Economy

Today Chris Matthews met with House Representatives Wexler (D) and Cantor (R) opening up his Hardball show on MSNBC.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26754253#26761964

We all know the Wall Street turmoil: Bear Sterns, Lehmann Brothers, Merrill Lynch, AIG, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, subprime mortgage crisis.

The truth is that the current crisis is a complex phenomenon that cannot be solved by punchlines, finger pointing and single tax cuts. It's a combination of cyclic economic reality, lack of regulation on the macro-economic level, diminishing workforce performance in the United States due to lack of innovation and efficiency (despite what is believed: education in the United States is subpar, workforce flexibility is nowhere near that of Asia or even some European countries) and a widespread belief in a culture of credit - where liquidity is irrelevant and only solvability matters and that refinancing is an excuse to buy yourself into vertical growth.

Chris Matthews tried to pin blame completely on the failed policies of the current administration and thus putting Rep. Cantor on the spot for that. In my opinion, Mr. Matthews did so in an unfair way, which is not without precedent, by the way. Rep. Cantor defended the Republican policies and of his presidential candidate's quite handily. In doing so however, he does prove Mr. Matthews' point: he acknowledges the current crisis, and provides ways to try to alleviate those, but by doing so, inadvertently attacks the current administration. The contrived position he is in, necessitates him to "take off his uniform" as a Republican - since that brand is in tatters by GW Bush' doing - and to almost defend John McCain as a new, unconnected candidate.

What Chris Matthews tried to accomplish with the big hammer, may come across as the liberal media unfairly trying to push for power in troubling times - using political and moral superiority to downplay ones' conversational opponent. Despite having a point.

Big hammers are not good in economics. The USSR had one in its flag, and look where they ended up.

State of the Race

Although I am a wholly uninvolved observer (Belgian), I too am tired of the fact that America keeps choosing the wrong leaders. Why is election politics so fickle in its rightful result? From the start, and after initial research, I immediately knew Sen. Obama was the leader right for America and the world in this point of time in history. Just like FDR was right his day, Roosevelt in his, Reagan in his, etc.

The cynical truth however is that election politics is still a game, and both senators have played it masterfully so far. Barack Obama has set up a modern, internet-plugged bureaucratic campaign with grassroots organisation and funding, the topic of change and a calm to constantly analyze new events without being played by them. This is how his campaign won from Sen. Clinton's, who, as a candidate, has immensely more credentials, but whose campaign was ridden with overly strong individuals and an unsteady course and message.

Up until the appointment of Sarah Palin, Sen. McCain campaign was nowhere. He was nominated simply because the other GOP candidates were so weak. The Mitt Romney story however (and his parting concession speech) showed that energizing the GOP base with core conservative values can lock down the majority of red-leaning states swiftly. Sen. McCain has tried to do this, and has partially been succesful, eroding Obama's lead in polls during the summer.

However, I bet this didn't feel right to him.

An independent by nature, holding conservative ideals yet with libertarian morals and modi operandi, any observer could feel that when McCain was on the conservative stump, it wasn't his message. Sure, he's for the Iraq war and Reaganomics, but he does not hold these ideas as absolute truths and undebatable facts, unlike the hateful GWBush-Rove-Rumsfeld administration (the current administration is much more common sense, partly due to the quiet admission of its past failures, but also because of the influence of individuals like Condi Rice).

Both his independent nature and his deficiencies in public oratory have kept enthusiasm levels for his campaign low - compared to the rock star World Tour that is Barack Obama's campaign.

However, with Sarah Palin, McCain has made a choice as brilliant as that of Nerva (Roman emperor who was old, wise, and died quickly, but who did appoint Trajanus - the herald of Ancient Rome's Second Golden Age). As posted previously, she brings to the GOP what Obama brought to the Democrats: vigour and a clear message. And like I said about my comments on Obama, I immediately felt that Sarah Palin was an intriguing and impressive personality.

In the coming days, it was proven that Palin was the full conservative Monty, easily weathering personal attacks (because Democrats are bad at exploiting them) and on the stump on Obama's weaknesses.

However, Sarah Palin pure and simple is a character candidate. Like George w. Bush, her appeal simply comes from the fact that she's identifiable to the electorate she represents (Hockey Moms, Heartland USA), but not as much of the ideas she can bring to changing America for the better.

But again, this is why her choice was so brilliant. John McCain is now liberated from addressing the conservative morality issues and can reclaim his Maverick image. And Palin also brings Obama-levels of enthusiasm to the GOP base.

The big question is how independents will react. In a country and world on the brink of economic recession and unmendable environmental peril, who to choose? There have been signs that Palin is sweeping female voters, but honestly, I hope not.

Sen. Obama is the only candidate with such a clear, yet sufficiently worded and complex answer to the challenges the world faces. Although I respect John McCain very much (more for his years in Congress than for his veterancy), his values would take America to a lesser place than that what Obama would take it.

But this is not the time to sit back and bask in the media glory that is Sarah Palin. We need to appreciate her being as a strong vice presidential candidate and viciously stump Sen. Obama's message while taking apart the GOP's. The road has been long but hope for a better future for the entire world lies at arm's length. Hold the course, react accordingly to current events, and never forget why you've supported Barack Obama in the first place.

It's for the end of politics as it has been played forever. It's for a belief in shared responsibility as opposed to suburban individualism. It's for the ideal that if one tried, one should make it, in dignity and respect. It's for a planet that needs to be saved and that has been ignored a shamingly amount of time. It's for you and me, who trod day by day, just hoping for some common sense and goodwill in America's leaders.

Elect Barack Obama. The time is now.