McCain, 72, is presented as the candidate of the future and of change in United States politics
The Republican Convention, that on Thursday night proclaimed Senator John McCain as the candidate for the United States Presidency and the controversial Governor of Alaska, Sarah Palin, as Vice President, has turned out interesting for many reasons, and not just for the final speech of the White House hopeful, which was confusing, poorly read, even more poorly put together and flat out impossible to believe in some key parts.
The Republicans started off worried that Hurricane Gustav might ruin the party; they breathed a sigh of relief when George W. Bush didn't attend; they went crazy with Palin's speech against the establishment, Palin being a woman firmly resolved in making all radical conservative topics a reality (weapons, creationism, more oil rigs on US soil); and in general, they considered it correct and credible that the Presidential candidate present himself as the leader of all Americans, of all reforms and of the future.
McCain attempted to recover the pride of the Elephant party, damaged by the eight years of Bush's abysmal term in office, by playing up his captivity as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for five years. Nobody is debating it. However, apart from the gesture, it seems paradoxical to see the Veteran Senator, the oldest politician to aspire for the Presidency, speak of the future, having recently turned 72 years old, and above all his insistence in the need to "change" Washington, ignoring that his party has governed the White House for 22 of the last 30 years - including the catastrophe of the last eight.
The most interesting thing turns out to be Palin's right-wing populism. The Governor of Alaska decided to face up to the whirlwind of critics and considered her best defense to be the attack. She charged against the political elite of Washington and against the press: "I'm not going to Washington to seek their good opinion. I'm going to Washington to serve the people of this country". She settled like that, before an easy and devoted audience, the controversy for her positions against abortion and in favor of the death penalty, her anti-scientific nonsense against the theory of evolution, for not speaking of an alleged case of abuse of power, or already in the private arena, the pregnancy of her 17 year old daughter. Palin deeply wants to identify with the problems of American citizens, because she herself is one of them. That is why McCain picked her. It is still to be seen whether it will work in the polls; or if they win, whether the ticket -she and he- turn out to be the best for the first world power.
McCain, de 72 años, se presenta como candidato del futuro y del cambio en la política de EE UU
La Convención Republicana, que proclamó el jueves por la noche al senador John McCain como candidato a la presidencia de EE UU y a la polémica gobernadora de Alaska, Sarah Palin, como vicepresidenta, ha resultado interesante por muchos motivos, y no precisamente por el discurso final del aspirante a la Casa Blanca, confuso, mal leído, peor hilvanado y directamente imposible de creer en algunos pasajes clave.
Los republicanos comenzaron con el corazón encogido por si el huracán Gustav les estropeaba la fiesta; respiraron al ver que George W. Bush no asistía; enloquecieron con el discurso contra el establishment de Palin, una mujer empeñada en hacer realidad todos los tópicos del conservadurismo radical (armas, creacionismo, más pozos de petróleo en su tierra); y en general consideraron correcto y creíble que el candidato a la Casa Blanca se presentara como el líder de todos los americanos, de todas las reformas y del futuro.
McCain quiso recuperar el orgullo dañado del partido del elefante tras los ocho años del pésimo mandato de Bush al evocar su cautiverio como prisionero de guerra en Vietnam durante cinco años. Nadie se lo discute. Sin embargo, más allá del gesto, resulta paradójico ver al veterano senador, el político más anciano que aspira a la presidencia, hablar de futuro, con sus 72 años recién cumplidos, y sobre todo su insistencia de que hay que "cambiar" Washington, obviando que su partido ha gobernado la Casa Blanca durante 22 de los últimos 30 años -incluyendo la catástrofe de los últimos ocho-.
Más interesante resulta el populismo derechista de Palin. La gobernadora de Alaska decidió hacer frente al vendaval de críticas y consideró que la mejor defensa es el ataque. Cargó contra la élite política washingtoniana y contra la prensa: "No voy a Washington en busca de vuestra aprobación, sino para servir al pueblo de este país". Zanjó así, ante un público fácil y entregado, la polémica por su postura antiabortista, a favor de la pena de muerte, sus desvaríos anticientíficos contra la teoría de la evolución, por no hablar de un presunto caso de abuso de poder, o ya en el terreno privado, el embarazo de su hija de 17 años. Palin quiere que se le identifique con los problemas de los ciudadanos de la América profunda, porque es uno de ellos. Para eso la eligió McCain. Está por ver que le funcione en las urnas; o si gana, que el ticket -ella y él- resulte lo más adecuado para la primera potencia mundial.
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[T]he president failed to disclose that subsidies granted by his government — in connivance with the Republican Party — artificially maintain the viability of fossil fuels.
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