This week, the Catalan parliament declared independence. Immediately, the Spanish government annulled this move and announced direct rule from Madrid. By tomorrow, the Spanish authorities will have taken over all the organisations of the Catalonia state, including the police force.
This escalation can only further inflame nationalist sentiment in Barcelona.
This story, however, has a wearily familiar feeling to it: the extremists are taking over. The Catalan nationalists will manipulate every mistake by Madrid and, in turn, Madrid will become increasingly deaf to the legitimate yearnings of a significant chunk of the Catalan people who want to go on their own.
So, one side will escalate its own indignation, and the other side will denigrate its significance, leading to a bigger and bigger crisis.
As Yeats noted in “The Second Coming”;
“Things fall apart [when] the best lack all conviction and the worst are full of passionate intensity”.
This perfectly resonates with the current Spanish situation; the middle ground is simply shrugging its shoulders and allowing others to make decisions, while the extremists are becoming more cacophonous.
So, what’s going to happen? If we examine separatist movements of the past thirty years, there are three major movements that might help us predict what will happen in Spain: namely, those of Quebec, Czechoslovakia, and Yugoslavia.
The preferred route for those who want compromise is the Quebec path, and it is highly instructive.
When I first visited Montreal, in 1985, it was a slightly edgy, down at heel, bi-lingual city. I arrived on the day of the funeral of Rene Levesque, the nationalist leader of Quebec separatism.
The region was in mourning.
The Parti Quebecois wanted to lead Quebec out of Canada and create an independent Quebec. From the mid 1980s to the mid 1990s, Quebec underwent a series of constitutional crises. Each crisis allowed the nationalists to grow stronger, ultimately leading to their day in the sun with the independence referendum of 1995.
In the end, the vote was wafer thin: 49.5% voted to leave Canada and 50.5% voted to stay – it was truly extraordinary. Interestingly, the fortunes of the nationalists waned after the referendum.
Importantly, this decline can be paradoxically attributed to the success of the nationalist movement in preserving the unique French-Canadian identity of Quebec; the region becoming both more French and more Canadian at the same time.
The Montreal I visited last year was firmly within Canada but profoundly more French than the city I had visited in 1985.
This is the solution many Spaniards, and many Europeans, want for Catalonia.
The Canadian government allowed the Quebec government to ramp up their linguistic laws to preserve French, and increased financial aid to Quebec at the same time. In return, the Quebec government dialed down the nationalist moves.
Today, Montreal is an extremely cosmopolitan city that has elements of both rural France and hippest Brooklyn. Quebec nationalism has won and Canadian federalism has also won, in a very Canadian display of constructive pragmatism. Dissolution was averted through dialogue.
For many, this route is the best possible outlook for Catalonia.
The second path for Catalonia is the “velvet divorce” of the Czechs and Slovaks. The old state of Czechoslovakia was dissolved peacefully on 1st January 1993. Interestingly, as late as September 1992, opinion polls showed that only 37% of Czechs and 37% of Slovaks actually wanted separation. However, nationalist politicians, on both sides, agitated in parliament for separation and ultimately, rather than prolong a row, the leaders of the biggest parties agreed to separate and form two countries.
The entire divorce was done with a minimum of fuss, very little acrimony and, better still, a total absence of bitterness.
Some people hope that Catalonia, if it insists on independence, might be able to negotiate such a velvet divorce with Spain. However, this doesn’t look too likely as the past few weeks indicate a level of acrimony between Madrid and Barcelona that is becoming more and more aggravated, not less.
The final path is the path to war that befell Yugoslavia. As outlined in this column a few weeks back, right up to the end, the majority of Serbs and Croats still clung to the idea that the Yugoslavian confederation may remain intact. What was regarded as a difficult but manageable constitutional dilemma descended into civil war in a matter of days.
Elements in the Yugoslavian armed forces made crucial mistakes at pivotal moments, dragging a largely unwilling population into conflicts which pitted neighbour against neighbour; a series of communal violence ensued, the likes of which had not been seen in Europe since 1945.
People sometimes dismiss Yugoslavia as being a once-off event, reminding us that, during the Second World War, the Croats and the Serbs murdered each other with impunity. For those with a sense of history, however, we should remind ourselves that over 1,000,000 Spaniards were murdered in their own civil war.
This slaughter is still within human memory.
Very soon, people will look to the EU.
My sense is that the EU will not abandon the Catalans. The “Europe of the regions” slogan only makes sense when you recognize regions. Moreover, the EU is an expansionist project; if it stops expanding, it loses purpose.
It doesn’t kick regions out.
No matter what it says now, ultimately, the EU will recognize Catalonia as an independent state if it continues down its current path, and the Catalans know this.
In fact, this is Barcelona’s diplomatic ace and Madrid knows this too.
We should all hope that the Catalan crisis takes the route of either Quebec or Czechoslovakia but the Croatian path can’t be ruled out, that is truly terrifying.
David Mc Williams hosts www.kilkenomics.com from November 9th in Kilkenny.
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David says : My sense is that the EU will not abandon the Catalans. A I say ; Agree Because, secretly the EU is behind all this Separatism Cause, & many more. “Divide & Conquer” strategy of EU for … Rothschilds. EU wants to conquer Nationalism Where it sees Nationalism manifest as a Nation State ; ==> EU seeks to conquer Nation States. Then, it seeks to control Nation States Then, it seeks to manipulate the conquered > control Nation State And, the best way to conquer is to divide. So, the EU gets its foot in the door of… Read more »
The truth is that Quebec is an economic basket case. It is the grand recipient of billions of dollars from the rest of canada over the last 50 years and still is the major receiver. The economic failure is not because of a lack of resources but because of rampant socialism, political corruption and graft. The West of Canada had a separation movement in the 80’s call the Western Canada Concept. The sentiment was absorbed by the Reform Party under Preston Manning and the Stephen Harper who lead it into amalgamation with the Progressive Conservative Party (there is an oxymoron)… Read more »
Trudeau senior allegedly “patriated the Canadian constitution which hitherto was governed by the substance and residue of the British North America Act. http://www.chrc-ccdp.gc.ca/historical-perspective/en/browseSubjects/bnaguide.asp Trudeau went to London and had the (Written by him! ) New Canadian constitution passed by both the houses of Commons and Lords and brought it back to Canada for signature by all the Provinces and the Federal government. Quebec then refused to sign and still has not signed. Technically then the Canadian constitution is not legal as it required unanimous consent. However the the Canadian Government proclaimed its enactment and carried on anyway. Trudeau also had… Read more »
Quebec might have done Canada a favour by pulling out of Canada. Because apart from anything else, it would later have wanted to rejoin. Concerning, Catalunya – in the Madrid Cortes (Parlaiment) the two sides of the Spanish Civil War, plus the anti-corruption party that detests the hegemony of those two sides in Spanish politics, are all on one voice with regards to imposing Federal rule over Catalunya. That being said, they should still consider allowing Catalunya to go it’s own way. It might end up wanting to return. The real problem is not that Catalunya wants to leave. It… Read more »
https://globalnews.ca/news/3496355/quebec-canada-constitution-amend-reopen/
It was only when Lévesque rejoined the group the next morning that he learned of the deal. And that was when then-prime minister Pierre Trudeau and Chrétien lost Quebec’s support.
And so, since 1982, Quebec has not been part of the nation’s Constitution.
https://brianmlucey.wordpress.com/2017/10/29/an-irexit-question-for-brexiteers/#more-9322
“”So, if something that was 4x worse than Brexit didn’t cause us to want to leave the EU, why would Brexit?”
By Dr. Mercola
Ninety percent of news media, be it television, radio, print or online, are controlled by six corporations. As a result, the vast majority of what you read, see and hear is part of a carefully orchestrated narrative created and controlled by special interest groups.
https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2017/10/28/astroturfing-media-manipulation.aspx?utm_source=dnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20171028Z1_UCM&et_cid=DM163345&et_rid=100256211
Syria was invaded by a consortium of nations backed by the US with funds to Jihadists to do the dirty work.
http://thefreethoughtproject.com/qatar-saudi-turker-armed-jihadists-syria/?utm_medium=pushnotify&utm_source=browser&utm_campaign=pushfeeds&utm_content=push
“”WATCH: Qatar Confesses to Helping US, Saudis, Turkey Arm Jihadists to ‘Hunt Their Prey in Syria’
In a shocking interview going viral on Arab social networks, high-level Qatari officials made some damning confessions on Syria.””
In totality, the nation-state Spain is target of “Count Kallergi’s project the EU ==> ECB ==> Bank of International Settlements ==> The Rothschilds” for the following reasons : 1. Spain had the nerve to operate the Inquisition some 500 years ago in which some 3,000* were murdered ; Mainly for ulterior motive of forcing the victim & / or their cousins to divulge where they had their Gold hidden. * Ref. http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davearmstrong/2015/08/50-68-million-killed-in-the-inquisition.html SEE EXTRACT BELOW ; 2. subdue Spain lest Spain seek to exit EU 3. extract part[s] of Spain lest Spain seek to exit EU 4. 1st step of… Read more »
https://www.connexionfrance.com/French-news/Cross-must-be-removed-from-statue-of-Pope
Also, last week, 80 immigrants from Turkey protested in Germany demanding to deport the so-called “refugees” from Germany, and against the inept German police – after the “refugees” attacked a 14-year-old Turkish girl on the street – but you won’t read about it in any media, and certainly not in Mr Derek Scally article in the “Anti-Irish Times”.
“The final path is the path to war that befell Yugoslavia. As outlined in this column a few weeks back, right up to the end, the majority of Serbs and Croats still clung to the idea that the Yugoslavian confederation may remain intact. What was regarded as a difficult but manageable constitutional dilemma descended into civil war in a matter of days.” David, It descended into civil war in a matter of days because Germany didn’t want to allow the Heganale project to become the alternative to their resurrected Mittel-Europa project, so they promised that should Croatia detach from Yugoslavia,… Read more »
Hi David, I dont think its possible to compare the secession factors of Catalonia, Quebec and Czechia/Slovakia, as each case is different, with a different history and environment. I do get the point you are making though, which is Catalonia could: a) stay in Spain, yet get more ‘independent’ rights (ala Quebec) b) have a ‘velvet divorce’ and secede gracefully with agreement from Spain (somehow) c) all out violence and ‘bloody mayhem’ (as Michael Collins may have said) (The Irish option? ala your Yugoslavia breakup) Option A is what has been “happening” thus far, and like Quebec I guess, they… Read more »
The Weinstein Effect. Or the Harveywood Effect. What happens when those that were silent about being bullied, or pushed around, come forward, and decide to tell the truth about being bullied. At an individual level. Weinstein was obviously a sexual ogre and pervert. Weinstein got away with it for years. Hollywood, and the cinematic sector are notorious of being shallow in their treatment of women. Once a woman passes 34, she is regarded as history. Yet men are rarely taken seriously before that age. And after that age their incomes increase substantially. In any case, this resulted in a power… Read more »
F-I-N-A-L-L-Y, he tells us the obvious ;
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http://www.awdnews.com/index/cia-mossad-created-isis-says-julian-assange-wikileaks-releases-500k-us-cables/
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Will CIA + Msd + EU utiilise their mercenary army ISIS to get what they want from Rest of Spain + Catalonia ?
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I decided to post this essay in its entirety because I thought it worth the read for those concerned about the state of the world and what to do about it. i apologise if you consider it too much of a good thing. in that case please ignore it and pass on by. TB The Dos Passos Table Guest Speaker Topic du Jour WHAT WILL “IT” BE? Terry Wetzsteon October 29, 2017 A quick point of clarification before I begin: There is a person who has frequently contributed brief commentaries and observations which Bill Murphy has included in his daily… Read more »
Another banker gets away with daylight robbery.
“Trial of former senior Anglo Irish Bank official Tiarnan O’Mahoney has collapsed”
https://www.independent.ie/business/irish/trial-of-former-senior-anglo-irish-bank-official-tiarnan-omahoney-has-collapsed-36277830.html
What a disgusting, corrupt, cowardly, craven, evil shithole of a country Ireland is.
Leader of Canada upon visit to Ireland, & promoted personally by “not my Taoiseach” Varadakar, & campaigning for murder of our pre-born babies & infants ;
Yes, alleged son of Satanist + Pedophile Rapist Mr. Pierre Trudeau & deffo son of groupie Mrs. Trudeau ;
Just-in Trudeau
And, here is what he thinks of most of ewes ;
Yes ; From that family who are the essential owners of ur Euro / USA Petro-Dollar issued from … voila “Thin Air” as Debt to be paid back as principal + interest* by the borrower through W-O-R-K. * Ref. Tony Brogan original explanation that the whole Principal + whole Interest is logically not possible to be paid back ; Because, the whole Principal is the total amount of Currency created. The Interest is an impossibility. It would be like returning “1 + n x Adam Byrne” to his creator. 8-) Thus, the Banks have at least 1 mechanism for dealing… Read more »
Remember Mr Vincent Browne and his constant babbling on about the “Scandinavian model” that he was advocating for Ireland? Is it only me, or do we hear less of that “Scandinavian model” babbling now in the Irish media – because the downsides are becoming too obvious even to the least informed (that is some Irish journalists)?
https://voiceofeurope.com/2017/10/croatian-migrant-leaves-unsafe-sweden-now-lives-happy-poland/
My take on Mr Kevin Spacey’s scandal and why it reminds me of some of the bogus stories spread by Mr Fintan O’Fool _________________________________________________________________________________ That Kevin Spacey thing is absolutely bizarre. I don’t believe in people suddenly remembering that they were molested 30 years ago (we had that in Ireland too – i.e. the fictional allegations about Nora Wall – of which I’m aware thanks to Coldblow – or multiple similar slanderous allegations spread by Comrade Fintan O’Toole in the Irish Times for which, as far as I know, neither O’Toole nor The Anti-Irish Times ever apologised, let alone compensated.… Read more »
By the way, concerning Harveywood….the allegations against Kevin Spacey are only begining.
His PR svelte trick, when confronted with evidence that he assualted a minor, by deflecting attention to the age of the minor was a remarkable PR stunt.
It was ably assisted by media organs who have been silent for years. And who also regularly promote Spacey.
@ Grzegorz, Please realise that the Pedophilia & other sexual peccadillo are even more rampant than disclosed by the media. Coldblow is wrong. But, yes, the Catholic Church is being singled out since the mid-1980’s because : it has become so corrupt with perverts that it could not be hidden any longer AND the enemies of the Catholic Church tore at it after having plotted to corrupt it earlier in the century with influx of perverts & communists so as to destroy the Catholicism from within. A brilliantly evil & daring & simple strategy u may say. But, we all… Read more »
Is this the starting point to a complete reassessment of investment risk ? http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-11-01/tesla-burns-record-16-million-day-q3-delays-model-3-delivery-stock-tumbles Tesla is clearly in trouble. And a large volume of money has been invested. Elon Musk is a poster child for a new celebrity entrepreneur, who produces a bold vision, that is all embracing, and short on specifics. The De Lorean of this age. The problem is that he is the more extreme version of the current approach to business in several sectors. If Jeff Bezos that different ? Or the leadership of Facebook ? Or Twitter ? Or Salesforce ? Or Netflix ? Is Tesla… Read more »
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/873950/germany-fears-eurozone-meltdown-german-investors-buy-gold Turkey gold imports surge as central bank boosts reserves November 01 2017 Turkey purchased a record $13.8bn of gold from abroad this year, $9.8bn more than in the same period last year, Bloomberg reported. The central bank has also increased its gold holdings to a three-year high, boosting its vault of precious metals by $7.5bn since December, according to official figures. The central bank’s action comes after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for Turks to use gold instead of dollars last November, in an effort to stem the depreciation in the Turkish lira, which has dropped another 7% against… Read more »
http://www.express.co.uk/news/world/873950/germany-fears-eurozone-meltdown-german-investors-buy-gold Turkey gold imports surge as central bank boosts reserves November 01 2017 Turkey purchased a record $13.8bn of gold from abroad this year, $9.8bn more than in the same period last year, Bloomberg reported. The central bank has also increased its gold holdings to a three-year high, boosting its vault of precious metals by $7.5bn since December, according to official figures. The central bank’s action comes after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for Turks to use gold instead of dollars last November, in an effort to stem the depreciation in the Turkish lira, which has dropped another 7% against… Read more »
http://www.goldcore.com/us/gold-blog/invest-gold-defend-bail-ins/ “”As in Spain’s Catalonia the region of Veneto is wealthier than the average Italian region, with its own industries and language yet it has been left with a pile of ash when it comes to its banking sector. ?x64374 ?x64374 Of course what everyone forgets is that banks are not there to look after you. They are there to make money. They do this almost instantly the second you deposit funds, it’s their money. The second you take out a loan, they own you. The second you buy shares, they have a license to be reckless. Given Brexit and… Read more »
Farage just signed his own political death warrant ;
https://twitter.com/HenryMakow/status/925729830439616513
EXCERPT ;
So what interest does Israel have in Catalonia?
The Jerusalem Post reported on the 24th of November, 2014 that ‘Israel and Germany may be the key to initially financing a Catalan state independent of Spain’. Barcelona’s High Court Judge Santiago Vidal told the Israeli newspaper:“ Another state (Israel) will serve as our temporary bank”. For those requiring further exegesis, Jewish money, that is to say, international High Finance will ensure the survival of ‘independent’ Catalan.
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http://www.thetruthseeker.co.uk/?p=160302
https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/1102/916956-rental-accommodation/
@Truthist
WHY?
-> DIVIDE AND CONQUER
-> THE RAPE OF EUROPA
=> MORE ANSWERS HERE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG3X9bAD1NI
SEDITION IN USA by 8-)ew York Times
Rental market in Dublin:
https://www.rte.ie/player/ie/show/prime-time-30003251/10797897/
Harvey exploited by Wanabees-gate ?
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=5&v=feFNWW-koaU
Meanwhile Bernie Sanders waits to become the “neo-populist” President ;
Because, “populist” [ Democratically elected ] = Politically WRONG
But, “neo-populist” = Politically CORRECT
https://fellowshipoftheminds.com/2017/11/03/antifa-threatens-to-behead-whites-and-small-biz-owners-on-november-4/
And, this will be copied in Spain, Canada … Ireland ?
How does George Soros pay his Crisis Actors & Thugs ?
Cyber-Currency ? ; e.g. Bitcoin
Anyways, I being a decent poster ;
==> One can have an intelligent & fair & decent conversation with me ;
And, my presenting of the following is yet another example of I being fair ;
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http://russia-insider.com/en/gain-true-independence-russia-embraces-blockchain/ri21474?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
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HOW SOON WILL THE ROTHSCHILD’S BE SETTING UP ONE OF THEIR PRIVATE CENTRAL BANKS IN CATALONIA ?
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Meanwhile ;
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http://russia-insider.com/en/moscow-calls-new-financial-system-bypasses-us-dollar/ri21481#.Wf1soCyYi-Q.twitter
http://www.france24.com/en/20171104-belgium-examines-eu-arrest-warrant-spain-catalonia-carles-puigdemont
As far as I can see, a democratic country has a section that democratically asks to leave and is told no , you cannot leave our democracy.
Is it really a democracy?
Tensions have soared in Spain after a large chunk of Catalonia’s axed government was thrown behind bars on Thursday pending probes into their role in the secession push.
https://www.thelocal.es/20171103/eu-and-germany-back-spain-over-arrests-of-deposed-catalan-ministers
This is what happens in a democracy when the representatives actually try to do what the electorate asked them to!!! Everyone was having a relatively peaceful dialog until they were thrown in jail!!
@David McWilliams
=> AGITATION HAS A PURPOSE
-> THE DESTRUCTION OF THE NATION STATE
=> DIVIDE AND CONQUER
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FAKE NEWS -> FAKE PHOTOS
https://medium.com/dfrlab/electionwatch-fake-photos-in-catalonia-fe3f045df171
=> ORGANIZED FALSE FLAG
CUI BONO?
FLEES TO BRUSSELS? -> WHY BRUSSELS?
BECAUSE YOU FLEE TO YOUR “ALLY”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XWbikS2Iz6Y
Spanish nation should let Catalonia separate ; Then however long it takes, Catalonia will seek to unite with Spain again. Just look at so many aspects of the situation : Geography ; Even Spain + Portugal could be Nation or at least 1 country because land mass is very contiguous History Religion Good Times versus Bad Times Language Ethnicity ……………………………………………………………. Anyway, Regions should be allowed to be much more autonomous & much less forced to support central Civil Service Libertarianism with sufficient Welfare State is a very doable Socio-Econimo Model for most countries I would have it that Civil Service… Read more »
The future of Catalonia should be similar to that of North Dakota. act as an autonomous state with its own bank recycling tax receipts as reserves in the bank which then makes infrastructure loans to government and loans to creditable business interests within catalonia. It would then be a profitable low tax jurisdiction.
http://www.maxkeiser.com/2017/11/the-public-bank-option-safer-local-and-half-the-cost/
The USA is gone mad. Insanity rules. Anger reigns. What is the trigger that sets off these shooting sprees?
Do you have the answers? The answer is probably as complex as it is simple?
https://twitter.com/USATODAY?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
More on Deco’s sub-topic Harvey-gate ; . . Is Weinstein a Scapegoat Messiah ? . . E. Michael Jones Published on Nov 4, 2017 E. Michael Jones, editor of Culture Wars magazine, discusses the connection between Harvey Weinstein and John 11:50 where Caiaphas, the high priest, counselled the Jews: “That it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not.” Weinstein was a leader in the Hollywood Industry and he was going after the “anti-semites” with a vengeance. But finally the guilt and shame of Hollywood could not be contained… Read more »
Ref.
Another country which “has” / “has had” an upset region “seeking” / “having sought” independence” / “secession” ;
And, after stealing all of the Gold from Ukraine’s Treasury, inter alia, the overlords — incl. Victoria Nuland of Democrat Party, USA — now produce a cute little manual for the high-school female students ;
http://www.stalkerzone.org/european-integration-every-fourth-prostitute-europe-citizen-ukraine/
Private Central Bank syndicate sponsoring + organising civil war ;
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https://twitter.com/HenryMakow/status/927341917020545024
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https://wikispooks.com/wiki/Operation_Gladio/B
https://needtoknow.news/2017/11/tony-podesta-caught-russia-collusion-web-threatens-fox-news-lawsuit-squelch-report/
Swamp creatures exposed on both sides of the isle. Left meets right in Washington.
US operatives active in deposing one Ukraine government and supporting another.
At least neither Spain nor Catalonia are refusing to host a Private Central Bank for the Syndicate
So, things should not be as bad as Iraq, Libya, Syria, … Iran, North Korea
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https://twitter.com/Ian56789/status/927219844709306368
MAYBE ANTIFA SEEKING TO GAIN AS MUCH TRACTION AHEAD OF HILLARY CLINTON PEDOPHILIA BOMBSHELL DETONATING
https://twitter.com/HenryMakow/status/927581383177965570
Two past Republican presidents criticise and demean Trump.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
There is a new game in town and a Trump beats two Bushs’