glittertigger (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
glittertigger) wrote2008-09-05 09:52 pm
glittertigger) wrote2008-09-05 09:52 pm
Sports and US politics
I wouldn't usually write about either sports or politics, but as what I've been doing for the last few weeks has largely been watching the Olympics followed by watching the US political shenanigans, I'm going to make an exception. I thoroughly enjoyed the Olympics - the venues were spectacular and there were some fabulous sporting performances. And I'm patriotic enough to get a buzz when we win things. What was really refreshing was seeing our athletes so openly saying they were going for gold. I've never liked all this "what matters is taking part" rubbish - competitive sports is about who wins. Rebecca Romero in particular was a huge breath of fresh air.
On the political front - I know the US election isn't really my business as I don't have a vote, but I reckon the future leadership of the US could make a lot more difference to the future of this country than which of our tedious centrist politicians happens to be in Number 10. I was enormously relieved Hillary Clinton didn't get the Democrat nomination. Whatever happens next, at least it won't be a Bush or a Clinton in the White House. On the other hand, I haven't really taken to Obama either. He's eloquent, intelligent, liberal and handsome and the mixed race background is probably an electoral asset. However the foreign tour and the grandstanding (especially his acceptance speech) come over as breathtakingly arrogant. He seems to believe the presidency is his by divine right. I've been waiting for months for someone to land a few decent punches and make him fight for it, but until this week no-one seemed to have succeeded.
Eight years ago McCain looked by far the best bet for the presidency and I was disappointed the Republicans didn't pick him. He now seems a little past his best and this time I was surprised but basically pleased by their choice. And I was more surprised by his choice of Palin as his running mate. I don't think it was aimed solely, or even primarily, at picking up Clinton's disaffected voters. I think the main objective was to fire up the conservatives. She has a phenomenal back-story (you can read that in a million places so I won't bother here) and classic conservative politics. She would be a danger to the Democrats if she was just a prettier Dubya and a better public speaker. I think their supporters have made a huge mistake in the petty way they've attacked her (to be fair, Obama himself has handled things very well). By using her to both bring home the right and attack the Democrats, McCain can keep his hands clean and make a play for the independents. It might even work and it's going to be one hell of a race to watch.
I think the huge danger to the Democrats is that part of her appeal (I wonder if McCain saw this) is that of the spirit of frontier America incarnate, in a very attractive female form. I even wonder if the reason the reactions to her are so visceral is that she stands for some deeper seated ancestral dreams. I saw a comment somewhere (apologies to the author but I can't remember where) saying that Obama stepped out of his Greek temple (boy was that temple an error) and got shot by Artemis. That struck a chord for me. Those who have fallen for her aren't going to give a damn about the details of her economic policies.
On the political front - I know the US election isn't really my business as I don't have a vote, but I reckon the future leadership of the US could make a lot more difference to the future of this country than which of our tedious centrist politicians happens to be in Number 10. I was enormously relieved Hillary Clinton didn't get the Democrat nomination. Whatever happens next, at least it won't be a Bush or a Clinton in the White House. On the other hand, I haven't really taken to Obama either. He's eloquent, intelligent, liberal and handsome and the mixed race background is probably an electoral asset. However the foreign tour and the grandstanding (especially his acceptance speech) come over as breathtakingly arrogant. He seems to believe the presidency is his by divine right. I've been waiting for months for someone to land a few decent punches and make him fight for it, but until this week no-one seemed to have succeeded.
Eight years ago McCain looked by far the best bet for the presidency and I was disappointed the Republicans didn't pick him. He now seems a little past his best and this time I was surprised but basically pleased by their choice. And I was more surprised by his choice of Palin as his running mate. I don't think it was aimed solely, or even primarily, at picking up Clinton's disaffected voters. I think the main objective was to fire up the conservatives. She has a phenomenal back-story (you can read that in a million places so I won't bother here) and classic conservative politics. She would be a danger to the Democrats if she was just a prettier Dubya and a better public speaker. I think their supporters have made a huge mistake in the petty way they've attacked her (to be fair, Obama himself has handled things very well). By using her to both bring home the right and attack the Democrats, McCain can keep his hands clean and make a play for the independents. It might even work and it's going to be one hell of a race to watch.
I think the huge danger to the Democrats is that part of her appeal (I wonder if McCain saw this) is that of the spirit of frontier America incarnate, in a very attractive female form. I even wonder if the reason the reactions to her are so visceral is that she stands for some deeper seated ancestral dreams. I saw a comment somewhere (apologies to the author but I can't remember where) saying that Obama stepped out of his Greek temple (boy was that temple an error) and got shot by Artemis. That struck a chord for me. Those who have fallen for her aren't going to give a damn about the details of her economic policies.
no subject
Now they're running a record defecit, 9% of home owners are reported as being either behind on their mortgage or in foreclosure, and unemployment is heading toward 10% (measured properly). Today comes the news that the two biggest mortgage providers in America are stuffed and need a bail out / nationalising.
Overseas they're bogged down in Iraq so badly that Russia can invade Georgia and its impossible to even rattle a sabre, much less draw one.
Personally I'd suggest that this election might matter rather a lot.
no subject
As for America being so bogged down they can't stop Russia... I'm sorry. For several years I've been hearing about the vaunted European soft power, that was just as good as hard power, except it doesn't involve tanks (and thus is much better than the stodgy old US hard power kind). Russia is, last I checked, in Europe's bailiwick. What happened?
no subject
Certainly not in the last eight years.
As for European soft power, we don't go round claiming to be the world's only superpower, the global policeman or the last best hope for whatever it is. It's not about where we are, its about how far you've fallen.