Regression

Published in Liberation
(France) on 21 February 2016
by Alexandra Schwartzbrod (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Sophie Thresher. Edited by Melanie Rehfuss.
What if, one November morning, we woke up with Donald Trump in the White House and Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin? This terrifying idea, which seemed unthinkable a few months ago, is starting to work its way to reality, if the pictures and the threats are to be believed.

Let’s admit it. Up until recently, this electoral campaign was rather amusing. We had all predicted a Bush-Clinton duel, just as exciting as a rehash of the Sarkozy-Hollande battle, and here is America defying all predictions and on fire for two men who are complete opposites. On the one hand, we have a sexist, racist, populist, conspiracist, pro-firearms billionaire. On the other an assumed grandpa, who is a self-proclaimed “socialist,” which up until now has been considered a dirty word in the country of triumphant capitalism.

While in the Democrat corner, Bernie Sanders — the socialist grandpa — is not yet sure to come out as the winner of his wrestling match with Hillary Clinton, it must be said that Donald Trump is at the head of the Republican race, crushing his opponents. We have heard that Marco Rubio is winning ground, yet we are not seeing any traces of this in the results. The situation has been judged sufficiently dangerous for Pope Francis, who is rarely given to personal attacks, to lash out vigorously at Trump, stating last week that he was “not a Christian.”

The real issue is not Trump himself; it’s his success, which indicates the current social and political regression in the world. However, the good news is that one political party in the United States, along with young people, are supporting a man like Sanders. It is proof that there is still hope left. It is more hopeful still that, when faced with Trump, the Democratic candidate manages to rally moderate Republican support, as they are incapable of voting for a Dr. Strangelove.


Régression

Et si, un matin de novembre, on se réveillait avec un Donald Trump à la Maison Blanche et un Vladimir Poutine au Kremlin ? Insensée il y a quelques mois encore, cette idée commence à faire son chemin, terrifiante d’images et de menaces. Avouons-le : jusqu’à une date récente, cette campagne électorale américaine était plutôt amusante. On nous avait prédit un duel Bush-Clinton, aussi excitant qu’une resucée Sarkozy-Hollande, et voilà que l’Amérique, déjouant tous les pronostics, s’enflamme pour deux hommes que tout oppose : d’un côté, un milliardaire populiste, raciste, machiste, complotiste et pro-armes à feu ; de l’autre, un papy assumé s’autoproclamant «socialiste», ce qui était considéré jusqu’à présent comme un gros mot au pays du capitalisme triomphant. Si, côté démocrate, Bernie Sanders (le papy socialiste) n’est pas encore sûr de sortir gagnant de son bras de fer avec Hillary Clinton, côté républicain, force est de constater que Donald Trump fait la course en tête, écrasant par ses outrances tous ses concurrents. On a beau entendre que Marco Rubio gagne du terrain, on n’en voit pas bien la trace dans les résultats. La situation a été jugée suffisamment dangereuse pour que le pape François lui-même, peu sujet aux attaques ad hominem, s’en prenne vigoureusement à Trump, le qualifiant la semaine dernière de «pas chrétien». Le problème, au fond, ce n’est pas Trump, c’est ce que son succès dit de la régression sociale et politique du monde actuel. La bonne nouvelle, quand même, c’est qu’une partie des Etats-Unis, et notamment les jeunes, plébiscite un homme comme Sanders. Preuve qu’il reste un espoir. Et même deux, le second étant que, face à un Trump, le / la candidat(e) démocrate parvienne à rallier ces républicains modérés incapables de voter pour un docteur Folamour.
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