Trump's No Role Model
If the following statement is anything to go by, Jeremy Corbyn seems to think he can emulate Donald Trump's success in the American presidential election by presenting himself as a champion of those 'left behind' by a UK economic system which Jeremy says, "simply isn't working for most people".
Here's the full statement released by Team Corbyn in response to Donald Trump's dramatic and unexpected victory at the polls.
"Many in Britain and elsewhere will be understandably shocked by Donald Trump’s victory in the US presidential election, the rhetoric around it and what the election result means for the rest of the world, as well as America.
"Trump’s election is an unmistakable rejection of a political establishment and an economic system that simply isn’t working for most people. It is one that has delivered escalating inequality and stagnating or falling living standards for the majority, both in the US and Britain.
"This is a rejection of a failed economic consensus and a governing elite that has been seen not to have listened. And the public anger that has propelled Trump to office has been reflected in political upheavals across the world.
"But some of Trump’s answers to the big questions facing America, and the divisive rhetoric around them, are clearly wrong.
"I have no doubt, however, that the decency and common sense of the American people will prevail, and we send our solidarity to a nation of migrants, innovators and democrats.
"
After this latest global wake up call, the need for a real alternative to a failed economic and political system could not be clearer.
"That alternative must be based on working together, social justice and economic renewal, rather than sowing fear and division. And the solutions we offer have to improve the lives of everyone, not pit one group of people against another.
"Americans have made their choice. The urgent necessity is now for us all to work across continents to tackle our common global challenges: to secure peace, take action on climate change and deliver economic prosperity and justice."
Now what takes my breath away is that Team Corbyn appears to have swallowed the bogus argument that Donald Trump is some kind of anti-establishment, almost heroic figure, someone who is on the side of the 'little guy' in the fight against the 'big guy'.
Which is nonsense, of course, because Trump is an 'arch-capitalist', one whose commercial success has been based on highly speculative boom and bust property deals, leaving a trail of bankruptcies in his wake, whose biggest supporters are on well above average earnings.
And that's without going into Trump's demagogic anti-women, anti-abortion, anti-immigration, pro-gun, America-first campaign which won him the election (on a low 54% turnout), but has left his once proud country divided as never before.
In other words whatever disaffected Democrats or other 'left behind' voters were unhappy about, they don't see Jeremy Corbyn's old-fashioned brand of municipal socialism as the solution to their problems.
Show Business for Ugly People (09/11/16)
Donald Trump's victory in the American Presidential election has stumped many of the pundits and pollsters, but may be explained by the following insight which I came across on Twitter:
Demagogues thrive on controversy, of course, the more the better when publicity is involved as this all helps bolster the image of 'strong man' leader who is on the side of the little guy against the establishment.
None of which is borne out by Donald Trump's privileged background, his billionaire lifestyle or the following statistics from the New York Times which show the new American President drawing support from voters with above average earnings.
Income
Under $30,000
$30,000 - $49,999
$50,000 - $99,999
$100,000 - $199,999
$200,000 - $249,999
$250,000 or more
The contrast with outgoing President Barack Obama could not be clearer and only time will tell whether American politics really has become 'show business for ugly people'.
Don't Boo, Vote (06/11/16)
President Obama gives a masterclass in this YouTube video in how to deal with a 'heckler' at one of his rallies.
Donald Trump is up next but he runs from the stage when a protester (a fellow Republican) holds up a placard bearing the slogan "Republicans against Trump' and for his troubles the protester, a young man named Austyn Crites, got beaten up.
Austyn Crites commented later:
"There were people booing, that's expected right? Then all of a sudden these people next to me are just starting to get violent. They are grabbing at my arm, trying to rip the sign out of my hand," he said.
"People started going crazy, these people who couldn't grab the sign, they started tackling me and then it just piled on. Someone yelled something about a gun. I was yelling down there: 'There is no gun, I only have a sign'.
The man is a bully and a buffoon - an embarrassment to all decent Americans.
