A year to remember

The 2016 US presidential election is only two days away and what a relief this will be for the entire world after so much drama, surprises, acrimony and falsifications.

Only a few days ago, FBI Director James Comey pulled another surprise of his own, against the better judgement of Attorney General Loretta Lynch.

Comey sent a letter to the US Congress asking for investigation into Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton’s use of the private server to send e-mails just 10 days before the election.

Comey not only ignored Lynch’s instructions, he also went against the rule that no comment on political investigations can be made in less than 60 days before election day, which falls on November 8.

The campaign for presidential election in the US dominated local and international news for much too long as campaigning started much too soon, nearly a year and a half before the term in office of President Barack Obama ends.

The world is tired of hearing the nominees to the White House talk down each other in a circus of sorts.

Never before has the US, the world at large, seen such a low-level election spectacle with name calling reaching contemptible boundaries.

The latest attack by the Republican nominee Donald Trump was to call for drug tests on his opponent; he ridiculed her health and suggested that she is simply too old and has no stamina to run the country.

Health checks should extend to verify state of mind of a candidate, as well as his/her temperament and ability to make rational decisions, knowing that the president of the US would be only few seconds away from the nuclear button.

Name calling included calling Trump “nuts”, “imbalanced” or “ill fit” to govern, and it should not have happened.

Trump described Clinton as “crooked” and said that the first thing he would do if elected would be to have her arrested over the e-mail issue.

The world was looking at the US to set a fine example of how democratic elections should be conducted, expecting polite and reasonable behaviour. Instead, it got a show that does not become the US.

Trump even said that if he loses, there could be a revolt in the country and blood could be spilled. He called the entire election process rigged and said he may not accept the results if he loses. 

No matter who wins, this year’s presidential election will continue to haunt the US political landscape for many years.

It would not have been that way had the two political parties made sure that their respective nominees were up to standard and had the mindset and emotional balance needed to lead the number one superpower.

American voters will have to weigh the negative e-mail Clinton narrative against the ominous prospect of electing Trump, given his state of mind and temperament.

I believe the balance will tilt in Clinton’s favour.