Trump is a phenomenon - or something begining with 'F'!

Of course, when it comes to forming an opinion of 'The Donald' it all depends where you are standing, er, that is if you are actually still standing or if you have been knocked on your backside by the backdraft of his passing cavalcade!  I confess to suffering with severe trepidation when his reign began but I sort of comforted myself by realising that no-one has a clue as to what is really going on in American politics and somehow I doubt whether they will know any better when the histories are written.  The honkin', hootin' 'n' hollerin', all different, and all coming from different directions, makes any attempt to reach a rational judgment of the state of American politics impossible to formulate.  I have given up trying!

It is even more depressing when you realise that it is not just the 'Trump-effect' at work.  If, God help us all, 'HillBilly' had won, the same chaotic pandemonium of false/true/'dunno' (delete to taste) would have occurred because, as any 'fule or psycho-babbler do no', the entire American political world, or 'alt-world', as I think of it, is stark, raving bonkers!  At this point, I confess that some of the hysteria is effecting (or do I mean 'infecting'?) me.  Thus, I have given myself a slap and told myself to forget the BS and just try and concentrate on what actually happens!

Trump has slashed tax-rates, he has permitted the construction of gas/oil pipelines, he has rid America of those nonsensical climate rules 'n' regs, he has stiffened up immigration controls, he has stamped his authority on the GOP and he has begun a slash and burn campaign through the Democrat  strongholds of what is supposedly, and laughingly, thought of as a strictly neutral civil service, particularly those branches dealing with legal and security matters.  It may be that from now on American bureaucrats will think just a little longer and harder before sucking up to this or that political regime.

So, my advice is that y'all retain the crash position but allow yourselves a little hope of a soft landing!

 

 

 

Comments

[Whitewall]

David, this is what is going on big picture-http://sultanknish.blogspot.com/2018/01/this-civil-war-my-south-carolina-tea.html

The "what happens" is taking place in spite of the above. Pretty amazing!

[David Duff]

Thanks for that, Whiters, an exceedingly thought-provoking article/speech. Also, some of the comments were shrewd. Where will it end - and how?

[Bob]

The idea of a "cold civil war" is popular across the political spectrum, but is only part of the picture. Nixon's promoters of the Southern Strategy, especially Pat Buchanan and later Lee Atwater, put that in motion and it succeeded; turning the once solid Democratic South into a solid Republican South.

At least as important are the effects of the end of the post-war boom and economic dislocations of globalization. They've both caused a lot of anger in America and plenty of opportunity for partisan bickering. Over-the-top partisanship is historically baked in to American politics, though, and the current problems will eventually morph into a new set. It's hard to believe now, but Trump will eventually be just another footnote.