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February 12, 2007
Barack Obama & the Thunder Down Under
While many eyes were focused on the frigid American Midwest, peering at a certain U.S. Senator from Illinois, and wondering if, hoping perhaps, his refreshing rhetoric is not just another carefully prepared mask, eyes on the other side of the world were shooting daggers at the Australian Prime Minister. According to The Courier-Mail, Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd lambasted Prime Minister John Howard right in front of God and everyone, after Howard had said that the Obama candidacy announcement "would have al-Qaeda praying" for the Democrats to win in 2008. (ABC News)
Reasonable people disagree on the schedule to be utilized when terminating military operations in Iraq, but it's a little disquieting to have a world leader adopting such a playground posture on so serious a matter — however, that's beside the point. The real story here, from an American perspective, is that Obama has quickly acquired an heroic stature that makes me more than a little nervous for the man. No pressure, Senator Obama. You're just going to have to stand for everyone whose voice has gone unheard; everyone who wants to genuinely like their political leaders, as opposed to merely tolerating them; and everyone who'd rather government focus on the real problems at hand; and not just 300 million Americans. You've got to be there for the world. Good luck.
International | By joe lance | 11:03 PM