I've now used a whole box of Kleenex.

Part of me feels like there's no way Trump can stay on message, and he'll lose his tiny little mind and start spewing nasty bigoted stuff. (Of course, the people who are going to vote for him love that, but those people were NEVER going to be swayed to vote for Clinton.) I mean, he can't even stick to the teleprompter at speeches that were written ahead of time, that he (in theory) was able to practice, or at least read over before stepping behind the podium.

But then, yeah -- *if* he manages to stay on message and doesn't explode like a pressure cooker full of hate, that will probably count as a "win." (How is THAT the bar we're setting for our POTUS? Even George W. Bush had a higher bar to clear than "Don't say bigoted stuff in front of a hot microphone.")

Fortunately, the Saints are on the Monday Night Football game, so I won't be tempted to watch.

::fistbump Dana::

That is excellent news, Sparky! Mine has also shipped, hooray! I am not taking my copy anywhere exotic, but it's as making me anxious sitting in Preparing to Ship all weekend.

Ugh, I just Cannot with this morning.

The bar is set so low for Trump that "He met with the President of Mexico and didn't say anything overtly racist on camera until he was back in the US a few hours later!" was considered a major win. I am worried for the debate, and the country.

One of the political podcasts I listen to (maybe FiveThirtyEight?) made what I thought was a very good point that the media, on average, doesn't have a liberal or conservative bias, but it has a very strong horserace bias. And in order to talk about this election like it's anything even closely resembling an even match, you have to grade Trump on the steepest possible curve.

(I've also been thinking that the problem with anyone in the media trying to understand Trump voters is that journalists, as a class, are too educated. Whatever their political views are, they are not in the Trump demographic of people without a college education. And that got me thinking that the way to prevent another Trumplike candidate is to make higher education free for as many people as possible. So let's do that. Free public education through a bachelor's degree for everyone! Invest in the future! Prevent Idiocracy!)

I saw a scary statistic last night that 80% of white men without college degrees are voting for Trump. 80!! WTF, people. Do you care nothing for your neighbors? Or, you know, the future of the world? Argh.

My sister is hosting a tape-delayed viewing of the debate, I may stop by if it sounds like it's not a debacle.

And now off to work. So hot here today.

I saw a scary statistic last night that 80% of white men without college degrees are voting for Trump. 80!! WTF, people. Do you care nothing for your neighbors? Or, you know, the future of the world? Argh.

Well, it seems that that demographic is scrambling desperately to hang on to being the majority in this country (and world), and Trump is the candidate who makes them feel like they are absolutely correct to shit on anyone who is a woman or any color other than white.

Although that takes me back to the idea that surely Clinton will win, because she has every demographic except scary white dudes. (I can't even think about people who might vote third party. If this is 2000 all over again, I will lose my mind.)

Oh, Gud. Is there anything we can do to help you right now?

You and your family have all my love.

Oh no, Gud! How scary. Best thoughts to your daughter (and the rest of your family). I hope you have good treatment options available.