Who knew?

In the midst of our own federal election in Canada, it’s easy to think back to the one in the USA in November. Now people apparently are getting “zippy”. The president’s definition may be somewhat different than that of standard dictionaries – but the “speed and energy” of the electorate has nothing to compare with the  merry-go-round of actions of the president himself. That is clearly depending on who is getting to him from moment to moment.

One of our own candidates here in Canada has some followers who like the American leader – which might explain why that campaign has gone sideways, partly in preference to a rookie politician, who nevertheless seems like an adult in the room.

Where were those American voters last November?

They chose someone who posed as a business expert in a reality TV show. In real life he had six bankruptcies and a father who bailed him out to the tune of millions.

They chose someone who was a convicted felon.

They chose someone who stiffed university students with a phony university.

They chose someone who dipped into his own foundation and had to pay a big fine after doing so.

They chose someone who said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and no one would care.

They chose someone who said the previous election was stolen – A big lie against all evidence to the contrary.

They chose someone who said he would wreak vengeance on his enemies.

They chose someone beloved by business leaders because he would be so great for the economy – until he isn’t

None of these things are actually secrets. They have been sitting there in plain sight for Canadians, because we read your newspapers and watch you TV. So does the rest of the world. What was actually going through the minds of American voters last November?  They are blaming everyone around the president now for their lack of good advice. It’s all those cabinet ministers and advisors and their fault not to be the guardrails. All human beings are flawed but there has always been lots of evidence well beyond the need for guardrails here.  Looking from the country to the north – What were those voters thinking?