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Showing posts from 2017

Distractions...

Embed from Getty Images These are the things that shouldn't happen in government: the need to clarify and convey a sense of propriety and loyalty, Indeed a shame.  There are three effects to this intense exchange:  It feeds the doubt about Trump's legitimacy as president (there is irreversible damage in this aspect).  Things were said, some by the President himself.  This contribute to the innuendo and palatial intrigues that have dogged the news waves since inauguration. It lacerates public perception of the President (not that he cares) and the institution of the Presidency, which is beyond any individual.  I can't help the feeling (much less shake it off) that these are episodes of the new reality show: 'The Donald in the (White) House!', but its effects can be potentially detrimental.  It's real public policy being implemented. Finally, if there is room for an ad-hoc collaboration with Russia (especially regarding Syria), all of t...

Fiscal and Budget constraints: Macron's "Honeymoon"

General Pierre de Villiers with President Emmanuel Macron. Image: AFP in The Daily Telegraph France's President, Emmanuel Macron started a very public spat last week with General Pierre De Villiers, Chief of Staff of the Republic's armed forces over this body's proposed budgetary cuts. In what appears to be the first of many confrontations with a president who was elected on a mandate to rein in public spending, Gen. De Villiers resigned over what he argued was his "inability to guarantee France security" with new tight budgetary measures. Here's the note as published by Michael Stothard in FT.  In any case, we have not heard the last word on this subject.  Nicholas Vinocur of Politico Europe wrote on the very bitter aftermath , that Christophe Castaner, Macron's presidential aide, accused the general of 'disloyal communication', particularly after publishing this Facebook post , aptly titled 'Départ', on the eve of his exit (r...