The Time Has Come, The Walrus Said, To Talk of Many Things . . .

I watched the Republican plebes throw themselves wholeheartedly behind a woman about whom they know nothing, who has a very thin, questionable record, who - given her presidential running mate's age and medical condition - has a realistic chance of becoming president by default. That in itself is cause to make one worry.

And I watched John McCain's acceptance speech. The man was an automaton, his "smile" a grimace that came on and flashed off on cue, if a bit tardy.

I do not agree with the facile, superficial commentators who wrote or spouted testosterone-soaked, gushing, positive appraisals of Sarah Palin. I do not agree with the editorialists who painted McCain as a marvellous old trooper dipping into the fount of honour and gilding himself with his well-advertised heroism.

This election is not about Vietnam, McCain's role in it, or even his continued references to it. People forget this very easily as someone like "hockey mom" is trotted out as a diversion, just as the heroics of 40 years ago are a diversion. And it would appear that the Democrats are flailing mightily as they are falling, for they appear to have forgotten what this election is about. In that sense the Palin diversion, and the "old soldier getting his turn at the trough" are working better than expected, I'm sure.

This election is about the usurpation of power from the people of the US and from the Congress, first of all; about the arrogation of power by Bush and Cheney from the Congress and the judiciary; about the callous disregard for rights, truth, a country's integrity, honour and ethos. And the callous disregard of the rights of foreign citizens such as Maher Arar, who, technically, were never on American soil.

It is about the fundamental dishonesty of the leaders of that government, REPUBLICANS, ALL, who pile high the lies and innuendoes justifying what can never be justified - the intrusion into, and intervention in, the affairs of a sovereign state, thereby setting horrendous precedents which will some day be used against the US.

It is about the "leaders" of that government plundering the treasury to enrich private corporations, while simultaneously exempting the rich from their share - which is measly enough, especially once their accountants and lawyers squirrel away most of the remaining income, so that you have the ludicrous situation of multimillionaires paying little or no tax.

It is about the "leader of the free world", by his actions, inactions, stupidities and arrogance squandering most of the goodwill that the entire planet felt toward the US in the aftermath of 9/11.

It is about the subsequent disillusionment and suspicion of not just the US but its friends and neighbours - never mind more cynical elements - that permits the continued existence of the firm belief that 9/11 was stage-managed by the government - well, what are people to think when Cheney was "directing" events from the bunker while Bush sat empty-eyed, enraptured by the story of the little goat, for more than three minutes after he had been told of the attack?

It is about the REPUBLICANS' favourite mantra - deregulation/small-to-no government/get-it-while-you-can - leading to a financial crisis so dangerous that it might yet swamp our collective boat, in which the government has had to step in to rescue companies that rapaciously and cold-bloodedly lied, stole, manipulated financial information, duped investors. Companies that are "too big to be allowed to fail" because of the damage that would ensue.

It is about the millions of Americans for whom "home" will have a very different, bitter meaning, and for whom "house" will be a dream too far.

It is about the thousands of people who still live in fetid trailers in mosquito-infested, waterlogged parking lots, unable to return home.

It is about the fact that the number of people without health care now equals one and one half times the population of CANADA.

IT SHOULD BE ABOUT WAYS TO PREVENT THE COUNTRY FROM SELF-DESTRUCTING. It should be about finding the best complement of people who are capable of working together to rein in the many wild steeds that are about to pull the country to bits. It should be about the candidates presenting ideas and assurances about the present, and the future, so that the electorate might have a sense that there is a future to look to.

It should be about reassuring the world that the US is a country of laws, of ethics, of morals, that gives a fair chance to those who risk everything, that has compassion and assistance for those who need it. And it should be about electing someone who is not only reasonably healthy, but is mentally agile enough, and physically strong enough, to undertake this most challenging work and see it through to the conclusion of the upcoming term.

c2008 bluemlein.blogspot.com