Well Calla, that was an interesting commentary that activated all five senses. Thanks for the report from the other side. Those spare shoes probably come in handy for smashing bugs and use as an occasional hammer.
Thank you, Calla - your deliciously witty column reminded me of staying with an American friend at a French haute bourgeois couple's gorgeous apartment in Paris in 1988. They were all gay, and all devastated by the recent death of John Waters' diva, Divine. The couple had never been to the States, and they adored her movie performances and wanted me to tell them that she based it on reality because they wanted to think that America was that fabulous. This was a couple who took me to their place in the Dordogne where we ate foie gras by a stone fireplace and drank bottles of red I'd never have been able to afford myself from their family wine cellar. And yet they toasted the late, great Divine.
I hadn't thought of Divine in years before reading your column this morning. I so wish she was alive and on the cover of Paris Vogue getting her drive-thru fries from The Donald with her gun pointed at anyone who'd call her Deplorable. Quelle belle trans!
Of the many wonderful things about Trump's victory, one of my favorites will be watching the Great Realignment. Which is already happening. In an otherwise snippy Vanity Fair piece about Trump rallies, the writer made a point of also noting that slender, high cheek boned, well-dressed women were in the audience! With perfect children on their laps, they were staring in rapture at Bobby Kennedy and applauding Trump, although they were probably more MAHA than MAGA.
I predict Trump and Melania will soon be given the Ronald and Nancy treatment: ebullient, admiring cover photos. The media didn't like Reagan when he won, either. But they loved the America that came with his presidency because it wanted to have a good time and spend money. And they soon forgot they ever hadn't liked him. The media people I've known have amazing powers of forgetting what they thought and stood for only moments before. I've learned to let it go. And be grateful for the good times. Let them roll now. And let them fawn over Trump now, which they will. He deserves it.
No forehead tattoos, not even necks. The Old Timers in the tattoo world never do "job stoppers." We don't want to be responsible for people having an excuse not to have employment!
Thank you for admitting he is a crazy man with a big stick, unfortunately, he’ll use it on the wrong things. Art of the deal, he didn’t even write it himself. His had several failed businesses including a couple of casinos.
As for tucker carlson, Putin’s puppet. He never has anything of substance to say. When he’s onscreen, it always looks like your screen froze. maga’s made fun of Kamala’s laugh, well it doesn’t compare to tucker’s hyena giggle.
trump said, if elected he would settle the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel in one day. It’s been 8 days since he was elected and the wars still rage on. One promise blown.
Lived in Basel for years and visited often..so much to love. Funny thing, politics never came up. I was a known American and this was during the Reagan years and all my Euro friends just assumed I was a cowboy / John Wayne type and I assumed all my friends were communist pinko scum…we were fine with it…it never came up. Some pretty decent fights over wine pairings though 😂
The Woke Democrat “reign of terror” is over. It was the best of times it was the worst of times. 😃
The problem for the Dems is they chose to hitch their wagon to a shrinking demographic (rich men north of Richmond who don’t have kids or are LGBTQ and sterilize themselves …removing themselves from the gene pool game)
As things got more and more expensive people moved rural where they could afford to buy a house and raise a family…or at least own some land and some chickens.
The chickens are coming home to roost.
All the Latinos the Dems let pour into the country suddenly realized they had more in common with Trump/Republicans (Family, Christian, Work ethic, distrust of government, and if you call them “LatinX” one more time you will be sorry 😂)… They went for Trump Yuge. Bigley. And that demographic is only going to increase.
Even here in California they moved the needle 10-20 points toward Trump/Republicans…not enough to win in California or New York but they will in next election. That’s what I love about reality and mathematics…The numbers are the numbers…numbers don’t know how to lie and they don’t negotiate 😂
They say however goes America, so goes the world…Enjoy France, its wonderful I love it there (but secretly prefer Northern Italy or Ticino 😃)
Eric: (I lived in Basel. (And Lake Garda too) Small world. Yes, in Basel they did see us as cowboys with a romantic appreciation for this US wild-west imagery, that extended well past their own three days of permitted Fashnacht frivolity.
I often compare Basel's relative small town ambiance while still being an important urban center that got things right. Fixed rail transit, compact downtown, historic preservation, with the bucolic countryside only a short tram ride away. All the while, still being a leading industrial and financial center of Switzerland and the world beyond. Das ist Schuss.
Life in this Calvinist self-policed state had much to offer. Though "open borders" is making even Basel now raggedy around the edges. Did you read "The Tower of Basel" - the history of the Bank for International Settlements? )
I loved Fashnact! One of my favorite events in Basel
Sorry to hear it is getting corrupted, really excellent city. Well run and managed. Perfect location for all of Europe. Everyday I could walk into France or Germany …good times.
I remember all my friends there were fascinated by the fact that I was doing different things (architecture, engineering, photography) and they all were doing the same thing (high school, military service, job with bank…although one of my friends did work as an engineer at Ciba Geigy and Nabisco)
No I have not read “Tower of Basel” but will on your recommendation thanks!
Not to hijack Calla's wonderful love letter from France thread, but must retell a moment when riding the Basel trams one weekend, in order to get to know their routes, on the best one #6 out to Alschwill, we passed the Ciba-Geigy stop, except the tram conductor pronounced it in good Swiss German as Ceeba-Geegy.
This brought peals of laughter from a family of guest workers on the tram, who kept repeating Ceeba-Geegy over and over again as the funniest words they had ever heard. As you well know, Ciba-Geigy later consolidated with Hoffman LaRoche is now more soberly called Novartis. The word play fun was over. PS: was that Nestle's; not Nabisco?
Much of the Democrat party can now sigh relief at not having to feign agreement with indefensible progressive ideology. It is once again OK to know what a woman is, to believe in the sovereign right of a nation to defend its borders, to insist that men do not compete in women's sport and most importantly, that children's innocence must be protected from pedophile groomers who have infected K - 12 public education. The king has no clothes, and it is OK to say so. It must be a relief to Democrats who are now free from the pressure to conform to remain part of a group. It may take time but we who fought for the truth and fought to get Trump elected will eventually be thanked by some of our staunchest critics. For those remaining, I hear you have allies in France.
I can see the cover of Vogue, should Melania deign to honor their belated request.
Just a simple headline: WHAT IS A WOMAN? Then just the Vogue cover color photo of Flotus Melania Trump. Taken with the full bloom of her gorgeously refurbished WH Rose Garden as the backdrop. A collectors item.
Nice to hear you are surviving in your new home. We that remain, will fight the good fight against the Elite who snub and belittle us working class, the backbone of this once great country. The Elite can not fix a plugged toilet, mow a lawn, heal the sick, defend the weak, hold a tool. I take joy in seeing the Elite crying. We must throw out the garbage for good.
Loved reading this and knowing that the French will come around to Trump. Dennis Miller is one of my very favorite Montecito people. Too bad Oprah won’t be leaving montecito 😂. Just like the left to say things that aren’t true 😏
Thanks Calla, for the fun article.. Enjoyed hearing the French perspective on Trump and it will be interesting if you update us now and again on the Trump administration from your Parisian viewpoint.
Every commentary and self-impressed punditry in the WSJ these past few days still refuses to acknowledge the Democrat Party became almost solely the party of the Big Government Unions and Deep State weaponization, hateful rhetoric, endless wars and lawfare, with its now almost exclusive reliance on its 23 million strong, tax dollar-funded government employee voting block.
Nor is there any recognition in the WSJ pages about the distinction between public sector unions and private sector unions Sigh. I foresee still a life of my continual yammering about the impacts of this huge partisan shift starting after 1962. But I shall spare you all here, best I can. Nuff said.
Next: Down with the Democrat California nanny state. May the rest of the nation now lead California out of its own self-imposed partisan morass, with a demonstrated alternate political success model. Onwards. However, term limits did California no favors. Proceed with caution.
Wonderful story Calla…good to hear/see the French coming around to raw truths…the French were some of the first to wake up & stand up…the mentality of the yellow vests has now taken hold in a big way…we own a debt of gratitude for their brave sacrifices…
a new day has dawned…it’s Morning in American, France, and across The World!
PS. Methinks Oprah, like many other “stars”, will experience demise…”there will come a time none of them will be able to walk down the street”…biggest fear -> public awakening
And if the Dem's don't obey Trump's Laws, Elon will reserve these Dems space for the first test flight to Mars. It's fun seeing Trump in advance notifying the troublemakers in the country.
I remember from my very early elementary school (?) world history introduction learning about Notre Dame and the engineering innovation of flying buttresses. Of course we all giggled at that term - buttresses. But the lesson remembered was this building represented the beginning of modern western civilization and applied science.
Well Calla, that was an interesting commentary that activated all five senses. Thanks for the report from the other side. Those spare shoes probably come in handy for smashing bugs and use as an occasional hammer.
Thank you, Calla - your deliciously witty column reminded me of staying with an American friend at a French haute bourgeois couple's gorgeous apartment in Paris in 1988. They were all gay, and all devastated by the recent death of John Waters' diva, Divine. The couple had never been to the States, and they adored her movie performances and wanted me to tell them that she based it on reality because they wanted to think that America was that fabulous. This was a couple who took me to their place in the Dordogne where we ate foie gras by a stone fireplace and drank bottles of red I'd never have been able to afford myself from their family wine cellar. And yet they toasted the late, great Divine.
I hadn't thought of Divine in years before reading your column this morning. I so wish she was alive and on the cover of Paris Vogue getting her drive-thru fries from The Donald with her gun pointed at anyone who'd call her Deplorable. Quelle belle trans!
Of the many wonderful things about Trump's victory, one of my favorites will be watching the Great Realignment. Which is already happening. In an otherwise snippy Vanity Fair piece about Trump rallies, the writer made a point of also noting that slender, high cheek boned, well-dressed women were in the audience! With perfect children on their laps, they were staring in rapture at Bobby Kennedy and applauding Trump, although they were probably more MAHA than MAGA.
I predict Trump and Melania will soon be given the Ronald and Nancy treatment: ebullient, admiring cover photos. The media didn't like Reagan when he won, either. But they loved the America that came with his presidency because it wanted to have a good time and spend money. And they soon forgot they ever hadn't liked him. The media people I've known have amazing powers of forgetting what they thought and stood for only moments before. I've learned to let it go. And be grateful for the good times. Let them roll now. And let them fawn over Trump now, which they will. He deserves it.
Whatever shall we do with our chintz sofa covers, that we can no longer turn into US fashion statements? Are black fishnet stockings out too?
We'll just have to that Social Justice Warrior blue out of our hair.
Can Pat Fish give us a group discount if we want to tattoo "Winning" on our foreheads?
No forehead tattoos, not even necks. The Old Timers in the tattoo world never do "job stoppers." We don't want to be responsible for people having an excuse not to have employment!
Putin says he's willing to talk to Trump about ending the Ukraine War. And this is just the third day.
That shows ya the power of a 'Big Stick'. You can imagine Vlady wouldda been giggling had that dopey Harris won.
BigStick plus crazy man wielding it. The Art of the Deal.
Trump knows his time is short and his legacy needs a lot of mending, after 8 years of constant Obama-Biden-Pelosi attacks 24/7.
Best quote from Tucker Carlson: "Daddy's home and he is pissed."
Thank you for admitting he is a crazy man with a big stick, unfortunately, he’ll use it on the wrong things. Art of the deal, he didn’t even write it himself. His had several failed businesses including a couple of casinos.
As for tucker carlson, Putin’s puppet. He never has anything of substance to say. When he’s onscreen, it always looks like your screen froze. maga’s made fun of Kamala’s laugh, well it doesn’t compare to tucker’s hyena giggle.
It's so Shakespearean.
Putin is giggling because now he’ll get what he wants.
trump said, if elected he would settle the conflicts in Ukraine and Israel in one day. It’s been 8 days since he was elected and the wars still rage on. One promise blown.
Wow Burgundy! So jealous!
Lived in Basel for years and visited often..so much to love. Funny thing, politics never came up. I was a known American and this was during the Reagan years and all my Euro friends just assumed I was a cowboy / John Wayne type and I assumed all my friends were communist pinko scum…we were fine with it…it never came up. Some pretty decent fights over wine pairings though 😂
The Woke Democrat “reign of terror” is over. It was the best of times it was the worst of times. 😃
The problem for the Dems is they chose to hitch their wagon to a shrinking demographic (rich men north of Richmond who don’t have kids or are LGBTQ and sterilize themselves …removing themselves from the gene pool game)
As things got more and more expensive people moved rural where they could afford to buy a house and raise a family…or at least own some land and some chickens.
The chickens are coming home to roost.
All the Latinos the Dems let pour into the country suddenly realized they had more in common with Trump/Republicans (Family, Christian, Work ethic, distrust of government, and if you call them “LatinX” one more time you will be sorry 😂)… They went for Trump Yuge. Bigley. And that demographic is only going to increase.
Even here in California they moved the needle 10-20 points toward Trump/Republicans…not enough to win in California or New York but they will in next election. That’s what I love about reality and mathematics…The numbers are the numbers…numbers don’t know how to lie and they don’t negotiate 😂
They say however goes America, so goes the world…Enjoy France, its wonderful I love it there (but secretly prefer Northern Italy or Ticino 😃)
Eric: (I lived in Basel. (And Lake Garda too) Small world. Yes, in Basel they did see us as cowboys with a romantic appreciation for this US wild-west imagery, that extended well past their own three days of permitted Fashnacht frivolity.
I often compare Basel's relative small town ambiance while still being an important urban center that got things right. Fixed rail transit, compact downtown, historic preservation, with the bucolic countryside only a short tram ride away. All the while, still being a leading industrial and financial center of Switzerland and the world beyond. Das ist Schuss.
Life in this Calvinist self-policed state had much to offer. Though "open borders" is making even Basel now raggedy around the edges. Did you read "The Tower of Basel" - the history of the Bank for International Settlements? )
Grüezi, Herr Livingston!
Small world indeed! 😃
I loved Fashnact! One of my favorite events in Basel
Sorry to hear it is getting corrupted, really excellent city. Well run and managed. Perfect location for all of Europe. Everyday I could walk into France or Germany …good times.
I remember all my friends there were fascinated by the fact that I was doing different things (architecture, engineering, photography) and they all were doing the same thing (high school, military service, job with bank…although one of my friends did work as an engineer at Ciba Geigy and Nabisco)
No I have not read “Tower of Basel” but will on your recommendation thanks!
Not to hijack Calla's wonderful love letter from France thread, but must retell a moment when riding the Basel trams one weekend, in order to get to know their routes, on the best one #6 out to Alschwill, we passed the Ciba-Geigy stop, except the tram conductor pronounced it in good Swiss German as Ceeba-Geegy.
This brought peals of laughter from a family of guest workers on the tram, who kept repeating Ceeba-Geegy over and over again as the funniest words they had ever heard. As you well know, Ciba-Geigy later consolidated with Hoffman LaRoche is now more soberly called Novartis. The word play fun was over. PS: was that Nestle's; not Nabisco?
Just getting back, yes, Nestle, not Nabisco. Funny a lot of Americans thought it was an American company.
Anyway, they both began with an “N” so I could still run for POTUS!! 😂
Duder’s brain 🤷♂️🤪
Much of the Democrat party can now sigh relief at not having to feign agreement with indefensible progressive ideology. It is once again OK to know what a woman is, to believe in the sovereign right of a nation to defend its borders, to insist that men do not compete in women's sport and most importantly, that children's innocence must be protected from pedophile groomers who have infected K - 12 public education. The king has no clothes, and it is OK to say so. It must be a relief to Democrats who are now free from the pressure to conform to remain part of a group. It may take time but we who fought for the truth and fought to get Trump elected will eventually be thanked by some of our staunchest critics. For those remaining, I hear you have allies in France.
I can see the cover of Vogue, should Melania deign to honor their belated request.
Just a simple headline: WHAT IS A WOMAN? Then just the Vogue cover color photo of Flotus Melania Trump. Taken with the full bloom of her gorgeously refurbished WH Rose Garden as the backdrop. A collectors item.
Nice to hear you are surviving in your new home. We that remain, will fight the good fight against the Elite who snub and belittle us working class, the backbone of this once great country. The Elite can not fix a plugged toilet, mow a lawn, heal the sick, defend the weak, hold a tool. I take joy in seeing the Elite crying. We must throw out the garbage for good.
Loved reading this and knowing that the French will come around to Trump. Dennis Miller is one of my very favorite Montecito people. Too bad Oprah won’t be leaving montecito 😂. Just like the left to say things that aren’t true 😏
Thanks Calla, for the fun article.. Enjoyed hearing the French perspective on Trump and it will be interesting if you update us now and again on the Trump administration from your Parisian viewpoint.
Thanks for your enjoyable article. After this election Je suis Tres fatigue!
I was just thinking of the infamous Dennis Miller! Has he moved from Montectio? We loved hearing him on Bill O’Reilly. I would love to hear him again!
Enjoy that delicious French food! And best of luck in your new land.
Listen to how the Australian media views America
https://youtu.be/N8U27L3Q38U
Trump's coattails span the globe.
That's kind of the Newsmax of Australia. Polls were close in the USA - but in September it was 68 for harris - 22 for Trump in that country.
https://poll.lowyinstitute.org/charts/2024-us-presidential-election-harris-trump/
Good clip, Brian. Thanks.
The rich uncle's jokes are always funny.
Look at these headlines;
Sounds like the World recognizes the weak, self serving, politicians were kicked out of the White House.
“ Trump makes history with 1st female chief of staff”
“ Trump's win sends Wall Street to record highs; Fed cuts interest rates”
“ Fear grows among NYC migrants as Mayor Adams vows to work with Trump on immigration issues”
“ Afghanistan Taliban Govt Hopes For 'New Chapter' With Trump Election Win”
“ Putin Says West Not Enemy Of Russia In Big Policy Speech, Calls Trump 'A Real Man'”
“ China says it hopes for 'peaceful coexistence' with U.S. as Trump clinches win”
“ Mexico's migrant caravan breaking up after Trump victory sows uncertainty”
“ 'Not welcome here': Qatar tells Hamas to leave after US pressure”
“ Hamas Calls for 'Immediate' End to War After Trump Election Win”
“ EU's opening bid to avoid Trump's tariffs: We could buy more American gas”
“ Donald Trump's Bold Move: T'll End Congressional Careers with Term Limits'”
Putin calls Trump "A Real Man." Is he comparing him with Arnold Palmer? I wonder if they shower together?
Good read, I’m sharing
Every commentary and self-impressed punditry in the WSJ these past few days still refuses to acknowledge the Democrat Party became almost solely the party of the Big Government Unions and Deep State weaponization, hateful rhetoric, endless wars and lawfare, with its now almost exclusive reliance on its 23 million strong, tax dollar-funded government employee voting block.
Nor is there any recognition in the WSJ pages about the distinction between public sector unions and private sector unions Sigh. I foresee still a life of my continual yammering about the impacts of this huge partisan shift starting after 1962. But I shall spare you all here, best I can. Nuff said.
Next: Down with the Democrat California nanny state. May the rest of the nation now lead California out of its own self-imposed partisan morass, with a demonstrated alternate political success model. Onwards. However, term limits did California no favors. Proceed with caution.
Excellent, J. Agree with every word.
Wonderful story Calla…good to hear/see the French coming around to raw truths…the French were some of the first to wake up & stand up…the mentality of the yellow vests has now taken hold in a big way…we own a debt of gratitude for their brave sacrifices…
a new day has dawned…it’s Morning in American, France, and across The World!
PS. Methinks Oprah, like many other “stars”, will experience demise…”there will come a time none of them will be able to walk down the street”…biggest fear -> public awakening
Wonderful article Calla - it was like being there! :)
I love you, Mr. President
https://x.com/RobertKennedyJr/status/1855289681359114290
And if the Dem's don't obey Trump's Laws, Elon will reserve these Dems space for the first test flight to Mars. It's fun seeing Trump in advance notifying the troublemakers in the country.
All is good. The eight bells of Notre Dame de Paris together are again ringing, getting ready for her grand re-opening in December. https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2024/11/rejoice-notre-dame-de-paris-rings-again-as/
I remember from my very early elementary school (?) world history introduction learning about Notre Dame and the engineering innovation of flying buttresses. Of course we all giggled at that term - buttresses. But the lesson remembered was this building represented the beginning of modern western civilization and applied science.