Cogito Ergo Non Serviam
Latest Commentary:
Labour Rebels Save May's Brexit Plans -- Yesterday, the House of Commons considered an amendment to the Brexit bill that would have provided for a customs union with the EU in the event a deal between Brussels and London did not materialize by January 21, 2019. The amendment failed on a vote of 307-301. Twelve Tories voted against the government and for the amendment. Five Labour MPs, one of whom is currently suspended from the party, joined the government against the amendment, enough to provide the six vote margin of victory. [July 18]
No Resignations Over Trump's Helsinki Debacle -- Once upon a time, it was not uncommon for political leaders to resign from office in protest over policies and actions with which they did not agree. The honorable resignation remains, although it is much rarer than it once was. U.S. ambassador to Estonia, James D. Melville Jr.,resigned last month after the president raged against America's allies. The Trump disaster in Helsinki yesterday, where the American president sided with Chekists rather than his own intelligence services, should have sparked a similar reaction if anyone in the administration had any self-respect, sense of patriotism or simple human decency. By their silence, the members of the administration have proven themselves moral weaklings surpassed in their shame only by the president they so shamefully serve. [July 17]
Helsinki Summit Exposes Trump's Weakness -- The meeting between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin was not the complete disaster many feared, but it certainly was pointless. The Russians and the Americans do have a lot of issues between them that deserve discussion and resolution. Moreover, this journal believes that better relations between the two countries would be a positive for the world, presuming the Russian people were better represented by their government. However, it is clear that Mr. Trump has no intention of standing up to Mr. Putin and even took his side against his own intelligence community. The weakness of Mr. Trump's character was on global display. [July 16]
Congress Rejects Trump's NATO Tantrums -- The Republican Party is full of sycophants aching to avoid the bullying of Donald Trump and hoping to get a kind word out of him in the belief that that way lies re-election. The House spent almost 10 hours yesterday working on a cover-up of Russian collusion by putting an FBI agent to the metaphorical rack. Earlier this week, the president slammed America's NATO allies and called into question the utility of the alliance. Both houses of Congress, though, endorsed NATO and its aims in amendments to legislation almost immediately thereafter. There is hope, desperate but hope nonetheless, for the sanity right in America. [July 13]
Tory Brexit White Paper is Unworkable -- The minority Tory government led by Theresa May (for now) finally issued its White Paper on Brexit. Typical of the whole mess, there were not enough copies to go around in the House of Commons at first. When MPs and the press finally did get to read its contents, it was a grand disappointment for both sides of the argument on leaving. It has five main principles that are unworkable. If implemented, it will be a soft Brexit with Britain giving up much of its influence within the EU to have the appearance of sovereignty outside it. More likely, the discussion will waste more time, and a hard Brexit becomes more likely with each passing day. [July 12]
© Copyright 2018 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Ubuntu Linux.
Volume XVI, Number 131
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