A Depressing Election
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Personally I have no preference for either candidate or party but I have found myself concerned by the issues that have dogged this election. That is race of course.
If you had asked me if there was a possibility of a black president ten years ago I would have probably answered that it was only possible if the opposing candidate was truly awful and represented that same party of an outgoing disastrous president. So it seems that we have a perfect storm for a seismic change in American leadership – or do we? Lets face it, any candidate that comes to the fore in the US has to appease so many interest groups that if he ever had any integrity to start with its shot to pieces by the time anyone hears of his bid for presidency and I don’t see any changes this time around.
The advert above implores voters not to consider race when voting but the issues. It is still clearly aimed squarely at white voters however and I don’t think I’ve seen such standards applied to black voters who in the interviews I’ve seen make not even the slightest effort to conceal the fact that they are voting for Obama because he is black. I suspect that the African-American vote may be as much as 98% 95%* in favour of Obama. Why the double-standard?
Then there is stomach-churning campaigning like that below which needs no comment :
The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo. |
So is this the end of politics where a 1st world country becomes like a 3rd world country, casting its vote along only ethnic and religious lines? Has the melting-pot become the salad-bowl only to eventually mutate into a facsimile of the divisions we see in countries such like the Lebanon? What a depressing election indeed.
So what do I think of Obama? I see another Tony Blair. A man with no substantive policy to speak of who with cunning and mercurial morality adjusts his position to whatever is advantageous to himself accompanied by an ambitious “Lady Macbeth” of a wife. Yet still the best candidate on offer – astonishingly.
The Daily Mash : AMERICA BUYS ALL THAT CHANGE BULLSHIT
James at Nourishing Obscurity has an excellent post on the political changes in America : [twilight's last gleaming] the last flickering of freedom
Steve at Pub Philosopher has found details of Black Panther members intimidating voters. More like a developing nation that I could imagine.
* Figure according to Sky TV last night, I’d like to see an interview with someone from that other 5% but I’m not holding my breath.
Worse than a Tony Blair – he will turn the Middle-East into a tinder box.
Interesting thought Wolfie! My observation is that of empty sound bytes, and a hellova lot of promises!
I think there are going to be interesting times ahead…
If Obama were white he’d look like Gary Lineker?!?
My thought also, another Blair. (Most of CUK seem to think that too). However, I quite like things I have seen about what he is to proposing, including overturning Bush’s bans on genetic research and funding for birth control clinics for example.
I think in foreign and domestic policy he wil be a great improvement, the big problem is economic policy. State spending to get out of recession is nuts, worthy of Brownstuff.
At least we are spared Palin.
@QT
That might be his Irish background showing, but he didn’t campaign on that issue. Mind you, who was it that was supposed to arise from the house of Dan?
@Xoggoth
Being an improvement on Bush is not exactly tough by any measure, as for the realisation I think we should just wait and see what he does but I’m sure it won’t all be bad or good. However when you look at the people he is surrounding himself with now it is quite clear there will be no substantial change in management, only in style and presentation.
Thinking of you today, Wolfie.
[...] “The Two Wolves” come concerns that the US has become a nation that votes based on race…and from the “Pub [...]
from b3ta…
>> US racism politilols <<
One of Howard Stern’s ‘reporters’ does a vox
pop on the presidential race. His misleading
questions uncover massive ignorance and a
slightly uncomfortable degree of racism.
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=b5p3OB6roAg
Thanks Stef, on that note I think I rest my case. The reporters seem to take it in their stride in that recording though.
Equally worrying is I’m seeing this kind of problem creeping into London, mostly because in the current climate indigenous Londoners are held to a high standard of language whereas considerable leeway is afforded to visitors. This recent “Sam Mason” case highlights it well :
What is particularly bad about it is that I have spent some time in Asia and believe me no Asian mother in most places would dream of allowing her 14 year old daughter to travel alone with an unrelated Asian man under any circumstance, and for good reason because they know what would happen. Mason is simply taking precautions to protect her child (admittedly somewhat clumsily) and she loses her job.
Wolfie,
This is a courageous post. I see things pretty mcuh like you do.
I loved this passage:
”So what do I think of Obama? I see another Tony Blair. A man with no substantive policy to speak of who with cunning and mercurial morality adjusts his position to whatever is advantageous to himself accompanied by an ambitious “Lady Macbeth” of a wife. Yet still the best candidate on offer – astonishingly.”
That’s funny. After watching the videoI remembered that actually elderly Jews voted more for Obama than young Jews. This is really crap, the nauseating politically correct.
And about the demoiselle who did the video I read that she did poorly in her London show…