I'm curious why we are not spending any time here this morning analyzing the most important outcome, from an American point of view, from the German elections held yesterday. It's a pretty big deal.
Leave aside for a moment the purely political considerations, which most people fail to do, and take a deeper dive on what the message was fr…
I'm curious why we are not spending any time here this morning analyzing the most important outcome, from an American point of view, from the German elections held yesterday. It's a pretty big deal.
Leave aside for a moment the purely political considerations, which most people fail to do, and take a deeper dive on what the message was from the likely incoming head of government, Friedrich Merz. Prominent among his exclamations on victory was this, in translation: “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA.” Think about what that says, and what more it means. Not only is it a call by arguably Europe's most powerful country to cast our nation aside and move in a different direction after nearly 80 years of solidarity. It also is a signpost for others to follow when they have their elections and anti-Americanism is a platform on which they will campaign. It then trickles down to our level when we travel, shop, and otherwise seek a personal presence over there, with those people. I do not expect anti-American violence. But I easily can imagine them being less hospitable hosts when we are there. I can see them speaking less English with the many of us who do not bother to learn a foreign language. Being less helpful or forthcoming regarding our requests for experienced help from locals who know the scene. Less likely to reciprocate by traveling to the United States and spending their discretionary income here, on our goods and services, or on those exported to their nations, when they have other options. And so on.
The cancer of the American political far right does not exist merely in a vacuum or have an impact only on these shores. As our political leaders push formerly staunch European allies aside in their quest to engage in an appeasement surrender to Putin and Russia, it eventually will have real world consequences for the rest of us, and not for better. Maybe, possibly, perhaps we should be having that discussion right here, and elsewhere, if we are saying that the victory of the far right is not inevitable, and identifying what we need to prioritize as we strive to minimize damage and influence outcomes.
I can't agree more. I cannot add anything other than this: I hope that other countries are not emboldened to take Trumpism measures as well. It is well documented that many will concede to threats and that many will mimic out of fear. Racism has always been a quick devil to fall in line with. Evil is contagious.
My take I have on the reading of the German elections is that Merz is a conservative in the true sense and not what passes as MAGA conservatism. I also got the sense, (from my limited reading) that Merz has come to the conclusion that they can no longer rely on the US. I assume the rest of Europe will reach the same conclusion. Merz has also said German alternative party will not ever be part of his coalition. What is worrisome is that new nazi, pro Putin party came in second place in the elections. Another downside of Trump foreign policy is our allies everywhere will never trust us anymore regardless of if a Democrat gets in the White House in 2028.
Your take on Merz is correct, even though it took a while for him (not his party) to get there (yup, opportunism). And yes, it is indeed worrisome that MAGA-like parties are gaining a lot of ground - all around the world. Partially, 'thanks' to Steve Bannon´s crusades. They are all linked, using the same playbook. And 'X' is part of that eco-system.
The thing that sort-of saves some countries from outright radical right, MAGA-like, wrecking-ball-ism, is the fact that a lot of them have a real multi-party system. And some of these countries still have some (large enough) parties that absolutely refuse to form a government with any extreme/radical pro-Russia right wing party. As long as these fascist parties do not get an absolute majority then these countries would be sort of 'saved'.
Europe does not trust the US anymore. And they shouldn´t. That is not completely new, but Trump has made it so very clear that there´s no way around it. I hope Europe will find their own way, FAST, because there is no relying on the US anymore. At all.
I agree. I certainly wouldn't trust the US anymore. Even when Biden shored up the NATO alliance and said the US was back, I thought that there was a lot of skepticism among our NATO allies. After all, why would you put your trust in somebody that could simply turn on a dime in the next election?
I live in Canada. I don't think Americans have any idea the lasting harm their president's "jokes" have. Americans might shrug off insults toward Chuck Schumer, but when the president jeers at the heads of state of ally countries (or even non-allies), it creates a corresponding hostility. The people around me are boycotting USA products--even California wines--and canceling travel plans, including for business. Trump has even achieved in Canada what no one had thought possible: He's made Trudeau almost popular again.
He is generating similar hostility across America for how he is behaving toward are friends in Canada, Europe and elsewhere. It is an unforgivable betrayal of our shared values and histories.
I think it’s clear that many Americans have no idea whatsoever. Some of them are beginning to catch on, however, as Elon and his hackers blunder through one uninformed round of illegals firings and freezes after another, and Trump demonstrates on a daily basis the depths of his ignorance and subservience to Vladimir Putin.
That is why I have been saying that Trump and Trumpism is doing the most long lasting damage is Foreign policy.( even as bad as things can get domestically) By the way, as a Minnesotan, O, Canada!
Thank you. It's sad to see what's happening over on your side of the border. It's been an object lesson for us in our coming election. Hopefully Trump's example will be enough to turn voters here away from the Conservatives.
I work in the US tourism industry and I expect to see a fall off of foreign tourism and I don't blame them at all. Just look at the idiocy of firing National Parks employees.
The WaPost had an interesting article(over the weekend) about how the town by Denali is really worried about their future, the firings and how this relates to their lifestyle of tourism.
France is largely in the same place, although it's not as stable politically as Germany right now. If the readout from Macron's meeting with Trump today sounds like fluffing, don't assume that he means it. He knows how susceptible Trump is to flattery, but at the same time he is well aware, like most non-extremist French politicians, of the need to move beyond reliance on the US.
I'm curious why we are not spending any time here this morning analyzing the most important outcome, from an American point of view, from the German elections held yesterday. It's a pretty big deal.
Leave aside for a moment the purely political considerations, which most people fail to do, and take a deeper dive on what the message was from the likely incoming head of government, Friedrich Merz. Prominent among his exclamations on victory was this, in translation: “My absolute priority will be to strengthen Europe as quickly as possible so that, step by step, we can really achieve independence from the USA.” Think about what that says, and what more it means. Not only is it a call by arguably Europe's most powerful country to cast our nation aside and move in a different direction after nearly 80 years of solidarity. It also is a signpost for others to follow when they have their elections and anti-Americanism is a platform on which they will campaign. It then trickles down to our level when we travel, shop, and otherwise seek a personal presence over there, with those people. I do not expect anti-American violence. But I easily can imagine them being less hospitable hosts when we are there. I can see them speaking less English with the many of us who do not bother to learn a foreign language. Being less helpful or forthcoming regarding our requests for experienced help from locals who know the scene. Less likely to reciprocate by traveling to the United States and spending their discretionary income here, on our goods and services, or on those exported to their nations, when they have other options. And so on.
The cancer of the American political far right does not exist merely in a vacuum or have an impact only on these shores. As our political leaders push formerly staunch European allies aside in their quest to engage in an appeasement surrender to Putin and Russia, it eventually will have real world consequences for the rest of us, and not for better. Maybe, possibly, perhaps we should be having that discussion right here, and elsewhere, if we are saying that the victory of the far right is not inevitable, and identifying what we need to prioritize as we strive to minimize damage and influence outcomes.
I can't agree more. I cannot add anything other than this: I hope that other countries are not emboldened to take Trumpism measures as well. It is well documented that many will concede to threats and that many will mimic out of fear. Racism has always been a quick devil to fall in line with. Evil is contagious.
Merz has to be thinking about a nuclear weapons program.
As the great Tom Lehrer's "MLF Lullaby" reminds us, "... and one of the fingers on The Button will be German!" https://youtu.be/oOtI81sil84?si=CM3pQsx4TghF_M9p
My take I have on the reading of the German elections is that Merz is a conservative in the true sense and not what passes as MAGA conservatism. I also got the sense, (from my limited reading) that Merz has come to the conclusion that they can no longer rely on the US. I assume the rest of Europe will reach the same conclusion. Merz has also said German alternative party will not ever be part of his coalition. What is worrisome is that new nazi, pro Putin party came in second place in the elections. Another downside of Trump foreign policy is our allies everywhere will never trust us anymore regardless of if a Democrat gets in the White House in 2028.
Your take on Merz is correct, even though it took a while for him (not his party) to get there (yup, opportunism). And yes, it is indeed worrisome that MAGA-like parties are gaining a lot of ground - all around the world. Partially, 'thanks' to Steve Bannon´s crusades. They are all linked, using the same playbook. And 'X' is part of that eco-system.
The thing that sort-of saves some countries from outright radical right, MAGA-like, wrecking-ball-ism, is the fact that a lot of them have a real multi-party system. And some of these countries still have some (large enough) parties that absolutely refuse to form a government with any extreme/radical pro-Russia right wing party. As long as these fascist parties do not get an absolute majority then these countries would be sort of 'saved'.
Europe does not trust the US anymore. And they shouldn´t. That is not completely new, but Trump has made it so very clear that there´s no way around it. I hope Europe will find their own way, FAST, because there is no relying on the US anymore. At all.
I agree. I certainly wouldn't trust the US anymore. Even when Biden shored up the NATO alliance and said the US was back, I thought that there was a lot of skepticism among our NATO allies. After all, why would you put your trust in somebody that could simply turn on a dime in the next election?
I live in Canada. I don't think Americans have any idea the lasting harm their president's "jokes" have. Americans might shrug off insults toward Chuck Schumer, but when the president jeers at the heads of state of ally countries (or even non-allies), it creates a corresponding hostility. The people around me are boycotting USA products--even California wines--and canceling travel plans, including for business. Trump has even achieved in Canada what no one had thought possible: He's made Trudeau almost popular again.
He is generating similar hostility across America for how he is behaving toward are friends in Canada, Europe and elsewhere. It is an unforgivable betrayal of our shared values and histories.
I think it’s clear that many Americans have no idea whatsoever. Some of them are beginning to catch on, however, as Elon and his hackers blunder through one uninformed round of illegals firings and freezes after another, and Trump demonstrates on a daily basis the depths of his ignorance and subservience to Vladimir Putin.
That is why I have been saying that Trump and Trumpism is doing the most long lasting damage is Foreign policy.( even as bad as things can get domestically) By the way, as a Minnesotan, O, Canada!
Thank you. It's sad to see what's happening over on your side of the border. It's been an object lesson for us in our coming election. Hopefully Trump's example will be enough to turn voters here away from the Conservatives.
I work in the US tourism industry and I expect to see a fall off of foreign tourism and I don't blame them at all. Just look at the idiocy of firing National Parks employees.
The WaPost had an interesting article(over the weekend) about how the town by Denali is really worried about their future, the firings and how this relates to their lifestyle of tourism.
Or as the meme a friend sent me the other day has it, "It takes a special kind of asshole to make Canadians hate you."
France is largely in the same place, although it's not as stable politically as Germany right now. If the readout from Macron's meeting with Trump today sounds like fluffing, don't assume that he means it. He knows how susceptible Trump is to flattery, but at the same time he is well aware, like most non-extremist French politicians, of the need to move beyond reliance on the US.