The Presidential Diaries

Since today morning, I have been reading a lot about the Democratic National Convention ’08, how both the Clinton’s have set the stage for the biggest speech in these times, the one of Obama and to not miss the historical significance, this speech commemorates the 45th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream” speech. Barrack Obama is probably one of the most scrutinized politicians in the recent times, more so than any other, for the fact that he is competing for the highest post and most probably the most powerful post in the world, the POTUS, and that he is an African American is what polarizes this election. Many questions lie unanswered, will he be able to unify the Democratic camp, what are his policies… Many of these questions will be answered in the next couple of days. With the policies that the Bush camp have followed in the last 8 years, they leave the world in a pretty bad shape, maybe even worse than the one at the end of Nixon’s disgraced presidency. With its foreign policy in tatters, and economy slowing to a grinding halt, despite the lowering of interest rates by the Federal Reserve, which is forcing the booming economies in turn to lower their own interest rates, causing overheating of those economies, in turn leading to isolationist policies, and thus decreasing Globalization. I must admit, I was an ardent Republican supporter, however in the last 8 years, the Republicans have floundered with the way they have dealt with the nation. The proposed tax cuts, the decreased spending in welfare, healthcare, Medicaid, social security… They have generally let the largest economy in the world become stagnant. Coming after 8 years of successive economic growth in which an unprecedented trade surplus was created, the US now runs a huge a trade deficit. America is no longer respected as a nation, even amongst its own allies, as the leaders who supported Bush being replaced one by one. Blair’s Labour Party now looks like it will fall signaling the death knell for Bush’s regime, if you could call it that. Despite all the checks and balances present in the Constitution, he was allowed to wage war despite the advice of all the advisors and the reports of WMD not being present in Iraq. With no clear agenda emerging from the Bush administration, one really begins to question the reasons for waging the war. To say that wealth generation for the oil firms was a reason would be a sole reason to place Bush amongst a select reviled few who include Hitler and Stalin. It is a pity that US does not accept the validity of the International Court at Hague, which tried Milosevic and Saddam Hussein. It would have been interesting to see the defense of the House of Bush. I have great respect for the democratic system of US, as it is the oldest democratic system and has survived more than 226 years with only 17 amendments being added since the original Constitution and the Bill of rights. It was a document that was both far seeing and practical. I mean 55 ordinary people, lawyers and such gathered together in a house in Virginia and produced the most important political document that has survived nearly unchanged since 225 years, an example of an ordinary group of people who got together to do something very extraordinary. However, enough of the history lesson, back to the main point. Barrack Obama has a unique chance in history to change all the perceptions about US. He might be what US needs at this time, not John McCain with another four years of Republican rule. The Ultra Conservatives have really ruled with an iron fist, and it might be time for some velvet gloves. With Hillary and Bill Clinton setting the stage, its time for Obama the politician and the man who is ‘one of us’ to step up and become the President of the United States.
Anyway, enough of that political discourse.. I have read Chasm city by Alastair Reynolds in the last two days, and what I have read, I have liked. It’s a fun book filled with intrigue and guile and it’s a quick read as well. This is my first book of Alastair Reynolds, and I think I will go on to read more of his books.
Also in this blog I would like to mention my cross country wingman Jassi, whose advice to get a girl I found very valuable. His advice is shed all inhibition, go for the girl that you find unapproachable. After that he says, going to any other girl should be easier..Go figure, if he wants me to be a bachelor all my life or something… But to be fair, his advice is better than the other wingman, Kaviraaj… His advice of sending a message to propose, since I was out of balance, was invaluable… That girl called me up and then laughed at the idiot who would send a message… However, that group of guys I was with in Roorkee, really made life there much easier, as we were able to share all the good times and the bad times together. Thank you guys and I miss you as well!