Like most British people with an interest in politics, I watch the coverage of the US Presidential race with a mixture of bewilderment, amazement and a slight sense of panic. After all the winner effectively gets to run the world!This race is, for all sorts of reasons, the most interesting for a long time.
Firstly the Democrats. Obama seems the real deal and having seen off Hilary Clinton and thus confirmed that the next administration wouldn't have a Clinton or a Bush in the White House, appointed Joe Biden as his running mate. Biden, a well regarded mature politician with lots of foreign policy experience, appears just what the Democrats were looking for and they left Denver in good shape. True the stage that Obama made his speech on was still too grand (and that was after they allegedly toned it down), but his speech seemed genuine and most importantly "Presidential".
The Republicans arrived in St Pauls in the middle of Hurricane Gustav as it bore down on New Orleans. First day cancelled and George W cancels his visit and speech. Day 2 sees him send the speech by video, but the mere fact he's not there to me some how distanced McCain from his administration. Then the bombshell, McCain's running mate will be Sarah Palin, at which point all of America ( except Alaska) went "who?". Suddenly the phrase "hockey mom" become the most used phrase in the English language.
While the discussion forums went crazy, it emerged that her 17 year old unmarried daughter was pregnant. Not good news for the Republicans or her boyfriend who, it was announced, would be marrying Bristol Palin (all her kids have "interesting" Christian names") faster than you can say "if you don't, something very unpleasant will happen to you and you family". Oh and his facebook homepage got a spring clean and refreshed some quotes as to his outlook on life. [As an aside, the Republican background checks on the Palin family didn't seem to go further than "ever been in trouble? No ...good you're in"]
McCain putting Palin's name on the ticket is a courageous decision. It also means that Obama's inexperience is out of play and that the Republicans go to bed every night praying that no further "revelations" about Palin or her family will emerge. (Not sure those prayers will be answered)
Palin's convention speech was a revelation though(three days solid preparation) and she "delivered" exactly as the spin doctors would have wanted and more. Sound bites all over the place, much to Republican central office's delight! Suddenly the Republicans have momentum and a candidate along side McCain who "touches" sectors he can't and the race is currently "too close to call". Hanging chads v2.0 anyone??
There is now, however, a latecomer to the race (ignore the fact that he's British) & a new campaign is underway for a far more rounded political opponent see it here.
And let's remember whichever candidate takes over, if they do a worse job than the current resident we're all in trouble!!!
1 comment:
I am horrified that the GOP have started to gain ground on Obama since Palin joined the ticket.
At the risk of offending you, this election could all be about religion and you don't know just how powerful that vote is here in the USA.
I too hope she is undermined by the things she did before being picked - things she has constantly lied about - and her pick is eventually seen as nothing but a cynical ploy by McLame.
To stop cries of "sexism", the Dems need to unleash Hillary on Palin - maybe some jello-wrestling?
Actually if the Dems could be as vicious and hateful as the 'Pubs there would be less hassle - Obama has already said he doesn't want to lower himself to their standards, even if has been forced to just to defend himself. (See latest "lipstick on a pig" furore)
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