South Africans know what happens when you replace an intellectual, elite president with a populist one!

Thabo Mbeki was a well-spoken intellectual with an international master’s degree in economics and development, and an impressive activist record. As South African president, he spoke beautifully of the need for a “renaissance” that would restore the dignity of post-colonial Africa.
Under his leadership, South Africa experienced an extended period of economic growth, and began to have confidence in its position as a beacon for human rights and progressive, globalized ideals on the continent and across world.

For a while, South Africa felt its reputation on the world stage was secured. So it came as a shock to many South Africans when the ANC took the drastic step to “recall” Mbeki in 2008, and replace him as president with Jacob Zuma, a relatively inexperienced but hugely popular politician.

Here was a man who had faced 783 corruption and racketeering charges, been tried and acquitted for rape, had only a 6th grade-level education; a polygamist with a slew of scandals with women outside of his four marriages.

What’s familiar is the feeling of shock the liberal elite experienced when Zuma became president: the jarring discovery that many of their countrymen would seemingly ignore a person’s misogyny, crudeness (even allegations of corruption!) to ensure their views were represented. But embrace him they did.

When news of the most recent corruption scandal involving the president broke, Zuma and his allies dismissed it as a creation of a sensationalist media and a social media storm fuelled by the middle class, who Zuma once referred to as the “clever blacks.”

After two years of the Trump campaign, Americans should be familiar with this shrug-excuse-gaffe routine. Trump’s used it to successfully dismiss scandals ranging from tax evasion to sexual harassment.

Source

Yup. It's that bad. The show is 'Strictly Come Dancing', which was a vehicle to revive Bruce Forsyth. Think the US equivalent is 'Dancing With The Stars'.

Ambassador for him or the US? Can they give that to just anybody these days?


And if he grabs the Queen by the pussy?!!!

If getting nuked is the right direction.. and its effects lasting for 50-100 years is about right.. Was that what you meant?

Who is getting nuked by whom? Without even stepping in office, Trump appears to have already stopped an escalating conflict with Russia, which Hillary would have likely escalated.

In at least one interview Trump talked about nuking ISIS. He's mentioned it at other times too. https://thinkprogress.org/9-terrifyi...32a#.1r07zlhfw

I think he may not fully understand what nukes involve. He may believe they are missiles and you'd retaliate with a missile strike against an enemy, right?

This bit bothers me: "TRUMP: They would be dressed, we’d be dressed, we’d know who we were fighting." It shows he also doesn't understand why ISIS has been so hard to fight.

That said, if he and Putin are on good terms, perhaps they can resolve the conflict in Syria without nukes.

Nuke and pave, the classic solution!

Tom

She doesn't have one, just Corgis!

Tom

I wouldn't take everything Trump says literally and verbatim. Americans have a vernacular and manner of speaking that tends to exaggerate for emphasis. We give things "110% effort", call great things "Bad Ass", etc. These are used with some acknowledgement of some common sense. In the case of Trump, you'll want to evaluate by its end results, not passionate language used in getting there.

I don't think Trump will be playing Mr. Nice Guy. I would be disappointed if he did. I'd expect him to be very terrible to his enemies, and choose his battles properly.

BTW, I look forward to seeing him put Juncker in his place.

When someone uses 'if' and 'perhaps' in the same sentence, it isn't going to happen. When they add 'maybe', it's never going to happen.

Yes, well, you would, wouldn't you.

Jus because something is popular, does not mean it is correct or even in the best interests of the country (or even world).

You see, the populace latches on to soundbites. 'BUILD A WALL TO KEEP IMMIGRANTS OUT' sounds good as a soundbite, but anyone with half a brain cell can see that in context, and with a better appreciation of what that would actually entail, its madness. But the majority of the populace will never look into it in that much detail, so they don't care. They hear a soundbite, they latch on to it.

The term 'populist' refers to politicians who pander to such people. For them, politics is no more than a popularity contest, not a position from which to actually do some good for the country. When that countries decisions have the potential to have in impact on the rest of the world, being a populist is not such a good thing. These people almost inevitably turn out to be poor leaders.

Considering some of your other political viewpoints, I am not surprised in the least that you believe there's nothing wrong with a politician who cares only about pandering to the worst of society for votes, even if that means victimising other people in the process.

Lol. 'Put Juncker in his place'.

I believe Mr Juncker has no intention of being 'put in his place', going by what he said on Friday.

You will be looking forward for an awful long time.

Junker is irrelevant outside the EU. Inside the EU, he has the influence of the captain of the Titanic.

Juncker's an asshole, and will be put in his place, regardelss of his intention.

Same with the other asshole, Schulz.

Tom

Many more examples of post-election hate crime fakery invented by the US Left here.

Only one corgi now.

Some people believe that the world is just a bigger Ef!!

Wouldn't it be wonderful if one could make a wordcloud of the 515 responses to this post, and perhaps all the millions of tweets which have gone around over the last 2 years AND just store them as a souvenir for Mr. Trump and his future generations.

Fingers crossed more so for the German Elections due Sept / Oct 2017. Take a look at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opinio...deral_election...

We should not panic just yet - from South African markets prospective ...

Cape Town – Despite the rhetoric United States (US) President elect Donald Trump can achieve positive trade agreements that could benefit emerging markets, said Mark Mobius, Executive Chairman of Templeton Emerging Markets Group.

http://www.fin24.com/Economy/trump-a...panic-20161113

P.S. Hell, hopefully there won't be another Jacob Trump.

It would have been "mega" easier to moderate it then and ban a few populist souls (at least temporarily).

Donald says he will deport 11 million illegal immigrants. Obama has deported nearly 2 million criminals already, currently 400'000 each year,

http://blogs.reuters.com/data-dive/2...ation-numbers/

http://uk.businessinsider.com/donald...5-11?r=US&IR=T