America on the Verge of History

Barack Obama sits just 50 delegates short of winning a majority in the race for the Democratic Presidential nomination. With a turn in the numbers of superdelegates backing the Illinois senator, Obama seems now certain to seal the nomination - the first black man to contest a Presidential election. Either way the Democrats would've made history, it would have been the first woman in Hillary Clinton.

When the race began Clinton was certain of victory, but a combination of many factors, including attacks on Obama which were deemed "unacceptable" by analysts, statements regarding Bosnia and so on have all caused Clinton's downfall. Certainly remarks regarding "eliminating Israel" would raise eyebrows aswell. The problem for the Democrats however is that both candidates are attracting seperate votes, which may prove detrimental come the actual election. As I see it, I can't see America voting for a black man or a woman as President, regardless of how liberal they claim to be. And let's face it, I don't think anyone can transform America from being one of the most hated countries in the world...if not the only one. Realistically, I can see McCain being elected come the final vote. Had Obama and Clinton run as President and Vice President (in any order) they'd have stood a better chance. It's hard to visualise either of them being President - personally.

(note the spelling of "Tomorrow")

Despite the amount of support the Democrats may have in the Senate (or at the very least the support they may have gained due to the Bush administration), one has to remember that in America you're either one or the other. As such, if you're Republican, you're going to vote for McCain, regardless. But because the Democratic support is so split as it is, with very strong differences and such strong negativety towards the other side, the question arises whether the Democrats can unite to get into power. The shear lack of competition for the Republican nomination would tend to suggest that Republican voters stand united behind their candidate. The competition and division with the Democrats may influence those on the benches to vote Republican, for the simple reason of collaboration (and arguably stability) in the Republican party - something which seems to be absent in the Democrats given the nature of their race for the nomination.

While this kind of race is exciting in its own way, it makes me appreciate just how well off we are in this country for politics. We have such great choice. Whether you agree with Fianna Fail being in power or not, since 1997 we have had stable governments. In fact, politics in Ireland have been quite stable in recent years. Now I understand that it doesn't work the same way in America, but I cannot recall in my time of their being the type of the division we have in the Democrats now in any single party we have today. Yes we had all those seperations and so on years back but like I said...my time. And I'm talking about such drastic division over the right candidate and so on.

Okay I realise that blog is a bit all over the place, but I'm tired and can't really think straight at the moment, I've some very serious issues on my mind at the moment.

Anyway, GO OBAMA!!! Just had to get that in there...

~The Damo