Hindsight Is 2020

Pianist Tom Lehrer released an album entitled "That Was The Year That Was," a live recording containing satiric topical songs covering the news in 1965. The popularity of his songs outlasted their subjects. "Always predict the worst and you'll be hailed as a prophet," he noted.

As predicted in the Chinese zodiac, the "Year of the Rat" (2020) has been one for the books. The coronavirus has become an international pandemic, killing more that 250,000 Americans and over one million others worldwide. At this writing, over 60 million humans have been contaminated.

A cousin in Isolona, Liguria in Northern Italy notes: "We are in very bad shape with the infection, and the hospitals are full. This wave is worse that the first. Let's hope this bad period ends soon. We must have faith in science. Blessings to you and your family. We shall stay in touch."

A friend who lives nearby in Rapollo, Liguria describes a grim situation: "here, things are falling apart. Contagions increase exponentially and we continue with lockdowns. What is worrisome is that the winter is too long to hope that the emergency can be stopped soon. I hope you are all well."

Meanwhile, we have been obliged to face an election year like no other, pitting a wannabe autocrat with no experience, along with his minions, against a veteran politician with years of experience in the U.S. Senate and eight years as Vice-President of the United States.

Herr Gropenfuhrer, as he's come to be known in the GonzoPR blog, certainly has his fans nationally, but the sitting president has show little interest in exhibiting signs of leadership or resolve to address the coronavirus pandemic facing the country.

But good news is on the horizon. As we move into 2021, the "Year of the Ox," signs are evident that we're rounding the curve. On November 3, former Vice-President Joe Biden decisively defeated Herr Gropenfuhrer in the election for President of the United States for the next four years.

Meanwhile, Herr Gropenfuhrer continues to challenge the results, a defeated despot barricaded in his bunker like Charles Foster Kane in Citizen Kane, sequestered at Xanadu, his dilapidated pleasure palace. He needs to just recognize that Joe Biden winning is actually the best outcome for him.

And there are other signs of hope on the horizon to address the health and welfare if the world as well. At least three pharmaceutical companies have developed vaccines to address the international pandemic with an anticipated rollout December and the first quarter of 2021.

On a positive note, 2020 has turned out to be a productive year for many associated with the GonzoPR enterprise. Because of lockdowns and social distancing required by the pandemic, writers, artists and creatives of all types have focused on their projects and have produced stellar works.

In terms of home improvement projects, we've been able to accomplish quite a bit during this past year of lockdowns and social distancing: new flooring for the home, a new roof for the little hut (below) at the Owl Conservancy and time to complete a number of writing projects and yard maintenance.

Finally, the nation has spoken about removing the toxic enterprise occupying the White House. The president-elect is the perfect individual to lower the temperature in this country and, most importantly, concentrating on a cure for the deadly coronavirus sweeping the world.

The End Is Nigh

As one nightmare concludes with the election of Joe Biden as the 46th President of the United States, the coronavirus continues to rage in a year that can only be characterized as unprecedented. Consequently, GonzoPR will revisit and review this past week with its team of correspondents.

Now that the election is over, it's time to gather perspectives from Helmut Vallindaklopf in Washington D.C., Ramona Vallindaklopf in Genoa, Italy and Wolfgang Majoris in Bangkok, Thailand for reports on how people from around the world view what has transpired here in the USA.

What does it matter? Since 2016, Herr Gropenfuhrer has dominated American politics. At times, he seemed to possess magical powers, winning the presidency despite an aversion for the usual rules, yet maintaining an approval rating even as he was impeached and presided over a pandemic.

JM: "In the end, Trump didn't have magical powers after all; he instead became only the fourth elected president in the past century to lose re-election after Herbert Hoover, Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush. Helmut, what is the mood as viewed from your bunker on Connecticut Avenue?

HV: "Well, clearly, some in this country expected more of Donald Trump, yet many others were not fooled. A majority of Americans basically told Herr Gropenfuhrer: "you're fired!" He's had all this time to ruin democracy on his way out the door and this is the best he can come up with?"

JM: "Yes, but unfortunately, he has refused to concede and is promoting a grand conspiracy blathering about lawsuits while cheered on by his entitled children and his personal lawyer and witch doctor, Rudy Giuliani. Ramona, how are the people viewing the election from your side of the Atlantic?

RV: "Clearly, most everyone is relieved. The diplomats I have been speaking to are looking forward to an American president who will treat them as allies instead of adversaries, while Vladimir Putin of Russia seems to be preparing for a more acrimonious relationship with the United States."

JM: "Yet, Herr Gropenfuhrer has still not conceded. Wolf, how's the view in the Far East, particularly China?"

WM: "Chinese President Xi Jinping has yet to formally congratulate Biden on beating Trump, and Beijing has indicated that it doesn't plan on doing so as long as Trump continues to dispute the election results, so we'll have to wait and see.

JM: "Well, I guess that should come as no surprise. Maybe he thinks that Trump matches up with many of the other fine dictators in the world, like Putin. But his claims to the throne are weak and pathetic, and he will ultimately go down. Stay tuned and we'll gather again in the near future."