Sometimes, the speaker and the crowd sound like they're on a different page.
So it was Saturday in Springfield.
Joe Biden launched a long riff against John MCain, saying repeatedly that "you can't change America" when you support Bush polices on things like the economy, Social Security and Iraq. After each one, the crowd moaned and booed, apparently at the thought of a McCain presidency.
Then Biden reached a crescendo of his effort to link McCain closely to the unpopular Bush.
"You can't change America when you know your first four years as president will look exactly like the last eight years of George Bush's presidency."
This time, however, the crowd broke into the familiar Obama rally chant, "yes we can, yes we can, yes we can."
Does that mean they think that Obama can change America by looking like the last eight years? Or that they think McCain can? Or does it mean they weren't really listening any more to what Biden was saying?
Let's look at the Biden nomination against the background of the times. We are entering a new turbulent epoch in human history - an era of "civilized anarchy." The Cold War "spheres of influence" are quickly being replaced by multipartite Spheres of Subjugation of weaker nations by the stronger. I hate predictions, but this may be the prelude to the end of then world. If Russia gets away with opening this new epoch in Georgia, other powerful nations will soon follow suit. Communism's spheres of influence were oppressive, but what is about to happen now is much worse. The "subjugated nations," the victims, "will be punished" for disobedience, not just "imprisoned." Georgia, "punished by Russia," is the Lexington shot. Tibet will be punished by China, the Poor America will be punished by the Rich America (we see already attempts at privatizing Social Security and the systematic letting destitute Americans to die by attrition, without healthcare or any help, by American consulates abroad). India will attempt to punish a victim of its choice, as well. This is the the dreadful reality Sen. Biden will inherit, if elected. This may be a good omen for Sen. Obama, who, being elitist by heart, would seem to fit in this new frightening "world order" that is coming! As for Sen. Biden, I have mixed feelings. He and I have shared many points in common on Iraq and other international issues. We agree on the need to partition Iraq along ethnic lines, to save thousands of lives, Iraqi and American and on the need to partition Kosovo, to avoid alienation in West-Russia relations. Neither was going to be. Given Senator's pro-Catholic leanings, we also agree on the need to stem abortions. But there are disagreements. Sen. Biden has been too lenient on curbing the pro-choice movement and the moral breakdown of society. In this area he will need to work hard, to get my vote.
Posted by: Bohdan Szejner, Kraków, Poland | August 24, 2008 at 09:19 AM