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.

Sprintcyclist wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 12:21am:


Hillary is the head puppet in a criminal empire. She has the DOJ and MSM in her pocket. Those who have the goods on her are frightened to go public. Get in her way - your dead!

Is there anyone here that can honestly say that what Trump says here in this video is not true?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=nF0YpXcZw9U&app=desktop

Great to see that the trolls are out in force

RealityBites wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 12:08am:

True...

And what happens in the western Pacific in the context of US foreign policy and the political maturity of the President from whom it is evoked, should be of immediate interest and concern to all Australians.

isnt it wonderful.. here we have an election for the Commander in Chief post of the most Powerful country in the world.. America...

and they have two losers to choose from...toss a coin why dont you?>... who is the WORST choice.  thats what it comes down too  not who is the BEST choice..

what a mess....what a shambles.... we know whoever makes it over the line will have half the nation hating their guts   for some of the most bizarre reasons...in Trumps case not because of anything he did or didnt do as an elected representative !!..

that seems to make sense to some people...

on the other side we have Hillary who has an abysmal record...on just about every level..


not a good look at all America.. I feel for youse all.

cods wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 9:04am:


How can a (cough cough)  feminist take money from the Saudis and other muslim countries who don't respect women's rights?

The Saudis have been getting great value from buying off American politicians, look at the mess in Syria they created with helping their Saudi mates take on the Shia in Syria and Yemen.

Be nice to finally have a US government that doesn't take money from these despots

greggerypeccary wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 9:20am:



Why is he headed for defeat?

Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 9:31am:


Many reasons.

He's inexperienced.

He's a racist.

He's a misogynist.

He's admitted to sexually assaulting women.

He's a loudmouth bully.

He's been accused of raping two children.

He's suffering from a personality disorder.

He's a bloated orange douche bag.

greggerypeccary wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 9:42am:





Oh yeah, and he's also anti-globalist Fabian open border humanist, your first love of politics

Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 9:52am:


Care to explain?

Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 2:28pm:


Compulsory voting - forces people to attend a polling station at least, whether they vote formally or not is then up to them. At least we've brought the horse to the water!

Voluntary voting tends to favour the more radical elements in any number of directions, is also more divisive due to the polarising points of view, and often forces candidates down more radical pathways chasing more radical votes.

Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 8:32pm:


do you think if voting were compulsory the election campaign would have run the same course? Over half the campaign is about inciting the public to get up and vote, either by hook or by crook. There was very little time actually spent on real policies.

Bias_2012 wrote on Nov 7^th, 2016 at 9:22pm:


I know ............. do you think wasting all that time and effort just to get people of their bums, instead of covering the real issues like POLICIES, is a good thing for the country?

Why would you require people to vote? The lower the turnout the more value the votes cast will have. People who confuse clowns on SNL with the real candidates shouldn't be allowed to vote and counter the votes of people who actually try to be informed!

Raven wrote on Nov 8^th, 2016 at 12:08am:

True...

And, with only the change of literally just the names, this description is also an arguably accurate summary of L Ron Hubbard.

Their similar personality disorders and their effect on Americans  reveals much about a certain American psyche.