I doubt it will come as a shock that I am completely behind a Donald J. Trump presidency. I even put my money where my mouth is and bet News Talk 770 morning man Bruce Kenyon a crisp $100 bill that this would happen, well over a year ago. A lot of Canadians will be horrified by such a statement, at least publicly.
This election has been one of the most divisive and negative we have ever seen. Issues of the day are overshadowed by scandal and personal misconduct. Mainstream media needs to sell advertising so they have stories going around the clock to hype this sort of reporting. I have spent hundreds of hours observing this election from various news sources and here are some of my conclusions.
The Brexit effect is in play. I just spent three weeks in the U.K. and people still looked over their shoulder when I asked if they had supported the exit from the European Union. The fact of the matter is simply this – polls on voting day had the exit side down by 10 points. The end result was a Brexit win by 5 points.
How could the polls be out 15 points, you ask? The so-called science of polling has changed in the last decade. Many voters can’t be polled anymore because of the proliferation of cellphones and the absence of landlines in many homes. I have never been called on my cell phone to be polled. And, at last, the silent majority is at work, along with the public’s growing desire to take a stand against the establishment. When I use the word establishment, I am talking not only about the Clintons but the Bushes as well, a real cozy group from both sides of the aisle that has called the shots for decades. It’s funny that the Bush’s would quietly support the Clintons in this election cycle, or is it?
I have heard the analogy that the Washington establishment is similar to all the animals gathering at the oasis peacefully to drink. You know, it does make some sense. These groups are used to being the ruling elite and it makes little difference whether they are in power or not, they still prosper. How can I say that? Well, here is an example.
The Clintons were broke when they left the White House after Bill’s presidency – not, my words, Hillary’s. Now their net worth is in excess of $250 million. How did they get there? Was it brilliant business decisions and wise investments? Not really. How about tailor-made speaking engagements and large donations from foreign governments to the Clinton Foundation. Look, Hillary was Secretary of State. She had access and leverage worldwide to parade Bill everywhere to speak well-heeled audiences at a hefty price. I am not saying that the foundation hasn’t done some good work but we should also listen to the people of Haiti and the unfavorable opinion they’ve expressed about it. The pay-to-play accusations are too hard to defend, there is too much of a paper trail. It is the same for the Wikileaks emails. Sure the Clinton campaign points out that Russia hacked the emails, but no one is denying what is in them.
Why is this all important to us? Why should we care? Our economies are tightly linked. The Keystone pipeline would be a huge win for us as a nation. Trump favors it, Clinton does not. Political correctness has taken over. We are so worried about offending that we have forgotten to stand up for what we know is right. We have become a nation, a continent and a world that is frightened to offend anyone. Well, I happen to find this state of affairs offensive. There will be a backlash or swing back the other way, and if Trump wins the election it will be the beginning.
The idea of the citizens of the world having a say in a private voting booth should never be underestimated!
