The Un-US Politics Discussion Scenario

[Brookie]

Requested by Ms Chonies. Fire away. Request we keep this to everything except US politics - we have plenty of ammo for that elsewhere.

Thanks.

[chonies]

Thanks, pals!

So, France has an election in May for president, and the choices are between a centrist and the far, far right. And Britain has an election in June that will affect Brexit. I don't know where to start, and while this is surely a fascinating moment for political scientists, as a consumer of the news and citizen of the planet, everything seems a tad overwhelming.

[kostgard]

I just hope the rest of the world is learning from our Trump mistake. I believe I read that in the run-off election in France, Le Pen trails Macron by about 26 points in head-to-head polls (which is a relief). But with all elections these days, I don't believe a thing until it's all over.

I am interested to see how thinks play out in the UK in June. I don't really have a feel for that one.

[Mugsy]

It was heartening that the Netherlands didn't elect Geert Wilders, so there's that.

[kostgard]

Oh, look - Macron's campaign the target of a hacking attempt.

One thought to be linked to Russia. Looks like they were using the same phishing method used to hack emails in the Hillary campaign. Fortunately, they have been smart enough to not fall for it. Again, I continue to hope that other people learn from all our mistakes.

[roseland]

Marie Le Pen resigns as head of National Front Party. This is apparently an attempt to distance herself from the more racist elements of the Party. No idea if it will work given that I know almost nothing of French politics.

[Mugsy]

Her father founded that party, so she's going to have to do some heavy campaigning to distance herself from it.

[chonies]

There was a piece about her/this on NPR, but the takeaway was that she kicked her father out of the party, and that Jean-Marie was always more of a provocateur but Marine wants real power and legitimacy. Eleanor Beardsley explains it all. Oh, and why French youth are flocking toward Le Pen, "What attracts young people to Marine Le Pen is her promise to restore French grandeur." Uh oh.

[roseland]

So, the French version of "Make America Great Again."

[Gigiree]

Looks like France may have a situation eerily similar to the Bernie/Hillary/Trump debacle that was the US election last fall...

I absolutely understand the desire to abstain when neither options are your choice, but this kind of black and white thinking is what leads to a passionately awful minority taking control and destroying years of progress.