Letters

Sweet victory (for Democrats) in Alabama

Thu Dec 14 2017 - 01:19

Sir, – It was with delight that I awoke on Wednesday morning to the unexpected news that Democrat Doug Jones had beaten the Republican candidate Roy Moore in Alabama’s senatorial election (“Republican Roy Moore loses Alabama state election in blow to Trump”, Suzanne Lynch, December 13th).

Thankfully, the by now standard tactics of the populist right of denial, diversion and counter-attack in the face of multiple and compelling accusations of past sexual transgressions did not work for Judge Moore, as it did so well for Donald Trump in 2016.

This result is being reported across international media as a “major blow” for the US president. I trust I am not being naive in hoping that the Alabama result marks the point where the tide of public sentiment in the US turned against the rancour and division that is so clearly encouraged by right-wing populism and back towards a more moderate, consensual form of politics. – Yours, etc,

JOE McCARTHY,

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Arbour Hill,

Dublin 7.

Sir, – A candidate for election, despite being accused by multiple women of sexual harassment/abuse, in addition to accusations of racism and a variety of extreme right-wing stances, has received 46 per cent of the vote and been elected president of the US.

On Tuesday, one year on, Roy Moore (arguably even more offensively loathsome than Trump) received 48 per cent of the vote in the Alabama Senate election – and lost.

Cue rejoicing? Not so much. Although this result was in a southern Republican state, a staggering 91 per cent of Republicans who voted cast their vote for the despicable Roy Moore (endorsed by Trump). Plus ça change. – Yours, etc,

BILL O’BRIEN,

Clontarf,

Dublin 3.

Sir, – The electorate of Alabama must be congratulated for electing a Democratic Senator (Doug Jones) for the first time in 25 years.

Hopefully this is the first of many oncoming electoral wounds that will be inflicted on Donald Trump that will finally end his ill-fated presidency. – Yours, etc,

BRENDAN BUTLER,

Malahide,

Co Dublin.

Sir, – After the Alabama result, perhaps P45 should be serenaded with that great Irish ballad “No, nay, never . . . no, nay, never no Moore”. – Yours, etc,

BRENDAN TREACY,

Drumree,

Co Meath.