Hey Rob, Thanks so much; the best validation (while all the mediocrities scurry to pretend they didn't say what they did) is being right and doing so in good company. I am fortunate enough to have both these ingredients in my life, which is an endless blessing. Yes, I value our getting it right but even more the courage to make the call we were so sure about so far out; it's a sweet moment.
On the other hand, the mainstream media (UK and US) has been great fun to watch, as their shibboleths cash around them and they show how biased they have become with their on-air mental breakdowns. The first step to the American left being relevant, as you say, is a hard look in the mirror. Don't hold your breath, as their go-to attitude is an enraging faux moral superiority where they blame fictitious failings in the rest of us (racism. sexism, et al) for their cluelessness.
We will keep our fab record up, and thinking aloud with our community; thanks for the great affirmation and your strong support.
Hey Erik, I agree that they won't; presently they are fighting like rats in a sack as to whose fault this all is--they seemed have settled on the American people, too racist and sexist to get anything right. They remind of the lunatics in the French Revolution, who wondered if the people were good enough for their program. The good news here is that as long as the are this oblivious it gives the GOP a chance to really run with the football
Yes, I agree; I know Merz a little bit from my days living in Berlin--he has succeeded in hauling the CDU rightwards from the centrist mush Merkel left--and he is good news for realism, being a Kohl sort of figure. The sooner he comes to power the better
Thanks Kieran, yes, its great when we get it right, and this was a big one! You bet, I've been meaning to do something on the Federalist papers which is the fun way to go about this historically, so once the dust settles consider it done. Yes, I am optimistic that the American example will look pretty good; the UK after all has a grand realist tradition in the Tory party (Palmerston, Salisbury) that is organic and there for the taking. So its a bight day, and not just for America
Yes domestically Merz will have to team with a leftist party (I'd guess the Greens) which will limit what he can do, though given the German economic model is broken (as you know I've written about this for a while now) I do think he'll be at least better than the present. However, on foreign policy I think he will have more room to get realism right. Hope springs eternal
The democrats need to show the Clintons and the Obamas the door. Bill is helpfully entering his Biden phase but Hillary is as toxic, vile, foulmouth and dysfunctional as ever, and so are both Obamas.
Only then can a democratic renewal start. But that is for the time being something they neither want to admit, nor implement.
The Dem's are placing where ever they can find a target to. blame. They still can not get around the fact that people have had enough of crazy.. and the race card continues if nothing else comes to mind. Unfortunately here in California, Pompous arrogant Gavin Newson is still lives in his bubble not wanting to accept that this state went more Red they it has since Regan. If he continues on his current trajectory with this weeks announcements, in two years he may be out, or maybe sooner. People across the country have witnessed what Harris policies did to California and they will realize what Newsom's policies have done to the state I'm not sure he'll be an electable candidate in 2028, Thank goodness. Is anyone else exhausted ?? This week has been exhausting. Sending best wishes to all...
Yes, I agree that Newsom’s problem is his actual governing has been so bad (everyone has heard about the ruin of San Francisco) that it will increasingly get in the way of his national ambitions, slick as he is.
Congratulations on the spot-on prediction! When things have calmed down, a layman-friendly explanation of the U.S. political system—with some interesting historical anecdotes—would be greatly appreciated.
For those of us outside the U.S., do you think this election outcome might prompt a shift toward more realist, pragmatic political thinking, rather than ideological ideals, gaining traction with the electorate across the rest of the Western world? I believe it just might—common sense is not that common, after all.
John, Interesting matters are happing with the new Senate leader, as well as the Federal reserve. Any insight ?Things seem to be getting more deep and complicated, lots of "strings and tangles" :) Ha ha
Hey Dianne, I agree that the whole community is exhausted. I’m in DC just now off the plane and it will be another enervating week. But then, thank goodness, we ought to get back to normal. I yearn to do a culture podcast a week from this Friday!
Merz CDU is likely heading to a coalition with SPD or green, both failed parties already. His % will not suffice to do much other. It leaves Germany nowhere.
The industrial decline of the place is accelerating. Next to the well known Volkswagen debacle, there is the less well-known BASF disaster (declaring much of their portfolio "non-core" in September) and I hear whispers privately held Bosch is preparing a major restructuring. Linde exited its Munich head office in favour of a reverse merger with Praxair and quote on NYSE instead of DAX. That's the largest German market cap heading from Frankfurt to New York. This is just an excerpt of the bad news long list.
Would you rather be Germany, or the USA, right now? Would you rather be the EU, or the USA, right now? Von der Leyen or Trump?
Congratulations John, calling it for Trump nearly 12 months ago was ballsy & spot on. Watching the media meltdown, even here in the UK, has been amusing. These people are so up themselves that the only possible reason they can come up with (for someone voting for Trump) is racism and misogyny! The liberals really need to look in the mirror but I doubt it will happen. Thanks for your ongoing work, fantastic insight as always :-)
Hey Rob, Thanks so much; the best validation (while all the mediocrities scurry to pretend they didn't say what they did) is being right and doing so in good company. I am fortunate enough to have both these ingredients in my life, which is an endless blessing. Yes, I value our getting it right but even more the courage to make the call we were so sure about so far out; it's a sweet moment.
On the other hand, the mainstream media (UK and US) has been great fun to watch, as their shibboleths cash around them and they show how biased they have become with their on-air mental breakdowns. The first step to the American left being relevant, as you say, is a hard look in the mirror. Don't hold your breath, as their go-to attitude is an enraging faux moral superiority where they blame fictitious failings in the rest of us (racism. sexism, et al) for their cluelessness.
We will keep our fab record up, and thinking aloud with our community; thanks for the great affirmation and your strong support.
Hey Erik, I agree that they won't; presently they are fighting like rats in a sack as to whose fault this all is--they seemed have settled on the American people, too racist and sexist to get anything right. They remind of the lunatics in the French Revolution, who wondered if the people were good enough for their program. The good news here is that as long as the are this oblivious it gives the GOP a chance to really run with the football
Yes, I agree; I know Merz a little bit from my days living in Berlin--he has succeeded in hauling the CDU rightwards from the centrist mush Merkel left--and he is good news for realism, being a Kohl sort of figure. The sooner he comes to power the better
Thanks Kieran, yes, its great when we get it right, and this was a big one! You bet, I've been meaning to do something on the Federalist papers which is the fun way to go about this historically, so once the dust settles consider it done. Yes, I am optimistic that the American example will look pretty good; the UK after all has a grand realist tradition in the Tory party (Palmerston, Salisbury) that is organic and there for the taking. So its a bight day, and not just for America
Look forward to it! Germany the one to watch right now.
Yes domestically Merz will have to team with a leftist party (I'd guess the Greens) which will limit what he can do, though given the German economic model is broken (as you know I've written about this for a while now) I do think he'll be at least better than the present. However, on foreign policy I think he will have more room to get realism right. Hope springs eternal
Hey Terri, I think mine was Vietnam, on the nightly news; but in a sustained way I sure remember Watergate
The democrats need to show the Clintons and the Obamas the door. Bill is helpfully entering his Biden phase but Hillary is as toxic, vile, foulmouth and dysfunctional as ever, and so are both Obamas.
Only then can a democratic renewal start. But that is for the time being something they neither want to admit, nor implement.
The Dem's are placing where ever they can find a target to. blame. They still can not get around the fact that people have had enough of crazy.. and the race card continues if nothing else comes to mind. Unfortunately here in California, Pompous arrogant Gavin Newson is still lives in his bubble not wanting to accept that this state went more Red they it has since Regan. If he continues on his current trajectory with this weeks announcements, in two years he may be out, or maybe sooner. People across the country have witnessed what Harris policies did to California and they will realize what Newsom's policies have done to the state I'm not sure he'll be an electable candidate in 2028, Thank goodness. Is anyone else exhausted ?? This week has been exhausting. Sending best wishes to all...
Yes, I agree that Newsom’s problem is his actual governing has been so bad (everyone has heard about the ruin of San Francisco) that it will increasingly get in the way of his national ambitions, slick as he is.
Congratulations on the spot-on prediction! When things have calmed down, a layman-friendly explanation of the U.S. political system—with some interesting historical anecdotes—would be greatly appreciated.
For those of us outside the U.S., do you think this election outcome might prompt a shift toward more realist, pragmatic political thinking, rather than ideological ideals, gaining traction with the electorate across the rest of the Western world? I believe it just might—common sense is not that common, after all.
John, Interesting matters are happing with the new Senate leader, as well as the Federal reserve. Any insight ?Things seem to be getting more deep and complicated, lots of "strings and tangles" :) Ha ha
Hey Dianne, I agree that the whole community is exhausted. I’m in DC just now off the plane and it will be another enervating week. But then, thank goodness, we ought to get back to normal. I yearn to do a culture podcast a week from this Friday!
Citizen journalism is the answer (3 YouTube's but do Rumble - less censorship).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=SeGsnmqquJI
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xsRWhAYm-a8
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3MZsdsI8m-s
Merz CDU is likely heading to a coalition with SPD or green, both failed parties already. His % will not suffice to do much other. It leaves Germany nowhere.
The industrial decline of the place is accelerating. Next to the well known Volkswagen debacle, there is the less well-known BASF disaster (declaring much of their portfolio "non-core" in September) and I hear whispers privately held Bosch is preparing a major restructuring. Linde exited its Munich head office in favour of a reverse merger with Praxair and quote on NYSE instead of DAX. That's the largest German market cap heading from Frankfurt to New York. This is just an excerpt of the bad news long list.
Would you rather be Germany, or the USA, right now? Would you rather be the EU, or the USA, right now? Von der Leyen or Trump?
John, always wanted to ask you this, what is your first political memory? Mine is Watergate/Nixon resigning
Congratulations John, calling it for Trump nearly 12 months ago was ballsy & spot on. Watching the media meltdown, even here in the UK, has been amusing. These people are so up themselves that the only possible reason they can come up with (for someone voting for Trump) is racism and misogyny! The liberals really need to look in the mirror but I doubt it will happen. Thanks for your ongoing work, fantastic insight as always :-)