Rayvin

North Carolina starting to look Trump destined... I think we might be fucked here.

Florida goes to Trump with higher numbers than expected. I would call that a bad sign.

It's going to be a long 2-3 days while this shitshow is sorted out. The close nature of the polls might scare Dem voters into action at least. Trump voters probably didn't need the push so much.

That is a top quality post and I applaud the commitment to it

Don't say that ffs... god that's a Sophie's Choice right there. Trump or EU.. Actually if it was that simple, it'd flip me pro-Trump. Thank god it isn't.

I mean part of it is definitely a desire to stand up for my principles I guess, but perhaps it's easier with the US as my only real concerns are that they don't abandon Ukraine, and they don't collapse internationalism. It doesn't really bother me what they're doing domestically, though perhaps it should.

The most pathetic part of that entire thing is "Other fans love us because..." The complete obsession with the need for external validation is beyond cringeworthy. I've not seen any 'group' do this in quite the way mackems do, both within football and outside of it. Or maybe it's just RTG, but either way it's extreme "pick me" energy, as the Zoomers would say.

I mean if it was a straight run off between Starmer and anyone to the right of him I guess I would. Not sure what it is about our system that makes me want to resist that though, suppose part of me falls for the illusion that it isn't a binary choice.

Something I've been struggling with a bit on my end in all this is that I seem to be applying a different standard to the US race compared to the UK elections. Harris is essentially a New Labour style candidate, a moderate who won't make any significant changes or address the things that I would argue are important. And yet in her case, I absolutely would vote for her without caring about any of her policies, simply because she's not Trump. I suppose it means I see Trump as a bigger threat to 'everything' than the Tories ever could be, but it's still somewhat hypocritical of me. I'll need to submit myself for some self flagellation, not sure I can have this one both ways.

It honestly feels like it doesn't matter if Labour's budget is left wing or not - it'll be called as being such. Same state of affairs in the US atm where everyone to the left of Hitler is a radical communist. Which does rather beg the question why we don't just own it.

I remember when a sizeable contingent of lefty people thought this guy was gonna be some sort of Tony Stark style figure. Fairly safe to say at this point that no one that rich is ever going to be looking to do any of us any favours.

Feel like Badenoch is good news indeed but I think I must have missed her framework of beliefs... what are those then?

America just has to dodge this bullet one final time and then the spectre passes. I don't think they've got anyone waiting in the wings who could achieve quite what Trump has in terms of mobilising support.

Anyone see this point that the IFS have criticised the budget for not being realistic about spending? Apparently they think we're going to end up spending far more than the budget suggests we will, and have consequently accused Labour of 'playing the same stupid games' as the Tories. Still no truth in the room I guess, not that I don't understand why they're doing it.

As I've alluded to before, it's definitely in Gen Z - social media is saturated with it. I hope you're right but I remain worried about it. My younger sister was showing me a video on tiktok the other day about a female influencer who was pushing the idea of being a 'tradwife' (traditional wife), and she's got millions of followers... she's not even directly speaking to the politics of it, and yet she is a soldier in the culture war ultimately.

Masterful

I think my concern is that the culture war has taken on a life of its own and politicians are just along for the ride. The Tories could be led by a banana in 2029 and people would still vote for it. I do agree with you about getting the pain done early though - if it has to be done at all, now is the time. Also agree in gradual improvement, but the problem with that is that you really need to be singing about it loudly or people are not gonna notice.

Also fair, you're right. I'm not even sure what he stands for this time around, it's all theatre and noise.

I need this against the tide positivity Gemmill, keep it up...

Fair but he seems to be on our side so i suppose he would say all this? It just feels like there's blood in the water to me, genuine fear gripping people on this now. Maybe that's good for turnout at least.

Do the Red Wall care about any of that stuff though? Labour set their stall out to seduce one specific group of people, and I suppose that's where they're primarily going to be judged. Labour aren't doing enough to appeal to people like us, it's just deckchairs on the titanic stuff iyam. But that's fine, because we're meant to just bend over and take the shafting for 'the team'. The real issue is that all of that stuff you mentioned does fuck all to appeal to the red wall lot. Bus fares and fuel allowance on the other hand... If this version of Labour delivers the Tories again in another 4 years, I am done with moderate centrism for good. Will become and out and out communist ffs.

It feels like the Democrats are sleepwalking towards a loss to me, and it's genuinely worrying. Early voting favouring Harris apparently not a surprise as it's always thus for the Democrats, but I keep seeing things suggesting she's projected to lose in most swing states. Win the popular vote but lose in electoral college.

Aye, can see all that too. Maybe I'm just being led by the media and feel on this more than the reality.

I think yeah, the will would be there but not the organisation. But even with that, how do you heal the nation from that schism...

Well I can follow the logic of that so I hope it's right.. Imagine if that kid hadn't missed. What the world would look like.