Anchor Struck

I’ve been desperate for distractions lately.  Thank you, Cubbies, and good luck tonight.  There’s also been a lot of avian visitors on our ponds as they take a break from migrating.  One snow goose, two mallards, three Canada geese and seven trumpeter swans (I’m not working on a Christmas song here) have graced us recently.  Witness:

The lead male of the swans is loud and raucous, so I named him Donald Trumpeter.  Too obvious, I know, but — as noted — I’m desperate.  I’m laying as low as possible to get to next Wednesday.

The campaign has been as brutal as promised, but who could have predicted some of the specifics?  One of Trump’s accusers is a porn star. Hillary’s latest woe was caused by a guy who can’t keep it in his pants.  And his name is Weiner.

I rue that the major issue of sexual assault of women has been overshadowed by some e-mails that may or may not be significant, but Hillary has faced it like an adult as the Mad Yam still whines about how terrible it all is.  The contrast dovetails with the massive sexism Clinton has faced.  She has gone up against some truly abysmal men: Trump, Steve Bannon, Roger Ailes, Rudy Guiliani, Rush Limbaugh, Julian Assange, et al.  Jim Comey may not belong in that group, but his timing stinks.  Even hubby Bill brought her grief with several comments and his tarmac visit with Loretta Lynch, easily the most bone-headed move of the season.

Nate Silver still has Hillary’s chances at 70%.  But, given the unpredictability of this goddamnest election ever, I’d like to throw out a scenario for your consideration:

Trump wins.  His “rawness”, beloved by tens of millions, hardens into hubris immediately. He actually tries to do the things he promised.  But he can’t.  Obamacare just can’t be wished away due to those pesky supreme Court decisions.  The Wall stalls because Mexico won’t pay but will retaliate to economic sanctions.  The 650 million rapists in Trump’s mind fail to step across the Rio Grande.

The only doom and gloom is generated by The Donald himself, as his fiscal policies tank the economy.  Having supposedly vanquished all his boogeymen and boogeywomen, there is no one to blame but himself, which he is incapable of doing.  His negativity catches up to him.

Meanwhile, the Democrats regroup.  They thank the Clintons for their service, give them gold watches and start developing their farm team.  They keep building their base.  A million Hispanics a year turn voting age, and the GOP continues to lose old white people.  In 2018, the Dems retake the House and Senate, seriously blocking Trump’s efforts.

The supremely arrogant Donald has already alienated key members of the military and the civilian intelligence community.  Michael Hayden, former director of the NSA and CIA, has already stated that the military would balk at a nuclear launch it considered unwarranted.  Trump has wondered aloud why we don’t use nukes since we have them.

I hope that none of this plays out, but however it does, the next few years in the U.S. are gonna suck.  I urge you to vote, even if you’re Canadian.