Au Cochonnet Marin

“Conquering the world on horseback is easy; it is dismounting and governing that is hard.” – Genghis Khan

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I am of average intelligence but one week after the facts I still don’t understand…
The last election clearly demonstrated that a lot of people were dissatisfied with the status quo and wanted some change. This I understand.

Their main complaint was about the widening economic inequality between the rich and the poor. This I also understand and agree with.

What still puzzles me though, is why would the downtrodden put their faith in a billionaire who (unlike Warren Buffett, Bill and Melinda Gates, Mark Zuckerberg and Michael Bloomberg among others) has been called “the least charitable billionaire in the world.”
A man who likes to mingle with the rich and famous but who has never shown any inclination to share his good fortune with the underprivileged.
How can such a man be trusted to improve the lot of the unemployed, the low-wage earners?

People yearn for a “gallant knight in a shining armor” who leads by example, and saves maidens (and less fortunate souls) in distress.
As far as I know, the president-elect is not such a man.
And the pungent smell of nepotism presently emanating from the new White House does not augur well.

I wish the new president (and especially America) well, but I have great doubts about the new direction of the “ship of state”.
It seems that instead of using a GPS he is opting to use celestial navigation, a more hazardous form of sailing.

Somebody has said this before, but I think it is worth repeating:
“Fasten your seat belts my friends; it’s going to be a bumpy ride.”

 Alain

 Flash: The Supreme Court has ruled that they cannot have a nativity scene in Washington, D.C. This wasn’t for any religious reasons. They couldn’t find three wise men and a virgin. Jay Leno

Lately, I don’t know why, like Joan Of Arc I have been hearing voices.
When sleeping or when in a semi-conscious state, some common American and French sayings have been dancing in my head.

It must be something in the air; I might have inhaled some whiffs of La Poudre de Perlimpinpin that has lately been polluting the American atmosphère.

The powder of Perlimpinpin by the way, is a remedy supposedly miraculous but totally ineffective.

I have been feeling itchy all over. I have the sneaky suspicion to have been “rolled in flour” (avoir été roulé dans la farine) – lied to.

Like the Maid of Orleans, I have heard voices… speaking out with both sides of their mouths.
Saying different things to different people about the same subject.

I have seen a recurrent picture of a cow.
Ce n’est pas la vache qui crie le plus fort qui donne le plus de lait.
English equivalent: It is not the hen that cackles the loudest that hatches the most eggs.

I have seen Le Malin (the Cunning One) dining with Swamps Creatures.
Quand on dîne avec le diable, il faut se munir d’une longue cuiller.
If you are going to dine with the devil, you must use a long spoon.
Meaning: Someone who treats others badly will eventually turn on you.

I have caught sight of smoke and mirrors.
Something that is described as smoke and mirrors is intended to make you believe that something is being done or is true, when it is not.

I have smelled inorganic cow manure.
“Bullshit” is commonly used to describe statements made by people more concerned with the response of the audience than in truth and accuracy.”

I have the feeling that somebody will soon or already have “put water in his wine”
(mettre de l’eau dans son vin) a figurative expression that means ‘to compromise’, ‘to meet someone halfway.’

I think that I already faintly heard where is the beef? an all-purpose phrase questioning the substance of an idea, event or product.

Alain

In Donald Trump Administration, there will be no bullshit!  Bobby Knight.
Blimey!

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“ I alone can fix it”
That’s what President Elect Donald Trump repeatedly told his supporters during his slash and burn campaign.
Many people didn’t believe this and many still don’t, but the Pompadoured Wonder now has a unique opportunity to prove his detractors wrong.

He, just like mighty Hercules, will have to perform twelve incredible feats (The Twelve Labors of Trump) to win the hearts and minds of all Americans.

 If you don’t quite remember what Hercules Labors were, you can consult GreekMythology.com

This document describes Hercules as follows:

“Offsetting his strength was a noticeable lack of intelligence or wisdom. Once, when the temperature was very high, he pulled his bow out and threatened to shoot at the sun.
While his friend and cousin Theseus ruled Athens, Heracles had trouble ruling himself. His pride was easily offended. He took up grudges easily and never forgot them.”

Based on Hercules accomplishments, here are Donald Trump’s challenges:

‘Build a wall’ — and make Mexico pay for it
Hercules did not built a wall, but it was not in his nature to build.
Donald who claims to be a builder said he would do it and make Mexico pay for it. Qué mierda!

Hercules cleaned the Augean Stables
“Thousands of cows lived in the stables belonging to King Augeas. They had not been cleaned in 30 years, but Hercules was told to clean them completely in a single day. To do so he made two rivers bend so that they flowed into the stables, sweeping out the filth.”

Donald will “drain the swamp” in Washington and deport an estimated 11 million unauthorised Mexican immigrants and their children.
He will do it in a “very nice way”.

Hercules took the Girdle of the Amazon Queen Hippolyte
“Hercules went to the land of the Amazons, where the queen welcomed him and agreed to give him her girdle for Eurystheus’s daughter. But Hera spread the rumor that Hercules came as an enemy. In the end he had to conquer the Amazons and steal the golden belt.”

Donald will steal senator Elizabeth Warren’s girdle.

Hercules took the Golden Apples of the Hesperides
Donald will increase tariffs on Chinese imports to 45 per cent and steal their golden kumquats.

More worryingly, Donald Trump also vowed to:

• Fully repeal Obamacare’ and replace it with an alternative. 
• It now looks like he is already vacillating on that issue.
• Stop the government dictating what types of firearms “good, honest people” are allowed to own.
  Do you need a machine gun to defend your min-fort?
• Reduce gun violence by empowering law-abiding gun owners to defend themselves.
  Against whom?
• Renegotiate America’s role in the UN global climate accord struck in Paris last year.
   “The concept of global warming was created by and for the Chinese in order to make U.S. manufacturing non-competitive.”
• Appoint a right-wing Supreme Court JusticeThis says it all.
  This says it all.

It took Hercules 12 years to accomplish his feats. How fast can Donald do it and how much time does he have before the proverbial sand gets into the machine?

The proof is in the pudding Mr. President-elect. America and The World are keenly watching.

Alain