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The man is eloquence and gravitas, substance and strength personified, with a touch of the "hope", which after all, is Mr. Obama's clarion call.
Seems like this thread is for some interested internationals to weigh in their opinion. I've been following the happenings of this election from down under. We've recently undergone a recent "regime change" ourselves, where Johnny Howard, a conservative (by Australian Standards) prime minister who was chummy with Bush was basically thrown out of office because the public was sick and tired of lies, unnecessary war mongering, and indecent and inhumane treatment of a number of members of society. The upshot of it was that he actually lost his seat in Parliament, which is unheard of for a sitting prime minister here.
Anyway, we've now got an intelligent (though at times wonkish prime minister) leading a centre left government, who's first act of parliament was to ratify the Kyoto protocol (as with Bush, JH was a VERY late convert to the global warming problem), and has promised to get our troops home from Iraq, and focus on the massive problems we still face in Afghanistan. So, while I don't have a direct say in your election, the outcome has a direct impact on what happens to our troops, so I care. (As an aside, Kevin Rudd (our new prime minister) also apologised to the native aboriginal peoples for years of colonial atrocities and allowed the nation to heal in that regard)
I've been convinced for some time obviously that the current administration has been terrible for the country (and the world), however had heard that McCain was a different kind of Republican. I'd also followed, with mild interest, the primary race between Mr Obama and Mrs Clinton. Since Mr Obama's speech at the DNC however, I've spent a large amount of time recently reading up on news and opinion on both sides of the spectrum of American politics. I must also admit, the Sarah Palin news was fascinating, it was like switching on a soapy TV series every day.
However, there have been a few things which have struck me about this election, and American politics in general: 1. McCain, and what his joke of a VP choice have nothing new to offer, and are actually just a perpetuation of the current pack of hyenas you guys have had to suffer for 8 years. 2. I haven't been 100% sold on Obama until recently, he needs to let his strength and steel show just a little bit more. However this video was perfectly made, and from the POV of someone who probably has as much knowledge as the average American, I feel it should get thru to people. 3. The vehemence that defines American politics is quite scary. I've read some these "right wing" blogs/news sites, and the disregard, and absolute contempt they have for pretty much anything they attach the "Liberal" tag to is shocking for someone used to our relatively mild and "centre left v centre right" politics. Some of the stuff coming out of the "left" is not much better, however I understand the absolute frustration that you guys must have gone through in the last 8 years.......so I'm much more forgiving in that regard.
4. I also find it amusing that our right leaning party here are actually called the Liberals (the left leaning (progressive?) party is called Labour)
Have been reading DU for some time now, and I think I might be a bit biased, but I quite enjoy the site, and encourage all of you to do what you can to make sure those scary, scary men (and now woman) are not back in power.
Cheers,
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