President Trump: The NEW one and only politics thread

We were in France a few weeks ago. ... Ms. Ragu's dad, who would be predisposed to being suspicious of someone like Macron, was actually a bit pleasantly surprised. I actually noted the same things he did early on. ... As a candidate, I thought he was a lightweight, who was going to be all about style over any substance and he was going to be more of a wet noodle than Hollande was. Then, though, I thought he was amazing in how he stood up to Putin and Trump in their early meetings. He was direct and made them each look a little silly, during and after. And now he is actually starting to address some of the structural issues, which a weak politician would run from.

What is happening now -- the thing you linked to -- was inevitable. Those structural issues are there for a reason, and taking away shit from people is always difficult after you give those things and live a fantasy for a while. As bad as the creeping socialism has become in the U.S. over the last several decades, and the corruption that comes with it and keeps it entrenched, we are nothing compared to France. Economically, things got bad enough there so that Le Pen and Melanchon actually got a bunch of votes. I think there is general awareness that things like all the ridiculous work rules that strangle businesses needs to change. But that awareness will never translate to it actually happening without a major fight. And in France, they are particularly ridiculous about these kinds of things. I don't think this is so much Macron as it is anyone who got elected would be unpopular for dealing with reality.