Last night, as it became clear that there was a very real possibility that Trzaskowski was going to lose, I could no longer concentrate on my reading because all I could think about were Giedroyc and Mieroszewski. Mon dieu, they worked for years to plan everything down to the last detail so that when the moment arrived they could rush to Poland and move quickly to join NATO and later, the EU. What they accomplished really was a miracle. As I was reading about that story several months ago in Prof. Snyder's "The Reconstruction of Nations," it seemed almost unbelievable to me that what they and Solidarity did could even work. I remember that I had to remind myself to breathe. I marveled at the way they addressed every problem that came their way with delicacy and professionalism. Helmut Kohl: "We're giving up our imperialism, and so must you." Lithuania: "No, we really mean it. Vilnius is yours, not Poland's." Their goal was integration after empire, that is, Europe. What just happened breaks my heart.
Democracy is so difficult. I often wonder if it is too fragile to be left to the voters, so easily led to believe things which are totally untrue, fed dreams that are impossible to achieve, and, in most cases, as with Brexit, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss in the UK, quite unable to believe that their decision led to any harm.
Counting on the Tusk Poles to keep this Trump-like idiot in check. They can. My ancestors died for both countries and at 91, I’m still fighting in Trump’s.
Bad news indeed… so what can this new president from Poland without any experience whatsoever provide for the Polish people but that is not working for them he’s working for Russia and waiting for those morsels of money and gold to come from his idol the current White House occupy Americans should be very very wary because this is the pathway
American who saw trump as a threat from 2015 wonder why these countries just don’t outlaw Putin propaganda. Put out public service announcements like Ukraine does.
So sad that they’ve been steadily building a powerful and more respectable image for themselves in Europe, and now this is all out of the window - and very unlikely in the near future. Embarrassing to have citizenship! 🫣
'Poland is just one example of how finely balanced in today's Europe are the forces of integration and disintegration, liberalism and anti-liberalism, internationalism and nationalism.'
The punishment of the illiberal liberals continues, understandably. People aren't buying their hypocritical horse manure anymore,
What I am seeing in Poland an right across Europe is the death knell of the old EU establishment. Caused to a large degree by immigration, and the lack of assimilation by those immigrants.
Tim’s problem is that he’s easily influenced by his Polish friends, takes sides and gets emotional about it - not a good trait in someone claiming to be a professor. Norman Davies was browbeaten into doing the same by his Polish wife, but has now thankfully backed off, thus saving his reputation. Either way, there are now younger and much better academic commentators on Poland, such as Sussex University’s Aleks Szczerbiak, who can be relied on to provide a reliable, objective analysis. https://polishpoliticsblog.wordpress.com/2025/06/03/what-are-the-implications-of-karol-nawrockis-presidential-election-victory
“Anti-liberal, nationalist, Eurosceptic… historical propagandist… virtually no international experience and an extremely dubious past… He lacks, to put it mildly, the professional qualifications and personal qualities one would hope to see… forces of integration and disintegration, liberalism and anti-liberalism, internationalism and nationalism... “
Sorry, weren’t you once an academic, with some ability to write objectively?
In my view, the point is missed. The event is presented as victory of conservatives versus liberals. Not true.
Very few Poles voted for Nawrocki because of their conservatism. In fact, this is a protest vote against current government ( by liberal Donald Tusk), which is liberal only by name. The most lazy government in Poland’s history, which over 18 months, delivered eight (8) out of 100 declared promises. Government who refused to propose ANY reform “because the president will veto them anyways” which, to most Poles, is a disturbing excuse. Tusk is pro-European. And that’s his only advantage. But it takes much more to rule a country, which needs long-due structural reforms of public debt, court system, healthcare, and visionary strategy for migrants, demography and defence.
The Western media, lamenting on Poland turning to conservatism, completely miss the real dimension of the problem and its scale. Politics has many more axes than the liberal-conservative discourse.
Last night, as it became clear that there was a very real possibility that Trzaskowski was going to lose, I could no longer concentrate on my reading because all I could think about were Giedroyc and Mieroszewski. Mon dieu, they worked for years to plan everything down to the last detail so that when the moment arrived they could rush to Poland and move quickly to join NATO and later, the EU. What they accomplished really was a miracle. As I was reading about that story several months ago in Prof. Snyder's "The Reconstruction of Nations," it seemed almost unbelievable to me that what they and Solidarity did could even work. I remember that I had to remind myself to breathe. I marveled at the way they addressed every problem that came their way with delicacy and professionalism. Helmut Kohl: "We're giving up our imperialism, and so must you." Lithuania: "No, we really mean it. Vilnius is yours, not Poland's." Their goal was integration after empire, that is, Europe. What just happened breaks my heart.
Democracy is so difficult. I often wonder if it is too fragile to be left to the voters, so easily led to believe things which are totally untrue, fed dreams that are impossible to achieve, and, in most cases, as with Brexit, Boris Johnson and Liz Truss in the UK, quite unable to believe that their decision led to any harm.
I believe THE PEOPLE regret Bexit
Counting on the Tusk Poles to keep this Trump-like idiot in check. They can. My ancestors died for both countries and at 91, I’m still fighting in Trump’s.
Bad news indeed… so what can this new president from Poland without any experience whatsoever provide for the Polish people but that is not working for them he’s working for Russia and waiting for those morsels of money and gold to come from his idol the current White House occupy Americans should be very very wary because this is the pathway
American who saw trump as a threat from 2015 wonder why these countries just don’t outlaw Putin propaganda. Put out public service announcements like Ukraine does.
So sad that they’ve been steadily building a powerful and more respectable image for themselves in Europe, and now this is all out of the window - and very unlikely in the near future. Embarrassing to have citizenship! 🫣
Is It...Out the Window?
'Poland is just one example of how finely balanced in today's Europe are the forces of integration and disintegration, liberalism and anti-liberalism, internationalism and nationalism.'
The punishment of the illiberal liberals continues, understandably. People aren't buying their hypocritical horse manure anymore,
https://wwcorrigan.blogspot.com/2023/11/calling-out-illiberal-liberals.html
Could not have heard worse news this morning!
What I am seeing in Poland an right across Europe is the death knell of the old EU establishment. Caused to a large degree by immigration, and the lack of assimilation by those immigrants.
Europe is heading in the wrong direction and needs a reboot. Maybe Poland will lead the way.,
A pathway to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and the Baltic Sea….expanding the Russian footprint there.
I have to remark that tRump sent emissaries in support of the winner, no doubt there was dark money from Putin and others.
Tim’s problem is that he’s easily influenced by his Polish friends, takes sides and gets emotional about it - not a good trait in someone claiming to be a professor. Norman Davies was browbeaten into doing the same by his Polish wife, but has now thankfully backed off, thus saving his reputation. Either way, there are now younger and much better academic commentators on Poland, such as Sussex University’s Aleks Szczerbiak, who can be relied on to provide a reliable, objective analysis. https://polishpoliticsblog.wordpress.com/2025/06/03/what-are-the-implications-of-karol-nawrockis-presidential-election-victory
“Anti-liberal, nationalist, Eurosceptic… historical propagandist… virtually no international experience and an extremely dubious past… He lacks, to put it mildly, the professional qualifications and personal qualities one would hope to see… forces of integration and disintegration, liberalism and anti-liberalism, internationalism and nationalism... “
Sorry, weren’t you once an academic, with some ability to write objectively?
Great! I wonder how you think that article helps!
In my view, the point is missed. The event is presented as victory of conservatives versus liberals. Not true.
Very few Poles voted for Nawrocki because of their conservatism. In fact, this is a protest vote against current government ( by liberal Donald Tusk), which is liberal only by name. The most lazy government in Poland’s history, which over 18 months, delivered eight (8) out of 100 declared promises. Government who refused to propose ANY reform “because the president will veto them anyways” which, to most Poles, is a disturbing excuse. Tusk is pro-European. And that’s his only advantage. But it takes much more to rule a country, which needs long-due structural reforms of public debt, court system, healthcare, and visionary strategy for migrants, demography and defence.
The Western media, lamenting on Poland turning to conservatism, completely miss the real dimension of the problem and its scale. Politics has many more axes than the liberal-conservative discourse.