Us Election
Reports of Ron Paul’s political demise have been greatly exaggerated and his tactical genius is becoming apparent as he gives Mitt Romney, the Republican Party’s presumptive presidential candidate, a serious fright.
The curious Dr Paul, the only remaining challenger to Romney after Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich pulled out of the race, has been widely written off as a nuisance candidate after failing to win a single state in the caucus and primary race.
That has changed. The elderly Texas congressman has won the majority of delegates in Romney’s home state of Massachusetts, as well Maine and Nevada, even though Mitt Romney had supposedly “won” these states months earlier.
Continue reading "Reports of Ron Paul’s death are greatly exaggerated" »
Barack Obama was always going to have a tough presidency. He set the bar so high for himself during the arduous two year lead-up to his election that he was always at risk of sailing right under it when it came time to start enacting the “Change we can believe in”.
Indeed, back in 2008 there were times when it seemed his strategists took their cues from Napoleon Dynamite’s Pedro, as he essentially promised the electorate: “vote for me and all your wildest dreams will come true”.
In the nearly three years since he took office, he has made some important steps – passing a (slightly watered-down) health care package, most notably – but so many of his promises have gone unfulfilled and, although it pains me deeply to say it, his presidency thus far has been a bit of a wet firecracker.
Continue reading "Can Obama win the election? Yes, he can. Maybe." »
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Matthew says:
It’s interesting that people think that “changing the political system” is as simple as swapping some people and maybe cracking down on campaign finance. That’s not changing the system, that’s just changing the people IN it. I’m not sure the US federal “system” can be fixed. Not without a change… Read more »
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David says:
I thought that Obama was in trouble but when I started looking at the Republican candidates I think they are an absolute joke. I would say that the US is set to be plunged back into 19th century religious rule if the Republicans win in 2012. Read more »
Just when you thought the race for the Republican Party nomination for US president could not become more bizarre, Texas governor Rick Perry, 61, throws his hat in the ring.
As they say in Texas, Perry is “all hat and no cattle”. Politically he represents the frontier-style brand of bare-knuckle American conservatism that often surprises and puzzles overseas observers.
One respected Texas political analyst described Perry as “yet another small-minded, right wing, Texas governor” who on August 13 portrayed himself as THE Christian presidential candidate at a ‘Prayer-A-Palooza’ campaign launch at a Houston football stadium.
Continue reading "Presidential wannabe Perry is all hat, no cattle" »
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Direct says:
You can’t have an Australia Daily Show in due the legislation banning the use of parlimentary footage for comic intent. Micallef already had a crack at the whole news thing with Newstopia, not quite the same, but I will always remember his impersonation of Kofi Annan with fondness. Right up… Read more »
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Jay says:
The last Texas Governor only cost the American people two wars and 11 trillions dollars in debt after inheriting a balanced budget. I wonder what this bozo would do? Oh yes tax cuts for the rich, spend heavily on defence, get rid of social security and watch America become a… Read more »
They say a week is a long time in politics, so the two years until the 2012 US presidential election is practically an eternity.
However, even a casual glance at news from Washington proves the race to the White House is already well under way.
Former Vice President Dick Cheney attacked President Barack Obama last week, explaining why he believed Obama will be a one-term president.
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ally says:
As an American living in Australia, I am constantly amazed by how much Tom Mcilroy knows about American politics. I would consult your column from anywhere in the world. re the SOTU address: did it bother you how competitive Obama is against other nations? I quite prefer politics.tom as our… Read more »
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AussieJazzman says:
I think one of the biggest mistakes of the first two years of the Obama campaign was his handling of the health care bill. The bill contained some very substantial provisions to lower the cost of health care to Americans and broaden the coverage they are offered. However, these positive… Read more »
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