BartBlog

from breadwithcircus.com

Just a few thoughts as the Americans prepare to shed their status as rogue nation.

First, Barack Obama’s victory is encouraging, but we can’t get too far ahead of ourselves. There are still two and a half months left until Obama’s administration takes power, and the last days of the Bush administration may be particularly ugly. Bush, and others of similar ideology may realize that the next few weeks offer them their last opportunity to do what they’ve always meant to, whether it means launching an attack on Iran, repealing environmental laws, or simply continuing the looting of their country. I expect that they will take all of the lightbulbs and strip the copper wire out of the walls on their way out. With all the attention on the incoming President, we must pay close attention to the last actions of the Bush administration. They have seventy five days or so. I have no doubt that they are capable of at least one more massive betrayal of the rest of us.

Second, having elected Obama, the Americans have taken a huge step towards regaining their credibility as a democracy. If they want to show the world that they are truly back, it is important that they close the concentration camp in Guantanamo Bay, re-instate Habeas Corpus, begin closing out the war in Iraq, and begin taking action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, if they really want to get back in everyone’s good graces, they’ll
prosecute the war criminals who have spent the last eight years pillaging the planet. Let’s have a second Nuremburg Trials! They can try Rove, Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld, Libby, Wolfowitz, Gonzales, etc. for crimes against humanity. They can put the proceedings on pay per view and raise millions. The world wants to see the neo-cons where they belong, in prison. If the Americans do this, they could ask the world for anything, maybe even a little bit of debt forgiveness. First though, Obama must convince transportation authorities to ban all flights to Paraguay.

Third, something that really bothered me throughout the campaign was the rhetoric of Sarah Palin. In particular, while touring small towns and racist backwaters, she’d talk about how it was good to be in the “Real America.” I would like to remind everyone that it is the people you saw at the Obama rallies, that mix of young and old, black and white, religious and not, that is the real America. The xenophobes that the McCain campaign pandered to are relics. I am encouraged to see that there are no longer enough of them to give the Republicans victory.

Finally, Obama, for all his charisma and oratory skills, is about to take over the helm of a sinking ship. The mess that he has to clean up is immense, and his hands may be so tied that he may not be able to keep his promises. We must remember to be realistic about just how far the US has fallen. I wouldn’t expect any miracles. At the end of the day, Obama is not a messiah, but a politician. He can’t help but let us down. I hope that everyone cuts him a little slack. I wish him luck, he’s going to need it.

It is good to know that there will soon be new management in Washington. The violent alcoholic, (the guy who ran over your dog with his Hummer) is moving out of the neighbourhood and a nice new family is moving in. Welcome back America. It will be good to once again have a reasonable neighbour.