Dear Joe,

I can't help wondering though - who are the Democrats
going to put up to run opposite Trump in the 2020
election? Surely it would have to be someone who's
not a celebrity, but would represent experience,
and stability. Is there such a person?

Dearest Foxy,

Yeah, out of 350 million Americans, who on earth could stand ? 10,000 universities or whatever, and there's no top academic, some widely-respected public intellectual (if that's not a contradiction) who could take it on ? We're stuck with Trump or Clinton or Oprah ?

Wait and see: I suspect that many Republicans like Ryan are dropping out of the mid-term elections in order to cultivate their profiles for a 2020 presidential bid. There may even be some less gormless Democrats who are thinking that far ahead; gosh, two and a half years away, that's an eternity. Will Hillary last that long, since there's no-one else ? Ridiculous.

Love,

Joe

PS. I watched 'Roseanne' on Monday night; it was so stilted, lifeless and contrived that I felt sorry for the cast, all just going through the motions.

Dear Joe,

It will be interesting to see who the Democrats will come up with
to run against Trump and also how they will view Mr Trump this
time around. Will he be able to attract voters again? Will the
same tactics be used in an attempt to win?

As for Roseanne? I tend not to watch American shows. I lean more
towards - "Inspector Morse," "Midsomer Murders." I'll be watching
"Britain's Got Talent," tonight. The one series of American shows
that I do enjoy is - "Sex and the City." Those I don't miss ona
Thursday evening. I like the story lines and find the shows
entertaining. The characters to me at least are believeable.

Last night instead of Roseanne - I was watching, "Diana to Meghan:
Royal Wedding Secrets," only because I'd seen "Inspector Morse,"
and "Midsomer Murders," previously. I've got to admit though that
I found the Royal Wedding program fascinating. A whole different
world. And then some.

Hi Foxy,

I suppose if Trump can get nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize for threatening to bomb the crap out of North Korea and ridiculing its dictator, and if Kim Jong-Un proposes to wind back North Korea's nuclear program in the face of American sabre-rattling, he deserves one too: a joint Nobel Peace prize, Trump and Kim.

George Orwell would be over the moon. Maybe not: he would probably weep, that his notions of double-speak have come all too true.

And since Abe in Japan, Xi in China and Moon in South Korea have probably been doing all the leg-work on this, why can't they get one too ?

I think this saga has a long way to run yet, and it may produce some very big surprises.

Love,

Joe

Dear Joe,

We certainly live in interesting times.

Interesting, but scary.

I worry about my grandchildren's future.