Current Affairs Archives - The Casual Observer

Trump: Is his Incompetence an Open Secret?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs January 5, 2018 0 Comment

In today’s edition of the American Journal, The Atlantic, James Fallows’ article “It’s Been an Open Secret All Along” raises the preternatural possibility that Trump was voted in as President in spite of it being an open secret that Trump was not only unqualified to perform the job but also rank incompetent.

What warning indicators were blinking ominously and why do intelligent commentators ignore those signals?

Main picture: Donald Trump with former Chief Strategist Steve Bannon in more amicable times

Trump: What his speech tells one about him

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs January 4, 2018 0 Comment

In many ways, Donald Trump has the dubious distinction of being the alter ego of Il Duce, Benito Mussolini. Typifying his approach is to declare that he is the greatest, the smartest and the best at everything. Such as bombastic, narcissistic, bragging and bullying demeanour is a divisive technique for a leader. At best he was suppress dissent but will never win an argument through cogent reasoning.

Much more troubling is what his speech indicates about his neurological condition with its emotional equivalent of a five-year-old.

Main picture: A smirking Donald Trump

Is Trump’s Presidency Doomed?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs August 24, 2017 0 Comment

Initially it was Trump’s bombastic, egotistical style which appalled me and raised my hackles. Later it was Trump’s inability to distinguish fact from fiction which sealed his fate in my eyes. Finally Trump will justifiably be crucified by later generations as his style of leadership has irredeemably cheapened that nation’s political discourse.

Has the cumulative effect of Trump’s blundering finally cast his Presidency as doomed? Signs of a backlash abound but will this Teflon coated man survive through sheer bloody mindedness?

Main picture: A smirking Donald Trump

Why Helen Zille is so Wrong?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs June 9, 2017 1 Comment

Helen’s accomplishments are legendary from exposing the lies regarding the death of Steve Biko, to opposing Apartheid during her days as a member of the Black Sash to her growing the DA from an inconsequential political party into one of substantial heft.

But now Zille is a liability to the Democratic Alliance.

Why? She is damaging not only herself but also the DA and ultimately South Africa.

Main picture: Helen Zille

The Abuse of the Race Card in South Africa

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs June 9, 2017 0 Comment

By a wide margin, the Abuser-in-Chief is Julius Malema. At every opportunity, he takes a swipe at white South Africans imputing nefarious agendas to various innocuous actions. Julius might be the most egregious offender, but, unfortunately, by no means the only one.

This abuse is not confined to a select clique but is more wide-spread than is presumed. Here are some examples of the application of this technique in use.

Main picture: Julius Malema & the Race Card

Cape Town: A City Running on Empty

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs June 2, 2017 0 Comment

Perhaps I live too far from Cape Town, I have not yet received a sense of panic let alone urgency in their dire predicament. While reports vary as to the level of the dams, most do state that the remaining water will be consumed within two months.

Without being definitive, this blog will only touch on some eclectic issues.

Main picture: Voelvlei Dam

South Africa and Zuma: A Forlorn Hope

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs June 2, 2017 0 Comment

South Africans yearned for the ANC’s NEC meeting last weekend to do the right thing. The ANC failed at that puny hurdle either due to loyalty to their leader or the simple reason that they too are captured. Neither did Zuma fall on this sword. Instead he sat impassively at the meeting while his Comrades vilified him. What has not yet been found is incontrovertible evidence of Zuma’s hand in this malfeasance.

What chance is there that the smoking gun will ever be found?

Main picture: Transnet’s new locomotives on which the Gupta’s will receive a commission of R10m per unit

Trump Assessed

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs April 4, 2017 0 Comment

When Trump entered the fray to become President, his chances of success were almost universally rated as being as low as the single digits. Notwithstanding that, Trump confounded all the critics and naysayers and ultimately captured the Presidency.

Are we now any closer to take the measure of the man? What has been revealed so far? Has he already blotted his copy book and should he even he given the benefit of the doubt in future?

Main picture: A smirking Donald Trump, a defining characteristic of the man

Swiss in a froth about a handshake

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs March 29, 2017 1 Comment

What could be more innocuous than a handshake? Not a special handshake, but a conventional handshake where the only contact is between the two hands. Well, using the pretext of being anti-Islamic, two Muslim brothers have objected to shaking the hand of their female teacher.

This has resulted in numerous educational department rulings & reversals as this issue wends its way through officialdom and ultimately the Courts in Switzerland.

Main picture: No handshake exemption for Muslim pupils, Swiss canton rules

Are Multi-Racial Altercations always Classified as Racist?

By Dean McCleland in Current Affairs March 24, 2017 1 Comment

After having been involved in an altercation with a white couple about a parking space at Makro on Human Rights Day, I then heard about a racist incident at Spur on 702 Talk Radio an hour later? That led me to cogitate on the nature of altercations in a racially polarised society.

Main picture: A tyrannical bully at work

The Opinion Pieces are an eclectic bunch on current affairs & history often with a human interest aspect. The Movie/DVDs reviews are mainly on documentaries with a smattering of movie reviews.

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