To close out this unprecedented 2020 Election Circuit prelude, let us enjoy a mental (if not spiritual) amuse bouche. Taken from the elegant French, we have per Wikipedia:

An amuse-bouche is a single, bite-sized hors d’œuvre. Amuse-bouches are different from appetizers in that they are not ordered from a menu by patrons but are served free and according to the chef’s selection alone. These are served both to prepare the guest for the meal and to offer a glimpse of the chef’s style.

The term is French and literally means “mouth amuser”. The plural form may be amuse-bouche or amuse-bouches. In France, amuse-gueule is traditionally used in conversation and literary writing while amuse-bouche is not even listed in most dictionaries, being a euphemistic hypercorrection that appeared in the 1980s on restaurant menus and used almost only there. (In French, bouche refers to the human mouth, while gueule may mean the mouth or snout of an animal, though commonly used for mouth and derogatory only in certain expressions.

So, to be precise, we have a single bite, chef chosen, free preliminary, not subject to annoying individual requests like extra mayo, dressing on the side, no tomatoes, and other Trumpian inspired special requests for his True Believers. No extra Trafalgar, Rasmussen in very limited quantities, etc.

Originally, it might have been a simple plate of olives. As cuisine got fancier, we are now faced with dueling showoffs to admire. The Parmesan panna cotta looks simple and delightful. The fussier Japanese Hamachi, salmon roe, and basil is fussier.

However, the earthier French term is amuse gueule in the people’s language, and literally means animal snout, which is a much more evocative term, in my opinion. I think if you squint just a bit, the Japanese pre-starter, resembles a miniature pig snout on a platter, which is so relevant and down to earth in the End Days of Trump I, at the very least.

But I digress.

The RCP Amuse Bouche gives a mere bite sized dip into the daily chef’s larder of Trump-Biden Polls, three weeks from Election Day.

How’s our Boy Doing? What is the overnight reaction to his latest antics, as he careens to a reckoning of some sort, even if it takes a day or two (or even 7-10) to count all those ballots.

Lord, spare us a rerun of 2000’s Brooks Brothers Florida rubbish chads, but we are all better prepared to defend against Trump’s ginned up phony troublemaking. The best defense is plain and simple: make sure you VOTE. Simple, just VOTE. Make sure you Vote.

There are no shenanigans in the world that Trump or the Russian gremlins can come up with in the face of a turnout of 150 million American voters in 2020. That’s a Voter Tsunami. That’s a Good Thing. And if you have been paying attention: America Votes, America Wins. That’s why desperados are doing everything they can to decrease, slow down, and not count legitimate American Votes.

Sadly, in this case all the desperados have a Big Red R painted on their backs.

Let us begin the final three-week menu on a Federal Holiday: Columbus Day. I am old enough that that term resonates for me. We can discuss whether it should be properly called Indigenous People’s Day, left alone, or cancelled altogether next year, when the critical item is accomplished, that is GO VOTE, Damn It!

The only reason for treading in preceding choppy waters, is to suggest an actual democracy reform for the U.S., which is that Election Day should be a Mandatory National Holiday with pay. Hell, I’d even be in favor of giving a full federal tax break to employers to cover the cost. Good for Employers, Better for Workers. Vote, America. That’s your most important job on November 3rd. And Don’t You Forget It.

Here Goes:

Monday October 12, 2020

Trump Biden Contests: 9

Trump blows it nationally 100%. Good news is he’s winning Montana by 6 and is above 50%. Yahoo, Partner. Otherwise, pretty sucky. Senate not great for the Red Team; best they do is a tie in Montana. Tie in Montana?

Lordy, I’d better clean my glasses.

VOTE America!

Time to cleanse your palate. One of my favorites is Orange Sorbet. I liked it lots before Trump burst on the scene.