Trump's threat to deny the legality of the outcome of the election for the US President is the big news after the candidates final TV debate (19 October.) In fact there were several moments that might cause a shudder and they will be picked up below. However, Trump's facetious remarks that he would
'Tell you at the time; I will keep you in suspense' when the Fox News Chair of proceedings pushed Trump on his acceptance, or not, of the General Election result, has resulted in a real dither in the US establishment - and much wider.
If Trump wants a future after a defeat in his run for the Presidency, he needs to dent the legitimacy of the vote. Nothing is more important to him than his own place as front and centre of the political stage. In the highways and byways of the US his supporters may well carry out their own, more physical, reaction to any irritation which crosses their path - as Trump has called the government a tyranny and, according to the Declaration of Independence, it therefore should be overthrown. But Trump simply wants to remain in the limelight, and to keep together his social and political base for (an early if possible) second attempt at what he believes and hopes to make, through forcing the Republican block in Congress, his ownership of the Presidency. He does not plan to go away.
There were other comments over the ninety minutes that are worth consideration.
For example Trump put forward the astonishing proposition that the corporations, directly, through their own chiefs, should rule the world. He pointed to this particular gang as having the intelligence and heft that went well beyond the wit and wisdom of the pusillanimous representatives of the elected US government when it came to dealing with the rest of the planet - making deals - pushing enemies back into their place - and making allies pay for that privilege.
Trump also took the abortion debate to new depths. From his pulpit he denounced the
'Ripping of babies out of the womb at nine months.' The phrase obviously tickled his righteousness as he rolled it around his mouth several times, shouting across at Clinton as though she personally was responsible. More worryingly, opposition to a women's right to choose was clearly the major criteria for any new Trump Supreme Court appointments. (There could be three or more necessary in the next four years.)
Meanwhile Clinton talked about the military leverage that she thought was necessary to deal with Syria and 'force' Russia into a pro-peace position. The US military are buzzing to go while the Mosel offensive is underway. Pushing back IS in Iraq is clearly the starting shot for a new US led Syrian and thereby Mid East offensive, according to Hillary.
And the Clinton's involvement, close relations with and support for America's super rich, was painfully obvious in virtually every round of the discussion. Trump was right when he asked rhetorically and repeatedly who had made the laws that had allowed him, a billionaire, to pay no taxes.
All in all the debate was a dismal affair. In the end most mainstream commentators scored it for Hillary as Trump lost his cool and went too far upsetting the established norms in the US's 'good loser' policy. What stood out was that to be a President you need to be super rich, and if you want anything, including any sort of decent life if you are poor and working class (or middle class, as Hillary insisted) then you need the super rich to do it for you. Hillary Clinton talked about standing up to the big corporations, but it felt more like the argument she might have for her speaking fee than any serious shift of wealth and power. She is very lucky that Trump is so awful. If she wins the Presidency it will be because of Trump. Neither candidate had any big idea whatsoever of the crisis of the working class, or negative effects of the world that the US leadership has created or the failure of the political system to deliver government - of the people, by the people and for the people.
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