Republican Politics

It may seem my blog has been focused on the democratic party campaign; these was not intentional, it wasn't deliberate. But who wouldn't write about the daily events unfolding in the democratic presidential election campaign. Is it the oratorical Obama or the pragmatic Clinton?. It's no one's fault.

The republican presidential campaign abruptly came to an end several weeks back.
First the nonchalant campaign of Fred Thompson, then the too clever campaign of Rudy Guiliani, which of-course back-fired. But what finally broke the camel's back was Mitt Romney 'suspending' his campaign!. What in the world does that mean?. Come on Mitt. You don't' just halt a campaign when you still have a realistic chance of getting the nomination, or after spending such an enormous amount of money on your campaign, your personal money inclusive.

I believe this is all party politics.

Here in Africa, strong party stalwarts tell candidates to 'wait for your time'. The same thing I believe happened in this case. 'Romney wait till 2013'. Romney has forgotten that come the next campaign season, a candidate from the party may arise who will sweep delegates off their feet, just as Obama has done.

In all sincerity, if there was someone who could have challenged McCain, it was Romney. He just chickened out. Even before McCain reached the needed number of delegates, it was obvious there was no stopping him. Hukabee remained just to make it have a look of 'competition'.

The question on my mind now is if the McCain Campaign is up to the task when it comes to the 'swords and spears' drawn in the democratic campaign.

Because sooner rather than later, a democratic candidate will emerge, and McCain should be ready to get dirty, because that is what it will be. Dirty.

Enough Is Enough

I suggest it is time the leaders of the democratic party wade into these campaign which is gradually turning into a free-for-all. It was actually 'fun' at first but it is starting to get really rough and uninteresting. For the good of the party come November, enough is enough.

I thought campaigns should be about trying to lure voters to your side, not accusations and counter-accusations as we have seen in recent weeks. Of what good is it to the American people if Clinton refuses to make her tax payments public (of which she claims she has, and Obama hasn't), or if Obama's pastor maintains extreme views about racism. This is coming at a time when Americans can barely keep their house, pay for fuel and keep themselves going. This could certainly hurt the emerging democratic candidate if adequate care is not taken.

Believe it or not Senator McCain is doing what a serious minded White House aspirant should be doing by going to Iraq at a time like this. He has shown that the president should be someone who can take a firm stand on issues, just as he has done on his popular position on Iraq. In my opinion he has scored more points than either Clinton of Obama.

It high time they both stop whining.

What is in a name?

It will never cease to amaze me how easy issues could be made so complicated by the media. A public figure should be mindful of statements made to the press. But this has taken a different dimension: when a name could cause such a loud media attention.

Senator Barack 'Hussein' Obama, is once again trying to abate the hype generated by the media over his name. Among other important things he should be involved with, this should never have been one of them, if not for the 'hungry' press.


I understand that it is not the name itself but the bearer of that name. Who would hear the name Hussein and nor remember the former Iraqi leader Sadaam Hussein. But should we let this affect our judgment? Throwing away the chance of having someone who truly believe in cleaning up Washington?. (I am not an Obama, nor Clinton supporter). He is simply Barack Hussein Obama and his name should not be associated with anyone.

Giving a child a particular name could be based on several factors. In Africa, it is our pride, that names are not given out of ordinary compulsion, but based on landmark events, family history, foreseeing into the child's future or on religious beliefs. Names are passed from generation to generation, father to son. In our continent, the name is seen as a form of identity for which a person or certain people are identified by. Names in Africa have meanings, they can be explained.

Who then is responsible for the names in which we are given?. Us?. Our parents?. The society we live in?. Who?. Definitely not us. I would still be who I am with a different name. Therefore does a name matter?. No.

Barack Obama should therefore not be troubled by the name 'Hussein'. Either it is the name of US former sworn enemy or that of a moderate Islamic Cleric. The American people should see him for who he is and not the name given him by his father.

Race vs. Gender

However hard the two campaign divisions try to relegate the race gender issue out of the minds of the American electorate, it still remains a major decisive factor. Issues like the economy, the war in Iraq, and immigration are the pivotal debate topics, but whatever side the two parties take on these issues could still be overrun by the race and gender issue.

The two major campaign groups on the democratic umbrella have really done a good job in making this look like a non-issue. This is because overemphasizing could have a 'backfiring effect'. The candidate will want to be seen just as any other candidate of the past who wants to run for the exalted post of president of the United States. Relegating their obvious uniqueness will help them to grade who and what they are seen as by the American people.

But whatever the case may be the United States is on the verge of making her own history, the history of having a female or black president. In the case of Hillary Clinton, it has taken the US a longer time compared to some other developed and developing countries to have a female in such an highly exalted position. Angela Merkel, Benazir Bhutto, Helen Johnson-Sirleaf are recent examples. It was just of recent that the US had her first female speaker, Nancy Poloski.

The American experience has been that of race and space. The present state of the nation has been strongly shaped by the history of race. The founders had 'innocently' exploited the land, driven out the indigenous inhabitants, 'employed' millions of slaves for labour. The effects are there to see till this day.

This begs the question: Are Americans ready for any of these two 'extremes'?
Are they beyond judging matters such as this based on race or gender?
And how will anyone of these two 'extremes' fair with the increasingly popular republicancandidate John McCain?


Only time will tell, as we on the other side of the Atlantic watch as events unfolds.

www.saij.wordpress.com/2008/02/01/election-2008-the-race-card-vs-the-gender-card-whats-a-white-male-to-do/