Au Cochonnet Marin

“They who sow the wind shall reap the storm.”

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 On November 8, 2016, in an earthshaking upset Donald Trump wrestled the American presidency away from Secretary Hillary Clinton and became the 45^th president of the United States.
Americans opted for bigotry instead of sanity.

For many people around the world, the results of this toxic election bear a frightening similarity to January 1933 when a fiery populist was appointed chancellor of Germany.
Few people then believed that the toothbrush mustachioed firebrand would actually do what he promised during his electoral campaign, but to the world’s ever greatest sorrow he did.

Just like the German Kanzler, Donald Trump’s promises are not just idle campaign rhetoric. He means what he said about Women, Mexicans, Planned Parenthood, Gun Control, Climate change, etc. and it is not the sycophants around him who are going to restrain his worst tendencies.

Donald Trump, the Republican messiah, has sown the seeds of discord in the land and this antagonism won’t magically disappear but increase after he enters the White House.
Under his watch, are we to become another country where the press is going to be muzzled and dissidents thrown in jail or assassinated?
With a Republican majority in the Senate (51/47) and in the House (222/155) we have everything to fear.

The world was thrilled when in 2008, overcoming its racist past, America chose a smart, decent African American to be the leader of the free world.
Today, the West is stunned that the same America picked a vulgar, notoriously unhinged bully to dictate the policies of the United (?) States.

At end of his 2^nd term Barack Obama’s Presidential Job Approval Ratings are 53%
At the end of his 2^nd term George H.W. Bush Final approval ratings were 22% (January 16, 2009)

What are Donald Trump’s approval ratings going to be after 100 days in office or at the end of his first term?

A very interesting question.

Alain

A few days ago I came across a witch (yes she was wearing a black pointed hat) and Princess Leia.
They were strolling down the street and did not attract much attention.

It was Halloween and people some people like to wear fanciful costumes.
Kids and women seem to be the main protagonists of this theatrical tradition. Men not as much.

“Halloween  (a contraction of All Hallows‘ Evening) or All Saints’ Eve, is according to Wikipedia a celebration observed on October 31^st in a large number of countries. It is dedicated to remembering the dead, including all saints (hallows), martyrs, and all the faithful departed.”

In the US there is nothing mournful about this celebration. It is a rather jolly occasion for children and some spirited adults to blow off some steam. And God knows that we need this after this dreadful electoral campaign of ours.

In France, if my memory serves me right, it was a totally different affair. This day was known as “La Toussaint” and flowers (especially Chrysanthemums), were placed on graves.
Nothing lighthearted about this.

But Halloween (like most holidays) has become an important business opportunity and has been cheerfully endorsed by many merchants in many different countries.
According to the National Retail Federation, spending on Halloween costumes was expected to reach $3.1 billion in the US alone.
Nothing to sneeze at.

I am not particularly fond of costumes. Wearing a certain outfit (pirate for instance) forces you to stay in character for quite a while.
How many times can you say Aaaarrrrgggghhhh, hoist the Jolly Roger you scurvy dog! in a single evening?

But children and women don’t seem to mind. For them, life is a box of chocolates. For men time cannot be wasted on such a trivial pursuit.
Bellicose activities seem to be much more to their liking.

See you at the polls chumps!

Alain    

Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names.– John F. Kennedy

Politics is the gentle art of getting votes from the poor and campaign funds from the rich, by promising to protect each from the other.~Oscar Ameringer

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When I was growing up in France, the country was mesmerized (and divided – as always) by the war of words and the fights of two famous wrestlers: l’Ange Blanc (the White Angel) and le Bourreau de Béthune (the Executioner of Béthune).

Fifty years later we are witnessing  the same theatrics in America.

In one corner we have Donald Trump (The Blustering Fool) and Hillary Clinton (The Nasty Woman).
In one of the most contentious elections in the American history we have to choose between “making America great again” and “Stronger Together”.

Frankly, I would rather go with “stronger together”. United we stand, divided we fall. Everybody knows that. In an increasingly diverse population we need to include (and not to exclude) every segment of the American society.

What kind of person do we need in the White House?

• We need a Uniter, not a Divider (Hillary or the Donald?)
• We need an experienced person, not a dilettante (Hillary or the Donald?).
• We need somebody with knowledge of the issues (Hillary or the Donald?).
• We need a cool head, not an excitable macho man (Hillary or the Donald?).
• We need a good communicator (Hillary or the Donald?).
• We need somebody with emotional stability (Hillary or the Donald?).
• We need somebody who has concern for others (Hillary or the Donald?).
• We need a diplomat, (Hillary or the Donald?).
• We need humbleness and self-depreciation (Hillary or the Donald?).
• We need resilience under adversity (Hillary or the Donald?).

Well, what do say America?
The choice is between an unpredictable blustering egomaniac and a tough, cerebral, experienced dame.

Hillary is far from perfect. And yes she occasionally lied, but who (especially politicians) never lied? Is the Donald lily-white in the fabrication business?

So give me a break.
On November 8, put emotions aside and cast a sane ballot for the person who will be better for all of us, not just a few.

Alain