I might have been ignorant of the way people in the USA thought about health care but after spending many hours discussing these issues with Americans I was no longer. I have no idea what happens in Peru and only slightly more in Malaysia!

What became clear is that health care in the USA is completely different to here. It is a business where the profit motive is king. It’s all they knew and as many of those I was talking with were ex military veterans they benefited from a significant amount of free healthcare for themselves and any direct family. They hated Obama without pause for thought about everything, and lacked any compassion for the disadvantaged people he was trying to help, in quite modest ways, with his Obamacare package. They hated the idea of a universal free at the point of use system paid from taxation even when it was pointed out it only cost around 50% of their system. We had robust, always respectful, discussions but little agreement.

This was truly “Obama Derangement Syndrome” and the first time I realised what a divisive place the USA was becoming. Some of the things that were seriously believed were impossible to comprehend. They all thought Trump was great too, which disturbed me. There was just one who thought as I did, but he was a businessman who had seen the world. He was dismayed at the direction of his country and had decided to establish his life, and businesses, away from it.

Trump comes up a lot not because I am obsessed by him but because of what he represents. I see the malaise in the west reflected in Trump.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

As stated; only the obsessed would deny it.
To think you'll have any influence on the opinions of the voters in another country is nothing but the epitome of solipsism.
We'll see how successful you've been after the election when if Trump wins we'll be in for another four years of wailing about how wrong millions of people were.

Oh please!

He was very popular with lots of people who didn’t even notice or think about his racial origins. I certainly didn’t.

That some did disgusted me then, and does today.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

I agree, apart from Trump’s base who would still vote for him even if they discovered he was actually Judus under that hair.

It’s why I anticipate that Biden will withdraw shortly before the convention and that the DNC will nominate someone else. Or that they will wait another month or two and allow his VP pick to stand. Biden can win, as that piece I referenced explained, but a younger, more dynamic alternative would encourage some undecideds and lose no one to the Democratic side.

When avoiding Trump is the priority I expect there will be great pressure exerted within and on the DNC to ensure it doesn’t happen.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Unless I misunderstand the system I don’t think it requires Harris to agree. She could be replaced against her will, although it would be politically damaging to do so.

So it seems more likely the DNC will sanction a new Presidential candidate with Harris either being that candidate or remaining as the VP unless the new selection made it obvious they wanted another.

Could Harris succeed? She has lots of things going for her but has also been targeted by the Republicans, so carries some baggage. She has though deliberately kept a low profile and could put distance between herself some of the slurs thrown at Biden.

She’s younger, she’s female and attractive. She’s intelligent, capable and presents well. Some ought not to matter, but do.

It would be interesting to say the least but it’s too important for that to be the main consideration. Winning is the only thing that matters.

Most polls put Trump well ahead of Harris should she be the candidate, with Trump/Biden a much closer race. I don’t though think that matters at this stage. I cannot see too many of those now wanting to vote for Biden switching to Trump if Harris was the final choice. I can though see independents switching the other way.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

You have to laugh, to use the metaphor this geezer owns zero mirrors.

'Who are you and how did you get in here? I'm a locksmith. And, I'm a locksmith.' (Leslie Nielsen)