Can we start by taking a step back in time to 2016. Trump won the election where it mattered with 302 Electoral College votes to Clinton’s 207. No matter that he lost the popular vote 63,984,826 to 65,853,514. But it did matter … right from the word go the effete liberal establishment and much of the media called his win as lacking legitimacy.
Contrast that with New Zealand. Here National beat Labour hands down in the popular vote but lost the Treasury benches on the whim of one WRP and, while many might deride the Labour led coalition government as a ‘coalition of losers’, there was never any real attempt to question Ardern’s mandate to govern. In this respect and you can fairly argue New Zealand evidences considerable more political maturity than you see in the United States although, to be fair, you are comparing two quite different forms of government … the Westminster system vs that of a Federal Republic.
All that aside and while the Trump presidency was always going to be subjected to vicious opposition by the Washington establishment the reality was/is that he is his own worst enemy. He is arrogant, bombastic, mercurial and has redefined the meaning of truth to the point where it has become virtually impossible to separate fact from fiction. But perhaps his greatest failing of all has been his abject abandonment of leadership on the Covid-19 crisis which shows no sign of abating any time soon. His pronouncements concerning the pandemic are distinguished by their yo-yo quality (but that’s being unfair to yo-yos).
The bottom line is that respect for office of the presidency has fallen dramatically in both America and the world. It’s given Chubby Checker’s 1962 hit ‘Limbo Rock’ a whole new meaning and that doesn’t bode well for America. The problem is exacerbated by the fact the alternative on offer in yesterday’s ‘grey’ man totally beholden to the Washington establishment that got America into the mess it is today. Glad I’m living in NZL but we here are not immune from the fallout resulting from a political system tested and found hugely wanting.
Trump has made possible the rise of ANTIFA. What a legacy.
No Minister 
The future of America’s position in the world is bleak and that’s bad news for all the Western democracies. I watched Trumps Janola press conference and concluded that he is insane and Sleepy Joe exhibits early stage dementia. November isn’t going to sort anything out. Either way four more years.of turmoil. We are going to see jaw dropping events in the years to come. Meanwhile enjoy the rugby with full stadiums, courtesy of the team of 4,999,500.Ian
Trump is about to hold another of his Torchlight Rallies He knows what he is doing, and is throwing more red meat to his base, The Deplorables.He is holding the rally in Tulsa, OK, the Tulsa where in 1921 angry, white mobs destroyed black businesses and residences. It has been described as the single worst incident of racial violence in American history. So where better for Trump to Rally the Racists?And what date has the American Hitler chosen? Why, Juneteenth, of course.But before you grab your hat and coat, before you can attend, you must sign a waiver indemnifying Trump, his Mafia and his Steal The Election campaign managers should you contract C-19.
I know some of you old soldiers can't let go of mother England's coat tails, but what you have now is not in any way, shape or form, a Westminster system.You have a Unicameral Parlaiment.You do not have FPP electorates deciding the government.MMP is not part of the Westminster system. It's a little more Weimar than Westminster.Here National beat Labour hands down in the popular vote is true, as far as it goes, but it was not a two horse race.
AT … I used the term Westminster system in the context that its parliament that's supreme and it's parliament that makes the rules. Westminster does not necessarily imply FPP (although it does in the UK). The NZ and Oz parliaments elected under MMP and PV respectively are both seen as being governed in the Westminster tradition. Nothing to do with your old soldier jibe. All to do with political thought and practise.Meanwhile Trump vs Biden and it's 'his' vested interests (determined on the trot) vs the establishment's vested interests (honed in the Tammany Hall tradition).
No, Oz has the Washminster system, and as John Kerr proved, Parliament is not supreme in Oz.I will be very interested to see what is revealed now \”The Palace Letters\” have been deemed public.
REx … post Kerr the rules were changed.
Perhaps you'd care to enlighten me on the rule changes, as nothing in the Australian Constitution or Statute of Westminster has changed.
Rex: it’s the “reserved powers”. It is no longer possible for a GG to dismiss a government. I’m not quite sure they’d do if supply was denied but dismissal would not be one of the options. Westminster does not mean FPP, it means a parliament.
Trump has made possible the rise of ANTIFA. What a legacy. PhooeyThe faction out of power using the mob to challenge the faction that has it is a technique a old as human civilization.The sure thing in this world is the people with power are generally thoroughly unpleasant individuals, well versed it the art of deceit
Andrei … do you mean that 'nice' Mr Putin … just askin.
Max, Section 28 of the Australian Constitution has not been changed.Every House of Representatives shall continue for three years from the first meeting of the House, and no longer, but may be sooner dissolved by the Governor-General. Just as Section 58 has never been used, IIRC, does not mean it cannot be. No one expected 1975 to be played out the way it did.