives and have the presidency, as well as the Supreme Court.’

‘We’ll see if he does what he said. Like impose massive tariffs on everything that enters the US; demolish and dismantle the country’s intelligence agencies, part of what he calls the deep state; mass deportations of the undocumented which will send a wave of asylum seekers north to Canada. And of course, he said he would end the war in Ukraine and the Middle East with a few phone calls within 24 hours.’

‘There will be internment and deportation camps, trans national agreements will be ripped up and business will not be as usual between Canada and the US.’

‘Let the speculations begin. We’ve already entered a new aera of polls and surveys, predictions and possible outcomes.’

‘Makes me want to get off this never ending merry-go-around.’

‘Or get involved with our local politics. Don’t forget, we have a conservative tsunami building right here in Canada with a leader, Poilievre, who is more like an Avatar than a flesh and blood human being. As Obama says: Do something!’

‘Here in Canada the colours are reversed from the US. The conservatives are blue while the liberals are red. One thing is for sure. Trudeau has overstayed his welcome and is past his expiry date. He needs to step off the stage before he gets swepted off by a blue wave.’

‘I don’t think he knows how to step out of the limelight. Growing up in the prime minister’s household, surrounded by the trappings of power, he’s never known anything different then being the center of attention.’

‘Maybe the Trump doctrine will shock Canadians enough to reconsider a lurch to the right.  Mind you we already have our homegrown reactionary conservatives in Alberta and just narrowly avoided a right-wing takeover here in British Columbia.’

‘It’s a crazy world and we’ll head into some interesting times.’

Our beers were empty and Vicky was spot on with our refills.

‘What do you think of Trump’s win?’ I wanted to know.

‘I think it’s sad. I was rooting for Harris but the bully has won.’