What an eventful last few days it has been! Sitting at home on Thursday, waiting for Tropical Storm Gustav to pass over Jamaica only to have it pass late in the night while I was sleeping. It caused little or no damage in my area so all went well but I was hoping for something eventful to photograph. Anyway, it is better not having a photo opportunity in this case.

photo credit: bobster1985

The world has been watching the United States election process with interest. All indications are that worldwide popularity seems heavily in favor of Barak Obama. America has a love-hate relationship with the rest of the world largely because of its foreign policy. The world loves American opportunities for economic advancement, music, culture and sports. On the other hand, America is seen as a self-serving bully who beats up on whomever they consider weak, tells them what to do (or else) then only chooses to help those countries from which it can economically or strategically benefit. A proud, pompous “world dictator” that refuses to dialogue with countries they consider their enemies. If you don’t talk to your enemies, there is only one way to resolve your differences: WAR. The world is tired of this approach.

In comes Barak Obama with talk of an entirely different approach designed to create less wars, dialogue with countries with which the US has disagreements and improve the international reputation of America. The world welcomes this approach with open arms. If the world was voting, would Obama’s opponent, Republican John McCain be able to get 30% of the votes? I don’t think so….but the world is not voting: America is, so Obama has his hands full with McCain.

photo credit: soggydan

Republicans reading this may say: “stay out of our politics!” I’m sorry Mr. Republican, but whatever your country does, it affects the entire world, especially a small developing country a few hundred miles from you called Jamaica. Whenever things go good or bad in your country, it affects us directly.

• When oil prices go up in America, the same happens here.
• When your people have less spending power, they cannot vacation here, so we lose valuable tourism dollars (tourism is our number two foreign exchange earner).
• When things get bad in America, Jamaicans living there remit much less money to Jamaica (remittances are our number one foreign exchange earner).
• When you go to war, we worry about friends and relatives too. I have 4 relatives in your armed forces.
• When your citizens lose their homes, they may be our family members (my father is one of those trying to hold on to his home).

I could go on and on, but the reality is, now more than ever, America and more so the world, is paying greater attention to this election.

Joe Biden

photo credit: World Economic Forum

I watched the Democratic National Convention with interest and the most striking thing about it was the emotional factor. Speaker after speaker appealed to the softer side of America and the cameramen were busy showing people wiping tears as they listened to touching stories. The highlight of the conference was the “closure” of the Hilary Clinton campaign by her unreserved endorsement of Obama and her appeal for her die-hard supporters to follow suit. It will be left to be seen if that will be the case. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton (highly revered by Democrats) also gave an excellent speech endorsing Obama. Joe Biden’s acceptance speech (attacking friend and rival John McCain) was preceded by a touching introduction by his son. I didn’t see Barak’s speech as Tropical Storm Gustav’s passing Thursday night meant no cable service since then.

John McCain has countered beautifully with the appointment of a woman, Sarah Palin (44), Governor of Alaska as his Vice Presidential running mate. The Democrats are in for a fight! Many Democrats are peeved that Obama did not select Hilary Clinton as his running mate and a recent Gallup poll suggests that 28% of Clinton backers aim to vote for McCain. Add this to the pro-women voters who want to see women at the top in American politics and you see why a female running mate for McCain was not surprising.

The no-nonsense Palin made her name in part by backing tough ethical standards for politicians. She describes herself as a fighter against corruption and a bipartisan reformer but Democrats will use her lack of foreign policy experience against her.

On paper, Joe Biden (Democrat) seems to be the better VP candidate, but this campaign has been so emotional, the woman may just have the edge if emotions triumph over reason. This election can go either way, considering that a recent CNN poll taken on 23rd to 24th August suggests a statistical dead heat between Obama and MCcain at 47% each.

This is shaping up to be an intriguing, tactical contest heading for sudden death overtime. The person who makes the least mistake in these last days will become President of The United States of America.