Driving a few days ago from Vancouver to Whidbey Island near Seattle with Canadian friends, they cautioned my wife and I to keep our political opinions quiet, as hostilities have risen to fever pitch due to the approaching US election. As frequent visitors to the US, we have noticed this disturbing trend of dislike of opposing views, edging towards hatred.

As we crossed the border into Washington State, where the autumn scenery was spectacular, we could see a plethora of Harris placards in people’s front yards, shops, fields etc, but only minor traces of any Trump signage.

We were dropped off at the picturesque small town of Langley on Whidbey Island, a Harris town where we had dinner with other friends, who gave us the same message, ‘keep quiet’. TVs populate every coffee shop and diner in the US and when not covering World Series sports (which only features US teams), it’s just politics.

The mainstream TV news channels, featured mostly attractive, toothy, smiling female panellists in pro-Harris mode, predominantly berating Trump’s style, mannerisms, sexism, and misogyny. The short footage bursts of Kamala Harris saying something cohesive whilst giggling, were indeed short, and the adverts for teeth whitening toothpaste I thought was part of her same jumbled message. Nevertheless, missing from the pro-Harris narrative were comments on Trump’s track record or policy.

Fox News was refreshingly focused on, you guessed it, track record and policy, the previous successes of Trump, and then reminding viewers about the appalling failings of Biden/Harris, especially with the disgraceful exit from Afghanistan, allowing millions of illegal migrants, and stuffing the US economy in general.

My wife Stephanie, not a political tragic like myself, made a rare observation, as anyone ignorant of US politics would after observing two days of non-stop TV commentary from two opposing teams, ‘This is chalk and cheese,’ she said. ‘Why is that so many Americans don’t get that this is just chalk and cheese?‘

Wow, she actually nailed it, but this is not a fight for just the US, this is a fight for many democracies around the world that are under attack from bizarre left-wing anti-nation policies.

Chalk and cheese, I got the point, but clearly millions of Americans don’t. We’ve run lots of companies, but would we employ Kamala Harris? To be fair, maybe she would do well at the complaints section of Bunnings, where her incoherent sentences and incessant giggling could convince people to feel good about being refused a refund and to just ‘sod off’. But to run America? You’re kidding!

The next morning, being early starters, we walked around the town and found a charity coffee shop, full of Harris supporters. One of them, a burly guy with a head like a robber’s dog, spotted my CPAC Australia cap, and as CPAC is a well known organisation in the US that Trump is associated with, he questioned me, ‘What is CPAC?’

Having a heart as big as a pea, I told him, ‘Catholic and Protestant Aeromodellers Club…’ Which seemed to placate him. No use getting beaten up before the pubs opened.

After a ferry ride and short trip, we checked into a Seattle CBD hotel, surrounded by empty buildings, boarded up shop fronts and lots of ‘For Sale’ signs. Not exactly a great example of a vibrant Democrat State economy, but it reminded me of another city, victim to socialism, Melbourne.

The next day we joined a ship repositioning to Australia, with most of the 3,000 passengers being US, Canadian, and Australian. Maybe I could have some fun?

After the primary objective of getting to Australia, the secondary objective of this 23-day trip was to celebrate the Queensland overthrow of the ALP and Greens, then the US overthrow of the Democrats. Another objective was to create a new world record for ambling on a treadmill.

Of course, as many cruisers know, you end up sitting next to strangers at meals or functions on the ship and on day three, we shared a table with two ladies from California who were on the lookout for husband number 4 and 5 respectively.

Fun driven, I baited the conversation with, ‘I hope the ugly guy doesn’t win the election!’

‘Us too!’ We just wanna see a woman President!’ They snapped back.

‘I don’t think there’s a woman in the running, but I just hope Dumelang Saleshando doesn’t get the top job, because Botswana deserves better, and their election is this week…’ I responded.

‘Where’s Botswana?’ they replied. ‘We just wanna see a woman in the White House!’

‘Why would you want an inexperienced woman in the White House, just because she’s a woman and you need to tick the DEI box? Haven’t you heard about New Zealand’s recent mistake of putting an inexperienced woman in the wheelhouse of a Navy ship which hit Samoa and sank?’ They shook their heads.

Knowing the Left’s penchant for Academia, I continued, ‘The research of a professor colleague has assured me that the over fluoridisation and other neurotoxins in drinking water can adversely affect the brain and there’s a graph showing diminished brain activity in Democrat states. Finding another husband might be hard for a divorced Democrat, so have another wine!’ James Allen would’ve been proud of me.

The fun had finally begun, and the news of the Queensland election, particularly the Greens not getting a seat, really made that evening memorable.

I have come to the conclusion that millions of lazy and gullible Americans are being led by a lazy and gullible media, who are being led by the UN and others pursuing a socialist ideology. The remainders, thinking carefully about their future, hopefully are in the majority

Our American friends are just praying for the best leader for their nation and from a couple of outsiders, it is certainly not the cackling Kamala.

However, the US needs a clear and refreshing explanation of chalk and cheese. Where is Kel Richards when you need him?