I HAD to stay up for the election – if only to exorcise the horror of my late vigil in 2016 when I sat up, open-mouthed at the horror unfolding before my eyes as America chose as president an orange-faced dodgy property tycoon, a sexual predator on his third marriage, whose claim to fame was as a reality TV star.
Sadly it was more like déjà vu all over again. At the time of writing, Joe Biden might scrape through on the counts of postal ballots. But what is most depressing is that Trumpism has not been defeated, whoever makes it to the White House. And America is divided like never before.
For the first time, I deserted the BBC for the CNN results programme hosted by Wolf Blitzer – whose name sounds like a character from the Simpsons. He was aided by the truly magical John King on a results board that delved down from state results to individual counties. It was fascinating.
Trump still gets through to voters, particularly the blue-collar workers who mysteriously see this draft-dodging millionaire’s son who favours tax cuts for the very rich, and no affordable health care as “one of them”.
Why liberal-minded politicians do not seem to connect with the working classes is something that should worry all of us. It’s why we have Brexit, it’s why Boris Johnson has a stonking majority of 80. It’s why the “red wall” of traditional Labour voters went blue.
A fascinating article by US academic Joan Williams, author of White Working Class, explains the phenomenon.
“One little known element of the class culture gap is that the white working class resents professionals but admires the rich. Most blue collar workers have little contact with the rich outside of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous. But professionals order them around every day.”
They don’t like being bossed by teachers and doctors and they don’t trust lawyers. They admire Trump’s “straight talking” and were probably thrilled at his apparent “defeat” of Covid. In fact, exit polls suggested coronavirus was a factor for just 18 per cent of voters compared to 34 per cent for the economy.
Williams argues that Democrats have become too hung up on cultural issues.
“I fully understand why transgender bathrooms are important but I also understand why progressives’ obsession with prioritising cultural issues infuriates many Americans whose chief concerns are economic.”
Despite the Black Lives Matter campaigns, the riots and the police killings of black men and Trump’s nods of support for white supremacists, African Americans voted for him in increased numbers.
Latinos backed Trump because they believed his charge that Biden was a socialist. Those who’d escaped Cuba and Venezuela knew what socialism looked like and they didn’t want it, gracias.
The notion of Biden as a socialist is laughable but that’s why Bernie Saunders wouldn’t have fared any better. I was depressed in 2016 but it’s worse this time because people know what they’re voting for. They know what he is like and they still back him.
Joe Biden said Professor Williams's book was “well worth a read.” I hope his party was listening.
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EVEN though I am a big fan of Christmas, I’ve disapproved of people putting up their trees and decorations too early. This year is different.
Even the magpies in Ormeau Park seemed to be adding to the dismal atmosphere by deliberately hanging out on their own – "one for sorrow", as the song goes.
So who would begrudge anyone an attempt to cheer up the Covid gloom with a few strings of fairy lights? There’ll be no continental market at Belfast City Hall to herald the start of the Christmas shopping splurge, no carol services or Santa’s grottos. Even turkey farmers are considering putting their birds on diets as they expect a drop in demand for larger foul in case the rule of six continues into the festive season.
I wouldn’t go as far as recommending buying the John Lewis Symphony tree though. For a mere £850 it will perform seven pre-programmed musical light shows featuring a range of Christmas carols. You’d badly want a hatchet in your stocking by Christmas Day.
Instead, let’s embrace an idea being floated in online forums for people to stand at their doors at 6pm on Christmas Eve and ring a bell for a few minutes to speed Santa on his way.
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THERE are many lessons to learn from Johnny Depp’s failed libel case.
1. Don’t fight a case against allegations you’re a wife-beater when you know there’s plenty of evidence to support it.
2. Don’t get a tattoo to honour your current lover. Depp had “Winona forever” inked on his arm for his then girlfriend, Winona Ryder. He later had it changed to “Wino forever”, and then made it a motto to live by.
