White House-to-White House Pretenders replace Log Cabin -to- White House
With the inauguration of President Donald Trump three still active United States presidential dynasties make their transition into exile.
Temporary exile, as these Pretenders see it.
In Napoleonic terms the monarchical familial trio are by-passing a remote St Helena and heading to a more lightly guarded in-shore Elba from which they can make their escape when the call comes, as they ardently believe it will.
First among these is the Bush dynasty which has already supplied two republican monarchs, George 1 and then George 11. But which failed to install Jeb 1
Second is the Clinton one which bestowed upon the United States a co-monarchy similar to that of the reign in Britain of William and Mary.
But which so agonisingly failed last year to re-install itself with Hillary now in prime regal Pretender position.
Third, and the most promising of the dynasties-in-waiting is the newest one, the Obama line.
The intervention in the final stages of the anti -Trump campaign by Michelle Obama, and the First Lady’s subsequent mainstream participation in the sorrowful aftermath leaves few in doubt that the Obamas are in dynastic mode as far as the presidency is concerned.
These dynasties do not intend to sit out the next four years which they regard anyway as an interregnum or at best, a regency.
They know that if you intend to end up in the White House, it make sense to start at the White House.
Gathering a war chest will not be a problem.
All those court jesters, fire-eaters, tumblers, strolling player, song-and dance contributors (see illustration) at the Obama White House final curtain call party by their mere appearance pledged their allegiance for another round of fund raising.
The log cabin to White House journey has in applied terms now been replaced by one from The White House back to the White House.
The Clintons have devoted their adult lives to campaigning and they have no intention of stopping now.
The kingmakers of the Democratic Party will look though with much greater favour on a Michelle candidacy in 2020 than on a Hillary one.
This will be an action-replay of the way in which they looked so much more favourably on the original candidacy of Barack Obama than they did on Hillary’s in the primaries of all those years ago.
All this is curious enough. But not as mystifying as the American refusal to comprehend the way in which their republic is so demonstrably changing its course back to the era of feudal family inheritance.
For the Tudors, Plantagenets, and Stuarts read now Bushes, Clintons, and Obamas.
Now though post inauguration these feudal families disperse to their separate fiefdoms to rally their forces for the next round.
The Bushes to the South.
The Obamas back to the crucible of Democratic politics Chicago, but keeping visible a shop window residence in Washington.
The Clintons the Liege Lords of New York back to the Big Apple there to polish the fervour of their vassals and villeins.
From these strong holds they will collect their tithes raise their private armies for the next battle, the one to evict the usurper Trump.
For these Pretenders in place of halberdiers, pike men and archers will be the new model armies.
Swearing oaths of fealty as did the yeomen of yore these will be tweeting technicians, trackers, pollsters, fixers......
| From the MSCNewsWire reporters desk | Monday 16 January 2017 |
January 2017 Edition
A newly launched joint data sharing system between New Zealand and Chinese Customs will give kiwi exporters a competitive advantage, says Customs Minister Nicky Wagner.
“Having the Joint Electronic Verification System operational gives New Zealand a big advantage over other exporters to China as we are only the second country in the world to have this sort of system in place with them.
“JEVS makes the customs process simpler to accelerate border clearance, provide greater assurance over goods, and decrease the risk of goods being held up due to minor issues.
“The new joint system automatically sends New Zealand’s Certificate of Origin data to China electronically. A Certificate of Origin is important because it allows overseas clients to claim tariff benefits.
“It will give New Zealand businesses the opportunity to maximise our Free Trade Agreement with China while minimising the risk of goods being held up at the border,” Ms Wagner says.
| A Minister of Customs release | January 15, 2017 |
∩ Christchurch Airport ushers in the driverless era
∩ Opinion: Resolution 2334 - Preserving the two state solution
∩ Silver Fern Farms sinks to $30.6 million loss
∩ Bapcor lifts interest in Hellaby to 56% after declaring takeover unconditional, extending offer
∩ Completion of trans-Tasman cable delayed until March after mishap
∩ Bill English refuses to speculate on who will take on Foreign Affairs role
∩ Southland's Lochiel Engineering offer to thief
∩ Oil prices expected to stay low
∩ English to meet with Angela Merkel tonight
∩ 2016 was the year Chrome became most popular browser
∩ Trade deals will be fast-tracked but immigration restrictions unlikely to change
Theresa May is expected to reveal the most detailed insight yet into her approach to Brexit negotiations, in a speech on Tuesday.
She will urge people to give up on "insults" and "division" and unite to build a "global Britain".
Downing Street said reports she may signal pulling out of the single market and customs union were "speculation".
It comes as the chancellor said the UK could "change its economic model" if it loses access to the single market.
The BBC's political correspondent, Chris Mason, said Downing Street was confirming little about precisely what Mrs May would say in her Brexit plan speech, but "a possible route map the prime minister could be preparing to follow is emerging".
Her desire to control immigration suggested giving up the UK's existing membership of the single market, he added, while her enthusiasm for trade deals with countries such as New Zealand implied leaving the customs union.
Several of Sunday's newspapers claim Mrs May will indicate she is prepared to outline a "hard Brexit" approach.
The Sunday Telegraph quoted a government source as saying: "She's gone for the full works. People will know when she said 'Brexit means Brexit', she really meant it."
In her speech, the prime minister is expected to call on the country to "put an end to the division" created by the EU referendum result.
She will urge the UK to leave behind words such as "Leaver and Remainer and all the accompanying insults and unite to make a success of Brexit and build a truly global Britain".
Mrs May is also expected to outline a commitment to building a Britain more open to the rest of the world while building a new relationship with EU countries.
On Friday, she met New Zealand's prime minister Bill English who said he wanted to negotiate a "high quality" free trade agreement with the UK once it left the EU.
Mrs May said she was looking forward to starting talks on what she called a "bold" new trade deal between the two countries.
Writing in the Sunday Times, Brexit Secretary David Davis said the government needed to persuade EU allies that a "strong new partnership" with the UK would allow the EU to prosper.
He admitted agreeing new terms would be "testing" and suggested there might be a transitional arrangement to ensure Britain's exit was a smooth process.
| A NewNation release | January 16, 2017
Palace of the Alhambra, Spain
By: Charles Nathaniel Worsley (1862-1923)
From the collection of Sir Heaton Rhodes
Oil on canvas - 118cm x 162cm
Valued $12,000 - $18,000
Offers invited over $9,000
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242
Mount Egmont with Lake
By: John Philemon Backhouse (1845-1908)
Oil on Sea Shell - 13cm x 14cm
Valued $2,000-$3,000
Offers invited over $1,500
Contact: Henry Newrick – (+64 ) 27 471 2242