Olympus Has Fallen to the enemy in the White House – Mr Trump

I’m no fan of AOC’S politics, but the US president has gone too far this time – although I’m not sure he meant to, says Jim Duffy

Our very own Gerard Butler stars in the Hollywood hit movie, Olympus Has Fallen. Alongside the great Morgan Freeman and few other secret service personnel, they do pretty well against some awful baddies. Gerard Butler, aka Mike Banning, is that one brave man who is not afraid to mix it up with bad people and give it right back to them where it hurts. I won’t tell you the full plot in case you go to watch it online, but suffice to say, it is as good, if not better, than any Bruce Willis Die Hard movie. But, the title of the movie made me think deeper about the White House.

Olympus is the term given to the White House, no doubt at some point by the American Secret Service, to identify it. It is a specific handle that makes the building and all that it represents stand out as a big deal.

And I guess we may all agree that the White House is a “big deal”. What it signifies as to the world is freedom, integrity, virtue, discretion and democracy.

It is the pinnacle of power and honour in the West. This is no doubt why it was targeted in the 9/11 planning and execution.

But I’m afraid not even Gerard Butler could save the current White House from a new baddie. One that lurks within. No, Donald Trump is single-handedly bringing down the White House with his behaviour.

I’m afraid to say it, but Olympus has fallen.

How ironic that the threat to the White House has not come from outside its gates and walls. The secret service agents guard it day in and day out, 24/7, but they have their sights trained on external events that may harm people inside those hallowed grounds. The guard dogs and their handlers are alert to what

may be going on at the perimeter fences all around the building as tourists shuffle on the pavements, taking selfies and more. But, as they guard the inhabitants inside, the threat has grown there in a place where dignity and professionalism were once watchwords for all. It seems to me and many that Donald Trump is the enemy within.

But, to be fair to the 45th President of the United States, let me give some perspective. I do not particularly care for the policies and mantras of his adversaries, Nancy Pelosi or Alexandria Ocasio-cortez (AOC).

Ocasio-cortez feels to me to be very much from the Jeremy Corbyn school of economics. Almost the antithesis of Donald Trumponomics. But, this immensely smart and articulate young Democrat who serves as the US Representative for New York’s 14th congressional district is a rising star who is afraid of nothing. Like Bernie Sanders, she wants to redistribute wealth in the USA.

Many see her policies as fiscally naive. But, if one were to think about some of her and her associates’ ideas, one may think – hold on a minute, that ain’t half bad. For example, why has America got so many billionaires? Do they really need all that wealth? And if one took the cash from billionaires, still leaving them plenty, it could build a better health system and so on...

One of her policy advisers, Dan Riffle, has as his handle on Twitter – “Every Billionaire is a Policy Failure”. Says it all and paints a vivid picture of where AOC’S economics come from. But, that does not mean she should be abused.

President Trump singled her and three of her colleagues out this week. You can read it everywhere. He has been duly chastised and his