Present: Me (M) and two Australian PGs* (APG) both academics on a three month leave - mandatory after 10 years' employment with one employer in Australia.
APG: What do you think of the current political climate in the USA?
M: Pretty scary.
APG: Yeah, especially with that billionaire Clinton woman.
M: What about Trump?
APG: Well, after Sanders dropped out he's the far better choice.
M (aghast): Why do you say that?
APG: He's a businessman. The USA needs to be run like a business.
M: He's a failed businessman. Every business he has been involved with has bankrupted. He's been sued.....
APG: Oh come on, most businessmen have failures, that's how they become successes. They learn from their mistakes!
M: But what about the people who have invested in his companies, their shares are worthless!
APG: That's real life. Some you win, some you lose.
M: So if he fails the USian people, and I can't count the number of ways this could happen, it would be an experiment?
APG: Of course. You don't want another corrupt Clinton running the country for her own personal gain.
I backed away with my hands up and didn't touch on Drumpf's comments on racism, immigration, privilege, creepiness (i.e desiring his daughters, et al)and mockery of those less fortunate.
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*Paying guests