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America's 'Nostalgic' Electorate (De Groene, The Netherlands)

"Not only in America but across the West, many voters are in a state of confusion. They sense that relationships around the world are changing dramatically, to the detriment of Western power. They want to go back, and there are politicians who empathize, and with empty promises, are prepared to be at the beck and call of this nostalgic electorate. ... Barack Obama has proven he understands his era. Whether a majority of Americans do we will know on November 6."

By H.J.A. Hofland

Translated By Marion Pini

October 5, 2012

The Netherlands - De Groene - Original Article (Dutch)

Mitt Romnet debates Barack Obama in Denver, Colorado, Oct. 5. Will America buy what he's selling? CBC DOCUMENTARY PREVIEW, CANADA: 'Anger in America', Sept, 26, 00:01:34.

By the time you read this, the first of the three televised debates between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney will be over, to be followed by countless interpretations and opinion poll results. That will continue until November 6: a tornado of hype and demagoguery, devouring millions of dollars. Can one still call that democracy?

It's an interesting question with little consequence. that is the way things have evolved and there in nothing anyone can do to change that.

Four years ago, it was easier for Obama. He was up against John McCain who had chosen as his vice-presidential running mate hockey mom, protagonist of the ultra-reactionary Tea Party and scatterbrain, Sarah Palin. Following the enormous mess George W. Bush left behind, Obama could present himself as a credible savior. Four years ago, on November 6, I was in New York. When his victory was certain, I just went into the street. A party had erupted. Complete strangers were hugging me. Those were the good old days.

Now we have four years of Democratic leadership behind us. Perhaps Obama promised more than he has delivered, but that's true of all politicians. A bad presidency? No. He put an end to military involvement in Iraq, an end to the Afghan problem is in sight, the revolution in Libya has been completed with his strategy of leading from behind - without U.S. ground troops becoming involved in the battle, and in the conflict between Israel and Iran, he seems to have had a calming effect without relinquishing America's close alliance with Israel. And most importantly: Osama bin Laden is dead. Over the past four years, the sun has slowly begun to break through.

On domestic policy, relative progress has also been made. The economy is growing, albeit slower than desired, and unemployment is falling, although not fast enough. A lot could be done faster, but in general, the Americans are now infinitely better off than they were for the eight years under Obama's predecessor. Considering the situation four years ago, this president can be moderately satisfied. But having Romney as an opponent in a televised debate is not enough. He must show that he wants to do more, and do it differently than the Republican. In the debate, he should stand up for his record as president, which has previously hampered him.

Posted by Worldmeets.US

A large part of the American electorate feels frustrated by the slow and volatile nature of the recovery. Furthermore, a large number of voters are ultra-conservative in a way that we can hardly conceive of. Theoretically, Romney is ready to see to every need of these ladies and gentlemen. He will say that under Obamas leadership, America has switched to a toothless foreign policy. As does columnist Thomas Friedman of the International Herald Tribune, who writes that Romney assumes that the world hasnt substantially changed since 1989. Following victory in the Cold War, America was the only superpower, and that is how it has remained. Weak Democratic presidents are to blame for the fact that the world hasnt fully understood that.

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The question is how President Romney would make the world understand this. Would he return to Afghanistan to defeat the Taliban? It is a rare voter who still wants that, and if Afghanistan comes up for discussion during the debate, Romney will say only that Obama has handled it all wrong. The worlds most dangerous problem at the moment is the potential of an Iran with a nuclear weapon, which is perhaps in an advanced state of construction. The country must be bombed as quickly as possible - before it's too late. And if that arouses the indignation of world opinion, then thats too bad for the world, because America is still the boss. And while the defense budget will be increased, taxes will be cut and employment will go up.

Is this a summary of Romneys program? The upcoming debates will tell us more. But in any case, this is a provisional outline of his mentality. Voters are not only persuaded by a program, but are seduced by the candidate's personality. Romney has undertaken to be the strong man - not a pipsqueak who goes for compromise like his opponent, that weakling. Will it work? Not only in America but across the West, many voters are in a state of confusion. They sense that relationships around the world are changing dramatically, to the detriment of Western power. They want to go back, and there are politicians who empathize, and with empty promises, are prepared to be at the beck and call of this nostalgic electorate. The same thing is happening in Europe. We have recent experience with this in the Netherlands. It ended well here. Barack Obama has proven he understands his era. Whether a majority of Americans do, we will know on November 6.

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