Au Cochonnet Marin

“It is not in numbers, but unity, that our great strength lies.” ~ Thomas Paine

In his acceptance speech, Joe Biden’s keyword was unity.
E Pluribus Unum! (Out of many, one.) To succeed, we must unite… embrace and include everybody, and the president-elect indicated that he intends to do this, by words and by deeds.

 Now, the first requirement of a president is to be presidential… and unlike his (still sulking) petulant predecessor, Joe Biden understands this and behaves like one. And I hope that his official signature remains humble, not like the arrogant paraph of an autocrat approving a capital execution.

The new president-elect is approachable but dignified. A novelty after 4 years of official crass behavior. He also gets points for choosing a woman as his running mate. Including a woman of color in the ticket is also a right, uniting decision. It indicates that being a woman is no obstacle to higher office.

It is time for America to realize that a woman can be as good as a man (if not better), to lead and to inspire. Many nations around the world have already understood this and had no qualms to put a woman in the driver seat.

“You can’t have unity without diversity.” – Richard Twiss

Inclusion also means that not only a few but everybody shares the bounty of the land. No matter how high the Dow Jones Industrial Average is, it is not an indication of universal happiness; the minimum federal wage is a better way to gauge it.

Joe Biden promised to renew ties with many countries that Donald Trump insulted or tossed aside. It is going to be a difficult task that will require diplomacy… done by real diplomats, not relatives.

“America First” never was a good motto for our country. It sounds too much like “Deutschland über alles”. It shows selfishness and arrogance and does not inspire confidence with the (few) friends we still have in the world. “Compete but cooperate” sounds much more palatable to me.

Joe Biden also gets unanimous kudos for his decision to immediately set up a task force to fight Covid-19. A task force entirely composed of respected scientists, not ignorant toadies anxious to please their master.

Last but not least,  canines will be coming back to the White House. I understand that the Bidens’ have 2 German shepherds who are eager to explore and dig up the Rose Garden. In my book, anybody who loves animals gets extra points.

Welcome to the Casa Blanca mister President-elect and bless you for promoting unity! It is not a four-letter word.

Alain

 PS: Please have a look at my latest winter pétanque pictures

It is over. And none too soon!

The country is sick and tired of the poisonous atmosphere that permeated the 2020 electoral process. Since Joe Biden (the dragon slayer) has emerged as the winner of this bruising contest, everybody is looking forward to a mellower and gentler Holiday Season.

The American people have spoken, and to the world’s relief, they chose sanity over bigotry. The greatest democracy in the world will survive but at a price. It will take a lot of work to repair the immense damage inflicted on America by an irresponsible sorcerer’s apprentice.

Donald Trump, whose entire life was guided by money and profit failed again in his latest overreach. The Republican messiah has tirelessly sown the seeds of discord in the land for four years and is now reaping the bitter harvest of his reckless conduct.

First and foremost, he failed spectacularly to shield the country from one of the deadliest pandemics of the century. And despite ample confirmation to the contrary, he always refused to take any responsibility for it.

Secondly, given the overwhelming evidence of climate change, he claimed that there is no problem with the environment and continued to promote obsolete, polluting industries.

Then, with total disregard for public health and obsessed with dismantling “Obamacare”,  he never came up with any HealthCare program.

And I won’t even bother to mention Income Taxes. Everybody in this country paid more than this swindler.

Blinded by a stale ideology, the Republican establishment is to blame for allowing an irresponsible flawed individual to reach the top, mainly by bullying and intimidating his rivals.

For all the above and countless other reasons, he did not deserve a second term. Donald, pack your bags. You are fired!

But the bully is a sore loser and a whiner. He insists (with no valid proof) that the system was “rigged” against him. As in his past career, he will sue anybody and anything standing in his way. Good f*****g luck with that!

So, what’s in store for the pompadoured charlatan? Will a frustrated Donald Trump (like Steven Seagal and Gérard Depardieu before him), seek Russian citizenship from his good friend in the Kremlin? He could be a prince in exile… Considering his past, he would also make an excellent oligarch in the Russian nomenklatura.

Now, instead of a few victims, everybody knows that the so-called  American colossus was nothing but an unsavory impostor.

Alain

Life is a perpetual gamble.
Every day, consciously or not, you have to commit. Some decisions are small and inconsequential, but some are significant and could be life-altering. They have to be weighed carefully before being carried out.

It all depends on the kind of person you are. Some people are conservative and will always opt for safer options. Others are a little more audacious and will take a chance on a better (and riskier) outcome. I would place myself in this group.

For any time you gamble, there is a risk… but also a dangling carrot. The question always is “is it worth the gamble, and can I sustain this kind of loss?” This decision is always more difficult when it involves others.

At present, some Republican officials face a huge dilemma. Shall they stick with a weakened president and go down with the ship, or shall they break ranks and side with the opposition? If the President is re-elected, their career is over; they will be shunned and banned like plague-ridden devils.

If on the other hand, his opponent wins, they can be lauded as heroes and mightily prosper. But this question is a little trivial for most politicians are totally gutless and deadly afraid to be excluded from the King’s court… and his generosity.

Being a gambler can be hazardous. There is a Swedish proverb that clearly illustrates that situation:

“Luck never gives; it only lends.” 

 If you gamble, you will sometimes win… but it is only a loan. A little later you will most certainly have to repay that loan… with interests. It is a little bit like getting a free line of coke… later you will come back for more and you will have to pay for it.

But still, I always thought that it is better to attack than defend. Yesterday, for instance, we were playing pétanque and the score was 10-10. Either side could win. My team had one secure point on the ground and the opposition was all spent. I had 2 boules in my hands. I could play it safe and point… or shoot one of their boules and score 3 points for a victory… or miss and give them a chance to come back and win.

I shot and succeeded. What a high! Luckily none of my teammates objected to my decision. But again, it would be wise to remember that

 “Luck sometimes visits a fool, but it never sits down with him.” German Proverb

 It (sometimes) pays to be daring, but before taking a swan dive, carefully weigh the options.

Alain