This blog is an outsider’s perspective on American politics, and the experience of the presidency of President Donald J Trump.

The screech of the cockatoos is an unmissable part of the sounds of the Australian countryside. The cockatoos wheel and swoop in large flocks. And then settle on the eucalyptus trees high above the action on the ground. A cockatoo has a view from above.

And so this blog is that of a watcher. An observer. An outsider.

This cockatoo commentator has never voted in an American election. And most likely never will. Nor pay American taxes nor even live permanently in the United States.

But the cockatoo commentator can remember the assassination of President John F Kennedy, or at least the distress of his parents at the news. He watched as President Lyndon Johnson drove by in a motorcade in Sydney. He watched from an American living room as President Richard Nixon announced his resignation as President.

He has watched every episode of the West Wing. And his favourite character is Ainsley Hayes.

And he sat next to Donald J Trump on a Qantas flight from Australia to the United States. The discussion was essentially limited to the use of private airplanes – a subject of which this cockatoo commentator had, and still has unfortunately, little personal knowledge.

From time to time there will be comments on Australian politics. Or life. Or the universe. Or even New Zealand, German or Swamp Farm politics.

Please send comments. But remember:

“You can get a million comments about how beautiful you look and how awesome you are, but the one comment that says they hate you and you’re ugly is the one that sticks.” Kendall Jenner

But no! Please send the ugly comments too! ?