US Elections and Europe

Europeans have long been interested in US Elections, particularly the ones for the Presidency. I've been following them intensively since 1972 - and was involved in every one from 2004 to 2016. Many of the posts related to those campaigns (and my experiences and insights) can still be found on this blog.

I have no plans to travel to the US for this election - but others do. I am happy to share their experiences with you on Washminster.

Today I am profiling Marianne-Ségolène Gindrey, a young woman with a passion for politics - both in her native France and particularly in the US. I know of her through "twitter" (@MSGindrey). She was born in Bali and currently lives in Arras France, though travels widely. She is a journalist and political activist - as she explains in a post (French original, rough translation follows) - "Je suis journaliste , femme politique , chanteuse , auteure. Amie avec Ségolène Royal , et représentante francophone d’Hillary Clinton, je suis journaliste pour SFnewsfeed.us. 

J’ai dirigée une grande association dans ma vie et j’ai été bénévole pour un président africain. Je soutien Joe Biden pour 2020. Et je vais être coordinatrice fédérale en Californie pour mon ami candidat au poste de gouverneur.

J’arrête de fumer dès ce soir et travaillerai pour une clinique à Harlem à New York pour fin 2021. Clinique spécialisée dans l’addiction. 

J’ai écrit des livres, dans ma vie, j’ai chanté des tubes et j’ai adressé en 2012 un courrier à Nelson Mandela."

I am a journalist, politician, singer, author. Friends with Ségolène Royal, and French-speaking representative of Hillary Clinton, (le comité Onward Together France) I am a journalist for SFnewsfeed.us.

I have led a large association in my life and I have volunteered for an African president. I'm supporting Joe Biden for 2020. And I'm going to be the federal coordinator in California for my friend who is running for governor.

I'm quitting smoking tonight and will be working for an addiction clinic in Harlem, New York by the end of 2021.

I have written books in my life, I sang hits and in 2012 I wrote to Nelson Mandela.

[Ségolêne Royale is a French politician, former Parti-Socialiste candidate for the French presidency, a former member of the Assemblée nationale, Minister, President of the  and leading light within the PS. She was in the same class at the prestigious ENA [École nationale d'administration] as her former partner of 30 years, François Hollande (French President 2012-17), as well as Dominique de Villepin (prime minister (2005-07) under Jacques Chirac).  This week she launched back into political activity ahead of this years French local elections.]

Marianne explained her support for Joe Biden - "Je soutien Biden car il a le plus d’expérience parmi tous les candidats. Ensuite il me rappelle l’ère d’Obama, et il est le plus fort contre Trump;

Je n’aime pas Bernie Sanders et donc j’opte pour un candidat qui a de meilleures idées. 

Biden est courageux car comme moi il a perdu sa femme et un bébé dans sa vie. Je le comprend."

"I support Biden because he has the most experience of all the candidates. Then he reminds me of the Obama era, and he's the strongest against Trump;

I don't like Bernie Sanders and so I opt for a candidate who has better ideas.

Biden is courageous because like me he lost his wife and a baby in his life. I understand it."

I very much hope that Marianne will continue to share with us her thoughts and observations as the election. Do send me any questions you would like me to put to her about her work and the US elections.

US Constitution - Art II

An annotated version of the Second Article can be accessed here.

POTUS & FLOTUS - pre-election plans

Obama will headline rallies in Bridgeport, Conn., and Chicago, and participate in a canvassing event in Philadelphia on Oct. 30. The next day Obama will head to Cleveland with Vice President Joe Biden for his final rally of the campaign season. ... The White House has said the president plans to be in Washington on Nov. 1, the Monday before the election, and on Election Day. ... Michelle Obama will campaign in Las Vegas and Philadelphia on Nov. 1."

The Week Ahead - From Politico

THE PRESIDENT'S WEEK AHEAD, per the White House: "On Sunday, the President and the First Lady will travel to Cleveland, Ohio. ... In the afternoon, the President and the First Lady will attend an event for Governor Strickland at a private residence in Cleveland, Ohio. The President and the First Lady will then travel to Columbus, Ohio. The President and the First Lady will attend a fundraiser for the DNC at Ohio State University. ... Later, the President and the First Lady will deliver remarks at a rally for the DNC at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. ...

"On Monday, the President will host the White House Science Fair celebrating the winners of a broad range of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) competitions. In the evening, the President will attend an event for the DSCC in Rockville, Maryland. On Tuesday, the President will sign an Executive Order to renew the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for Hispanics at the White House. On Wednesday, the President will meet with his national security team for his monthly meeting on Afghanistan and Pakistan in the Situation Room. Later, the President will travel to Portland, Oregon to attend a fundraiser and a rally for Gubernatorial candidate John Kitzhaber. The President will then travel to Seattle, where he will spend the night.

"On Thursday, the President will hold an event in Seattle, and will then attend a rally for Senator Murray. Later, the President will travel to San Francisco, California. In the evening, the President will attend a dinner for the DNC. The President will spend the night in San Francisco. On Friday, the President will travel to Los Angeles, California where he will attend events for Senator Barbara Boxer and for the DNC. Later, the President will travel to Las Vegas, Nevada where he will attend an event for the DNC and later an event for Senator Reid and the DSCC. The President will spend the night in Las Vegas. On Saturday, the President will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota to attend an event for Gubernatorial candidate Mark Dayton, and will then attend an event for the DCCC."

THE VICE PRESIDENT'S WEEK AHEAD: "The Vice President will be in Wilmington, Delaware [this weekend]. There are no public events scheduled. On Monday, the Vice President will attend an event for Mayor John Callahan in Allentown, Pennsylvania. On Tuesday, the Vice President will travel to Vancouver, Washington, to deliver remarks at a rally for Senator Patty Murray. Later, the Vice President will attend an event for Senator Barbara Boxer in San Francisco, California. The Vice President will then travel to Reno, Nevada, where he will spend the night. On Wednesday, the Vice President will join the President's meeting with his national security team on Afghanistan and Pakistan via videoconference. Later, the Vice President will deliver remarks at a rally for Senator Harry Reid in Reno. On Thursday, the Vice President will attend an event for Governor Martin O'Malley in Chevy Chase, Maryland."

THE PRESIDENT'S WEEK AHEAD

--, per the White House: "On Sunday, the President will travel to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to deliver remarks at a DNC 'Moving America Forward' rally. ... On Monday, the President will host a meeting with infrastructure stakeholders at the White House. Later, the President will travel to Miami, Florida to attend events for the DCCC. On Tuesday, the President will host a 'Moving America Forward' town hall meeting sponsored by the DNC at George Washington University in Washington ... On Thursday, the President will host a youth town hall live on MTV, CMT and BET. On Friday, the President and the Vice President will travel to Wilmington, Delaware to attend an event for Senate candidate Chris Coons. On Saturday, the President will travel to Boston, Massachusetts to attend events for Governor Deval Patrick and for the DSCC. On Sunday, the President and the First Lady will travel to Cleveland, Ohio to attend an event for Governor Strickland. They will then travel to Columbus, Ohio to attend an event for the DNC."

From: Politico Playbook