The U.S. presidential election has been filled with ludicrous comedies of errors – a true farce. The climax is about to blossom.
For Canada, Secretary Hillary Clinton will likely cause the least damage if elected. The North American Free Trade Agreement will remain intact. Her relationship with Canada will remain benignly neglectful. Her attitude about Alberta oil sands will continue to mimic President Obama’s – condemning us as one of the world’s leading polluters. Meanwhile she will accept increasing volumes of Fort McMurray’s outflow using trains, trucks and existing pipelines. If we are really nice, she might even allow us to have a seat on the UN Security Council.
Secretary Clinton’s track record as a lawyer, first lady and professional politician is remarkable. Unfortunately her ambition to become the first woman president of the United States of America has consumed her. As Secretary of State she had a unique opportunity to put a positive stamp on U.S. foreign affairs. She could have been as historically influential as some of her most distinguished predecessors – Thomas Jefferson, George Marshall, John Foster Dulles and Henry Kissinger. Unhappily, she abandoned her post in favour of running for president. Her resignation reminds me of the Right Honourable Paul Martin. A truly outstanding Canadian public servant, he became so deeply engrossed with becoming prime minister that he prematurely quit as minister of finance. He achieved his life-long goal. Then he lost his way. Hillary Clinton is at risk of doing exactly the same thing.
For America, a President Trump could help restore an effective national government. His election would force Congress to fulfill its constitutional role – something that self-serving body has evaded for several years. It is their sad performance, along with President Obama’s unfortunate handling of U.S. world affairs – most disastrously being Russia and China expansionism – that has enhanced Mr. Trump’s attractiveness. He has a credible position when he stresses, with considerable demagogic righteousness, that professional politicians in Washington have ruined the country and that, as a successful businessman, he can make America great again.
Let us acknowledge that, if nothing else, he has been completely dominant in the presidential race since he began his campaign. His force of personality has even driven the sitting president into the streets. Hillary spends most of her time running against Mr. Trump and not for the presidency. If she can’t handle Donald, how would she ever successfully deal with Vladimir Putin?
Of course, the most interesting element at the moment is Mr. Trump’s threat not to accept the results of the election – if he loses. The second amendment of the U.S. constitution states “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." If Donald loses, the Trumpets may well sound with a call to arms. If the U.S. Supreme Court can interpret this clause so to encourage every citizen to own and wear a gun, surely Donald should have the right to organize him or her to secure a free democracy.
Given the current makeup of the Supreme Court, the fun will truly start if Donald Trump asks for the right to raise a militia to oppose an elected president.
Alan Murdock is a local pediatrician.
