Ambassadors to Washington warn that the GOP-Democratic divide is endangering America’s national security.
When I asked the European ambassador to talk to me about America’s deepening partisan divide, I expected a polite brushoff at best. Foreign diplomats are usually loath to discuss domestic U.S. politics.
Instead, the ambassador unloaded for an hour, warning that America’s poisonous politics are hurting its security, its economy, its friends and its standing as a pillar of democracy and global stability.
The U.S. is a “fat buffalo trying to take a nap” as hungry wolves approach, the envoy mused. “I can hear those Champagne bottle corks popping in Moscow — like it’s Christmas every fucking day.”
As voters cast ballots in the Iowa caucuses Monday, many in the United States see this year’s presidential election as a test of American democracy. But, in a series of conversations with a dozen current and former diplomats, I sensed that to many of our friends abroad, the U.S. is already failing that test.
They stopped caring the second Trump got elected and the whole world turned against us except for Putin and his cronies.
They quite obviously never cared. Obama was more respected among America’s allies than any president since JFK or some shit. Meanwhile their candidate was globally treated as a fucking joke.
Not even a funny joke - one of those racist sexist jokes your drunk stepfather tells. And the Kremlin were the only ones laughing.
Remember when they muddied the waters claiming Hilary was a pedophile because their guy hung out with the dude who ran a pedo ring.
Both sides, tho.
I always took it as a given that any American pol was in favor of the US being ‘leader of the Free World.’
On the other hand, I always thought that the American voter would turn away from a guy who constantly spoke ill of America’s veterans.
You can either claim to be leader of the free world or you can say you want to get rid of NATO.
It can’t be both.
The first is still bullshit, but it definitely can’t be both.
This is the analogy I’ve been using for years.
Richard Nixon’s Southern Strategy gave the base beer. Ronald Reagan gave them grain alcohol punch, and Bush Jr. gave them straight moonshine. Trump gave them meth.