THE WORLD AS WE KNEW IT

In a few days the US  Presidential election  will take place although there has been an unprecedented amount of early and on-line voting. This should have given a clear indication of what the final result will be but, because of the ridiculous electoral college system they run there it does happen that a candidate can win going against the trend and the popular vote. This happened in 2016 with Trump winning and in 200 when George W. Bush won.

ELECTORAL COLLEGE SIMPLY EXPLAINED

Or, even more simply:

Where Wyoming has one electoral vote for every 193,000 people but California has only one electoral vote for every 718,000 people. Ridiculous.

So, that egregious idiot Donald Trump, despite his bullying, blustering, lying and incompetence could still win. At least Robert The Irresponsible Sinner will be pleased.

What this means for most of America and the rest of the world is potential disaster.

COVID-19 has not been eradicated and in many places is coming back in second and third waves. Trump's Administration - and what a misnomer that word is when applied to Trump and the GOP as per a dictionary definition:

Administration

1. The process or activity of running a business, organisation, etc.

2. The management of public affairs; government.

It would be a far stretch to suggest that these bozos could run a corner shop properly let alone a government.

Anyway - Trump's Administration has seriously undermined USA's economy, civil rights, health system, law and order, justice system, environment protection and the safety of its citizens just to name a few. It has also, and this is where it affects us, undermined and in some places destroyed decades-old treaties, accords and agreements with both allies and enemies and allowed  military, economic and political expansion of Russia, China, Turkey and Iran amongst other countries.

God (just an expression) help us all.

ARE YOU UP FOR A LAUGH?

 Well, I had to laugh yesterday when watching Judith Collins launch National's new campaign advertisement.

WATCH THIS AT 0:19: JUDITH COLLINS TODAY

"It was slick, it was fabulous, it was modern .."

- Judith Collins

More like, sluggish, frumpy and out of date. 

 

Collins, with the appalling Gerry Brownlee doing a Donald Trump lurking impersonation, woodenly went through a diatribe against Labour and Jacinda Ardern with some Muldoon-like sniping.

This was embarrassing and really shows that this party is not a viable alternative to the Labour government.

ON BEHALF OF THE WORKING CLASSES

 

THE POOR OLD WORKING MAN*

I fear that Robert, who on the latest polls is shown to represent 50% of the Curmudgeon Incⓒ blogs readership, is a bit conflicted about where his preference in voting for the upcoming elections should be. His normal 'True Blue' stance ( National Party supporter) - appears to be giving way to The New Conservatives:

"It's a hard being a voting Catholic in New Zealand. Both Labour and National have a policy of promoting abortion of unborn children.
The New Conservatives are more pro life."

- Robert The Inconsequential Sinner

 I tried to be of assistance in my usual, helpful way by suggesting that:

The New Conservatives (NZ) is a right wing, racist, reactionary, Christian political group which, as per its UK equivalent is supported by Donald trump.
Yes, I can see why you would support these bozos."

- The Curmudgeon 

I really think that Robert  is between a rock and a hard place here given that neither of his latest two preferences - National and The New Conservatives - represent his social, economic, demographic or educational position and background.

I'm proudly a Labour Party supporter and, having an open mind and an interest in politics and history, understand what Socialism means and I don't confuse Socialism's concept and ideals with Communism and the many twisted and perverted interpretations that right wing politicians give to, and promulgate about it.

Perhaps it will be helpful for Robert to see what the working classes are all about. Maybe this little film will be helpful.

THE WORKING CLASSES

* My parents had this Billy Russell recording and we all (pre TV days) enjoyed listening to it over and over along with a recording of Gerard Hoffnung's 'The Bricklayer's Lament'.

TIME GENTLEMEN, PLEASE

I think that Winston Peters is way past his 'use-by' date and certainly well past his 'best before' date.

I didn't like him when he was a National lackey, hated him when he played his pedantic 'king-maker' role in the first days of MMP and have found him extremely annoying ever since.

His latest sniping against the government which, as Deputy Prime Minister he is part of, is unworthy and obvious part of his electioneering. It's comforting to know that his NZ First party is performing abysmally in the polls and may not gain enough percentage votes to have much of a presence. Labour, with its strong polling and Collins-led National polling poorly could mean that a coalition party won't be needed. Let's hope so.

Also, that doofus Shane Jones needs to be kicked to touch.

GOOD OLD NANCY

I like Nancy Pelosi. She's very intelligent and politically savvy and seems to have a good heart.
She can give that bumptious idiot Trump a run for his money and his right wing supporters need to watch out.

Have a look at this clip where she rips into a reporter from a Republican and Trump supporting TV channel who asks her whether she hates Donald Trump. Even Robert The Redneck will like this I'm sure.

DON'T MESS WITH ME

"DON'T GESTICULATE. DON'T RANT. SPARE US THE THEATRICS"

As you readers* are aware there isn't a Political Curmudgeon in The Curmudgeon's Inc.ⓒ so I as The Polemical Curmudgeon cover most controversial or disputatious issues, along with The Religious Curmudgeon (when I remember that I actually exist).

No doubt you, like most of the world are being distracted by American politics and that fat idiot Trump's headlong career (as in careen) to the destruction of democracy in the USA and that the politics of other countries are getting side-lined.
The UK and its BREXIT woes might be an exception but I suspect although the whole thing is so drawn out and complicated that many observers have lost interest.

Hidden amongst the fiascoes and farces of the British Parliament is the resignation of one of the most recent entertaining characters - John Bercow.

Bercow was a conservative MP and served as Speaker of the House Of Commons from 2009 to 2019 having been elected to the position four times and working alongside four Prime Ministers. Quite a feat but not what he will mostly be remembered for.

What he will be remembered for is his unusual way of dealing with members of The House and his mannerisms.

ORDER!

Now that he's unemployed maybe, if he's short of income he could get a job in a fast food Drive Through.

* Stable complement of two although they aren't complimentary.

TIME TO GO

Stanislaus waited for the next edition of The Tablet and, with some apprehension looked at the Letters section. There was no sign of his open latter to Israel Folau. He read the editorial section, the comments section and skimmed through the articles but there was no mention of Israel Folau's attack on homosexuals or of his dispute with the Australian Rugby Union.
"Strange" he thought and waited for a week for the next edition.
Once again his letter hadn't been published and  there was no  mention of Folau in any way. Stanislaus felt let down.

He looked on the internet for other catholic newsletters to see if the story had been fully reported but was disappointed .

Nope - nothing there

Nope - nothing here either.

He thought that The Catholic Bishop's Conference of Korea newsletter should develop a new logo as the one they are using can, at first glance, look like something else, something rude.


Looking through past issues of The Tablet he did find an article on Folau: HERE

In this article Folau's stance is reported along with that of his supporters but the central issue of an attack on homosexuality was not. Stanislaus felt let down.

"I need to make a change" he thought after deliberating on this for a day and a night. "My church isn't defending me".
Stanislaus had been re-reading his catechism and the gospels and remembering the Sunday sermons where his priest had talked about love, inclusion and forgiveness and saw that there was a disconnect between what was said and what was being done.

His research always came back to the catholic church promising him the gift of grace but to receive this he had to reject sin. Homosexual behaviour, according to the church is a sin and a violation of divine and natural law. If he were to practise homosexual behaviour he would then be deemed to be a sinner and not eligible to receive grace. This was a shock to Stanislaus. He so far in his life hadn't acted on his desires which fortunately the church didn't see as sinful. It was a sin only if the desires were acted on but what if an opportunity was to come his way?  Stanislaus thought this wasn't fair and so he made his decision.

He would leave the catholic church.