Ok, not football at all, but it matters, eventually.

[Orgoner]

Maybe I should go the LeedsMad electoral college route?

Put down whichever presidential candidate you prefer and I shall vote according to the will of the people.

[Orgoner]

Orgs/Spaldy

What do you make of JD Vance as he seems quite an interesting character with a real ad hoc mix of views and experiences?

Both of the VP picks make complete sense based on the candidates they are supporting and the voters they’re trying to attract or consolidate.

Trump’s choice of Pence was also a logical choice at the time.

On Vance specifically? As Spaldy has already mentioned, he is a lot smarter than his opponents seem to think and, aside from one or two historical comments (the recent cat lady one was amusing), he isn’t carrying much in the way of excess unwanted baggage.

I watched “Hillbilly elegy” (an autobiographical take on his early life) and he’s certainly come an interesting route.

I don’t dislike the VP candidates anywhere near as much as their bosses.

[Orgoner]

Maybe I should go the LeedsMad electoral college route?

Put down whichever presidential candidate you prefer and I shall vote according to the will of the people.

I can probably be “bought” for half a bag of Frazzles.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Mmmmm bacon

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

He is NOT a "successful developer of anything apart from his own ego!

Trump received around $500 million from his father in gifts and other wealth transfers (in 2024 dollars). Had he invested that money passively in Manhattan real estate, it would have been worth over $80 billion by 2017 instead of the $2.5 billion that Forbes estimate.

"Relate to the common man"?????????? He knows how to MANIPULATE the common man by exploiting an understandable (and totally avoidable) suspicion of politicians (I refer you to Spaldys post relating to Truman) on the part of said common man. HE has about as much time for (and real understanding of) the common man as I have of complex brain surgery.

Just look at GB & I - he redeveloped Turnberry and by all accounts it is possibly the best links resort in the world, he developed Trump Aberdeen (from nothing to a highly rated course and resort) and has two hotel golf developments in Ireland. All of which are successful.

He has a sting of hotels and golf course he developed in the US and elsewhere - how is he not a developer.

Sounds like you have just lapped up the media diatribe against him rather than look at the facts (how unique for you). I don’t necessary agree with what he says but a lot of what is said about him is just patently untrue.

[ozleeds]

So this is an election which I don't get! Trump is supposably the bad dude but all i see is celebs backing Harris yes the same ones been investigated with the filth Diddy eg Opra Lopez etc so who is the bad guy? Well America and Hollywood are one country so this is a soap opera.

[ozleeds]

Just look at GB & I - he redeveloped Turnberry and by all accounts it is possibly the best links resort in the world, he developed Trump Aberdeen (from nothing to a highly rated course and resort) and has two hotel golf developments in Ireland. All of which are successful.

He has a sting of hotels and golf course he developed in the US and elsewhere - how is he not a developer.

Sounds like you have just lapped up the media diatribe against him rather than look at the facts (how unique for you). I don’t necessary agree with what he says but a lot of what is said about him is just patently untrue.

Some of the things can't be untrue though can they when they come within his family like telling his Brother to put down his kid like a dog and move to Florida? Is that someone you want leading your country not that I think anyone that runs country's are legitely interested apart from power.

[Francewhite]

In my newspaper today in France I read that 55% of the population support Harris as opposed to 19% for Trump. I hereby declare that the intelligence of the populace of France is highly superior to that of the US.

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Haha - exactly.

Oz - it shouldn’t be completely a popularity contest you would hope people would vote for whom they think is the most competent to run the country.

He already had one term where the world didn’t stop turning and he did some good and not so good things and probably upset many people - that’s politics though.

The demonising of politicians and the media in democracies doesn’t strike me as very democratic that is all and seems a childish way to debate and discuss issues.

As Orgs said, the VPs for both parties seem to be far more sensible but the fear of the attack that will come Vance’s way kind of says it all about the way (to misquote the Bard) those on the left tend to shoot at kites that are not being flown.

[WTF11]

Just look at GB & I - he redeveloped Turnberry and by all accounts it is possibly the best links resort in the world, he developed Trump Aberdeen (from nothing to a highly rated course and resort) and has two hotel golf developments in Ireland. All of which are successful.

He has a sting of hotels and golf course he developed in the US and elsewhere - how is he not a developer.

Sounds like you have just lapped up the media diatribe against him rather than look at the facts (how unique for you). I don’t necessary agree with what he says but a lot of what is said about him is just patently untrue.

I note you dropped the adjective "successful", very wise.

Wikipedia (from whence the information about the man's wealth was acquired), is well known for its independence, per review of what it publishes and very firm measures to remove inaccurate information. No "diatribe", just some easily accessed and accurate facts about Trumps wealth and how much greater that would be had he been a savvy investor instead of a not so savvy real estate "baron". Perhaps if you removed the blinkers you'd see him for what he is, self-obssessed, paranoid, vainglorious, devious and unashamedly willing to do whatever it takes to gain power for its own sake.

You may see Harris as more the same kind of presidency we have seen from Joe Biden, and you want Trump to win. All i can say to that is that you shoud be (very) careful what you wish for.

[WTF11]

Just look at GB & I - he redeveloped Turnberry and by all accounts it is possibly the best links resort in the world, he developed Trump Aberdeen (from nothing to a highly rated course and resort) and has two hotel golf developments in Ireland. All of which are successful.

He has a sting of hotels and golf course he developed in the US and elsewhere - how is he not a developer.

Sounds like you have just lapped up the media diatribe against him rather than look at the facts (how unique for you). I don’t necessary agree with what he says but a lot of what is said about him is just patently untrue.

And just to be clear, again. My view of Trump is formed because of what he says and does, witnessed on TV, emanating from his own mouth, not editorialized, not spun, his words. You may not believe It, but we share the same sceptical view of what the media does, where we differ is that my scepticism applies across the board whereas you seem prepared to accept what is said in the media to defend Trump without question.

[WTF11]

In my newspaper today in France I read that 55% of the population support Harris as opposed to 19% for Trump. I hereby declare that the intelligence of the populace of France is highly superior to that of the US.

At the risk of offending those Stateside contributors (who me? Surely not!), I'd agree.😉

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

So Wikipedia is your ‘reliable’ source - nuff said. Not really bothered what you think but life must sparkle a little less when everything is reduced to a binary question- hey ho

[WTF11]

So Wikipedia is your ‘reliable’ source - nuff said. Not really bothered what you think but life must sparkle a little less when everything is reduced to a binary question- hey ho

Did I say anything of the sort? I used easily accessible FACTS to counter your equally easily debunked statement that Trump is some kind of "successful" businessman. I could provide many, many miore examples of how the man's record (as President, husband, businessman, media personality, whatever), but as the polls are soon to close and given your blinkered and entirely gullible standpoint, why bother.

I actually dread Trump losing more than I do if he wins. America will descend into civil war, with groups like the "Proud Boys" (what am inappropriate name!), leading a vanguard of extreme right wing vigilantes who will seek to overturn any result they and their figurehead disagree with.

[Orgoner]

To be fair, it's going to be a total whinefest whatever the outcome.

I shudder to think how much has been spent and strongly suspect far less effort will go into actual governance than the excruciatingly drawn out election process itself.