Well, he would, wouldn't he?

[nineveh_uk]

Once again Mandy Rice-Davies has the right words, in this case, for Trump and Putin. It isn't staggering any more, alas, that Trump behaves like this, but it is still extraordinary how the Republican party goes along with it. No doubt will make individual motivations clearer, but one doesn't have to reach far for the possibilities.

Meanwhile, on the theme of abdication of political responsibility and general mendaciousness on this side of the Atlantic, I must catch up on Brexit news. Motivations here are at least pretty transparent: political ambition and the desire to short-sell the country for a quick buck.

Back from holiday, and back to work tomorrow. The inbox looms, but I am resolutely ignoring all thought of it until the hour arrives.

Comments

[white_hart]

I also quoted Mandy Rice-Davis while listening to the news tonight. I keep thinking this stuff can't get any more appalling and then it goes and does.

Hope the inbox isn't too bad. I only had 200ish when I got back last Monday but hadn't really caught up before heading off for two more days' leave, so I am not looking forward to Wednesday.

[nineveh_uk]

It just gets every more bizarre. Seriously, who would have thought it?

200 sounds a likely amount I think. Which does explain why we don't get things done, if there are that many emails in a day!

[white_hart]

And that's what I get during the vacation and when I'm not also sending emails myself which generate more replies - I think I often get 100 a day in term. Which is quite ridiculous.

[nineveh_uk]

Yes, today got ludicrous because I started answering.

[ankaret]

Yeah. I mean, I had assumed that American right-wingers were generally against the idea of their country being controlled by Russia, but evidently not.

[nineveh_uk]

So you'd think, and yet!

[ankaret]

I was reading an article by Natalia Antonova this morning which explains it as being the alt-right regarding Putin's Russia positively as a white ethnostate ruled by a patriarchal strongman.

https://medium.com/the-anti-nihilist-institute/russia-as-a-white-mans-paradise-other-scary-reasons-why-trump-adores-putin-and-what-to-do-c49bf7547bba

I suppose I'm just hoping that enough of the people who voted for him *aren't* irredeemable alt-right shithouses that it's possible for America to get rid of him in 2020 or impeach him some time before that. Unfortunately I've seen enough Conservative governments with a sclerotic deathgrip on power to know it's not that easy. :(

[antisoppist]

That ties in with something I read saying Trump respected dictators because he saw them as strong because they can, er.. dictate* and make people do what they tell them, and they don't care what the annoying little people think, which basically means he will despise anyone who is a leader in a democracy because they are automatically weak.

So that's great.

*I have just realised why dictators are called dictators.

[nineveh_uk]

I think I read that somewhere too. It does seem to fit in with his attitude that running a country is just like being a CEO - one man who can hire and fire and say do this, that and the other.

[nineveh_uk]

I'd not seen that article, thanks. It sounds depressingly plausible. Another point I Saw Somewhere was that the previous US opposition to Russia was that it was Evil Communism that was the bogeyman rather than Russia specifically, so now it isn't communism it's just fine.

[ankaret]

That too sounds depressingly plausible.

[azdak]

Where did you go and did it live up to expectations?

[nineveh_uk]

Romania! The Piatra Craiului national park near Brasov, mostly walking, with a bit of wildlife and culture. It was excellent, despite bucketing down with rain for the first three days and the discovery that my waterproof jacket is not what it once was.

[azdak]

Oh, brilliant! We went to Romania a couple of years ago - not Brasov but Sigisoara and Maramures. I'd love to go again and do some walking - did you see any scary sheepdogs or are they not allowed in the national park?

[nineveh_uk]

You were one of the people I know whose having a good time in rural Romania was a push to go and do it myself. It is now my turn to be a reccer! The walking was very good. We weren't on the highest paths, but varied scenery, lovely views, and the cultural interest of the farming practices. Speaking of which there were indeed plenty of scary sheepdogs, though the hotel's pet dog was a sweety.

[azdak]

Would you be willing to put up some photos? I'd love to see some pics.

[nineveh_uk]

I shall definitely be putting up photos! I just have to get my act together to complete my half-written post...