As I set multiple alarms last night, starting at 3.50am with the final one at 4.15am I was hopeful, you’ve got to have hope, right? It felt like it took forever to fall asleep then I woke at 3am and couldn’t resist but check the news. The alarms were unnecessary, I couldn’t get back to sleep.
I should say now that my understanding of the US elections is pretty slim, I know the winner needs 270 votes, I know that polls close at different times due to the time differences across the country, I know there are key areas, ‘swing states’ that can’t be predicted at the closing of the polls. I understand that some areas count quicker than others, comparable to the some of the North East constituency in the UK. I can’t second guess what might happen, I have to follow it as it comes in.
I’m currently sitting here watching/listening to Channel 4 and I had to pause and rewind what Rachel Bitecofer1 said at around 5am:
This is not an exact quote.
“If Donald Trump wins the vote, in this reality…
An insurrectionist with a coup plot
He tried to murder his Vice President
Adjudicated sexual predator
61 felony indictments pending, some of those are for stealing our state secrets
He talks to Putin on his own and wants to align with dictators
If that’s what America wanted to buy, they have bought it
His followers are true believers, I have to tell you what they truly believe
That the covid vaccine was poison and that our venerated Dr Fauci should be in jail
They truly believe that Joe Wash and Liz Cheney are traitors to the country and will they even be able to live in this country in a year, that’s a very open question.”
Krishnan GM
“Is that really? Is that overstating it?”
Rachel:
“No that’s not overstating it at all, not at all.”
Two other panel members agreeing
The people truly believe he is the answer, I’m now watching Valerie/Maureen saying that her mind boggles at why anyone wouldn’t vote for Trump, yet my mind boggles at what she’s saying. Trump had the election stolen, Trump hasn’t lied, Trump isn’t guilty of any crimes.
I don’t think the problem here is the people, the problem is the misinformation, the fact that people are disenfranchised and feel out of control, the fact that people like Trump want to divide. Divide and conquer, it’s a well-established war tactic and this feels like war.
These are my thoughts, unfiltered. I’m writing this at 5am in the morning, I’ve been awake for about 2 hours and at a push have had about 4 hours sleep. I can’t express how I feel, except to say I’m anxious.
Abortion measures are also on the ballot in 10 states. We’re still waiting for results from 5 states and sadly, the vote hasn’t been won in Florida and the 6 week abortion limit will remain – I’m sure you’re aware, most women do not know they are pregnant until after 6 weeks. However, abortion rights have been won in Missouri, New York, Colorado and Maryland which is positive.
One stand out quote from Trump for me is this:
“I’m going to do it, whether the women like it or not. I’m going to protect them.”
I know one thing for sure, I would not want Trump’s ‘protection.’
America, you are in my thoughts. And I say this from someone who lives in a country who has had an absolute shit show of politics since Cameron called the Brexit referendum. Results and feelings across the whole of Europe is increasingly concerning.
Someone said to me recently that we often see this disruption across geopolitics and then things right themselves again and that might happen, but what comes now?
5.36am: Georgia has just been called for Trump and I’m worried.
Han 🧡
When I originally published this post I didn’t know Rachel’s surname but I have since found her. She is a political strategist & national political analyst: https://x.com/RachelBitecofer
I’ve just woken up and it looks hopeless for Harris. America has voted in a dictator who is a felon and a sexual predator, a liar and a narcissist. I’m stunned. He told them who he was and they lapped it up. My heart goes out to the women of the US, to poor, the non white, the people who voted Democrat. How long before he arrests his opponents and begins to exact revenge on anyone who has ever crossed him? I feel sick to my core. American what have you done. RIP the USA as a democracy.
It’s absolutely terrifying having this delusional narcissist with so much power. I wonder if this will cause some kind of uprising or even civil war in the US. I actually don’t think I can bare to watch the orange idiot spouting his made up nonsense and hate for another 4 years - and as he himself has hinted he will become a dictator and not ever let a fair election happen again. Our only hope is that he is old and surely can’t live forever.