Donald Trump and the Lost Democratic Traditions of America

As we all know, Hillary Clinton had Donald Trump for dinner at their final debate Wednesday night.

But not before he had called her a "nasty woman" and threatened not to accept the election result.

For as we also know, Trump is a bad loser. 

But at least yesterday he made it clear what the decent people of America must do to avoid a post-election nightmare.



By telling his inflamed supporters that he will accept the verdict of the voters, if he wins. 

And if there's a clear result. 

Donald J. Trump insisted on Thursday that he would not cede the right to contest the outcome of the presidential election, even as Democrats and Republicans expressed concern that his position threatened to upend America’s tradition of peaceful power transfers. But in a small gesture of civility, he suggested that he would not dispute the result if the outcome of the race was clear.

“Of course I would accept a clear election result, but I would also reserve my right to contest or file a legal challenge in the case of a questionable result,” Mr. Trump, appearing to accept the possibility of defeat, said. “I will follow and abide by all the rules and traditions of all of the many candidates who came before me, always.”

Which has the editorial board of the New York Daily News drawing the obvious conclusion.

Only a landslide can save American democracy



The 16-month campaign since Trump vaingloriously entered the race has horrifyingly revealed that the Big Lie brazenly told — built on smaller falsehoods and spread by social media and a lust for TV ratings — can bring the United States to the brink of electing an aspiring strongman with no moral bearing or self-control. 

But, now, with his defeat all but certain, Trump is conjuring for his followers demons that conspire to destroy them and the nation.

Trump’s reckless willingness to damage trust in the electoral process — in order to save face and hold leadership of the paranoid wing of U.S. politics — is the most pressing reason why voters must defeat him in a landslide.

While others point out that Trump is NOT following the rules and traditions of the many defeated candidates who came before him.



As this note from George Bush Sr. to his successor Bill Clinton makes only too clear.



Mourn for the lost decency and traditions of our poor neighbours.

Bury the monster who would bring down their democracy...



For no sane reason, except to pleasure his fragile ego.

And of course celebrate the fact that there are now only eighteen days to go, before this nightmarish campaign is finally over...