American exceptionalism seems to be fading

Washington

DURING the first stages of the presidential election season last year, before Americans actually had the opportunity to cast their votes in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire Primary, veteran stand-up comedians Anthony Atamanuik and James Adomian had an idea.

To the surprise of the politicians and the pundits, brash real estate magnate and former television reality show host Donald Trump - who kept insulting women, Mexicans and the rest of humanity - was doing better than expected in the Republican presidential race. He was still regarded then by the mainstream media as a sideshow, if not a "joke". But there was no doubt that the entertaining celebrity aka the Donald knew how to draw public attention.