Southport journalist Martin Hovden writes: I watched President-elect Joe Biden's Press Conference on CNN last night, giving his reaction to Wednesday's Trump-inspired mob attack on the Capitol.


Mr Biden is exactly what the United States urgently needs – a man of integrity, decency and humanity. And fortunately we only have to wait two weeks for him to take the helm.


He highlighted the huge difference between the response by the powers-that-be to yesterday's events and the the Black Lives Matter protests in the summer:


If you're black: expect violence, rubber bullets and tear gas.


If you're white: welcome, come on in, lovely to see you.


I've lived in the beautiful town of Southport for more than 20 years, but I'm very proud of the fact I was born in Huskisson Street in Toxteth in the 1950s – the most ethnically diverse suburb in Liverpool. And I clearly remember we were all kids together and our colour was never mentioned.


I'm hurtling towards my seventh decade on this earth. I've welcomed so many changes in attitudes and law towards our fellow man and woman - but why in 2021 do we still judge people by their colour, their sexuality, their religion?


Maybe the departure of Trump (the most disgusting man to ever hold power in recent times) will signal the start of a new prejudice-free society. I hope so.

Under Biden, America will soon descend back into the swamp that produced Trump our hope lies with Kamala.

The orange mist that descends when discussing Trump is like nothing I have seen before.

He is supported by crazies and opposed by them he certainly polarises debate.

I have been a sometimes lonely voice trying to toe the middle line with the emetic as I christened him as soon as he looked liked standing.

It seems like there's a rat race to come up with the most visceral invective to describe him yet the reality is despite his remarkable vote he is going this month, calm down.

The crowd and for the most part orderly crowd that breached the capitol are again being ignored and branded beyond anything we saw.

Trump going back to his golf course or Guantanamo Bay doesn't solve anything.
They didn't storm through Washington setting fire to shops and looting and never looked like it.

For the majority, I have seen worse behaviour in the ASDA black Friday sales.

They have been rightly condemned and deserve it but this is an awful lot of disgruntled people who need a voice.

I may be wrong - but I seem to remember the USA having a black president, didn't they?

The colour of anyone's skin only becomes an issue when it is referred to - most often by those who are of coloured skin, or those attempting to use it to their personal advantage. THAT is racist because these people are creating a distinction between people - placing a focus on the one group of people.

Mr. Biden during his Campaign, said, and I quote -"Well I tell you what, if you have a problem figuring out whether you're for me or Trump, then you ain't black." CNN News. + LA Times etc., So really there is very little difference between Trump or Biden.

Biden's pledges are also similar to those of Trump - he promises to restore US manufacturing hegemony and that more products will be made in America - just a Trump did and which Trump found impossible to secure - for the simple reason that USA manufacturers find it cheaper to outsource manufacturing to poorer countries.. His spending plan is far greater than that planned by Trump by about $2.2 Trillion, and he also intends taxing the wealthy more which has a negative domino effect.. I have little confidence.

I sincerely hope that Biden does not intend to interfere in our own politics either - When asked by a BBC reporter, after the vote, if he had any words for the BBC, Biden retorted "No, I am Irish". The National Scot. Biden's claim to Irish descent is shared with at least 22 other ex-presidents - and Biden has only ever paid one very short visit to Ireland in his whole life.

Another Biden quote reported in The Times on the 2nd January - “I may be Irish, but I'm not stupid” Which is a complete insult to Irish people. (Bush Mark 111, perhaps)

Originally Posted by local

Under Biden, America will soon descend back into the swamp that produced Trump our hope lies with Kamala.

The orange mist that descends when discussing Trump is like nothing I have seen before.

He is supported by crazies and opposed by them he certainly polarises debate.

I have been a sometimes lonely voice trying to toe the middle line with the emetic as I christened him as soon as he looked liked standing.

It seems like there's a rat race to come up with the most visceral invective to describe him yet the reality is despite his remarkable vote he is going this month, calm down.

The crowd and for the most part orderly crowd that breached the capitol are again being ignored and branded beyond anything we saw.

Trump going back to his golf course or Guantanamo Bay doesn't solve anything.
They didn't storm through Washington setting fire to shops and looting and never looked like it.

For the majority, I have seen worse behaviour in the ASDA black Friday sales.

They have been rightly condemned and deserve it but this is an awful lot of disgruntled people who need a voice.

The crowd were far from orderly, the sentiments they expressed and attempted to achieve border on revolution, far from clearing the swamp as per Trump, the lying, thieving, cheating crook created a whole, bigger and deeper swamp, far from creating jobs in the USA, he simply handed more freebies to big businesses and corporations, yet quick to deny any semblance of assistance to those in need.

Medical care and help was systematically denied to more and more people, the guy’s only aim was to build a permanent dynasty, elections were an alien concept to him if there was a chance of him losing.

No idea how Biden will fare, but removing a wannabe despot had got to be an improvement.

In the USA, Trump is already being touted as the worst President ever, those are comments from the USA, not here in the UK.

Sure they didn’t storm through Washington attacking shops etc; in case you missed it, shops in the area shut up and boarded their premises to keep the thugs out.

You must have had different TV feeds to me I watched it live on Sky and simply don't recognise your attempted "revolution"

I think you have had a dose of the orange mist again.

A bunch of yes predominately white men and women did act wrongly but most of them hardly got above idling speed, the majority lolled around taking selfies.

A few hotheads definitely but I don't think democracy was ever under siege and the shops boarded up or otherwise were not under threat.

The worst President ever is the one that created the circumstances where he was even a consideration for nomination never mind President.

Trump didn't elect himself he was the product of a political system that was so sick the desperate electorate picked an emetic.

Going back to a politician that is plainly a past-it version of the same old same old will lead to more festering discontent and allow Trump or another version of him to get back, he got even more votes than when he was elected which is far more worrying.

Originally Posted by local

You must have had different TV feeds to me I watched it live on Sky and simply don't recognise your attempted "revolution"

I think you have had a dose of the orange mist again.

A bunch of yes predominately white men and women did act wrongly but most of them hardly got above idling speed, the majority lolled around taking selfies.

A few hotheads definitely but I don't think democracy was ever under siege and the shops boarded up or otherwise were not under threat.

The worst President ever is the one that created the circumstances where he was even a consideration for nomination never mind President.

Trump didn't elect himself he was the product of a political system that was so sick the desperate electorate picked an emetic.

Going back to a politician that is plainly a past-it version of the same old same old will lead to more festering discontent and allow Trump or another version of him to get back, he got even more votes than when he was elected which is far more worrying.

Pointless even attempting to debate with you on this, instead would suggest you take a look at the US news and various media sites, the facts that are coming out get worse rather than better, yes there are sites pro-Trump and anti-Trump, but this invasion of the Capitol building had long been planned, also worth noting all the intimidation, threats of violence, death even civil war are ONLY on the Tump cult sites.

Trump has certainly created division, which will probably be the hardest thing to calm, but remember the hard core of his support comes from groups of white supremacists, the craziest of conspiracy theorists, those who claim to be patriots, but are in reality reactionists who will look for any port to hang their assorted hats on, plus the total odd balls of Q Anon, without a ring leader do you seriously think this gang of misfits will stay as a coherent group, I doubt it and certainly hope they finish up fighting each other.

You talk about risk, you are aware that not only the Capitol building came under attack, a number of state government buildings and Governors residences were also attacked and in two cases invaded by armed thugs, this is not some spur of the moment passion, these were preplanned and encouraged by the half wit who fortunately will soon be out of the WH.

A good number are determined to go after Trump for his multiple illegal actions, but it does look that Biden will soft pedal some actions, obviously not wishing to turn Trump into some sort of martyr for the cult followers.

Originally Posted by local

You must have had different TV feeds to me I watched it live on Sky and simply don't recognise your attempted "revolution"

I think you have had a dose of the orange mist again.

A bunch of yes predominately white men and women did act wrongly but most of them hardly got above idling speed, the majority lolled around taking selfies.

A few hotheads definitely but I don't think democracy was ever under siege and the shops boarded up or otherwise were not under threat.

The worst President ever is the one that created the circumstances where he was even a consideration for nomination never mind President.

Trump didn't elect himself he was the product of a political system that was so sick the desperate electorate picked an emetic.

Going back to a politician that is plainly a past-it version of the same old same old will lead to more festering discontent and allow Trump or another version of him to get back, he got even more votes than when he was elected which is far more worrying.

How do you manage it?
You try to piece together something coherent out of what is shattered.
Trump was signalling from the summer that he was not going to accept a democratic loss. He supported voter suppression. He tried to disable the US Postal Service. He encouraged bizarre fabrications about his opponent. At no point did he ever express to the electorate any vision of what he would do for the next four years. It was enough for his mentality to put down his opponent and do his best to mobilise prejudice and ignorance.
Even before he incited the disgrace last week it was clear he had no patience for decency or democracy. Everything, even the deaths of 300,000 people, was subordinate to his "right" to re-election.
Yes Biden is not a strong candidate. Nonetheless he decisively beat Trump. We need to focus on that because what it says is that there is still decency in the US .
So second question: WHY do you do it?