The Assam Tribune
Guwahati, Wednesday, October 13, 2004
EDITORIAL
MESSAGE FOR TODAY
I love argument, I love debate. I don’t expect anyone just to sit there and agree with me, that’s not their job. — MARGARET THATCHER (Former Prime Minister of UK)Bush-Kerry faceoff
The United States of America is on the threshold of a major decision-making process. For, in just 20 days time, the electorates of this nation – arguably the strongest in terms of military and economy – will exercise their franchise to determine their leader. This time, however, this election to the top slot of the world’s most influential country in this monopolistic scenario is witnessing a neck-and-neck contest between the present President and Republican candidate George W Bush (Jr) and Democrat opponent Senator John Kerry. At the conclusion of their second debate, both the heavyweights appeared evenly poised. However, the venue of their final debate – that primarily focuses on domestic issues theoretically – today would definitely stand Bush in good stead as he leads there by 10 points. This is primarily because the rugged landscape of Arizona – widely acknowledged since 1950 as the birthplace of conservatism – had brought to being the anti-government credo o! f Barry Goldwater: Extremism in the defence of liberty is no vice. Mentionably, it also put the Republican party on its tracks and shifted the power scales from the Rockefeller moderates to the laissez faire anti-Communist individualists of southern and western America. Though he was defeated humiliatingly by Lyndon Johnson in 1964, his ideals found a vociferous mouthpiece in his apprentice Ronald Reagan. And now, the majority of Arizonans visualise another south-western citizen out on a crusade in favour of ‘traditional values’, gun-ownership and gas-guzzling SUVs. The most important point in favour of Bush is that only a substantial shift from the Iraq issue would force the conscious American electorate to dismiss their Commander-in-Chief mid-war. Besides, Arizona has grown rich with dollars traded via the military-industrial complex it houses and their lucrative endeavours.Nevertheless, hope is not lost yet for the Democrats in view of the marked rise in the undecided voters and the 500,000 new voters. Second, that this State backed Bush only by six per cent in 2000, leaves enough elbow space for Kerry to manoeuvre. Kerry now has the gargantuan mind-boggling task of being able to link his favourite poll missile to the deteriorating domestic economy. One of his most effective tactics has been to rub in the fact that 90 per cent of the Iraq war costs have been borne solely by the Americans. This week’s challenge before the Democrat would be to link that $ 200 billion expenditure mismanagement to the “crises of the middle class” – namely spiraling prices of petrol, college fees and houses – besides, of course fiscal deficit and mounting unemployment. Kerry can juggle Reagan’s debate strategy in 1980 against his opponent and then President Jimmy Carter. Those polls were also conducted under similar situations – held as it was amid yet another U! S foreign policy debacle in the Middle East and rising costs of living. Reagan had asked his people point blank, “It might be well if you would ask yourself, are you better off than four years ago? Is it easier for you to go and buy things in the stores? Is America as respected as it was?” Then, as now, the answer was a ‘No’, and a one-time incumbent was ousted from office. Kerry would garner the maximum leverage by focusing on the inflated middle class balloon of the Clinton era that is severely punctured now.
What is more, the Grady Gammage Memorial Auditorium at Arizona State University where the final debate is to be held has a haunting history for the Democrats. The design for this building was originally planned by American architect Frank Lloyd Wright, in his fading years, for the proposed new opera house in Baghdad on the suggestion of King Faisal of Iraq. Wright subsequently expanded the brief to also include museums, parks, an authentic bazaar and a university there. But, the 1958 revolution put the last nail on the plan’s coffin. Nevertheless, the resourceful Wright sold it to a new client and that ‘Baghdad Opera House’ is hosting this year’s USA Presidential final poll debate. Besides, Arizona’s popular Senator, Vietnam veteran John McCain is regarded by many as the leading Republican candidate for the top post in 2008. With the aggressive Bush, the voters have their future well set out far in advance as the future policies would be a continuation of the pres! ent ones. But liberal Kerry’s diametrically opposite stand on Iraq – which is at a crucial stage – besides a number of domestic key issues like backtracking on tax breaks to selected outsourcing companies and overhauling of the economy in favour of the middle class are vital areas of concern for an electorate still trying to come to terms with the growing American targets by Muslim radicals worldwide. All in all, this ultimate debate prior to the crucial polls and the States’ electoral college ballot shifts will determine the new leader of a country battling odds and a battered image on all sides – domestic as well as global.Rock, jazz, country, soul & more. Find the music you love on MSN Music!
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