tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post6576156044779790876..comments2024-03-28T08:00:17.624-04:00Comments on NewGathering: What Merkel Said UPDATE: Italy!David Nickolhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17769931102661478298noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-55633697034205764942017-05-31T21:19:53.229-04:002017-05-31T21:19:53.229-04:00Well! I hope I am right, but may be I'm not.
...Well! I hope I am right, but may be I'm not. <br /><br />That's why we should all read "On Tyranny" by Timothy Snyder. We, who have read it, hope that this is not Hitler's Germany and Stalin's Russia late 20s, early thirties, and thereafter. Sobering. <br /><br />It reminds us that Trumpdidumpty didn't get there by his vote alone!!!Margaret Steinfelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06660518023817721965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-84926003887091038592017-05-31T20:28:47.604-04:002017-05-31T20:28:47.604-04:00I hope you're right. But with Citizens United...I hope you're right. But with Citizens United firmly in place and corporatist Gorsuch in the Supreme Court, and the Democratic Party disconnected from the poor and working class, I feel as if the billionaires are large and in charge.Stanley Kopaczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12133446714376982656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-10852980322455918922017-05-31T09:18:26.387-04:002017-05-31T09:18:26.387-04:00SK: False equivalency! Russia's democratic fac...SK: False equivalency! Russia's democratic facade is a Potemkin Village. Our is still functioning unless we let many more of those Russian oligarchs move in by buying $5 million apartments and HB1 visas.Margaret Steinfelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06660518023817721965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-55302566101770928882017-05-31T06:20:07.490-04:002017-05-31T06:20:07.490-04:00Granted, we're not a pure democracy, and our p...Granted, we're not a pure democracy, and our present fearless leader certainly has oligarchic tendencies. But I'm hoping he is an aberration, and we do better next time. Still would much rather be here than in Russia.Katherine Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309113327087187334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-63845948405356368032017-05-30T14:27:02.950-04:002017-05-30T14:27:02.950-04:00The French weight in starts alarmist, settles down...The French weight in starts alarmist, settles down by the end (in English): http://www.france24.com/en/20170529-merkel-comments-fears-fracturing-transatlantic-usa-alliance-trump-eu-brexit/?ns_mchannel=fidelisation&ns_source=newsletter_aef_france24_info_du_jour_en&ns_campaign=email&ns_linkname=article_newsletter&france24_member_id=1097513295807&aef_campaign_ref=article_newsletter&aef_campaign_date=2017-05-30Margaret Steinfelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06660518023817721965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-73024713192422428192017-05-30T11:25:02.833-04:002017-05-30T11:25:02.833-04:00Well, Russia isn't communist. It's an oli...Well, Russia isn't communist. It's an oligarchy with a democratic facade like the US. Why shouldn't the Italians warm up to it? I'm sure they have enough Russian tourists already and can use more.Stanley Kopaczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12133446714376982656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-67275305669791905372017-05-30T10:06:54.701-04:002017-05-30T10:06:54.701-04:00Here's the link to the David Frum article cite...Here's the link to the David Frum article cited by Irene Baldwin: https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2017/05/the-plan-to-end-europe/521445/Margaret Steinfelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06660518023817721965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-2592773582264665432017-05-30T08:38:32.801-04:002017-05-30T08:38:32.801-04:00The Senate is making noises about holding hearings...The Senate is making noises about holding hearings on the Saudi arms deal. That is going to be a problem either way: Congress forces the prez to reneg on a promise, and his position dealing with world leaders falters. Congress allows the deal to go through, and our ability to curb an unfit president puts us in danger. Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14702081408526023197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-55974868522775422592017-05-30T08:38:09.624-04:002017-05-30T08:38:09.624-04:00This comment has been removed by the author.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14702081408526023197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-26692062260003190512017-05-30T08:33:25.454-04:002017-05-30T08:33:25.454-04:00Jack, such an important point! It's not just T...Jack, such an important point! It's not just Trump but the system and the electorate that has sullied our reputation around the world. Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14702081408526023197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-8345048981124576342017-05-30T07:38:39.760-04:002017-05-30T07:38:39.760-04:00The deep state, for better or worse, will be the ...The deep state, for better or worse, will be the only thing that maintains continuity or stability with an idiot as president. The backchannel assurances from Tillerson et al. might be that system at work. But any ambiguity from the US government on statecraft has to take a toll and shake up our allies. Germans know all about collective insanity and the US is having a bout of it (plus collective stupidity) right now.Stanley Kopaczhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12133446714376982656noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-40735134656251970822017-05-30T07:37:29.095-04:002017-05-30T07:37:29.095-04:00Oh, you people! Trump hit a home run in Brussels a...Oh, you people! Trump hit a home run in Brussels and another one in Taormina. He said so. Just like you liberals to ignore his truth. Merkel is just mad because he called her out for exporting German cars to the United States from Tennessee and Alabama and for not doing for the past 20 years what Germany is supposed to do in 2024. She is just unreasonable, probably because she is a woman -- and not as svelte as Trump's trophy wife.<br /><br />Merkel doesn't like Mays much either. Mays is mad at Trump. Putin is very, very happy. Trump did in five months what Russia has been trying to do since 1946.tom blackburnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09617525711233538704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-90391011769331141232017-05-30T06:04:49.477-04:002017-05-30T06:04:49.477-04:00In last month's Atlantic, an article by David...In last month's Atlantic, an article by David Frum "Trump's Plan to End Europe" talked about the (historical) problem of a too strong Germany as a threat to peace there. A Germany NOT going it alone, but sharing decisionmaking with the rest of Europe and relying for it's self defense from others (notably the US) was the preferred option.<br /><br />Trump's irrational attack on Europe seems very shortsighted, but one would hope a critical, longstanding alliance can survive an inept administration. Does Congress have anything at all to say about this? The Senate Foreign Relations Committee? One would hope at least a few knowledgeable people would speak up.<br />Irene Baldwinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04652624159458320672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-55289245050268632002017-05-29T22:55:53.138-04:002017-05-29T22:55:53.138-04:00Humpty dumpty had a great all and all the kings ho...Humpty dumpty had a great all and all the kings horses and all the kings men could not put humpty dumpty back together again.<br /><br />All the US foreign policy establishment could never put Trump together. I doubt that with Pence they could do anything to put the US position back together again.<br /><br />Only a very different president in 2020 elected by a very different America has any chance of inspiring the rest of the world. Obama even had a very difficult time doing that, and he was perceived as a different president elected by a different America.<br /><br />The rest of the world is going to begin to go their own ways especially since they are not going to see any hope in the USA for another four years.Jack Rakoskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03755655685437527617noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-13296869059503199892017-05-29T21:59:29.187-04:002017-05-29T21:59:29.187-04:00Will the U.S. foreign policy establishment, left, ...Will the U.S. foreign policy establishment, left, right, and center, Democrat and Republican, now step up to the plate and confront the idiotic Trump. Will they say that Merkel is right? Don't hold your breathe!Margaret Steinfelshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06660518023817721965noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-7880144432794379972017-05-29T21:40:42.209-04:002017-05-29T21:40:42.209-04:00I think too it's Trump and his unwillingness t...I think too it's Trump and his unwillingness to stand with Europe plus the UK Brexit too, and if Le Pen had won in France, they might also have left the European Union. So maybe she feels it's every country for themselves.crystalhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05681674503952991492noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-23730825041109755152017-05-29T19:44:58.715-04:002017-05-29T19:44:58.715-04:00Jimmy Mac posted this over on a different thread. ...Jimmy Mac posted this over on a different thread. Interesting take in Merkel's comments from Der Spiegel. Chancellor Merkel is tired of playing nice with the school yard bully is my takeaway.<br /><br />http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/merkel-and-trump-a-trans-atlantic-turning-point-a-1149757.html<br /><br />And that is one big beer stein!Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14702081408526023197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-17796585396641563272017-05-29T18:29:08.989-04:002017-05-29T18:29:08.989-04:00Katherine, it's always Obama's fault. It w...Katherine, it's always Obama's fault. It was Obama's fault for giving Mike Flynn security clearance.<br /><br />I think Merkel is trying not to burn bridges, but to signal Germans (and other Europeans) that they will hold firm to their own interests where they do not mesh with those of the current U.S. administration. She clearly wants to distance herself from Trump. Probably a smart move.<br /><br />Merkel is symbolic of a unified Europe with Germany as its chief influence. Not sure whether that's good or bad. <br /><br />I consistently heard Brits refer to those on the continent as "Europeans," so there has always been some disconnect between G.B. and others.Jeanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14702081408526023197noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-49436784850522746042017-05-29T18:01:41.784-04:002017-05-29T18:01:41.784-04:00And get this Trump found the 3 leakers about the c...And get <a href="http://www.dailywire.com/news/16925/will-heads-roll-3-anti-trump-leakers-found-wh-face-joseph-curl" rel="nofollow">this</a> Trump found the 3 leakers about the conversation with the Russian ambassador, and heads are gonna roll! Or something. He noted that they are holdovers from the Obama administration who were out to get him. So it's now Obama's fault.Katherine Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309113327087187334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-17406440426162321332017-05-29T16:35:48.550-04:002017-05-29T16:35:48.550-04:00Sounded pretty unexceptionable to me. That the res...Sounded pretty unexceptionable to me. That the rest of the world is going to go on with life and not wait to see what the Trump Reality Show twitters next shouldn't surprise anyone. It would be nice if we could do it, too. Unfortunately we are stuck with the hand we dealt ourselves.Katherine Nielsenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08309113327087187334noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1315362208709650810.post-87179018183952894392017-05-29T16:35:40.949-04:002017-05-29T16:35:40.949-04:00Of course it will take a long time to fade away; t...Of course it will take a long time to fade away; the British Empire is still fading away. But 2016 will mark the beginning of the end for the American whatever.<br /><br />We have a great advantage in the coming decades besides our economy. Most other economies, the EU, Russia, China, Japan are stuck with the aging population problem far more than we are, e.g. the Chinese one child policy.<br /><br />We have two advantages in our age profile: our birth rate is closer to replacement level than most other countries, and we have made up for it by IMMIGRATION. We have the potential for not only an expanding economy but an expanding population, where it will be easier for the younger people to support the older people.<br /><br />So we as a country could stay on top after all.<br /><br />But then countries may not matter, just as corporations may not matter, since all the money is going to the billionaires who may not care what happens to them, just as they don't care for what happens to us people.Jack Rakoskyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03755655685437527617noreply@blogger.com