Geoff G: Of course, Orban Viktor (the way it is written in Magyar -- family name first) has shut down invaluable resources of academia.
But the Hungarian people are W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L.
Mind you, I am at the front of those anti-Trump and Anti-Orban.
But Budapest is a beautiful city.
The broad prospect of the Dunacorso (Danube Prospect) is wondrous.
What particularly heartens me is that a woman, or a group of woman friends, or a child, or a small group of kids, can walk the Dunacorso at any time of day or night without fear of harm or harassment.
I took joy that a woman or child was so safe along the beautiful, bustling Danube.
And the goulash! Oh, that tastes so good. And after the meal, a sweet Pálinka!
The people of Hungary brought me great cheer during my week visit in the Spring.
So, I will condemn their leader.
But the Hungarians are a good, good people and should be proud of a long, beautiful culture and beautiful landscape.
Except for that female journalist who seemed to take such pleasure kicking the Syrian dad running with his toddler, a few years ago?
That scene, and the fact that they’ve put Orban in power, makes it hard for me to believe in Hungarians anymore. Yup, Budapest was a paradise to my 20-year old self briefly escaping the drudgery of the USSR a long time ago. I tasted my first McDonald’s BigMac in Budapest.
Professor Daniel W. Drezner: You are one of the first sources to look to for wisdom in foreign and international affairs, from your excellent work at the world-renowned Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University).
The masculinity of Trump's foreign policy, as you would be the first to tell us, suffers from a SERIOUS case of "ED" -- it is an impotent foreign policy that bows to dictators; ACCEPTS-PASSIVELY the torture and killing of permanent immigrants of America (Jamal Khashoggi) and U.S. Citizens (Otto Warmbier).
Trump gave in with Kim Jong Un -- cancelling the ANNUAL joint naval military exercises between the U.S. and S. Korea. Kim Jong Un gave NOTHING in return.
Trump caved in totally to Putin and is vocal about his capitulation to Putin.
Trump tries to embarrass our Allies, among them the stalwart Angela Merkel, one of the most distinguished statesmen in Europe.
Under Biden, NATO is stronger than ever.
Under Trump, Emmanuelle Macron worried that NATO was brain dead.
Trump was the engineer of the pathetic capitulation and betrayal of allies and women in Afghanistan.
Luckily, Europe is steeling itself and strengthening NATO just in case America cowers and loses its will and puts the weak loudmouth in office.
Now, Britain is ruled by Labour, Keir Starmer, Prime Minister.
Ursula von der Leyen is a strong, staunch leader of the EU.
Luckily, Japan, South Korea, and Europe are aware of the frivolousness of so many American voters, and they steel the structures of anti-tyrannical alliances in Europe and the Pacific.
The strengthening of these alliance will bolster the foreign policy of Future President, Kamala Harris, or, if the unthinkable happens, the Pacific and the European Continent will be strong to withstand the ill winds from a rightwing-nationalist Washington, DC.
Even if the ill-wind of rightwing-racism were to settle in perpetual fecal stench in the unfortunate US, Europe and our allies in Asia will be democratic and strong in will for Freedom and to oppose tyranny.
Trump's message on these podcasts has nothing at all to do with foreign policy or statesmanship. It's "i want want to belong to the club of strongmen, and you know you want that kind of front man for America, too."
Whenever I'm thinking about the problems of the world, I find it useful to ask myself: "What would Orban do?"
And then do the opposite, right?
<beat>
Right?
Geoff G: Of course, Orban Viktor (the way it is written in Magyar -- family name first) has shut down invaluable resources of academia.
But the Hungarian people are W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L.
Mind you, I am at the front of those anti-Trump and Anti-Orban.
But Budapest is a beautiful city.
The broad prospect of the Dunacorso (Danube Prospect) is wondrous.
What particularly heartens me is that a woman, or a group of woman friends, or a child, or a small group of kids, can walk the Dunacorso at any time of day or night without fear of harm or harassment.
I took joy that a woman or child was so safe along the beautiful, bustling Danube.
And the goulash! Oh, that tastes so good. And after the meal, a sweet Pálinka!
The people of Hungary brought me great cheer during my week visit in the Spring.
So, I will condemn their leader.
But the Hungarians are a good, good people and should be proud of a long, beautiful culture and beautiful landscape.
Except for that female journalist who seemed to take such pleasure kicking the Syrian dad running with his toddler, a few years ago?
That scene, and the fact that they’ve put Orban in power, makes it hard for me to believe in Hungarians anymore. Yup, Budapest was a paradise to my 20-year old self briefly escaping the drudgery of the USSR a long time ago. I tasted my first McDonald’s BigMac in Budapest.
This week visit in spring — was it your first time?
Malathi Raghavan: YES!
And I totally agree: "Ukraine matters!"
🙏🏽
So it comes with authoritarians.
Professor Daniel W. Drezner: You are one of the first sources to look to for wisdom in foreign and international affairs, from your excellent work at the world-renowned Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (Tufts University).
The masculinity of Trump's foreign policy, as you would be the first to tell us, suffers from a SERIOUS case of "ED" -- it is an impotent foreign policy that bows to dictators; ACCEPTS-PASSIVELY the torture and killing of permanent immigrants of America (Jamal Khashoggi) and U.S. Citizens (Otto Warmbier).
Trump gave in with Kim Jong Un -- cancelling the ANNUAL joint naval military exercises between the U.S. and S. Korea. Kim Jong Un gave NOTHING in return.
Trump caved in totally to Putin and is vocal about his capitulation to Putin.
Trump tries to embarrass our Allies, among them the stalwart Angela Merkel, one of the most distinguished statesmen in Europe.
Under Biden, NATO is stronger than ever.
Under Trump, Emmanuelle Macron worried that NATO was brain dead.
Trump was the engineer of the pathetic capitulation and betrayal of allies and women in Afghanistan.
Luckily, Europe is steeling itself and strengthening NATO just in case America cowers and loses its will and puts the weak loudmouth in office.
Now, Britain is ruled by Labour, Keir Starmer, Prime Minister.
Ursula von der Leyen is a strong, staunch leader of the EU.
Luckily, Japan, South Korea, and Europe are aware of the frivolousness of so many American voters, and they steel the structures of anti-tyrannical alliances in Europe and the Pacific.
The strengthening of these alliance will bolster the foreign policy of Future President, Kamala Harris, or, if the unthinkable happens, the Pacific and the European Continent will be strong to withstand the ill winds from a rightwing-nationalist Washington, DC.
Even if the ill-wind of rightwing-racism were to settle in perpetual fecal stench in the unfortunate US, Europe and our allies in Asia will be democratic and strong in will for Freedom and to oppose tyranny.
The Hollow Man: Trump’s Sad Little Masquerade of Manhood
Behind the bluster and red hats lies a brittle brand of masculinity—a hollow charade that cloaks cowardice, denial, and failure.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-151038838?r=4d7sow&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
Trump's message on these podcasts has nothing at all to do with foreign policy or statesmanship. It's "i want want to belong to the club of strongmen, and you know you want that kind of front man for America, too."