Wednesday 11 June 2008

US08: strange landscape for foreign visitors

Americans may view their presidential choices differently; but to a foreign visitor to US websites like myself, it really appears as if the choice between candidates is one of an old, white man who will bomb into the ground any sovereign nation he feels might stand in the way of American interests and a younger, black man who will publicly fall on his knees to pray before bombing into the ground any sovereign nation he feels might stand in the way of American interests.

The gloves are now coming off in this presidential race and it's not found at the campaign rallies, during media interviews or in general 'speechifying'.
No, the gloves are coming off on Capitol Hill as members of the House and Senate prepare to do battle for either the Republican or Democratic candidate.

It's the Democrats (currently dominating the Hill) who predictably have landed the first punches because of the close identification with George W. Bush displayed by Republican candidate, John McCain.

The Washington Post journalist and self-declared Democrat, Walter Pincus, wrote this piece last Sunday reporting that a Senate intelligence committee had supported the claims that Bush's inner Iraq Group had lied about the reasons the Coalition of the Willing went to war.
US Senate Select Committee on Intelligence link to report here.

By Monday, former Democratic presidential nominee Dennis Kucinich (supposedly against the wishes of his party) laid before the House 35 articles alleging high crimes and misdemeanors by George W. Bush and seeking impeachment.

McCain now has to continue answering for an unpopular president and an unpopular war.
At least in this first week of the battle proper ,and in spite of Obama's 17-day "economic tour", it's not yet about the economy stupid.

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