Trump’s worst nightmare----losing to a woman !

I haven’t checked with my pharmacy lately but I’m willing to bet they have seen a real run on sleeping pills.

If you are a news hound as I am (lifelong addiction I can’t shake), it’s hard to count sheep when the world is filled with people intent on killing each other and while our democratic institutions are threatened and ridiculed.

It used to be that bad things only happened somewhere else. Today, our own tidy communities are experiencing violent crime, drug addiction is epidemic and homelessness, anger and racism are rampant.

Worldly problems are now in our own backyards.

Pictures of hungry kids and breadlines resemble the families who live down the street.

Leadership is at a premium. We’ve joined the disturbing trend of politicians and other public figures deciding to throw in the towel. Too many have experienced threats to their own safety, their staff and families because they have supported causes unpopular in some circles. In many cases the cause is racism, which today is at an all-time high and with antisemitism leading the pack.

Democratic elections used to be a time to air our grievances, feed off promises of hope and a better future, and the entertainment of opposing politicians in verbal combat. Sadly, that has all changed. Politics has turned into a blood sport.

Parliament, once the domain of skilled debate, intelligent and respectful public dialogue, is now dishonoured with vicious personal attacks, bitter anger and downright hatred.

The current U.S. election is a circus. It is more of an embarrassment than it is an exercise in democracy.

A great nation that remains a beacon of freedom, opportunity and hope around the world is now the subject of ridicule and easy fodder for everyone from late night TV comics to foreign leaders lusting over power and aggression.

It is hard to believe that this is a nail biter election for our friends to the south. How can Donald Trump possibly be a serious contender for the presidency? He’s been there and done that. His presidency inspired and condoned riots and racism and insurrection. 

He made lying and character assassination acceptable behaviour for public figures. He is a convicted felon who owes millions of dollars in fines for crimes he has committed against the American people and awaits court dates on more charges. 

He has no respect or concern for anyone but himself. Researchers have lost track of his bankruptcies and ways he has cheated friends and foes alike. His biography is bereft of any examples of empathy, generosity or mercy. He is a hypocrite who professes a belief in God when everything else fails---which indeed it does in everything he touches. 

He uses people until they are no longer useful and finds a bus to throw them under. He surrounds himself with only fawning “yes” people and topples the reputations of others like they are bowling pins.

He disrespects women and hates to lose at anything. The only thing in this world worse than losing the upcoming election would be Donald C. Trump losing to a woman. And a Black woman at that! 

Trump’s heroes are dictators and he has publicly expressed admiration for a motley collection of truly evil people both past and present. 

His admirers are those who venerate his bullying style and benefit from his policies that reward the wealthy and have nothing but contempt for the weak and downtrodden.   

It is inconceivable that at this time when the world teeters on the brink of more wars that there could be enough American voters willing to trust Trump and return him to the Oval Office and what is arguably the most powerful position in the world.

But that’s the picture today’s polls are painting. It could be a dead heat between Trump and current Vice President Kamala Harris, who has been the subject of Trump’s fetid name-calling since day one. The foulness increases each day as the election grows closer and Trump fights for his political life.

His faux faith serves him well, especially with the hard-core Christian right of the Republican party. He clutches a Bible for a photo op, has celebrity church leaders at his elbow, and leads supplicants in prayer for hurricane survivors. Lord have mercy.

Meanwhile, up here in the Great White North, we continue to sneer at what’s happening south of the border while we ourselves are up to our ears in major social and economic problems that far outnumber solutions on which our leaders can or will agree and cooperate.

The Bloc, a party of avowed separatists, holds our Parliament to ransom and our population is deeply polarized and divided. There is much anger and pessimism across the land. 

If a federal election were held today, I believe we would see the lowest voter turnout in Canadian history. Many Liberals and Conservatives are unhappy with their leaders and I can’t remember a time when so many people are agonizing over if they will vote for the very parties they have always supported---sometimes for generations.

Liberals have sickened of Justin Trudeau, his policies and promises. He struts like a peacock. He sneers and smirks. He oozes self-confidence and believes that despite lagging support he must stay in office if Canada is to be saved from the loathsome Tory leader Pierre Poilievre.

Trailing badly in the polls, Trudeau struggles to regain public support and calm a restless caucus worried about hanging onto their own seats. His challenge to get re-elected begins at home but the Liberal Party---once Canada’s Governing Party with leaders like Pearson and Chretien and Pierre Trudeau—is not a convivial place these days.  

Meanwhile, many loyal Conservatives are fearful of Poilievre and pray that between now and election time he can mutate into a more pleasant and less intimidating person. If only the schoolyard bully with the smirk and repetitious slogans would lighten up and show some civility. Frequent references to his attractive and fiercely loyal wife and three cute kids aren’t enough to make him likeable and trustworthy by shaking off his Mr. Nasty persona.

No one and nothing is safe from Poilievre’s glare. I especially resent his Trump-like disparagement of the media and the CBC in particular. This at a time when media outlets struggle to survive as one of the pillars of democracy that keeps the public informed and hold governments and politicians to account. 

So, if Liberals can’t bring themselves to vote for Trudeau again and the Tories need Poilievre to reverse his scary tendencies before they can vote for him, where are they all going to go? Some might consider the NDP of course. But many will just choose to stay on the couch and let their fellow Canadians decide who will next govern this wonderful country that deserves much better from its current politicians and those who follow them.

Meanwhile, turning off the late television news and taking some warm milk before bedtime would be a helpful formula for much-needed sound sleep.