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Leaders and Crises...May, Macron, Trudeau and Trump

12/18/2018

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     Theresa suffered three successive defeats in the House of Commons, over her Brexit deal and a revolt in her leadership in her party was barely forced back, but it is just a matter of time before she is pushed out.
     Yesterday, the Labor leader introduced a vote of non-confidence but she was able to deflect it for mid-January. Her position is tenuous both as P M and leader of the Conservative party and she is held " hostage" by the Irish Unionist. 
     Her deal with the E U over Britain's exit is based on Northern Ireland remaining in the " zone"and this has added to the problems as the " hard" Brexiters, want nothing to do with it. She, is beat a lame duck and it is only her stubbornness that remains but her days are numbered.
     Macron came into power on a very strong vote for change and renewal but his embracing of Trump on Bastille Day and his policies together with his seeming arrogance has turned against him and his drop in popularity has bee precipitous.
     He wanted to reform the economic system, getting rid of some of the more entrenched social rights that the French have enjoyed since the creation of the 5th Republic, but it only resulted in widespread protests, strikes and massive demonstrations . His very presence in office is threatened and he either as to back down or use the emergency powers to quell the uprisings and that would be foolhardy.
     He has decided to retreat, pulling back from cuts to services, taxes on pensions and has called on companies to pay year-end bonuses ( tax free), but this was dismissed as too little too late and the protests continue ( signs of 1968, when Charles de Gaulle, at the height of his popularity was brought down...the arrogance/ hauteur).
Things started to go bad when Macron was seen as too cozy with Trump, marching down the Champs Elysee arm in arm, hugging. It was too much for the French. Add to that his " royal" pretense, arrogant and seemingly out of touch ( not surprising given his quick rise to power and his job as a banker)
     He is quickly being seen as shallow and uncaring and is time in office is sorely threatened. Let's see what happens this weekend.
     Trudeau went to India, dressed up in kurta and danced the bhangra and was shunned until the last minute by the Indian prime minister. He had boasted that he had more Sikhs in his cabinet than were in the Indian cabinet ( a sore point as the Indians were very concerned with the Kalistanis ( Sikhs who want to break away from India, and had identified some in Trudeau's entourage as Kalistanis). 
     He had previously gone to Vietnam to the T P P meeting and was seen as trying to curry favor with China, by delaying the signing the agreement. Japan and the others were not happy. 
     Trudeau seem to think that his boyish " charm"( hair,socks and selfies), would be sufficient but he soon learned that in the world of rough and tumble politics, that will not suffice.
     At home, he was glib about the pipelines, the environment and the trade talks. He waffled saying one thing and then doing the opposite ( just yesterday handing out $1.6 billion to the oil industry after talking about their effects on climate change in Hungary; talking tough about N A F T A/ U S M C A, and then acquiescing on dairy and tariffs on steel and aluminum). 
     He had a public falling out with Trump and now China is mad about the arrest and detention of a Huawei executive at the behest of the Americans. The Chinese, as expected reacted very quickly and detained two Canadians on espionage and trade delegations from B C and Canada were cancelled. More to come.
     Trudeau is facing a weak opposition and may be able to ride this out.
     Trump is in trouble. All around him is crumbling as more former employees and close associates find themselves in the cross hairs of the Mueller probe. Papadoploous, Cohen, Flynn and  Manafort, sentenced to prison or awaiting sentencing and many others are indicted and still others are under investigations and the Russian " collusion" probe continues with more evidence and  the noose is closing on him and members of his family.
     All of his businesses are being investigated both federally for campaign finance irregularities and so are his children, especially his son Donald jr. and his son-in law Kushner.  
     He is tweeting away, thrashing about and insulting the " rats", who have turned state evidence
    His popularity is at an all time low, more than 60% say he is a liar and his Chief of Staff is replaced and the Democrats are at the door.
​    Vox populi; Vox dei.   
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    fig 2-b My Father and Mother to whom I owe everything

    "Ecce Homo"  ("Behold the Man"), Antonio Ciseri's depiction of Pontius Pilate presenting a scourged Jesus to the people of Jerusalem.

    fig 1-b


    figure 1-a

    F. Goya
    Two men fighting with clubs
    circa 1819-1823

    The Black Paintings Period


    (Fig 2a) The Death of Innocents


    Author

     Ishwar R. Prashad recently retired from over 47 years of teaching.

    He taught Political Science variously at Dawson College, Loyola College, Algoma University College, Sir George Williams University, Concordia University and Vanier College.

    Previously, he taught for nine years in Port Mourant, Guyana.


    He became Principal of Corentyne Comprehensive High School at the tender age of 21. During this time he turned down Scholarship offers to study overseas in England and the U.S.S.R.

    He chose Canada and after graduating from Sir George Williams with a B.A Honours with Distinction, he accepted a Fellowship to complete his graduate work at McMaster University. He completed his first two degrees-Bachelors and Masters- in three years.  

    His last position was as Co-Ordinator of Political Science and Economics at Vanier College and Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Concordia University.

    He is married to the former Juliet Ramcharan (Library Supervisor, McGill University) and together they have three children – Indra R. Prashad, P.Eng. ,McGill (Presently Manager, Ontario Safe Water Drinking Agency), Ishwar R. Prashad Jr., B.A ,McGill (Presently, President, Kismit Gear Inc.) and Rabindra Y. Prashad, (Presently, Artist and Chef).They are the proud Grandparents of eight grandchildren-Miranda, Kamal, Ayesha, Élan, Anĵa , Étienne, Chloé, and Jasmine.

     

     

     





     



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