If you want to know what people in other countries think of our political process, go there and ask.
My husband and I just returned from a visit to Ireland. Before we even got on the plane, I was sitting in the airport chatting with a 20-something lady from Germany. She intrigued me because she was wearing a “Bernie Sanders” button. After chatting with her for a while, I said:
“You’re wearing a Sanders button, but you can’t vote here, right?”
“Yes, you’re right. I’m going home to Germany, but my boyfriend is from South Carolina and we worked on the Bernie Sanders campaign.”
“So, ” I asked her, “I am so interested in as to why so many people in Europe actually know so much about our politics?”
This is what she said:
“Because it’s hilarious!”she said gleefully with a big smile on her face. ” It’s like watching entertainment. We can’t believe you would even vote for someone like Donald Trump!”
Oh my.
But I figured that was just one young lady. And even though, I agreed that the stand-ups, talk show hosts, and pundits everywhere were practically orgasmic over the Donald Trump treasure chest of material that has fallen into their collective comedic lap, I was hoping that wasn’t the world view.
Or was I? I mean if all the planets completely misaligned on November 8, 2016 and somehow The Donald became The President, what would the world think or even do, for that matter? What would we do? How much comedy could one stand over four years?
But I didn’t have to go on a mission once I reached Ireland. The research subjects came to me every time we got in a taxi. Had I stayed longer in the pubs and drank more of those delicious milkshakes they like to call Guinness, I probably could have published a paper on this learned topic.
As soon as they heard our American accents, the taxi driver had only two questions:
“Where in America are you from?” and “Who are you voting for?”
The whole country was seemingly interested in our take on this dog and pony show we call the Presidential Race. And Ireland was in the midst of their own elections, which were apparently not nearly as entertaining!
Whilst laughing raucously in the freezing rain of Galway, where they hadn’t seen the sun for a month, the taxi driver chortled: ” and your Mr. Trump wants to build a wall to cut off Mexico, and make the Mexicans pay for it, does he? Does he not know that if the Mexicans had the money to pay for such a grand wall, they wouldn’t be coming to America for jobs? HAHAHHAHAHA!
And that my friends, is how they
“Just have to Laugh……….” in Europe and probably everywhere else!
For more of my humor go here
My husband (who is British) makes fun of our politicians, then I remind him that they celebrate the failed attempt of Guy Fawkes, lol. 😉
I would say that most of the Republicab party is a bunch of clowns. So they are right on that count.
Not that it will make any of us Americans feel better, but there have been some real clowns in European politics, too, not to mention certifiable crazies.
The trick is to laugh at the clowns without actually electing them.
Yes, Kathy…you’ve hit on the answer! If only….
I was in Europe during the Clinton years and it was the same then. They couldn’t believe that a President of a county would be so careless about his indiscretions!
And yet, Mary, I can think of some Italian,French, British and Greek heads of state who had no problem with the amorous lives!!! How dare they find us funnier than them!
We are laughingstocks. And with good reason. It is totally ridiculous, what’s become of the political process here.
Yes, Carol, sad but true. But perhaps we can return to real comedy once this election is over…please, God!
I cringe when I think of the image this election is projecting of us. Can The Donald please go away and stay away, finally?
If you figure out a way to make that happen, Helene, I will be your facilitator!!!!
I can’t believe we’d vote for someone like The Donald either. Maybe it’s time to move to Europe?
Okay, but Ireland is really cold and wet, Roz. I may have to settle for the South of France!
Oh the Old French, surely they knew of what they spake? N’est-ce pas???
good to get validation from a euro-perspective. thanks for the post.
Yes…at least others see what we see…even across the Pond…
It’s so true that some of our politics are just comical, but in fairness to us, look at what goes on overseas. They just get tired of leaders and call for a new vote. Britain can’t have any legal process without their courts donning those ridiculous wigs and let’s not get into monarchies that still exist. I think we are so comical because people expect better from us. I don’t know why when more than half the population think it’s good to have guns. I think they should lower the bar for us.
It’s true, Donna sometimes I watch the British House just to see them yelling at each other. We don’t do that…or powder our hair! I just didn’t realize how much they were paying attention. Yes, Europe….lower your standards!!!
All I can say is “Oy!” We used to get flak about being from California in the most unlikely places. Governor Moonbeam, etc. Interesting to know how the rest of the world sees us. Thanks for posting.
Yeah…Risa, now they know it’s not just California!! Yikes.
I’m sure everyone around the world (including all of us here, in the U.S.) think that we have all gone crazy…s
I would say bats##$^t is what they’re thinking….’cause that’s what a lot of us are thinking!!!
We were in Europe recently and found the same thing. People think we are out of our minds loony for even having someone like Trump in the running for president. I’ve lost my whole sense of humor about this election at this point. There’s too much at stake and the Republican candidates aren’t funny – they’re just dangerous.
I have faith in the American people, Lois….I really hope it’s not misdirected. Every day….I hope and I hope!
My original opinion on Trump was “Who’s got the popcorn?”
Now I’m just appalled that his bullying didn’t get laughed out of the room immediately.
On the plus side, I still can’t quite imagine him actually being elected – I saw a poll recently saying that he’s the most-disliked candidate by a large (maybe even YUUUUUUGE) margin. He ends up being the Republican candidate and I’m hoping my Bernie and Hillary loving friends who are SO down on the guy/gal that isn’t theirs will rally behind whichever of them is running. We had the ABB voters once – Anybody But Bush – I can see 2016 as being the year of the ABT voter.
Bonnie, I just said that to someone…if nothing else, all this Republican nonsense will drive all the Democrats to unionize like ‘Norma Rae!’ Kind of a crazy way to get a bunch of people all on the same page…but hey, here’s hoping that works!
The Irish know blarney when they hear it, and they know “trumpery” when they see it.
“Trumpery”: showy but worthless; something without value or use; rubbish; trash; worthless nonsense. From Old French “tromper”—to deceive.
That Bon Jovi song had more trumpery coming out of it than a sheep-full of jumperies.