Trump’s Attempted Assassination: The ‘Morning’ After.

Photo Credit: Not mine

Attempted and successful assassinations, as well as assassination plots against the US President are not a new dynamics in  American politics. Over the course of history, it can be argued that about 90% of the 46 individuals who have held the office of POTUS have had an assassination plot, assassination attempt or a successful assassination carried out against them, from Abraham Lincoln down to even Joe Biden . This should come as no surprise, POTUS has a lot of enemies be they Democrats or Republican.

The assassination attempt against Donald Trump on July 13 2024 would not be the first of those attempts in his political career. In June 2016, September and November 2017, in Las Vegas, North Dakota and The Philippines respectively similar attempts were made but were prevented before they were executed. The recent weekend attempt was more or less a near-miss, and it came at a timing when it is difficult to predict not whether, but how much effect it will have on the coming US election in November 2024. 

Already President Biden is currently in a battle to prove his capability and competence for a second term following multiple slips over the past few weeks, coupled with the fall outs from the handling of the Israel-Gaza crisis and many other internal issues in the American society, including migration. Trump on the other hand, is gaining more popularity and acceptance on the campaign trail despite his convictions and ‘dirty’ tricks during the last elections in 2020 and leading up to the handover of power in January 2021.

Fortunately for him, Trump has survived this assassination attempts and the optics are looking good in his favor, considering the timing of the attack, even though details of the attack are still sketchy and may not have any direct or indirect political motivation involving the Democrats. The extent of the impact this incident will have on voters, only time will tell, but as for whether it will, in fact, have an effect on the elections, your guess is as good as mine.

As a side note, the quick response of the Secret Service in neutralizing the threat and taking Trump to safety within seconds of the attack is commendable and should be applauded. 

I wish Trump quick recovery and the American people all the best in the polls later this year. 

Please leave your thoughts in the comments and let me know how you think this incident will influence voters in the coming weeks and months… 

#myksjournal

… And the ‘Red’s’ Have it!

So it is a new dawn across the United Kingdom. After 14 years, the Conservative Party has finally taken a bow as Brits have given their mandate to the Labour Party to take the mantle of governance.

The Conservatives have had quite a run over the past more than a decade; facilitating and executing the BREXIT referendum, the ever controversial Rwanda bill, and clamp down on both illegal and legal migration, cost of living crisis (which is not peculiar), and so much more. No doubt, the Conservatives have served their term and their records show for it regardless, although it is not far from the truth that the ruling party may have been voted out by a coalition of votes (including those of migrants who have had a hard time over the last few months).

I am not so much a fan of British politics, but I am I am hoping to see the future that the Labour Party has to offer the people in the ‘Kingdom’.

Most importantly, the political attitude of the British party leaders is commendable; congratulating the Labour Party and take a bow out of No 10 Downing Street (as it should be) is something that political leaders who loose elections in Africa should emulate. 

So, after a sternly contested general elections, the Red’s have it! 

So long Rishi! ✌🏽 

What do you think of the outgoing UK government? Leave your thoughts in the comments section.

USA 2024 Elections: A future in the Balance

Happy new month guys! 

Now more than ever, the future of the United States appears to be hanging in the balance. If for nothing else, the first Presidential debate on Thursday June 27, was a mouth-full (for lack of a better word). Analysts have argued that the debates fell far short of what it ought to have been and the reasons are not far fetched. I will spare you the bore of repeating the obvious (and not surprising) narcissistic display of Donald Trump and the frailty of President Biden. Here are my own thoughts on the November elections and the future of the USA.

1. Leadership Personality. With the lingering crisis between Russia and Ukraine and the seeming ‘hard head’ of Benjamin Netanyahu in the crisis with Hamas, not to mention the interesting personality of Kim Jong Un, it is more and more evident that the individual personality of the leader should be of utmost concern in leadership selection and/or ascension. Trumps arguable narcissistic personality is not healthy for the American state and throws up a lot of uncertainties for the future of the US if he is re-elected.
2. Gerontocracy. Trump and Biden are 78 and 81 years old respectively. Leadership by old people appears fashionable in most parts of the world (including the West, interestingly). They are wiser, they have more experience, they are more emotionally mature to take decisions in national interest, and so on. Well, younger people have also proven to have similar attributes. If a society decides to elect a grandpa as President, they should plan on employing the services of a ‘carer’ at some point. 
3. Foreign Policy. This is the crux of the matter. As the US enjoys ‘poking their nose’ in virtually every nations business, a Trump presidency hold a bleak picture of what policy the US will hold towards ‘rogue states’ and even allies. While it is expected that Biden will retain his internationalist world view, Trump’s policy is likely to be formulated in the ‘spur of the moment’ and that is too dangerous for a state like the US.
4. Homeland Security. It beat global imagination that President Trump would sit in his office while his supporters looted the Capitol on January 6, 2021, just few weeks to inaugurating the next President. Homeland security entrusted again to him is just a ‘game of chance’. Immigration, gun control, reproductive rights, accountability and tolerance of opposition will remain arguable uncertain for the duration of a Trump return.

The list goes on! But at the end of the day, #AmericaDecides. My advice, the Republicans and Democrats should field more worthy candidates in the future, it’s already too late in this election cycle for that. As it stands, it’s either the ‘devil’ or the ‘deep blue sea’. So, best of luck to the United States come November 2024 and beyond.

#myksjournal