The future of the USA
Left and right are used to predicting the accelerated decline of America, but are we now seeing it before our eyes and in our lifetimes?
International
us politics
The Alabama senate race
The Alabama Senate election results are starting to feed through with Democrat Doug Jones slightly ahead of Republican Roy Moore in the Republican stronghold after very early results.
Brain Curdle.
If ever anyone needed a reason to insist on secularism…
Trump trashes chance of Middle East peace for giggles and a diversion
Donald Trump is expected to controversially announce the movement of the US Embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
Flynn cuts a deal while Trump scrambles
Donald Trump’s response to news of the arrest of Michael Flynn suggests that charges closer to the office of the President may be close.
The chaos of the Trump White House
From tweeting fake anti muslim videos to supporting the Senate race of an alleged child molester who was banned from a mall because he was so creepy to acting to remove his Secretary of State for thinking that he is a moron to passing a bill that will help the rich and hurt the poor while denying this is the case the Donald Trump White House is a chaotic place.
Key and Mass Surveillance: Was this the reason for the Golriz distraction?
David Fisher has written an in-depth article for the Herald that suggests that John Key’s promise, three years ago, that the Government had cancelled the Speargun project which would have allowed for the mass surveillance of New Zealanders was not actually correct.
Social Democracy is still alive
With socialist governments in rapid decline right across the world, and just a very few social democrat governments re-emerging after many years out of power, it’s useful to remind ourselves of what governmental combinations are working well.
Tampa, Ardern and positioning small countries
There are major similarities between Helen Clark’s decision to accept into New Zealand refugees from the Tampa boat and Jacinda Ardern’s pushing for New Zealand to accept refugees based on Manus Island.
The Yellow Peril?
What’s with the academic panic epidemic about China? Two in our media in the same week, referencing each other with vague warnings about the Chinese bogey. It’s not quite Lionel Terry in Haining Street again; more likely in my view a case of singing to someones else’s geopolitical tune. No prizes for guessing whose.
Election autopsies
US democratic activists have conducted a number of reviews on what went wrong at the last election. The conclusions they have reached could helpfully inform New Zealand political activists on what to do in 2020.
Ardern has words for Trump and Turnbull
Jacinda Ardern has publicly criticised Donald Trump for idiot treating and Malcolm Turnbull for unacceptable handling of the Manus crisis.
Guns don’t shoot people, men do
Maybe it’s time to broach the elephant in the living room.
@realDonaldTrump does not exist
For a brief moment, the internets rejoiced.
Jacinda Ardern, Donald Trump and political manners
In terms of style and approach Jacinda Ardern is radically different to Donald Trump.
Trump spins as Manafort is charged
The indictments have been laid and the recriminations are starting. Looks like the Trump Whitehouse is starting to self destruct.
Who’s in trouble in the USA?
More trouble for Donald Trump as it is expected someone in his camp will shortly be charged with offences by the special prosecutor Robert Mueller.
Facebook and democracy
A long and interesting read in The Atlantic. “The very roots of the electoral system had been destabilized.”
Passchendaele and Pyongyang
The massive artillery barrage at Passchendaele was supposed to cut the German wire and make advance easy. All it did was churn up the mud though which so many doomed New Zealanders slogged and died. A monument to military incompetence and political disaster. These days they prefer bombs, which are equally deadly and equally futile. Its time we said no more.
Guns
Another gun massacre has occurred in the United States. And the well worn excuses and justifications by the right and the gun lobby are again being used.
US presidential campaign heats up along with the hurricanes
The first contender has declared, albeit so far in a humorous manner. Less humorous has been the hurricanes that have been hitting southern states this season. You can understand why the oil industries anti-scientist Scott Pruitt that Trump put in charge of the EPA doesn’t want to talk about it.
Middle East Changes
If there is a change of Government what should Labour do about requests for military assistance in the Middle East?
Political Statues
America is experiencing difficulties because of the celebration by the right of statutes of their racist heroes. Why does New Zealand not have this problem?
Godwin on Godwin
It’s ok to call Nazis Nazis.
Bye bye Bannon
Breitbart’s loss is the White House’s gain as the revolving door continues. And the question will be asked. Was it Trump’s appallingly bad handling of the Charlottesville riots that caused Bannon’s demise?
Are Government-business Think Tanks worthwhile?
In America Donald Trump has abandoned business think tanks that he established not that long ago. During the last Labour Government Helen Clark established the Growth and Innovation Advisory Board with mixed results. What should a Jacinda Ardern led Labour-Green coalition do?
Fire and Fury over North Korea
Donald Trump may not know it but Koreans certainly remember the last time the United States unleashed fire and fury over North Korea. In the 1950s, B-29s used bombs and napalm to flatten every North Korean city. Gen Curtis Lemay boasted that the USAF killed off 20% of the population. That’s why this time they have nuclear weapons.
Trump to Scaramucci – you’re fired!
The media is reporting that Anthony Scaramucci has been fired after only ten days in the job as White House communications director.
US Leaves Kansas.
I guess it’s kind of hard to anchor something that’s all up in the air…
American political right -spectacular self-harm
I know that insane news out of America has become predictably ho-hum, but this week has been stunning. There is now a real risk that the Republican administration will break healthcare deliberately and burn their own people out of spite. That’s the level of right-wing politics in America.
A tale of three immigrants
The Government is refusing to allow a Tongan family with a very sick child and an American family who ran a very successful cafe from staying in New Zealand but rolled out the red carpet to an uber rich American who did not meet all of the requirements.
The Democrats and Russia
The Trump presidency appears to be in a death spiral because of the Russia issue. But the Democrats are not taking advantage. Why?
Imagine the world without America
America used to be the most powerful nation in the world. But things are changing.
Who are the real enemies of the centre left?
Simon Wilson recently claimed that left wingers and party members are problems for and enemies of Labour and the Greens. This is why I think he is wrong.
G20: Trump isolated and friendless
ABC news political editor Chris Uhlmann’s brutal takedown of Trump goes viral.
The Good the Bad and the Ugly
Ad asks is the world more secure than a year ago? Is the danger of serious economic crisis higher or lower? Are the institutional arrangements and norms that resolve conflicts and enhance the prospects for international cooperation more or less robust than they were in July 2016.