The Donald Won

Well maybe everyone has been proven wrong again.

The man who could not win/ would not win-won.

Hard to believe mostly given his personality, temperament, racism, misogyny, and the other litany of faults. I watched the coverage come in and was surprised.

However, listening to the reflections, commentary since it is fair to say Clinton was not a good candidate and too many people were never going to vote for her. Too much history.

She did not offer a message. He did even is it is a dreadful one.

Echos of Brexit. There are so many people who have been screwed by the system and will go for anything that is not the status quo.

 

6 charts that explain how Donald Trump won the most incredible election in US history | The Independent

Donald Trump has won the election after the most remarkable result in US presidential history. The Republican candidate swept to victory in key swing states including Florida to beat Democrat rival Hillary Clinton. The surprise result defied months of polls which predicted victory for Clinton. Data available begins to paint a picture of how Trump managed to win the election’ he began the race as an outsider discredited for his lack of experience before convincing the Republican party and then the nation of his abilities.

Source: 6 charts that explain how Donald Trump won the most incredible election in US history | The Independent

Similar thoughts from JN

The rule of law…

… is one of the basic criteria for a functioning democracy. The UK is (still) a democracy in that sense. But it looks as though the creeps who run the country’s tabloid newspapers don’t understand that.

tabloids

Which is why this statement from the Chair of the Bar Council is welcome:

“The judiciary of England & Wales is the envy of the world because it is independent of Government or any other influence. When we speak to lawyers in other jurisdictions, it is our judiciary that they particularly………

Public Aggression

MPs condemn newspaper attacks on judges after Brexit ruling

Shadow justice secretary urges lord chancellor to speak out against ‘hysterical’ headlines in rightwing press

Front pages of British newspapers on 4 November
Front pages of British newspapers on 4 November. Photograph: Benjamin Fathers/AFP/Getty Images
Guardian

So the courts rule that the Royal Prerogative cannot be used to trigger Article 50 to initiate Brexit. The fact that excessive use of Government power with the enhancement of Parliament mean nothing to these organs of power. As an article said yesterday, the English fought a civil war to enforce the supremacy of Parliament over Crown power.

The intolerance and violent atmosphere this shows is worrying.

Isaac and Prizegiving succcess

20161105_062849Eleanor and Joe accompanied us to the Thursday evening event. Isaac has success last year and he knew he had won something.

img_20161103_192450He came away with a bumper crop. I think winning the Art prize was particularly good for him. A vindication of all his effort this year and the fact that he convinced me art was what he wanted to do two years ago.

And good for us is the prize that means there is a 50% reduction in the Catholic Board fees next year!img_20161103_221356

NZSO trip for nearly all

img_0018Four plus Swen went to the Michael Fowler to experience something a bit different. Certainly a popular event with the auditorium being nearly  full. We sat close to the stage so could see the musicians in action though only the feet of the star pianist!

The Elgar Symphony No 1 was recognisably Elgar and the full numbers and force of the orchestra made for a great sound.

Always good to try out the various musical options. Next up is the ‘traditional’ trip to The Messiah.

Grease is the word

We have just finished weeks of preparation  and he four nights of performance for Grease at St. Pats.

Isaac loved the experience again of being on stage and played the nerdy role of Eugene very well. There was a family outing on the second night to watch the action and I caught the second half again on the last night.

A very enjoyable show, with very entertaining performances all round and and a well executed funny Eugene.

gease poster20160807_155652