History's Hour of Hope

At approximately 11:14 GMT on the 4th 0f N0vember 2008, amidst throngs of supporters drawing their last ounces of strength, history of undeniable global proportions was made with the election of Barack Hussein Obama as the 44th President of the United States. Nations of the world eagerly awaited the outcome, together with people of all races and social standing, because deep down, this election will have an impact on their lives and their existence. It was an exhausting contest that witnessed Americans speak with their votes, that in this period of its being, hope triumphed over fear.

This hope must however be translated into positive endeavors if it is to work for America. The promises made and the needs that must be filled are not dependent on one man alone. Hope must be grounded on the reality that not all can be achieved in a single term, nor could all goals be possibly attained. Americans face tremendous challenges which need to be dealt with when the euphoria of celebration dissipates, or the unimaginable disappointment of defeat is overcome. They must come together, be vigilant, and participate in the redirection of their country, its policies, and its resources; to restore its prestige in the community of nations.

It is in the interest of the victors and those defeated to heal the wounds that emerged from the hate, intolerance and ideological differences that may have been generated by the arduous and bitter campaign; and those wounds re-opened by racial, religious and gender prejudices should be laid to rest eternally. Americans must seek ways to unite the nation, rather than divide it; exert efforts to provide social justice, rather than social inequities; create the means for all sectors, segments, races, and opinions to be heard and considered, rather than quashed and discarded; in order to reclaim its title as the bastion of democracy.

Republicans must consolidate to rebuild their party and reinvigorate its base with new visions that are relevant for the 21st century, and ideals that relate to progress for all Americans, rather than the protection and preservation of a status quo enjoyed by a few. The GOP must reconstruct to fiscalize since there is danger for democracy in the centralization of power in a single , dominant party.

It is up to Americans to muster their vaunted energies, natural resilience, national pride, and ability to close ranks - to harness their limited but enormous resources for a united purpose and meaningful set of objectives: their faith in themselves as a people, their dignity as a nation, and their decency as members of the human race. They must eliminate the fantasies that clouded their judgments and the myths that caused their recklessness. Americans have the capability to take their country to the heights of glory or the depths of despair. And whatever they do, whether they realize it or not; wherever they take their country, they will inevitably take the world with them.

The United States may or may not emerge as the most powerful nation on earth, nor the most prosperous, but it will continue to be a major player in the balance of power in the world, with the ability to influence how this balance is sustained for the benefit of peace and survival of the planet.

Americans have spoken withn the selection of a new leader, but the message of hope awaits fulfillment. The single, most immediate, and most powerful message sent by its citizens to the world with the election of Barack Hussein Obama is that indeed, in America, all men are created equal.

Whether they can remain equal, safe, and secure after their creation is the more profound message that needs to be expressed - in a future without uncertainty, in a world without inequality.

Haaaarrrrwwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!

Palin's Pricey Persona

The finished product that is the GOP Vice-Presidential candidate Sarah Palin, was manufactured under a most lavish image building plan that would make paupers of many of the women she hopes to identify with, or those she hopes would want to identify with her. The knowledge that money donated by Republican supporters was used to glamorize and clothe the "Hockey Mom" did not sit well with many of them; and the whopping $150,000 spent for her image was the last thread for some to abandon the party and switch to the democrats.

But it wasn't just the clothes. It included the attitude, the delivery, and the scripts she was made to memorize that went well with the frozen fresh look from the snows of Alaska. The crash course she took at the John McCain Institute of instant political candidates included a "cutesy" wink meant to go with her expensive spectacles. Palin was given a persona that was intended to win women and youth votes for the battle scarred POW. She was therefore encased in stylish and expensive Neiman Marcus apparel which would put her target audience in abject poverty and turn them into bag ladies wearing pricey clothing if they went along with it.

The idea that hard earned money was spent to transform a pitt bull into a poodle with lipstick raised a howl from the party base. McCain and Palin were compelled to say that the snazzy outfits would be donated to charity. But knowing the Republicans, they wouldn't want to see such fortunes go to waste to be used and abused by the poor, whom they so gleefulully impoverish. It wouldn't be surprising to see these garments auctioned on E-Bay with the added value of having been worn by the darling of the GOP. If she wins, it will go up in value; if she loses it will drop like the sub-prime mortgage. And what pervert could resist wearing her used undergarments or fantasizing about what was once on it? That alone could fetch a high price. It should be auctioned soon to add to their campaign funds. These could sell higher than $150,000.

Amidst all these makeovers, Palin is still being used as an attack dog, stopping short of calling Obama a communist. She kept repeating the word "socialist", and described situations where Obama's governance would make all decisions for individual Americans, including personal ones, which was not socialist by any stretch but actually a picture of communist practice. Yet it was McCain who made all the decisions for her, including what to say, how to deliver, what to wear, how to smile...all personal ones; making McCain the communist rather than the Democratic candidate by her own standards.

The fashion does not fit the statements. There are only two occassions left for Palin to express her fashion statement: One is election day itself where her attire may be eagerly awaited. To show that they put "America First", she could wear a white gown made of cashmere and silk, cut like the statue of Liberty, topped by a crown and a torch to light the way for the voters to go with the GOP candidates. It will be the second time she will wear this gown as she would have worn it four days earlier. But in lieu of a torch she would bear a wooden cross; and in place of a crown, she would have the same material as her gown cut into a pointed hood that will cover her entire head - with holes for the eyes and nose. An apt fashion statement for Halloween.

Haaaarrrrrwwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!

US Unsinkability Undermined

The worldwide fears and mounting tension triggered by the threatened collapse of financial markets globally is a pivotal moment, and perhaps a critical turning point, in the history of America and its relationship with the community of nations. There is keen anticipation of the coping solutions initiated by its leaders - solutions which are temporary in nature and where success is hinged on calculated guesswork compounded by several degrees of uncertainty. Regardless of its success or failure, the armor of America's invincibility has been damaged, and its unsinkability as a Superpower has been undermined.

Images were quite revealing. The US President, supposedly occupying the most powerful office on earth looking dazed and confused in a period of great crisis - as he always is - alone and practically begging Congress to pass the bailout bill. Yet he was rebuked, ignored even by Congressmen of his own party. He has become a liability worse than a lameduck for the Republicans running for reelection; and any contact or agreement reached with him is considered the kiss of death. His own misdeeds have tarnished America's image in the eyes of most countries in the world, and he has greatly diminished the power of the position by his own doing. His plea to the Senators came at a great price, having to agree to concessions and earmarks to pass the bailout bill in the Senate.

The US economy is showing signs of crumbling. The extreme swings of its stock markets are evidence of this weakness and lack of confidence. It will hardly be credible for America to push its free market ideas when its own has collapsed. Militarily, it is overstretched in 2 wars, and the combined financial woes and military costs will weaken its armed forces. The perception that America is on the decline has grown exponentially, especially during the last 2 years of the Bush Administration. The costly wars and financial crisis can be attributed squarely on the Republicans under George Bush. The rise of new and powerful nations, wealth abundance based on oil, and the accumulation of financial reserves in other countries has continuously and effectively redistributed the power formerly held solely by America. However, it is premature to say that there exists a shift in the balance of power, or that it is being altered irrevocably.

America has enormous economic toughness that can make it overcome this crisis and get itself on the right footing. But it has to do much in education; and in its infrastructure which have become decaying and crumbling assets that can no longer satisfy current requirements and demands. It has also abandoned sectors of its economy, surrendering its manufacturing efforts in favor of embracing the cheaper goods from China. It has to rise up to this present challenge since its military capacity is linked to its former economic superiority - which has been overtaken by emerging and powerful Asian economies.

But there are things that stand out for its certainty: George Bush and his cabal of Republicans, his wars, and the current financial crisis, has removed the biggest advantage of America as the only Superpower after the collapse of Communism. To believe that the US will continue to march on this leadership role alone is not only unrealistic but illusory. Power sharing among the world's equally strong economies that have come abreast with, or have overtaken America, will become necessary; and it will have to take a more rational and generous view of its interests than it ever did throughout its history. This is the inevitable consequence of greed. Its unbridled application sow the seeds of its own destruction, but only after taking the world with it.

Haaaaarrrrrwwwwwwk...Twooooooooph...Ting!

Digital Distance of the "Decider"

It was an unnatural and eerie spectacle for a two-term President to be delivering a keynote address to his party's National Convention via a remote video telecast. Beamed at the St Paul Convention Hall on a video screen was George W. Bush, asserting rather feebly that the man he defeated 8 years ago for their party's nomination should succeed him; and averred that he is ready to lead. His physical presence detached from the proceedings and his image standing at the Presidential lectern all by himself, speak volumes about his negative impact on the efforts of his party to win hearts and minds of the electorate this November.

Where the norm would be that a sitting two term President would be hailed by his party's rank and file, and be regarded as one of its most prominent and influential leaders; the McCain camp and other party bosses opted to cut his speech time in half and pushed his presence out of the Convention Hall so as not to dampen the electrifying introduction of their sensational Vice Presidential candidate. It was an affirmation that George W. Bush would be an un-entertaining and tedious baggage to their show and an effective counter argument to their hyped up rhetoric. It could be an ominous sign that John McCain, if he wins the election, will have to exert extra effort to erase the memory of the embarrassment that was George W. Bush. And this President Bush will be regarded as a forgettable malignant aberration that is best exorcised and surgically removed.

There is no doubt that George W. Bush still enjoys a high rating among party loyalists, but would perhaps choose to express this in private, or better yet at a safe distance. For all of John McCain's pronouncements of comradeship and brotherly affection for Bush, he believes that his success is hinged on an effective de-coupling from the President, to engineer a removal of their knotted umbilical cords; and eradicate the notion that his election is a third term for Bush. While no one expressed a sigh of relief that Bush agreed to a digital divide between him and the party's convention, it surely relieved the McCain camp as if a 4 foot rusty sword was pulled from their backs. Now, they would want that video moment forgotten to raise the excitement for the entry of Sarah Palin, and move George Bush to the unlamented list of pretenders of the GOP.

Surprisingly, George Jr's progenitors were there, and even more astonishingly, received resounding cheers and applause as they took their seats at the Convention Hall. They should take a considerable amount of the blame for inflicting such a congenital malady on America and the rest of the world. But it seems that the enormous volume of disingenious errors and carefully crafted deceptions have blurred their collective memories that George Sr. and Barbara Bush gave this planet the ever un-funny and shamefully ridiculous George Jr. For John McCain to say that he supports the policies of George W. and pursue an unlimited war in the middle east would be, at this point, political suicide.

That is not the sort of demise expected of him by the Republicans. They expect him, shortly after the elections, to commit himself to a natural spiritual freedom from this earth, so that their runner-up beauty queen can reign over the land as Mrs. America.

Haaarrrrrrwwwwk...Twooooooooph...Ting!

Spain's Surviving Socialist Soldier

The savagery of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) created unprecedented carnage and wholesale bloodshed, under conditions of outrageous hatred and the fiery rhetoric of rabid patriotism. Atrocities committed numbed the country's sensibilities, and desensitized its citizens towards the extent of violence and human suffering resulting from deeply rooted political differences. It was a struggle by a legitimately elected socialist oriented government against a Coup d' etat led by rightist General Francisco Franco, that had the support of the businessmen, industrialists, landlords, and the nobility; as well as the Catholic Church.

The Civil War became an international arena, a proxy war for the battle against the forces of fascism by all individuals from many nations opposed to it - even if their own governments supported the rightist coup. Volunteers for the socialists who were referred to as Republicans, battled against soldiers of their own country who fought for the fascists. The Franco fascists labeled themselves Nationalists, and sought to retain the status quo to deny the Republican plan of wealth redistribution. Adolph Hitler used the war as a rehearsal for many of the Blitzkrieg tactics he used for the war in Europe, and perhaps to refine his plan for the extermination of the Jews.

After ferocious battles and untold atrocities on both sides, the Nationalists soundly defeated the Republicans to establish a dictatorship. The massacre of Republicans and their sympathizers and supporters followed in earnest in what was considered a preview of the holocaust of World War ll. But one socialist survived to reveal his version of this chapter in the history of Spain. His name is Antonio Garcia Baron.

Baron's story is a remarkable tale of survival, not only of his physical existence, but his principles as well. Despite his advanced years, he has maintained his health well and kept his memories of the Civil War intact. He is the only survivor of the anarchist Durruti column, which prevented the advance of the Franco forces to Madrid. After the defeat of the Republicans, he escaped to Britain to join the war against Germany. He was captured in 1941 and sent to Mauthausen concentration camp. Here, Himmler confirmed the collaboration of the Catholic Church with the Third Reich, but who also expressed the plan to go against the Church leaders at some later date. He survived the Mauthausen and lived in Paris in 1945, however, Franco's minions continued to hound him while purges of Republicans went on in Spain. His eyes were damaged by poisoned coffee in France, in what he termed as one of more than a hundred attempts on his life.

In the1950's he settled for a sparsely populated place in a region of Bolivia where he could be as far away from any priest. He claimed that the Spanish press covered up the massacre of 2 million Republicans which was masterminded by the Catholic Church. In the Bolivian community he went to, the presence of a German priest who bad-mouthed him as a criminal forced him to move to a jungle 67 kilometers away with his Bolivian wife Irma. Believing the priest continued to spy on him and made attempts to inform his enemies of his whereabouts, he established an anarchist community with nomadic indians in the heart of the wilderness. His community thrived, and he has survived the harsh jungle, and perhaps all his enemies.

Notwithstanding his status as a stateless citizen which was taken away by Franco, he believes he should not request for a reinstatement of his citizenship because it was stolen from him by the government. He averred that Franco wanted the Nazis to exterminate them in silence at Mauthausen. Paintings from events in prison provide a visual reminder of his past under the Nazis. Baron is determined to share his version of the Civil War to a larger audience. Recent developments in Spain could assist him in this effort. Thousands of documents from the Civil war detailing the campaign of the Nationalists versus the Republicans were ordered released by Spain's socialist government as part of its policy of redressing the wrongs of Franco's era. The order is controversial since the documents include Franco's campaign of brutal repression against his perceived enemies.

The documents and the details that are to be revealed by Baron may face rejection or may be acknowledged and embraced. It could lead to division or forge unity. But for Baron, the truth can no longer be suppressed, and the fulfillment of a promise to fallen comrades must now come to pass since his opportunity to do so diminishes with time. As with all dictatorial regimes then and now, in whatever form or whatever part of the world they insidiously breed, a day of reckoning will come. Like Baron, who survived the horrors of war, the inhumanity of torture, the paranoia of assassinations, and the isolation and deprivation of an unforgiving wilderness environment, someone will emerge with the truth which may open old wounds, or commence the healing of several decades of bleeding from wounds inflicted by injustice and perpetuated by blatant lies.

Haarrrwwwwk...Twoooooooph...Ting!

Delirious over Democrat Developments

Anyone involved in some way with the Democratic Party's primaries is a glutton for punishment. It is comparable to a masochist who demands more whipping until the flesh is torn from the bones, and the happier he is for it. Why else should one suffer the same old rhetoric, hear embellished stories, applaud at the baby step movements of a campaign that since February 5 has been destined to be decided by the so-called super delegates? It is tiresome and boring with the same anti-climaxes, same demographics, same commentaries, exit polls, and promised victory speeches. This is like being forced to watch an Ed Wood film several times continuously until you're brain dead.

However, everyone looks and sounds delirious. The candidates, the campaigners and supporters, and even the media, who have been mouthing the same things for over 3 months they begin to stammer at their own words groping for new ways of saying the same things. The Republicans are delirious too at seeing the democrats tear each other apart and risk disintegration, giving John McCain an edge to snatch the Presidency. Hillary's only hope is to gather a big chunk of mud to throw at Barack's clean image to guarantee her the eye of the super delegates. Barack's chances rest on the disenfranchisement of Michigan and Florida delegates. But there is absolutely nothing significant about these Democrat primaries.

What is significant is the victory of Don Cazayoux over Woody Jenkins in Louisiana's 6th district which the Republicans controlled for 3 decades. Twenty six other retiring Republicans plus other districts bring a total of 50 vulnerable Republican positions in peril. This could mean Democrat control of Congress. And, despite linking Cazayoux to Obama, the impact did not change a Democrat victory. This, coming after Bill Foster's successful campaign to replace Republican Dennis Hastert in Illinois 2 months ago. Cazayoux won on issues about better paying jobs, affordable health care, and better education - issues related to the economy. The economic situation is not expected to be better come November and this is leading to a trend towards a "Change Election".

What is significant is the impact of the economy on the majority of Americans and how Hillary has re-branded herself as the blue collar champion while tagging Obama as an Ivy League snob, when she is the rich former First Lady and he raised on charity. Significant too is the fact that Obama won overwhelmingly in North Carolina despite the expected fallout from Rev. Jeremiah Wright's crazed oratory and subsequent TV appearances. Also, the emergence of a more consolidated bloc of Latinos and Hispanics flexing their influence on the electoral process, as well as the massing of black voters in support of their candidate. Critical for the Democrats is the reunification of these blocs of supporters after a bitterly fought insignificant primary. Current trends point towards another disintegration.

What is significant for the Republicans is the weakness of their brand represented by the outgoing President Bush and the Party's standard bearer John McCain. A weaker voter turnout for the Republican primaries is also a significant concern, together with the rejection of the McCain brand by its conservative base. The strongest asset of the GOP brand is his position and experience in War but which is now opposed by 68% of Americans. His position on easing ethanol use is weak since it represents only 1.5% of increases in food prices. His current advantage has not made any concrete gains for his candidacy and is languishing under the shadow of the Democrat candidates. His courtship of the Latino and Hispanic blocs is a most significant move, as it may steal the thunder from the Democrats if the break-up at the DNC becomes inevitable.

These developments reveal that the GOP brand must be strengthened in substance and odor, and repackaged for the worsening economic situation. When the pinch of high prices turn to jabs, and food on the table becomes meager, who will recall who was ducking imaginary bullets or screaming mad against America. Besides, guilt by association is a weak argument. It does not make Republicans in Congress men's room sex solicitors nor page chasers simply because they associate with one. Nor does it make Democrats patrons of expensive prostitutes. Also, who'll care? It's food, jobs, and health - these are what's significant. And the sooner the GOP uses it's resources to build on these concerns rather than focus on character assassination, the more responsible leaders they will appear to be and be more credible to the electorate.

President Bush has brought the Republican brand down to the gutters, and Republican supporters calling the opposing candidates names is the pot calling the kettle black. Unconvincing.and childish. The party that closes ranks solidly has a stronger chance. McCain must have a young running mate with strong economic credentials and acceptable to conservatives, to offset his weakness on the economy and his advanced age. A combined Obama/Hillary or Hillary/Obama team would consolidate the Democrats immediately. It's likelihood is doubtful, but recognizing its significance is crucial for the Democrats and America itself.

The predisposition to magnify shallow developments to project momentum, creates the tendency to overlook significant factors that bear on the most critical longer term objective - what citizens need and what is good for the nation. The blurring of what is significant with what is inconsequential would be the undoing of the American political system.

Haaarrrrwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

Delays that may Damage and Divide Democrats

Barack Obama is ahead, but he cannot seal his victory. He has the funding and the momentum, but can't seem to spurt his way to a decisive triumph. Hillary Clinton is often on the edge of defeat but always manages to claw her way back in contention. After Pennsylvania, it is clear that neither of them will secure the nomination with 2025 delegates, and the Democrat selection process will drag on until August. This could be damaging for the Democrats in their attempt to retake the White House.

The enmity between these rival camps grow every day and with each approaching primary. Brickbats, accusations and negative portrayals of the other candidate are hurled by both sides, providing tremendous ammunition for the Republicans and dividing the party's voter base. Supporters of either candidate are developing deep seated bitterness that could take this rivalry to a condition that is beyond repair. At the end of the selection process, whoever is selected may alienate the supporters of the defeated candidate. The resulting bitterness may drive them not to support the Democratic candidate, not to vote at all, or worse, vote Republican. The healing and unification process may be more difficult than is normally believed.

The biggest factor that hinders an outright Obama nomination is obviously race. The Clinton's have raised this card early on and chances are the Republicans will do the same should he be the nominee. Conservative white America is just not too comfortable with a Black President. Surveys may show this to be minimal among whites but it could be deceptive since these respondents do not want to be seen as racists. Some may say they want a woman President, but the number of Black women voting for Hillary are in the minority, most are whites. This could indicate that the gender issue is a cover up for a race issue. Latinos and Hispanics opt for Hillary too supposedly on her close ties with this segment. But these voters may fear that Obama's concerns would skew towards blacks rather than Hispanics, advancing the issues of the African American race as against theirs. Again, this is a race issue.

The other major factor going against Obama is his inability to win over the blue collar workers. He projects the persona of an educated man that may be too elitist to grasp the needs of the non-college degree holding factory workers and employees. There is a disconnect in the attraction process that he has difficulty bridging. He has built his bandwagon on new, youthful, educated, voters made up of independents, young Democrats and former Republicans, but cannot win over the workers who are older than his yuppie followers. Same with the older voters 60 and above.

The younger voters are more open and accepting of ideas and are inclined to support the idealistic candidate that speaks their thirst for new politics, after being jaded by the Washington brand of power play. Factory workers are more skeptical, being at the receiving end of bad deals from lying educated lawyers, bureaucrats and politicians. They will not vote for a Black President because he doesn't stand a chance. They'd rather go for the white, man or woman. People 60 and above,? They are conservative types and will go with the white woman too. Barack Obama's failure to connect with these segments may have something to do with race as well.

Hillary's game plan may be to drag the process until the convention with no clear winner, then barge into the nomination by collecting on past favors given to the super delegates. She may also expect Obama to get tired, make mistakes, or lose his cool and talk his way out of the nomination because he doesn't have the temperament of a stable leader; not tough enough to take the hard blows. But Hillary's credibility as a person is so badly damaged by her own embellishments that she has become uncomfortable to trust. The divisive tag given her by the GOP is proving to be true even among her party mates. Electability by virtue of experience or toughness by virtue of battles fought may no longer be the criteria for selecting a President come November. With all the lies that have been dumped on the American people in the last 7 years, trustworthiness may be the key element, as well as a new vision for approaching America's problems.

Obama is on the right track. All he has to do is maintain his composure and be unfazed by Hillary's repetitive rise from the depths of defeat. Hillary's predisposition to look at things in terms of conflict and confrontation, and her knack for doing better when in a crisis situation is chillingly dangerous. Anyone who is in confrontational mode and is good in handling crisis means America will always have a crisis, and will often be on the brink of a confrontation.

Haaarrrrwwwwk...Twoooooph...Ting!

Recession Rocks the Republicans

The pained expression on the face of Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke when he addressed a Congressional Committee last week spoke volumes about the state of the US economy. The hopeful but cautious forecasts that marked his previous announcements since the collapse of the mortgage markets could no longer be viable as possibly true. When he said that "A recession is possible in the first half of 2008", it was the best phrase he could muster on the subject. He knew, America is already in it.

Lay-offs, the final factor of a deep recession was not on the radar screen of economic statistics since it is normally a lagging indicator; and as long as there are no reports of jobs being slashed, there was hope for a measure of growth. But the Labor Department's release last Friday of 3 consecutive months of job layoffs since January doused all hopes. A total of 232,000 jobs were shed in the first quarter (March - 80,000; February - 76,000; January - 76,000) across several sectors. The unemployment rate, covered by a separate household survey rose to 5.1%, with 434,000 Americans reporting that they were unemployed.

America's longest war (Vietnam) and costliest war (WW II) have been exceeded by the War on Terror. Iraq and Afghanistan has cost the US half a trillion dollars of borrowed money, when 2001 estimates were only at $50 billion. The budget deficit could run up to $350 billion this year including the stimulus package of $160 billion of which only 20% will return to the government by way of taxes. Yet this return will still not pay for the borrowed amount plus interest of the savings lent by other nations. America will have to create more wealth to pay for the war, the deficits, and the stimulus package; but with jobs being slashed and the non-reversal of big business strategy of outsourcing jobs abroad for higher profits - there is little it can do to increase GDP from its present 18%. It may even shrink further. Eighty two percent of what America consumes is imported.

Cuts in interest rates by the Federal Reserve spur the economy, but it is a contributing factor to a weak dollar. Sustaining the wars will drain resources and increase borrowings, further weakening the dollar. Collapse of the mortgage markets have generated losses to financial institutions whose default or deferment of loan payments to foreign banks add to the weakening of the dollar. Unemployment and job loss will generate delinquencies in payments for credit cards, auto loans, educational loans, among others, which are securities held by banks that back up their portfolios. These will also weaken the dollar. A weak dollar will raise the prices of gas, oil, energy, commodities and the 82% of items that America imports. Should Asian and Middle Eastern countries opt to dump the dollar in exchange for the Euro, the American Economy may collapse.

The recent CBS News and New York Times survey point to an increasing disenchantment of Americans with the way the country is being run. The Republicans cannot escape accountability for this one. That Bill Clinton's term should have stopped Osama bin Laden from bringing in 9/11 is a childish argument. They had the means to stop it but they failed. They had the support after, to manage the assault, but they bungled it. They raised fears so that Americans would give up some of their civil liberties, which they abused. They lied about many aspects of the war from the most critical to the most trivial. Now, Americans may be stunned in disbelief, but hopefully not indecision.

If they had a fool for a President, they can at least prove to the world that American citizens are not insane. Unless of course they choose a leader who will pursue a crazy war.

Haaaarrrwwwwk...Twooooooph...Ting!