2017 May 8^th

France has a new president. He is Emmanuel Macron, 39 years old, the youngest head of state in France since Napoleon. He got about two thirds of the popular vote soundly defeating Maren Le Pen who would have removed France from the EU, NATO and trashed many other good things. Russia again tried to create chaos with the electorate but this time their efforts might have backfired. The nationalists have been smacked down in Holland, in Austria and now in France much to the unhappiness of Russia.

President Trump and Patrick J. Buchanan aren’t happy about the French results either. We have heard nothing from Buchanan yet although we will eventually hear about historical precedent showing that Le Pen’s current loss is a very good thing…in the long-run of course.

Our national embarrassment in the White House has come through again. Trump sent a congratulatory tweet to President Macron. That’s right, to our oldest ally Trump could only spare a quick tweet of congratulations. After all it was the weekend and there is his golf game to consider. (Trump had managed a phone call to congratulate the Turkish victor, Erdogan, who may have stolen his election. Now, some hours later, apparently Trump’s handlers have convinced him that a simple tweet embarrasses the country he represents and it embarrasses him. He has now called Macron to congratulate him.)

Now we have another Trump/Kushner/Meyer family financial mess. That’s not new but this has taken a different slant. Here’s the deal: If you want to take up permanent residence in another country it will cost you. When Hong Kong reverted to Chinese control from British rule there were some residents who decided to move elsewhere. My wife’s well-to-do uncle was one of these. He decided to move to Australia. Australia would be happy to welcome him provided he had half a million pounds to invest there. He did and off he went.

We have a similar arrangement here. If you would like residence here you must invest a half million dollars in this country. There are many areas that sorely need foreign investment. Unfortunately, the emphasis is no longer so much on where the foreigner makes the investment and that’s where the Kushner/Meyer clan can clean up.

Kushner and his sister, Nicole Meyer, are busy recruiting wealthy Chinese to invest at least a half million dollars in Kushner/Meyer family real estate projects and so become entitled to EB-5 visas.  

Speaking in a Chinese ballroom, Ms. Meyer said the project “means a lot to me and my entire family.” She mentioned her brother’s service as chief executive of Kushner Companies, the family business from which he resigned in January, saying he had left to serve in the Trump administration. Once again, as with Ivanka’s various businesses and Donald branded hotels, we have, a Trump family feeding frenzy. Emoluments clause; what emoluments clause?

Maybe he’ll sell the National Parks next.