The voter have spoken, especially those in the Regions, and the Coalition Avenir Quebec, has won an overwhelming victory.( 73/125 seats) and their leader Francois Legault will be the provinces 43rd premier. 
     Philippe Couillard and his Liberals have gone down to defeat ( 32 seats ) after almost 14 years ( except for  a few months of PQ's Marois) and for the first time in almost 50 years, a party other than the Liberals or Parti Quebecois will be in power.. 
     The PQ has suffered its worst defeat since 1970, winning only 9 seats, with its leader JF Lisee, himself going down to defeat, ( like Marois in 2014) and resigning ( like Marois in 2014).
     Quebec Solidaire has won 10 seats, a break through ( plus 7), winning seats outside of Montreal...Quebec City, Sherbrooke etc.
     The polls were again wrong as they predicted a close race and a minority government, but the CAQ won about 37% of the votes ( the polls had shown them around 31%).
     The PQ vote collapsed and that helped the CAQ and the QS as nationalists went to the CAQ and socialists went to QS. 
     The PQ will lose its official party status in the National Assembly and with that goes financial support. It runs the risk of oblivion, unless some energetic and articulate leader emerges and defines clearly what it stands for ( Lisee was all over the place, desperately trying to please everyone, changing the party platform as the days go by and even to personal and elitist  attacks on Manon Masse, the QS outstanding face.
     The CAQ appealed to nativism...raising fears of Quebec losing its language, ite culture and its values, thus its identity in the face of  the threats from immigrants, refugees, Muslims, " les autres". He campaigned against increased immigration ( the Liberals were concerned with labor shortage due to the growing economy, the low birth rate, the aging population and the need for workers, skilled and unskilled to fill the need). Legault was adamant that Quebec should take in 10,000 less ( from 50,000 to 40,000); that those who came in would have to pass a French proficiency test in 3 years or be deported ( they are protected against this by Sec.6 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms). He also wanted to limit the wearing of hijabs in the workplace and most importantly protect " Quebec Values".
     His appeal was to the Quebec of the past, with its core religious values; its homogeneity; its language insulated and its identity secured. This was an appeal to nostalgia, to the pre-60s Quebec of family farms, Catholicism, to populism and against the foreign hordes and the frightening new world that is at the gates.
     It is reminiscent of the 1944 election, when Maurice Duplessis and his Union National used lies and fears to defeat the Liberal government of Adelard Godbout. Godbout had won the election in 1939 with his support of Canada's entry in WW11 and had governed very competently, introducing many progressive reforms, like giving women the right to vote (1940), founded Hydro Quebec, free education up to grade 7 and a labor code allowing workers to form unions. Duplessis and his wealthy supporters and the Catholic church were adamantly opposed to these " progressive" changes and went on a campaign of fears, lies and against Quebec's support for the war ( PM McKenzie King's "Conscription, If Necessary"). Duplessis falsely accused Godbout of wanting to bring 100,000 Jewish refugees into Quebec, got support from Lionel Groulx and the Catholic church and money poured from wealthy businessmen fearing the workers and their unions. It worked and the Liberals were defeated. 
     La Grande Noiceur of Roncarelli, Jehovah Witness, Padlock law, communist witch hunt, anti-labor, pro business, anti immigrant became the order of the day until the Supreme Court struck the laws and he died and in 1960 the Liberals under Jean Lesage and his message of Maitre des Chez Nous won and ushered in the Quiet Revolution, which would lead Quebec out of the corrupt, priest-ridden agricultural society of large families and illiteracy to a Quebec with public schools, a new emerging middle class unafraid of technology or business innovation.
     Now we are back to fears about identity, language, culture, Quebec values  and the need to be protected from Muslims, Immigration, refugees, and the encroaching world of internet, i phones,  social media/platforms. Thus language tests, deportations, Quebec values and no hijab in the work place.  

     Municipalities are creatures of the provincial government  Sec. 92 of the Constitution Act ( previously referred to as the British North America Act, 1867, but changed with the patriation of the constitution, 1982), gave powers over municipalities to provinces. This power allow provinces to create, dissolve, reform them as they choose. 
     What Ontario  premier,Doug Ford, wants to do is quite legal/constitutional but the way he chose to do it and the timing of his action, plus personal animus towards the Toronto municipal council ( the various run-ins that he and his brother ( the former mayor Rob), was the problem.
     He can reduce the size of the Council from 47 to 25 but he acted rashly. There is an election campaign going on. Candidates are  already contesting  the 47 seats but he ploughed ahead and the court slapped him down. Judge Belobaba ruled that " passing a law that changes the city's electoral districts in the middle of its election and undermines the overall fairness of the election is antithetical to the core principles of our democracy". Ford went " bananas" and personally attacked the judge ( erroneously),  as an appointee of a previous provincial premier, Dalton McGuinty. This is a Superior court judge and these are appointed by the Federal government, but  Ford's ignorance did not stop him from repeating it again and again and he then threatened to use the " the notwithstanding clause" to override the court's decision.
     Sec. 33 of the Constitution Act 1982, allows provinces to do this, but it was not meant to be used to settle personal vendettas and this is what Ford is doing. This clause has been used rarely since its inclusion in the Constitution. It was a compromise hammered out by the Federal Justice minister Jean Chretien and the Attorney Generals of Ontario (McMurty) and Saskatchewan ( Romanov). 
     The Constitutional meeting to patriate the Canadian Constitution from Britain was in trouble as the  pro- separatist premier of Quebec, Rene Levesque put up many road blocks ( as he said prior to the talks, he was not there to " renew Canada), and the Conservative premiers of NL, Manitoba, Alberta, . PEI and Nova Scotia and the Socred. premier of BC,  who opposed individual rights and the NDP premier of Sask. who wanted rights for women, joined forces,  ( the so-called Gang of 8). Only Ontario and New Brunswick ( Progressive Conservatives), stood with the Feds.      
     Many deals and counter deals were proposed and all seemed lost. Then, the meeting in the kitchen, over coffee made the breakthrough compromise, that satisfied all but Levesque. He left in a huff and cried foul ( he was angry because he thought he had a deal with the 7, but they got a better deal. Fuming he came back to Quebec and complained of betrayal and the " Night of the Knives". He was out-pokered). He vowed to use the notwithstanding clause against all future legislation and indeed was the first to use it against the ruling of the Supreme Court over sections of Law 101. He "protected" all Quebec laws by including this clause in all its laws. He acted out of pique .  Liberal premier, Robert Bourassa also used it and so did the government of Sask. and Yukon., but all in all its use was rare. 
     When used, it would last for a maximum of 5 years. It can be reduced, or dropped after this or it had to be renewed for another 5 years. It has never been used in Ontario until now.
     When Doug Ford recalled the legislature to pass it, an uproar followed and all NDP members ( who showed their opposition by making noise and thumping their desks were named and escorted out of the chamber by the Sergeant-of Arms . The law will be passed but already the Toronto council and its mayor have challenged in the courts. The show is not over.
     The attack on the Courts by Ford has met with criticism from all sides ( except federal Conservative leader Scheer. ). It is not the use of the power but the way it was done. As stated above, the municipalities are " creatures" of the provinces. They give them life and they can take it away or modify them but there is accountability , legal and political. The legal we have seen; the political is yet to come.
     What people are concerned about is the threat from Ford to use over and over again. He argues that he was elected( he was not elected Premier. He becomes that as a result of being leader of the majority party) and so can do what he wants and that judges are merely appointed. Simplistic and dangerous. Our system of government is a Constitutional democracy, based upon the Rule of Law and the Constitution is the supreme law of the land. There are checks on political as well as legal powers. The checks on political power is the  limited term of office and the voters and the powers granted to the  Courts by the Constitution. The Courts are limited by the Constitution and by the legislature. No one has absolute power in our system of government. That does not mean that politicians will not bluster and rant and rave and threaten, especially when ignorance abounds.
   

     This phrase came into use in Roman times, when the Senate declared emperor Nero a " hostis publicus" in ad 68 ( Wikipedia). This was done to remove a threat to the republic. 
     Since then, it has become more sinister as a weapon of demagogues and dictators and those who cast a wide net to entrap anyone they see as an obstacle to their objectives.
     It was during the French revolution that its full force and its sinister purpose seen. 
     The words " ennemi du peuple" were extensively used . On Dec. 25, 1792 Robespierre stated " the revolutionary government owes to the good citizen all the protection of the nation; it owes nothing to the Enemies of the People but death"  ( Wikipedia), and many would die after so branded, even Robespierre himself. Included in the political crimes punishable by death were those " spreading false news to divide or trouble the people"( here you can glean the reason for Trump's use of the phrase, against the mainstream media and its reporters.) 
      In the Russia " vrag naroda" ( Wikipedia) was used by Lenin on Nov.28, 1917, calling for " enemies of the people" to be arrested and brought before the revolutionary court ( enemy of the laborers; enemy of the proletariat,  class enemy ).. This phrase was widely used in the Soviet Union and hundred of thousands were killed or sent to the " gulags".
 Mao used it in 1957, against  " social forces and groups that resist the socialist revolution" and hundreds of thousands died or were " reeducated"
     Nazi Germany used it in its plan to RELOCATE Jews to Madagascar " in former times sane people and sane leaders of the peoples made short shrift of the Enemies of the People. They had them either expelled or killed" ( Wikipedia) ( millions would be relocated and murdered).
     In the UK , in the aftermath of the referendum on membership of the EU, the Daily Mail, described judges who ruled that leaving would require the consent of the British Parliament, " Enemies of the People".
    In the United States, Trump has picked the usage, " the FAKE NEWS media ( nytimes, abc, cbs, cnn, nbc) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American people". He has been beating this drum incessantly . Each day that goes by is replete with tweets about the " fake news " and " enemies of the people". It is self serving, dangerous and a threat . He does this to deflect and detract from the reporting on the various investigations on Russian hacking; on possible collusion; on his various relationships with women, who were paid to be silent on their affairs with him; on the people leaving his Administration; on those closely connected to him, who have been found guilty of various crimes and to rouse up and keep his " base'/ of support.
     This phrase " enemy of the people" is once again being used to perpetuate divisions; to further ones agenda, either to wrest power or to hold on to power or to be a tool to cast doubts about crimes that may have been committed, or to dull attempts to expose wrongs. It has been used in the Spanish Inquisition; in the Salem " witch trials"; in the French Revolution; in the MC  Carthy " witch hunt"; in Nixon's "Watergate' and now by Trump. In all these cases its use has been iniquitous,  perfidious and malicious.    

     Trump's decision to place  punishing tariffs on Turkey is having a very unpredictable effect on an already unpredictable and unstable region. The Turks have decided to fight back and strongman Erdogan ( just re-elected) will not back down and will move Turkey closer to its neighbor but long time " threat" Russia. Already overtures have been made and Putin is willing and eager to step in and pull the long time N A T O member and the guardian of its Eastern flank, ( where many U S A military bases are located and from where many U S-led missions to Iraq, Syria etc. were launched), away from Europe and the military alliance. 
     Turkey as signaled its intention not to cave, by putting its own tariffs on American products and to take a loan of $15 billion from Qatar ( which has had a running economic battle with Saudi Arabia. Trump supports the Saudis in its row with Qatar ( an ally, but I guess the Saudi wealth and oil and the gaudy welcome have won Trump to their side). So here we have a NATO member being flayed economically by the ostensible leader of the alliance, turning for help from Russia and getting economic aid from Qatar ( Trump has weakened NATO and this will not help).
     The Saudis continue their genocidal war in Yemen, where they indiscriminately target civilians ( the latest being the busload of young students), with the assistance of US and Britain. Why? Oil and investments from the wealthy Saudis. They have also targeted ( as noted above)  Qatar ( even their camel herd were deported) and has picked a fight with Canada over Canada's request the women rights activist Badawi ( her blogger brother is presently imprisoned ). 
     The Saudis became furious ( they were afraid that others would join Canada and expose their woeful record on human rights). They severed diplomatic relation, asking the Canadian ambassador to leave; placed a hold on all new investments; cancelled all flights by Saudi airline and recalled thousands of students on scholarship in Canada. The Trudeau government has so far stood firm and has not even cancelled the $15 billion arms deal ( that was signed by the previous Harper government). Relations are tense and Canada's longtime allies US and GB have been silent ( I guess Human Rights is not as important as Saudi wealth, so they oppress their people, deny women rights, crucify and display  body them openly, carry out a genocidal war and the " democracies" remain silent.
     Canada and Turkey are both NATO members but in Trump's world that counts for little ( Trump has also placed punitive tariffs on many Canadian goods/products, even though we have an economic pact, NAFTA. 
     In the Middle East, Russia rules while US picks fights with Turkey and cancelled the Iranian nuclear agreement ( against the wishes of the other signatories and even though his own officials agree that Iran has not broken the agreement. Syria with the help of Russia and Iran is winding down its civil war ( which has killed thousands and driven tens of thousands into  forced exile). Iraq continues to be a battleground and so too Libya and  in Yemen the Saudi-led, US -backed coalition continues to decimate the population. Israel launches attacks on Gaza and even in Syria ( recently accused of assassinating a top Syrian scientist and targeting Iranian positions). 
     The region is a sizzling cauldron and the next eruption is not far off. It will be far ranging 

     Russia Risen from the ashes of the tired, spent and over-stretched USSR and the " drunken" Yeltsin give away ( to the West; to kleptocrats and to Communist turned capitalists apparatchiks), after an obsequious Trump heaped praise on Putin and says he believed him when he says that Russia did not hack the 2016  presidential election. Putin  stood smirking, listening to Trump condemning his own intelligence services/agencies, Democrats and Republicans, his own DNI chief Coats, and so many others. He continued to blame the " fake news" media, Mueller, and all who dare to criticize him and/ or support the investigations.
     Everyone ls lying...Comey, Mueller, Intel Agencies, FBI, CIA, DNI, Hillary, Obama, women who accuse him of assault, judges, climate change scientists, etc. but bot the Lt. Col. of the KGB, Putin, trained and experienced in the art. Why?
     When Putin was asked what he had on Trump, he lied and said he never met him ( not in 2013, not ever) and that he had nothing " kompromat"/ compromising on Trump. Then why is Trump so meek with Putin, so nice and so ebullient in his praise? 
     Why did Trump agree to meet in private, without his advisers? Why did the meeting last so long/ 2 hrs.? What was discussed that could not be shared with Pompeo, and others? Why did he not confront Putin about the Russian hack" Was it because, he had asked them to hack Hillary Clinton e-mails? Did they and what did they share with Trump? Why did he not raise the invasion of Crimea? Of Ukraine? What is Trump hiding? Why is he so afraid of Putin?
     Putin stride the world stage like a colossus and Trump has enabled and empowered him. Like Kim, he has given prestige and credibility to Putin and a legitimacy that both had lacked and what did he get in return. NADA/Nothing.
     Trump has weakened America. He has weakened NATO. He has weakened America's place as the leader of the democratic world. He has weakened America's Institutions and he has made a mockery of America's Constitution. He has strengthened autocrats from Putin to Kim to Duterte to Erdogan, those who hate Rights and Liberties, the free press and the independent judiciary and free speech and all things democratic. 
     Where are the Republicans whose motto has been free trade, the Military, the FBI, the American Way?. A few, McCain, Flake, have spoken out and condemned him but most have maintained a servile silence, looking out for their own political and financial needs and forsaking the Nation, which they swore to protect.
     America is in crisis and it has been brought about by the almost "treasonous" words of Trump and weak and bent " bananas" of the Republican party. Shame on them. America  a "pushover"; Trump " treasonous";disgraceful.
     

     The expectations had been high but then Trump began to tamp it down. What began a year ago with insults and threats... from name -calling Rocket Man to Dotard; from Fire and Fury to Missile over the sea of Japan has dwindled down to " i do not have to prepare" to " I can size him down in first minute" to  meetings between leaders of the North and South, with Pompeo to Rodhman in Singapore crying on CNN. 
 It had all the trappings of a reality clown circus and Trump made it more so with his temper tantrums and attacks on the G7 and especially on Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau, and with ad hominem attacks from his underlings, outdoing each other to win their " master's" approval, from Trump calling Trudeau " weak and dishonest" to Kudlow accusing him of " stabbing in the back" and Navarro saying that " there is a special place for him in hell". 
     Trump left the G7 meeting in a hurry, not wanting anything to dull his forthcoming meeting in Singapore with Kim Jong-Un. He continued his attack on Trudeau all the way ( he had first stated that the tariffs on steel and aluminum were in " national security" interests and   Trudeau's pointing out about the past 100 years of close friendship, especially  a militarily) and that Canada will not " back down". The tirade quickly unified all political parties in Canada ( a rarity) and a resolution was passed unanimously in the Canadian parliament.
     Kim came in a plane provided by China ( but with his private toilet and limo , and two decoy aircraft), with his polished, groomed and well-dressed body guards, ready to "play". He took a tour of the City ( even having a selfie taken), waving and smiling , working the crowd, which shouted encouragement at him. It was a bizarre sight. This rabid human rights violator and alleged killer ( gave the orders allegedly), of a half-brother, an uncle and dozens of others about to be legitimized by the so-called leader of the " free world.
     While Kim was working the crowd, Trump was nowhere to be seen ( like a bride in purdah). The excitement was palpable, especially as the media kept revving it up with experts and speculations ( there was a lot of empty time to be filled and so many " experts" to conflate the issues.
     The meeting is to be held at the Singaporean island of Santosha ( sankscrit for "peace"...sam... completerly/utterly; tosh...acceptance, contentment) ). There will be a meeting of Trump and Kim with only translators and then a luncheon with others ( at these meetings the real work is done by specialists and then the leaders show up to sign any agreement). And this is how it played. 
     Trump and Kim signed a vague agreement ( short on details and/or open-ended). Trump played it up for all its worth, calling it " historic ( and the media lapped it up ) and stated that the U S has agreed to stop the " war games " and that they have agreed to " denuclearization" of the peninsula. That's it. Kim did give up anything except for this vague " denuclearization", whatever the hell that means.
     The South Koreans, whose initiative started this whole charade were left out and then with Trump's promise  of cancelling the " war games" and " denuclearization" of the peninsula ( which means no American troops, no nuclear weapons, no naval protection), they will on their own, forgotten and exposed. China is the other bid winner out of this. They were in control from the time Kim went to Beijing ( twice) and got on that Chinese plane. Without American troops( 29,00) and weapons in South Korea, they would clearly roam free and far That is if Trump understands what he promised and kept it. ( tomorrow he may, as usual change his mind)
     The only thing " historic" about this meeting, is the meeting. Nixon opening up China, by going there and meeting Chairman Mao; Carter with Begin and Sadat and the Camp David Accords was historic ; Clinton and Rabin and Arafat at the White House shaking hands, these are historic. They change things of import...legitimizing China; bringing peace to Israel and Egypt and bringing peace and reconciliation closer between Israelis and Palestinians. 
​     Kim came away with much. He sat as an equal with the President of the most powerful country in the world, the leader of the " free world" ( six flags each). He got legitimacy. He got prestige. He got praise and a whole lot a great propaganda video clips to show back home, his tiny hands being clasp by Trumps small hands) and a fawning ,smiling Trump leaning towards him, with a North Korean flag over his head. A grand, spectacular welcome awaits the conquering hero, who face the "Devil" and came out ahead. 

      It has been a week or so since Trump decided to put tariffs on steel and aluminum, from Canada, Mexico and the E U and the reaction was quick and fierce. Trump claimed that he was doing so for " security" reasons, saying to Trudeau, when he questioned that ( in a phone conversation)and stating that Canada has been a close ally militarily and otherwise for over a hundred years, from WW 1 to Afghanistan etc. Trump raised the burning of the White House during the 1812 war ( it was British troops under Ross who had done so, after the Americans had attacked York( now Toronto). It was actually Aug.24, 1814.
     The response came quickly with Canada imposing ta tariffs worth over $16 billion on American products, from steel and aluminum products to pizza, yogurt, coffee, maple syrup, chocolate, strawberry jam, orange juice, playing cards and whiskey/bourbon etc. These are very targeted, affecting many of the States that supported  Trump and continue to do so and where some prominent Republicans like Ryan and McConnell were elected from. The upcoming primaries and mid-term elections are a key.
     The Europeans have also responded with the European Commission president Juncker saying that " this a bad day for world trade. This is protectionism, pure and simple" and the French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire stating the tariffs are " dangerous and unjustified". The Europeans have so far imposed  over $4 billion on products from motor cycles, to Levi's jeans to bourbon. The Mexicans have also levied import taxes on such items as pork bellies, apples, cheese and various types of steel.
     The " targeted" strategy are a good starting point as jobs are threatened and prices are going up. Some powerful interests like the arch-conservative Koch brothers, the American Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers and the National Retail Federation have denounced the tariffs as " growth killers".
     China which Trump had accused of "raping" the American economy with its products and which has a huge trade imbalance with U S has so far not been targeted. Instead Trump has been making nice ( his daughter has just obtained more than a dozen deals and Trump himself stand to gain financially from Chinese investments in Indonesian projects that Trump has some stake), with China, which continues to increase its presence in the South China Seas, building bases on man-made islands.
     Trump's " national security" excuse( and it is that) is a cover for his " America First" platform, that he used so successfully to get elected. It is protectionist and destructive and only serve to boost his support among his " base". It may continue to do so, until the combine actions of Canada, Mexico and Europe take hold, increasing prices for consumers from manufacturing to agricultural etc. and threatening employment from California to Colorado( sleeping bags) to Florida( orange juIce) to Kentucky ( bourbon) to Maine( maple syrup)  Michigan to Pennsylvania ( felt pens, ketchup, fridges) to Wisconsin (lawn mowers, cheese, soy sauce) to South Carolina( Zodiac inflatable and sailboats). The list goes on.
     The upcoming G7 meeting in Quebec will be a test,  for TRUMP. Some are already calling it G 6+1. The lines are drawn.

     In a clear vote the United Nations General Assembly voted by a very large  margin of 128-9 to reject establishing embassies in Jerusalem. In a resolution co-sponsored by Turkey and Yemen and against the bulling threats from U S, to " take names" ( Haley ), only the U S, Israel, Guatemala, Honduras, Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Togo, cowered while 21 countries, including Canada, Australia, Poland, Mexico etc. abstained . 35 countries stayed away. 
     G B, France, India, Greece, Egypt, Germany, Italy, Spain, Lebanon, China, Russia, Guyana, Barbados, Japan etc. stood up to the American bullying threats and voted in favor of the resolution. 
     One cannot blame the small Pacific Islands or the African and Latin American  countries, who depend so much on American aid for capitulating. 
 The Americans held a 'party" for their " supporters but of them, only Guatemala and Honduras have moved their embassy. 
     A similar resolution was vetoed by the Americans in the Security Council.
     This solves nothing, except exposing the failed tactics( once again) of the U S. The Palestinians continue to suffer and die; peace is nowhere n sight; Israel continues to spend more and more on its security, while  social, economic and other needs are underfunded and the corruption scandals surrounding Netanyahu remain.     

     Trump has threatened on a regular basis to tear up the Iran Nuclear Agreement, that was negotiated and signed by Pres. Obama and Germany, France, Britain and the E U. The deal would ease thew economic sanctions on Iran and in return Iran promise not to continue with its attempt to build  nuclear weapons. 
     Everyone agrees, even the Americans that Iran has kept its promise, but urged on by Netanyahu of Israel, Trump ( who has no liking for Obama ), has said that he will no longer honor America's commitment to it. The Europeans have made various attempts, including the recent visits by Pres Macron and Chancellor Merkl, to try and convince Trump to honor the deal. 
     If Trump goes ahead and take the U S out of the deal, it will have very serious consequences. The Iranian will  re-start  its nuclear program and develop a nuclear arsenal and the world will see other nations, perhaps Saudi Arabia, Brazil, South Africa , even Japan and South Korea do the same for "Deterrence". The North Koreans will definitely carry on their program and any chance of an agreement  will fizzle out. 
     Europe will try to do an end around and try to convince the Iranians to continue to uphold the agreement. They will promise to continue their trade and relationship with Iran, and this will isolate America. it threaten the Europeans and any others who do not toe the American line but the Europeans will stand tough.
     America will lose the hard-earned credibility and respect it regained under Obama. No one will trust their words any future agreements ( Trump has pulled out of the Paris climate accord and from the Asian economic agreement and has threatened to leave NAFTA. Israel will be pleased but it is going to be short-lived as turmoil ramps up in the region ( already Hizbollah has gained electoral strength in Lebanon and militarily in Syria and the Saudis continue their genocidal war in Yemen)
     Little good will come from Trump withdrawal from the Nuclear agreement, but there will be much harm and the world will be a more dangerous place..

     Xi Jinping was unanimously confirmed for his second term as president by the 3,000 delegates at the  National People's Congress ( which had earlier voted to remove term limits on the presidency). In his speech, he immediately warned those opposed to China's march to global supremacy, that they face a " bloody battle"and that China would never be divided, a direct reference to at attempt by Taiwan to seek independence from the mainland. China has sought to unify the self-rule island since its creation by the defeated Nationalist forces (Kuomintang) of Chiang Kai Shek, 1949.
     This very strong nationalist speech was more than celebratory. It was a signal to all, especially those who oppose the Chinese expansion in the South China Sea and particularly the USA and Trump, who has been loudly ( what else) accusing China of unfair trade practices and threatening to impose a yearly tariff of $ 60 billion on Chines products.
     He declared a " new era", for China via " socialism with a Chinese characteristics', which will be achieved with increased military clout ( its budget has been increased) and technological advances, which will turn China into a top innovative country by 2035 and a " modern nation" on par with the US by 2050. " The Chinese people have been indomitable and persistent, we have the spirit of fighting the bloody battle against our enemies to the bitter end", he declared, in the Great Hall to thunderous cheering. The King/Emperor was beaming, as he looked over his fawning /enthusiastic "subjects".
     In the meantime Trump and the American media were titillating the American public with Stormy, Putin's election and the Russia probe.