US Elections 2018

[Zzzptm]

Watching the results coming in... it's interesting that most Republican ads I've seen did *not* mention the good economic conditions. Immigration was made out to be a huge, threatening issue, followed by a fear of a Democratic majority. Along with those ads, Trump really did make this election almost all about him. It's a cult of white nationalist personality.

Not that *all* Republicans are in a Trump cult of personality. But there is a huge chunk of their base that is, and that's the group Trump rallied most to get out and vote. Not a general appeal to everyone that "steady as she goes" is the way to go, but fear and loathing of outsiders and others.

If the Democrats gain a majority in the House and Senate, I'd see that as a repudiation of that sort of extremism. Not that it would mean a nation permanently shifted to the left, but enough centrists deciding enough is enough with Trump and his crew and sending a message that the Republicans need to change their tune if they want to hold on to the White House in 2020, possibly running someone other than Trump.

If the Democrats only gain a majority in the House, I'd see that as a muddied message. Incumbency for the senators being an advantage? Possibly... that would be the standard explanation in any other year. But it would also mean a partial vindication of the cultic nature of Trump's ability to get out the vote not because of issues, but because of his sheer force of personality and will.

If the Republicans retain their majorities in the House and Senate, then the USA is in danger. The sheer outrage of Trump means nothing to his die-hard supporters, this I know. But if it means nothing to centrists - or if centrists are evaporating and becoming more aligned with Trump - then the USA is faced with a situation in which personality of the Supreme Leader outweighs all other considerations.

Such an outcome would trouble me the most because I'm part of an easily marginalized minority group. It doesn't matter which one - I've got lots of company in the "easily marginalized minority group" category. I see the Trump rallies where Trump pretty much says whatever spew he wants to utter, and his followers lap it up, unquestioningly. I've seen that translate into xenophobic violence and even if Trump condemns it one day, he is stoking the very emotions that give rise to that xenophobic violence the next day.

I see those Trump rallies and I think, "They're coming for me, one day." I would really like to see a repudiation of that kind of mentality in American politics tonight.

There are many, many, MANY tight races tonight. Maybe even if the Democrats do well, overall, the USA is still going to face a long-term threat from a growing fascist movement. It's a troubling thought.

[Typhon]

Most attractive 1st Lady in my lifetime.   This was at the Whitehouse Christmas Ball.