Oh yeah. He was very enthusiastic. He also proudly told me that he doesn't vote and was taken aback when I knew that voting was compulsory in Australia. I don't think I was quite what he was expecting.

But then I also think there is no possible rational reaction to kids in cages.

Did I mention the Australian gentleman I got into conversation with in the Cook Islands who was giving me the MAGA spiel?

We do have our own fringe, in the form of Pauline Hanson and her party, One Nation. She first came to prominence in the 90s railing against Asian immigration. She re-entered Parliament at our last election (in large part because our PM decided on an arcane, boneheaded move when calling the election, which had procedural implications).

However, while in the U.S. your xenophobes took over a major party and the White House, One Nation only got four Senate seats out of 76. And then promptly imploded, with one Senator declared ineligible and two of them having now left the Party after falling out with Hanson. Which is not far off what happened to One Nation the first time round, with Hanson at one point being expelled from her own party. Our main saving grace is that our fringe populists are ridiculously incompetent.

If other countries got together behind our back and decided to invade us over this shit, I would fly their goddamn flags on my porch.

I'm sorry, but with the US government attacking most of its [former] allies and cosying up to dictators, you're going to have to sort this mess out on your own.

Yes, things are dire and awful and I'm alternately, or concurrently, weepy and stabby, but on the other hand, now we have SPAAAACE FORRRCE!

No, I can't even laugh at it.

Every single day I think this has to be rock bottom; it can't get any worse. And then they put kids in cages. And then some percentage of vocal vile beings defend and cheer that too. Hence cranking up calming tones and barely watching the news. I read my subscription newsletters and such but I can't watch anymore. I used to even dip a toe into the other side news, but it is too mind blowing.

It isn't looking like I will be able to go north before the wedding. I really want to be up there for my cousin's service, but it will take a miracle for that to happen. Still don't have a place for my son to move to, house and business projects galore that DH really needs me around to give words of encouragement if not help.

We'll see how many friends drop me today on FB. I try and not engage too much, but time to make it clear that some stuff just ain't right.

Time for more matcha tea! I haven't had coffee all week, and survived. Didn't even get the withdrawal headaches. Huh. If it keeps my BP in somewhat normal ranges it is worth it.

it can't get any worse.

I'm sorry to have to say this, but it's going to get much worse. Trump is an abuser, and the more he feels threatened by the Mueller investigation, the more he feels backed into a corner, the more he is going to find someone to take out his anger on. And by "someone" I mean people with dark skin and/or women. He really hasn't even started yet. It's probably best you brace yourself for what's coming.

I know what you say is true, Tom. I'm hoping things turn before we have a civil war.

Came across this ... thought the Buffistas would find it relevant.