Lipstick on her bible

Several years ago I came to see the true way, and thanks to a very cutting remark by Dr Richard Dawkins I saw reality for what it truly was. I renounced the faith which had been of such solace since I accepted Jesus, and I entered into the wilderness of no faith - my current expression of my values is nihilistic atheism, in as much as everything is destined to die eventually. I also believe that everyone is responsible for their own actions, and destiny is both in your hands, and in the hands of others.

With this piece of my background in mind imagine my bewilderment at the array of religious froth that is clouding the current US presidential election. Colin Powell secured a place in my pantheon of heroes with his comments about Muslims - America is supposed to be blind to faith, and regardless of a person's creed, or lack of it, they should not be judged for their views.

The radicalisation of the right in America is scary from a British point of view, and though Obama attends church one suspects that he is utterly open to new ideas, than the dogmatic theology that dogs Sarah Palin. Indeed her dogma about the need to spread the word of the Lord has backfired spectacularly as she is proving to be an even bigger hypocrite than her running mate, the boy who stood under the burning deck.

Point of fact - Jesus preached humility, material poverty, and above all love thy neighbour and enemy. Indeed so adamant was he that wealth stood in the way of entering heaven he entreated the rich young man to give up his material life in order to follow Jesus' teachings. Where is this in the ideology of the nouveau Republicans? Barry Goldwater was the last dyed in the wool old school Republican, and ever since the Elephantine elite have succoured from the teat of the enfant terrible of the religious right. Its okay to bash those queers, as long as we only get blow jobs from our pages, or something like that.

In conclusion it is a shock to the system to realise that the country the world depends on for its ecconomic wellbeing is being led by greedy, narcosistic men, and if McCain/Palin win in two weeks time then it won't be a pig in lipstick on the steps of the Capitol, rather it will be the Harpy's lipstick staining the honour of America in the years to come. The destiny of the world lies in the little crosses being marked on ballot papers across the USA in the coming weeks, and all of us a hoping that the citizens of the land of the Eagle make the wise choice, and elect Barack Obama as the next president.

Rach

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Fit to lead?

The boy stood under the burning deck, while all around him heroes died. Icarus fell from the pale blue sky, and dined at the Hanoi Hilton. The love rat slammed his wounded love, and romanced his meal ticket in lust.

Last night I watched a nauseating political video that John McCain endorsed slamming Barack Obama, and questioning this noble gentleman's ability to lead. So, this morning I pondered this piece of grist on my way to work, and I got around to thinking about Senator McCain - just what exactly has he done to show his leadership credentials?

As a Lieutenant Commander he was involved in the most serious post-world war two incident aboard a US aircraft carrier, and there is a lot of insinuation that he was the direct cause of the tremendous loss of life. What is not supposition, though, is that he fled the scene, while brave men valiantly fought to save their ship - is this the sign of a leader? No.

As a pilot he was notorious for loosing planes, and his time spent at Ho Chi Min's pleasure was in most part his own fault. By his calculation if being a POW commends you to high office then the detainees of the a certain Cuban facility are perfect role models for their home political system. Is this a sign he is ready to lead? No.

When he returned from his stint inside his devoted and loyal wife stood by him, but how did he repay her trust? By cheating on her with a rich heiress, and if the insinuation is correct marrying this blond rich woman before he was finally divorced from his devoted ex-wife. Is this a sign of someone ready to lead? No.

Damning others for their minor indiscretions is part and parcel of politics, but accusing someone of not being ready to lead because of their youth is both callow and dishonest. President's Bush snr. and jnr., Clinton, and Reagan were all state governors, and even the wretched harpy Sarah Palin has more leadership experience in her little finger than John McCain has in his whole body. John McCain could not be less qualified even if he tried. The Republicans vainly hope that the American people will buy this idea that just because he has spent five terms in the senate he is ready for the oval office, and then accuse a junior senator that his one term means nothing - neither man is a tested leader in the sense they are aiming at. The line that separates them is that when John McCain was called upon to be a true leader he panicked, turned tail, and ran beneath the burning desk.

The sign of someone ready to lead? No.

A cold November's day not so far away.

I sit here in a rather chilly York bedroom reading, pondering, and watching the world, and especially squint at the myopia that is the United States of America, or rather the circus that is its presidential elections. Part of me is enthralled by the whole process - we Brits has the cozy comfort of a hereditary monarch ensconced above us without the need for muddied politicking - but the bigger part of me winces every time I read about the awfulness that in the GOP campaign. 

Come on... on the one hand you have an eloquent, if slightly distant, Barack Obama, and on the other you have the disaster zone that is the McCain/Palin camp. Okay, so Gordon Brown is hardly JFK, but at least he knows when to keep stum and let his very intelligent wife do the talking (sound familiar?). If the cowboy on Pennsylvania Avenue has done one good thing in the last eight years of all things torrid that would be to dispel the myth that Joe Sixpack is good for the nation. Now if I were a god fearing rural type then maybe I could bye into that notion, but no, I am not. In fact I an Economist reading, Guardian spouting, Liberal Conservative who had come around to Barack Obama faster than W chasing tail... cough... 

Indeed, such is my general antipathy to a certain former resident of the Hanoi Hilton that I know that unless Americans follow the true path on that November day not so far off this world will surely be a far poorer, and ultimately more desolate place. Tea and crumpets in Tehran any one?

Rach

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