"I find it hard to believe that you believe Trump has dementia or that the 82nd airborne is going to descend on Portland."

I find it hard to believe that you don't realize that Trump is failing fast. I have never even mentioned that 82nd Airborne claim (because I've not seen a verifiable source for it), so I'm not sure what you're on about with that one.

Oh, and I'm not "poo poohing" that vote percentage or the vote total. I was simply pointing out both that your previous claim of "over half the country put him in office" was way off and that his actual support is a comparatively modest segment of the US population. That's an artifact of how out system works (and of the sad effect of voter apathy...something I've railed about in the past).

I can't much disagree with your closing paragraph, however. The oligarchic* forces that increasingly actually run the show may have a preference for one party over the other, but the end result doesn't change a whole lot in terms of them getting what they want. It's the same old golden rule: "them that has the gold make the rules."

*Yes, I recognize the irony of someone in my situation complaining about oligarchy.