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Feel free to share this with all your American friends prior to Tuesday please
To all our American friends.
On Tuesday, you all have the opportunity to elect a new President.
Unlike other countries, the US President is also commonly referred to as the 'Leader of the Free World', and as a result, the rest of the 'free world' can't help itself but comment and give advice.
Remember, during any four year presidential term, the USA will commit to a number of military commitments, on many occasions in Coalition with Britain, Australia, and a range of other nations, or as part of NATO. So in many cases, the closer a friend a country is of the USA, the more invested we are in who the President is.
Let's face it - the US is the single most influential and powerful country on earth. Many Americans believe they live in the greatest country on earth, and they can feel somewhat justified in making that claim.
So when you vote on Tuesday, remember your vote has great power. And with great power comes great responsibility. So think before you vote!
Now I think many of you will agree that for the first time, you've been served with two candidates that are both less than desirable for a number of reasons.
One is Hillary Clinton, a former Secretary of State, former First Lady, but she has question marks over some of her conduct as part fo the Obama Administration and her use of private email servers. She also has faced a range of claims over the operation of her family's Clinton Foundation (but I don't wish to address the accuracy of those claims here). Also, many of the voting public don't like her - she simply doesn't have great electoral appeal.
The second is Donald Trump, someone who hasn't served as a politician, or in any public office before, but is a businessman who for the majority, has been successful in that field. He has serious question marks over his treatment of women in a range of areas. He has demonstrated a vastly different manner to any candidate we've seen in the past, managing to alienate fellow Republican candidates, foreign governments, and many minority groups. His support from within the Republican establishment is more of a vacuum than anything. He's even managed to insult veterans, the disabled, and whips his supporters into a frenzy when an opposition supporter is sighted at one of his rallies (they start to display a lynch mob-like mentality). He too has a family foundation with claims against it (but again I won't address the accuracy of these claims here). He does have some appeal to a range of disaffected citizens, because he is NOT a politician.
The usual touchy subjects have been raised during the campaign - guns, abortion, the military, illegal immigration and jobs - no surprises there! But theres also more mud being slung than at a motocross event on a wet day!
Right now, you have a president that has been without personal controversy and one who has acted with integrity for 8 years. President Obama is the first world leader I've known of who has ever had raised a '4 more years' chant in his honour inside another country's parliament! While he has not had as much success as he would have liked, that might have more to do with support for his legislative agenda than anything else. Many outside the USA don't understand why he is disliked at all!
In short, Mrs Clinton has relevant experience, an internationally positive reputation generally, and will likely treat everyone with the level of respect they deserve.
Mr Trump, based on his campaigning style, is likely to alienate almost every international friend, along with those he needs to woo into supporting America. So if you are in conflict with someone, I don't think Mr Trump is the man you'd send to smooth it over. Nor would many be comfortable with the briefcase of nuclear codes within his reach. The worst thing about him, by far, is that if elected, Mr Trump will be a walking, talking, embarrassment for the USA. He will make Silvio Berlusconi look like an international statesman (rather than the joke he is), but of greater concern is that he will make the USA a laughing stock!
Frankly Americans, you're better than that - we know you are!
You're best hope (certainly for national unity at least) is for no candidate to get the required 270 electoral college votes, which means that someone like Evan McMullin will need to carry Utah, and then have him awarded the presidency in the House. But that would be the biggest Hail Mary play of all time!
So in short, if you want a working government, maintaining good relations with neighbours and standing tough with your foes, Hillary is about the best FEASIBLE hope you've got.
Consider it like taking medicine - it's going to taste awful for a short time, but you'll be better for it in the long run!
But I ask that if you do nothing else, exercise your democratic right to vote by Tuesday - nothing worse than not voting then complaining about the result afterwards!
PS. While I have an interest in politics, no candidate in any election ever before has motivated me so much to produce this sort of plea! This is how serious I view your election.
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