These days catch phrases like “yes, we can” or “hope” of Obamas 08 campaign seem to let so-called liberal Europeans forget about what it’s all about. Why bother with critical distance and evaluating what would be the best next US president from a European point of view – when the world can be that easy: the good guy = Obama vs the bad guy = Bush/McCain. Most of all those “yes, we can” singing german students cheering their new pop star Obama just ignore the fact that John McCain differs from Mr Bush as Mr Obama differs from Bill Clinton. The real question – which choice would be the best for the US and Europe in particular or if Obama could deliver, as the Economist asked some weeks ago – seems not to interest anybody.
I just don’t see what makes all these people so sure that Obama could deliver. Who would handle a new wave of terror best, who will strengthen the US economy again, who will stabilize the US dollar – all these questions are essential for the prosperity of Europe in the next years – but besides “hope” and “yes, we can” I have not heard many answers to the cheering masses from Mr. Obama. I don’t say he can’t but there is still a lot of work to the deliver clear answers why Mr Obama would be the better choice.
You should read the ‘Audacity of Hope’. Gives you a great insight in the complicated and intricate workings of the Amercian Democracy which nobody suspects to be that different from ours.
Comment by Yseult — July 25, 2008 @ 6:36 am
That’s true and I certainly will get a copy of this book. But still – the focus of a democrat or an republican administration varies – and in these times and after what I’ve read from Mr Obama till now I doubt that a democrat administration would really be the best choice.. Also the other major threat – the war against terrorism – it’s not about words but about action – and if I compare the military and the foreign policy background of the two candidates I just can’t see any advantage for Mr Obama at the moment. But berhaps these answers are in the book…
Comment by martinopia — July 25, 2008 @ 2:07 pm
You know how I feel for the military personnel and how high my respect is for them.
So this is nothing against McCain who in my view has the misfortune of coming too late or at the wrong moment into the presidential game.
But after an administration that has a criminal percentage that is higher (12% of gov. administrators) than it has ever been, a change really is needed. In a time where the dialogue is so endangered by bigotry and venomous prejudice, I think a complete change is better than anything else.
We’ve had a similar situation a few years back when Kohl left and Schröder came. I really am no socialist, but at that point I was for the change. The US need someone who can unite them from within. McCain would be a father figure much more than a figure of a unity of peers.
Just my two cents.
Comment by Yseult — July 26, 2008 @ 11:24 am