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Yes indeed, Portia! A great relief yesterday at 20:00 (aka 8 pm). On a big turnout (67%), with the left undivided for once, the French showed that they are far from drifting helplessly extreme rightwards. Let's hope this will spread through Europe and, why not? a little bit across the Atlantic...?

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I do hope so, John. Democracy may be not perfect, but it's the best we have.

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Yippeedoo! And we’re hoping beyond hope that this augurs well for the US, too, in November - we’re ecstatic that the right’s arses are being kicked!

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We Brits get there eventually Portia. The French never let me down.

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I live here and agree with the collective sigh of relief, but fear that if no coalition government is formed and that if nothing gets done over the next 3 years, next time the Rassemblement National will win.

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I hear you, Betty, hopefully they're going to cooperate, knowing that they'e not completely out of the woods.

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Sante! 💙 🤍 ♥️ 🇫🇷 🥂

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Santé indeed, Lorraine!

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Rimane solo la nostra povera Italia...

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E non è che la prima volta fosse andata poi così bene da giustificare la nostalgia. Che paese delle balle...

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Basta you guys we don't understand! I worked with a Spanish-speaking woman who thought that word was hilarious, for some reason

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I apologise, Richard! Gianni wrote that our wretched Italy is the last country that should kick fascism out. (I can't get myself to write it with a capital F.) As if! I replied: How can they be nostalgic, when the first time round, it hadn't been quite a resounding success? And then I added something along the lines of "What a dickhead country", but I know you don't care much for swear words. :-(

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I understand your joy at the defeat of fascists in France. They have a long memory. We Americans, though we dipped our toes into the fray in Hitler's time, don't have the same memory of destruction and fear to seize us during this horrific election cycle here. While many are quite sure of who they want to lead us, the majority of us are scared shitless of the repeated mayhem from four years ago. It's monstrous, and I really don't think most Americans even know what's coming if they make the wrong choice. For me, neither is the right choice and there's no other viable option, at least for me. I can't cop out with a third party fantasy this time.

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Sue, you and your fellow Americans can't see Jill Stein as a good candidate, but why is that? But you know, we have a far-right government in Italy, even though we should know better. And those MAGAs should visit the many graves of American soldiers in Europe: those young men died to save the world from fascism, not to elect one as their president.

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You're preaching to the choir, Portia. What's happening is the US is disheartening and, quite frankly, terrifying to me. I never thought Fascism ala Hitler would would come here. As for Jill Stein, who is she? I've never heard of her. And there are so many other possible candidates to choose from. I voted for Nikki Haley in the primary, but she's been shoveled into oblivion. Tulsi Gabbard would be an excellent choice for the Dems, but she was so disgusted by what that party has become, she's become an Independent. I do wish there were a way to educate MAGAs about Trump, but so many of them see him as the Messiah. And the Christian Right loves him as a springboard to a 'nation under Jesus." Constitution? What Constitution?

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I subscribed as fast as I could. Almost followed all 23 people that Substack recommended, too. And I think everybody is allowed to do puns for the next two weeks, non-stop.

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Welcome Ian! Punish the fascists with your puns.

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Yes, it was great to see how everyone suddenly pulled together.

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Solidarity in action.

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It seems pollsters all over are missing the mark. I hope that is true in USA as well.

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Fingers crossed, Jim.

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deletedJul 29Liked by Portia
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Yes, Birsen, let's keep the flame alive! We should live in solidarity and respect.

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