This month I asked my fellow Europeans what they would like to ask my fellow Americans. In person and by e-mail, each paused before articulating thoughtful questions. My 11 American friends responded with equally thoughtful answers.

First I polled my colleagues at the university. Our librarian John asked, ‘Why are Americans so insular, not aware of what is going on in the world? Or perceived to be?' Seven Americans agree, including Pat in Ohio: ‘We are relatively physically "insular." Our Canadian friends have never given us a border fight…And, the US is so big. We are not forced to deal with neighboring countries and…languages. (But this) represents the heartland, not the edges.’
Recent grad Lauren from Maryland says, ‘Many Americans have never traveled outside the US, or (only)…to Canada or Mexico…mostly because of cost and distance. (A lot) know what is going on in the news, but that is really the only way they have to learn about the rest of the world.’
Bria, a former Brit teaching in New Jersey, acknowledges the distance factor—‘Europeans can get to another country much faster’—but also blames ‘little geography/global studies’ in American schools.
Others think more than distance is involved. Blue in a Red State opines, ‘American insularity is a fact. (Many) focus on coping with the immediate present and their own lives. They tune out the unpleasant or strange…anything that is different. They'll change channels…if too much “world” news intrudes on the local. The media, relying on advertising, thus caters to local vs world, entertainment vs information. The good news is that once you break through that ignorance, Americans can also be incredibly caring. The bad news is that it's hard to break through.’
Susan in New Mexico warns, ‘A significant group…preaches that it is good to be insular…that we will lose our freedoms and our power if we stop being insular, if we recognize that we are world citizens and that the limits of the known world don't end at our borders, if we actually strive to learn about the world. Unfortunately, most of our leaders come from this group.’
Cousin Charles in Florida feels this attitude changing: ‘With the internet being the first only true device to make the world flat we are seeing what's really going on, and frankly, it's scary. Can you believe what the Chinese did for the Olympic opening?!’
But Alyce, an African-American in Florida, says, ‘The rest of the world isn't their problem. Many aren't insular.’ Marge, a Pennsylvania arts administrator agrees: ‘Your colleagues are misinformed. We are not insular. On the other hand, why does it matter to your colleagues if we are?’
Ruth describes her home of Cambridge, Massachusetts, as anything but insular. Her neighbors come from and/or travel regularly to Europe, Africa and the Caribbean. Her local shops are ‘the oddest mix of a Portuguese credit union, Japanese grocery store, Brazilian butcher shop and Italian food wholesaler.’
She notes that Europeans have little concept of America’s geography, citing ‘a parent who said he always had to help his son’s international friends rewrite their airline tickets because they thought they could see it (all) in 10 days…Outside of the major coastal cities, Americans don’t interact with or have any need to think about the rest of the world during most of their day-to-day lives. They have, until recently, been pretty self-sufficient. In the last few years the world economy has started to affect the local economy. American jobs are going overseas and more products are coming from overseas, leading to some serious dislocations in the local economy and an isolationist movement.’
Anthropology professor Robert in DC is right back at ya: ‘Why are English so self-satisfied? Provincial, especially with the pound? Why do large numbers of Englishmen think it normal to belong to neo-Nazi groups?’

My former student Ben, volunteering in Africa, was curious about the funding of our elections: ‘Could political messages be communicated more succinctly, reducing the media circus?’
Susie, a public relations professional, disagrees: ‘I see nothing wrong with marketing and selling policies to voters….That is exactly what candidates should be doing. What concerns me is that…the media (don’t) do a good job of cutting through the packaging to get to the meat.’
Retired ad executive Pat explains, ‘Most US advertising sucks…(Barack) Obama did the smart thing in infiltrating YouTube and the net. Unfortunately…to win he needs to get the good old boys…The middle class, non-college educated males are agin' him at the moment. Good old boys don't eat quiche or use YouTube…Only 20% of the advertising does any good…But it does cause talk. And…popularity equates with “know my name”…This election has ceased to be about issues and is now about personalities. Too bad.’
Others blame ‘the media.’ Alyce says, ‘Their livelihood depends on controversy and circus fodder. It definitely could be done more succinctly but not to their advantage.’ Blue in a Red State agrees, ‘It generates revenue. The media circus feeds on itself; I wonder where the money comes from, and where it would go were it not for the campaigns?’
Ruth calls it ‘an immoral waste of money. It takes way too long. We, the electorate, often get little more than meaningless sound bites of news and ads for all of that money and time (which) could be so much better spent on schools, or roads and bridges.’
Lauren, however, blames the voters who ‘aren't going to town hall debates, or actively searching for answers about candidate's policies. The way to get to them is advertisements…My younger sister, who turns 18 on November 4,…is voting for Obama because she likes the way he "can bust a move" (dance) as shown on the Ellen Degeneres show. Unfortunately, idiots can vote.’
But Marge is less cynical. The process ‘involves an enormous amount of words and persuasion and many of us love that about it. The fact that we spend so much money, time and effort shows how important it is to us. It may look bad to the outsider, and it can be…exhausting, but the energy and passion (are) proof that we still believe in it. And that makes me happy.’

The Europeans were particularly interested in the American candidates. My officemate Jonathan wondered, ‘How did someone who nobody heard of get to run for president?’
Lauren isn’t sure if he meant Obama or Senator John McCain. Both ‘have been on the political scene for quite some time. Obama was probably much less known, although he got a huge boost after appearing on Oprah (Winfrey’s talk show) and writing his book. The beautiful thing about America is you can go from someone nobody knows to the presidential nominee by getting out there, spreading your message and making people believe in it. It is, after all, land of the "American dream," cheesy as it may sound.’
The others assume Jonathan meant Obama, but Pat chastises his insularity. ‘You, my European friend, may not have heard of him. However, I had a grad student (African-American) who told me years ago that he was an up-and-comer and to watch him. It all depends on what magazines and newspapers you read.’
Alyce cites his debut at the 2004 Democrat convention. ‘He wowed the country with his knowledge, sincerity and oration. We knew then he was going places. In the beginning of the primaries he was a dark horse but he connected.’
Blue in a Red State explains, ‘Obama gave a moving speech, grabbed some attention, got Oprah's support and thus time on her show. She hyped his book. That kept him out in the public eye, and he seems to have taken it from there.’
Ruth agrees with Lauren about the American dream, ‘that peculiar American belief that if you are smart enough, fast enough, pretty enough, you can be whatever you want to be. It leads to some very odd results, some very bad ones, but in this case a pretty good one. Obama built…a superb grassroots operation. They are many, organized, eager and not to be underestimated. That is what did in Hillary (Clinton), in addition to the charisma.’
Originally a Hillary supporter, Ruth has been won over: ‘I…thought him talented but lacking in experience. He sure inspires a lot of folks.…I have finally succumbed, (seeing) him as the absolutely right person for the job right now, and wise enough to pick top notch advisors. He has a stature and temperament that is very hard to explain; you trust him to think before he acts, and to think long term.’

A graduate student asked, ‘What do you think of Obama being hailed as the next president even before the election?', echoing Pamela in London who wrote: ‘All we've heard about in Europe is the beauteous Obama. Is that the perception in the US? Was his mission to Europe a good thing?
Half of the Americans feel this is a mis-perception. Alyce cautions, ‘He's not being hailed as the next prez nationwide.’ Bria points out, ‘Some paint him as aloof and elitist and out of touch with that magic voter, the white, blue collar worker.’ Muriel, an executive in Florida, asks, ‘Is that the perception in the US? What's beauteous?’
Lauren cites political differences: ‘If you are a Democrat, Obama is the best thing since sliced bread. He is a wonderful speaker and the “change” needed for America. If you are a Republican he is an un-patriotic man without enough experience for the job… Some people are stuck in the middle and unsure. My opinion is that he is a well spoken man who is young, hip and appeals to a lot of people.’
Blue in a Red State explains Obamania: ‘Bush is unpopular, and now a lame duck. McCain is not as attractive an agent of change as Obama, and that fuels the talk. But Obama has a long road ahead…The hype works against (him). If his supporters believe that he's already got it (and I am sure they don't) they might not work as hard to turn out the vote. I'm hoping that the ‘08 election will bring a lot of new voters into the system.’
Marge agrees with the European perception: ‘He is beauteous in a way. He has a great smile. And he truly loves what he is doing. That infects people and draws them to him. Contrast that to the sour, bleak fear-mongering that the Republicans have subjected us to for so long.’
Susie thinks other factors are at work, ‘the deep and passionate desire for a new kind of leader who will give voice to the concerns and values of Americans (…about 90% of us) who don't feel represented today…The question Americans will have to answer is whether or not that beauty is more than skin deep.’ But as Cousin Charles points out, ‘We are about as deep as a thimble.’
Mary, a Hillary supporter from Iowa, alone is not impressed. ‘Barack (formerly known as Barry) Obama is the new Ronald Reagan, emoting the power of positive thinking over actual thinking. And just like Reagan, he is proving P T Barnum right: “(You can fool) all of the people some of the time.” Obama is not black; he is a man, he is good looking, and he is young so of course he beat the better qualified more experienced middle-aged woman out in the job interview.’
Everyone thinks his European trip was a good thing, except for Anthro Robert: ‘It wasn't good or bad, it was a spectacle to amuse you people. You are so easily amused.’
Pat points out that McCain told Obama to go, and then, as Alyce says, ‘he made a splash and McCain was put out by it so he became catty.’ But Lauren agrees with Muriel who feels that it didn’t ‘really address the serious issues at home.’

Pamela also had questions about McCain: 'Is he too old? Does he have a chance?'
Cousin Charles and Anthro Robert say he is too old, and Ruth agrees, adding, ‘He is dull; and everybody behind him in his TV appearances are elderly, white, and half asleep. And he can’t run away from the unpopular Mr. Bush.’
Marge can’t decide, and Muriel agrees with Alyce that ‘Age isn’t the issue. McCain is. If another 72-year-old were running he or she could be a better candidate (with) a better grasp of the world and the USA.’
My other five respondents say he’s not too old. Susie cites his experience, and Blue in a Red State explains, ‘Men can get old; women can't.’
Lauren, our youngest respondent, is a big fan: ‘Being young doesn't make you a good candidate for President. (His) doctors’ reports…show he is amazingly healthy…He is older, but he is in amazing shape. I'd rather have McCain's knowledge and experience for one year than Obama just because he is less likely to die in office.’
She also feels McCain has a real chance of winning: ‘He was a POW for five years who suffered terribly because he loved and believed in our country. His father and grandfather were admirals in the Navy which means he knows this country, its military and war, because he has lived it since the day he was born. If he were…younger he would be a landslide favorite. If people can just get over the age thing, they will see he is the man for the job. Don't we all know those who have lived longer usually know more than we do?’
Even those who aren’t supporters, like Pat, point out ‘The war in Georgia reminds everyone that war is always a possibility and that Putin is a very cagy KGB guy…A lot of white guys…would rather die than vote for a black.’ Susie agrees, writing that McCain ‘is a moderate, attractive to liberals who are concerned that Obama is inexperienced or too far to the left and…to moderate Republicans who haven't had a Republican candidate in years. Right-wingers can bitch and moan…that McCain is really a socialist in disguise, but they will have no other choice but to vote for him.’
Even Blue in a Red State admits, ‘He's viable. He's white, wealthy, well known, got the backing of the party. He's got solid credentials on the national level. There's a huge number of voters who are not comfortable with a black man in power and McCain's an attractive alternative. His down sides are known; but don't ever underestimate the attraction of staying with the safe.’
Ruth believes Obama will win, until ‘I go back to my home (rural Virginia) and my husband’s home (rural Idaho). I worry…about the slime campaign and the rednecks.’
Anthro Robert thinks McCain has a chance, writing, ‘Duh. Because half the people usually vote Republican? Because we, too, have racists?’

When I was asking questions and getting answers, neither running mate had been named, so many were interested in Hillary’s fate. Pamela asked, 'Where will she fit in if Obama wins? Will she be the vice presidential candidate?'
All predicted that she wouldn’t be chosen, except Muriel who held out hope and Mary who figured Obama was ‘losing Hillary's base to McCain. But I would feel bad for her to be chosen as VP and have to raise another President; that's asking a lot of any woman.’
Ruth envisions her taking on ‘health care reform or Secretary of Health and Welfare.’ Alyce pictures Clinton as ‘awesome in the Senate majority position,’ and Blue in a Red State predicts, ‘She's back in the Senate, working there. If Obama loses in ‘08, I think we can expect her back for 2012.’ Bria agrees with Marge, who says, ‘She will keep being a senator. The country needs her very badly. She still can have great influence. She will be quiet during the campaign but she will continue to be a great stateswoman!’
Even Pat, who is not a fan, says: ‘If she doesn't wreck the upcoming convention, she'll be a good senator and run next time.’ And Cousin Charles calculates, ‘in 2016 she'll be 69 and just three years younger than McCain (is now).
Anthro Robert has a more cynical view about Hillary’s next move: ‘Get a job? Sue the National Enquirer because they have outed her on her lesbian affairs? Crawl under a rock somewhere? Maybe start selling crap on late night cable tv?...She is like Freddy Krueger; just when you thought she was gone, she will slither back.’

Which leads to my colleagues’ question, ‘Will Americans ever vote for a black or woman president?'
Most say yes, with Susie adding, ‘even though both race and gender reared their ugly heads in the primaries.’ Lauren predicts, ‘It may not be this time around, but it will happen.’
Some think that racism will re-surface. Pat fears, ‘large pockets of good old boys with “riffles,” pick-up-trucks and beer who will not vote for a black or woman in my life time.’ And Blue in a Red State cites ‘news stories about men…who threaten to kill Obama if he becomes President. Stories of people refusing to vote for him because of his name; there are always nuts.
Pamela was also interested in the other women in the contest: ‘Which would make the better President's wife?'
Those with a preference are all for Michelle Obama. Alyce sees her as ‘accomplished, wise, humorous and ambitious. She will support her husband's causes which are all about the country.’ Susie explains, ‘After eight years of Laura (Bush), who did a fine if bland job, we need someone who can shake it up a little.’
Ruth feels Cindy McCain is ‘a much face-lifted Barbie,’ and Pat calls her ‘a rich cold fish. Michelle is a real person. Depends on the "image" one wants of the presidency. And, bottom line, that's what this election may be all about.’
But Marge feels the two wives are ‘impossible to compare. So very different
in image and values.’
Everyone else responds with a resounding, ‘Who cares?!’
Except for Cousin Charles, who chooses Eleanor Roosevelt.

As August ended, McCain stunned the pundits by picking Alaska Governor Sarah Palin as his running mate, guaranteeing that the historic primaries will lead to an historic election.
Three months to go.

Posted on Wednesday 03 of September, 2008 [11:24:23 UTC]

Despite the weak American dollar, wherever we went in Europe this summer, there were plenty of Americans abroad. We heard American accents in Birmingham, London, on the Eurostar to Antwerp and back again. The ones we actually talked to were mostly academics from our previous Semester at Sea voyages.
First we met up with the Semester at Sea ship when it docked in Antwerp and visited with our friends, Michael and Sheila from Connecticut. On a train trip to Ghent we chatted about the upcoming election, and they agreed with our friend the American sociologist we talked to last month.
‘The Hispanic vote will be a deciding factor,’ said Michael, an ethnomusicologist. ‘Barack Obama has definitely gotten more people interested, so he should bring out a lot of Blacks who rarely voted before.’
When My Irish Husband Tony asked again where Obama was getting his funding, Sheila, a school teacher, pointed out that a whole lot came from Oprah Winfrey. ‘He also did a great job of raising small donations through the internet,’ she said.
Back in our hotel, we watched live most of Obama’s speech in Berlin. I pointed out to Tony’s nine-year-old granddaughter that if that man on telly becomes the American president, and serves for two terms, by the time he is finished she will be 17 and he may have made decisions that will affect whether she and/or her future husband serves in a war.
‘He’s boring,’ she said. Everyone’s a critic.
So, back to Birmingham, where another Semester at Sea alumni came to visit, Nancy, an Oklahoman art historian.
We sat in the rare summer sun by one of Birmingham’s canals and the conversation drifted towards girl talk: sports, politics, world affairs. I asked her what Americans in Oklahoma were thinking.
‘Well, I’m not typical,’ she explained. ‘I grew up there as a Republican when it was a totally Democratic state. My father, a lawyer, even ran for Congress as a Republican but didn’t win.
‘But I got a master’s degree, served in the Peace Corps, and then I realized that I just didn’t agree with the Republicans, and so I switched my registration to Democrat. But I never told my mother. Now I’m a Democrat in a totally Republican state.
‘I was so disappointed that Hillary Clinton didn’t win the nomination. This was really her year, but Americans just aren’t ready for a woman, I guess. I’ll vote for Obama, of course, but I don’t feel as though it will matter because our state’s electoral votes will probably all go to John McCain.’
So what about the rumors that McCain will choose a woman for vice-president to bring in all those pissed off middle-aged women who supported Hillary?
‘I hadn’t heard that. I don’t know—who could he pick? I thought Mitt Romney was kind of classy, but pretty wishy washy. He might pick Mike Huckabee to satisfy the religious right, but he doesn’t even believe in evolution! Who could take him seriously? When Huckabee was running he was described as ‘representing values.’ To me, those are just code words for hating gays and being against abortion.’
The e-mails I’ve received recently echo the same messages. Those on both sides are also pleased to be able to watch such an historic election up close, but weary of negative campaigning and political rhetoric.
‘I am pleased to be here to be a part of it because it is I think a once in a lifetime opportunity,’ writes Ann, retired in Pennsylvania.
Susan, a Republican in New Mexico, isn’t looking forward to four more months of ‘disgusting, derogatory remarks about Obama.’
And David, a long-time Democrat in Pennsylvania, cautions, ‘If the Democrats lose this election, they should break up the party and start over.’
Four months to go.

Posted on Friday 08 of August, 2008 [10:33:24 UTC]

High above the Bay of Naples, overlooking the sheer cliffs of the Amalfi Coast, while cars and mopeds and tour buses narrowly avoided each other around every hairpin turn, an Irish man, a Canadian woman, and two American professors-one male, one female-sat on a balcony after a long, hot day of vacationing. They feasted on cheese, ham, bread and olives from the supermarket in nearby Sorrento. And four bottles of wine, two red, two white.

Before the first bottle was opened, I asked my fellow American professor Jim for his thoughts on the American election. His Canadian cousin Mary Ellen and My Irish Husband Tony threw in their two cents' worth as well.

American Female: This is an historic election. What does an American sociologist think?

American Male: Pass me the red.

American Female: No, seriously.

American Male: Never underestimate the stupidity of the American people.

Irish Male: Do you think they would trust a black man without a lot of experience to be president? Can I have some more mozzarella?

American Male: Even if they don't, this election already symbolizes a turning point in America. It's not that I think they are stupid, it's just that Americans, many of whom have true life interests with liberal candidates, have twice elected George W. Bush and that, even if Barack Obama is manifestly superior, they could vote for the conservative again because of race issues.

Canadian Female: But isn't it wonderful to have two candidates who are ‘minorities' get this far? In Canada we have all been watching this election really closely. Where's that other cheese?

American Male: Of course, Hillary Clinton technically isn't a minority, but a minority among candidates. It has taken America forty years to accept a black candidate. Obama came out of nowhere, and has done it on his charisma, not his blackness. The fact that he is a black person and has support shows that the country has come a long way. Pass the olives. It shows the Democratic party has come a long way. They never dared to put forth a serious black or female candidate before. Obama and Clinton are both seen as serious candidates.

Canadian Female: I understand she is one of the top ten lawyers in the US. I don't want any ham, just more bread.

American Male: Like I said, this symbolizes a real turning point in this country. The residue of sexism and racism is very strong. More mozzarella. But next time no one is going to care. It took a generation to not care if the candidate was Irish or Greek, etc. This is now over-caring about the candidate's race. But as Hillary said, gender is not over.

Canadian Female: I wish it was a non-issue. But I do think gender is a more overt issue than race. People still can make degrading personal comments about females running for office or whatever, but to make similar comments because of race would be totally unacceptable. That's my view. More wine?

American Male: I think it mattered this time, but next time it won't matter.

American Female: Those olives smell great. Did you try them, honey? When I've asked my friends in the States for their thoughts, I've gotten a lot of negative rhetoric about Hillary, even from her key demographic-middle-aged, middle class women like myself. But very little aimed at Barack. Is it ok to beat up the white chick but not the black guy?

American Male: A woman is a greater threat. Blacks have become like Jews, Italians, Irish. Most people, even conservative voters, will say, ‘They're probably okay.' But women have been in a genderized role for uncountable eons.

American Female: Well-here, have some bread-originally there was separation of labor so men went out hunting and we stayed home and had babies.

American Male: Separation of labor still has to do with power. When women run the world it threatens people. Hillary is tough and no nonsense. And that can piss a lot of people off. We're frightened of that. Men are frightened of that. Give me some more cheese.

Irish Male: I think the Republicans got exactly who they want to run against. Where else would Obama get all that money? Can I have some more red?

American Female: Don't have too much ham, honey. So who do you think will win?

American Male: Hard for me to say. Give me a bit more red. Don't underestimate the general lack of interest of the American citizen. Race will definitely play a significant role. But what will counter that will be the black people who come out to vote. There will be anti-black voting among Republicans and independents, but the blacks who haven't traditionally voted before will come out in numbers. Remember, the last significant black political figure was Martin Luther King forty years ago.

American Female: More cheese?

American Male: The fly in the ointment, however, is the Hispanic vote. Many Hispanics, traditionally Democrats, are threatened by blacks. They might not vote, and that will hurt Obama. My belief is-I always tell my apathetic students this-that a non-vote is a vote for the winner and, in a close election, that could be a vote for McCain.

Canadian Female: I don't discuss politics with my friends in Toronto. In our neighbourhood they tend to be conservative and I'm not. Our one friend will make some stupid comment about Hillary and I won't let him get away with it. My husband says, Just leave it alone. But I have a right to say what I think. Do you want more cheese?

American Female: It just seems as though it is so personal this time. It's not about the issues anymore. Is there any more white?

American Male: But it is about non-personal things, like gender things. You know, I have had similar discussions with my women colleagues at the university. They tell me, ‘We still have to fight every step of the way. A woman's role is supposed to be the nurturer, and we have to remind the students that we're not their mothers.' They feel as though they are still being looked at only in a gender way. No one goes after me in a gender way. And Hillary isn't a nurturer. She's a tough lady and people are still frightened by that. Pass me the red.

Both Females: Did everyone get enough to eat?

Both Males: I'm stuffed. That was great.

Next month, My Irish Husband Tony and I are going to Antwerp, Belgium, to meet up with our friends sailing and studying with the Semester at Sea program. We'll find out what they are thinking over moules et frites and Belgian beer.

Five months to go.

Posted on Sunday 08 of June, 2008 [16:46:20 UTC]

Down to London again to visit our students who are working on internships, and—whaddaya know? There is another Democrats Abroad get together at the Duke of York pub, not far from my hotel in Marylebone.
On a lovely warm May evening—and don’t we deserve it after 18 months of winter, no summer, and yet more winter?—I head off in Marylebone, confident that I will remember where the old Victorian pub stands, or someone will direct me.
The guy at the hotel directs me wrong. The kind woman at the wrong pub points me in another direction. The two old fat Irish guys sitting outside that pub definitely know where the Duke of York pub is.
Turns out there are two Duke of York pubs in Marylebone. Who knew? And the wrong one sure looks like the right one when I get there. But they have no Americans and direct me to the right one (on New Cavendish Street, for the record).
So, an hour late, I get my half pint of cider and walk up the stairs to the tatty function room with ten or twelve Democrats Abroad sitting around discussing the current split in the party.
Emotions are running high. No one is fighting, but one of the few Hillary Clinton supporters points out that the body language from the Barack Obama supporters makes her feel as though she is being attacked. Crossed arms, pouting faces, raised voices about how Clinton is damaging the party by continuing to run.
‘I’m just saying that if Obama gets the nomination, his supporters are going to have to work to keep us Hillary people in the party,’ she offered.
Karin, an early Obama supporter, says, ‘One thing we can all agree on—the delegate selection process sucks.’ But no one can suggest a better way to go about it.
A newcomer from the back suggests, ‘It will go to a brokered convention and Obama will tell his delegates to nominate Al Gore.’
‘Oh, great,’ groans a former Hillary supporter sitting next to me. ‘The white woman and the black man aren’t good enough, so the white guy steps in and takes over. Perfect.’
Someone else suggests another white guy: ‘The best Democrat ever: Jimmy Carter.’
The conversation turns to vice presidential picks. More white guys: Gore again, John Edwards, Governors Bill Richardson or Ed Rendall, former General Wesley Clark. Some still hold out hopes for Obama-Clinton or even Clinton-Obama.
‘Can’t see it,’ declare others.
As the conversation dwindles, and I’m wondering where I will find something to eat at this hour, a loud noise draws us all to the window. The Marylebone Wednesday Night Skate rolls by. Time to go.
As I leave, I introduce myself to Karin to explain that I am not a spy taking notes, but just collecting info for my blog, which I promise to send her.
So the Democrats Abroad are thinking a lot about this election. Two days later I have the opportunity to find out what some American college students are thinking. Fifteen students and five faculty members from the college I used to teach at in Pittsburgh, now Point Park University, are in London for a ten-day trip. I’ve been asked to talk to them about advertising and public relations in the UK.
At the end I offer to have lunch with those who want to share their election thoughts with me after our agency tour, but as we split into smaller groups, and wander off to find baguette sandwiches in different parts of the Tube station, no one seems particularly interested in American politics.
Later that night, my former colleagues and I have a lovely Italian dinner in Marylebone, and I volunteer to show them a real old Victorian pub. Where else? The Duke of York. Helen’s son and his friend from the trip join us, and I buy her a half pint of cider. The kids get their own legal drinks, enjoying the lower drinking age here.
We settle down at one of the high round tables and I get out my pen and notebook.
‘So what are you thinking?’ I ask Helen’s son, Stephen.
‘Well, I went to register to vote and they screwed up the application, so I couldn’t vote in the Pennsylvania primary.’
‘This was the first time you were able to vote—were you and your friends following the process closely?
‘Yeah, sort of. Most of them aren’t talking about it.’
‘What about you?’ I ask his friend, Tim.
‘I voted for the first time, and it was mostly old people there.’
‘Define old,’ I ask, pointedly.
‘Well, it was the middle of the day, so I think they were retired,’ Tim replied. ‘But I did see Obama speak on my campus.’
‘Really? What did you think?’
‘Well, I had heard he was real inspiring and everything. And he was good and all, but he didn’t really say much. I mean, he spoke real well, but I couldn’t find out where he stood on the issues,’ said Tim. ‘So I went to his website and I pulled up Clinton’s and put them side by side in two different browsers so I could see where they both stood.’
‘And what issues are important to you?’
‘Social Security. That will affect me when I get old. Jobs, because I’ll be looking for one soon. I’m a registered Democrat; my mom is too. My parents always voted so I’ve always paid attention to elections.
From the regular e-mail update I get from my undergraduate alma mater, I learned that Obama had also visited little Lycoming College in Williamsport during the run up to the all-important Pennsylvania primary. According to the report in the local Sun-Gazette, ‘Among those hearing Obama’s speech was Whitni Ciofalo, a Bucknell University sophomore, who said she likes the message he offers. “I just think he’s a very progressive person who hasn’t been jaded by the political system,” she said. “He brings hope to the country.”’
‘What about your other college friends?’ I asked Tim.
‘Some say they would never vote for a black; some say they would never vote for a woman,’ he told me.
‘You’re kidding?’ I ask incredulously.
‘No, really. I was surprised too. I don’t care if someone is black, or a woman…’
Helen says that Chelsea Clinton made a visit to the Point Park campus in the heart of downtown Pittsburgh before the Pennsylvania primary as well.
‘That energized a lot of kids. They went to hear her because she’s a celebrity and it was right across the street,’ Helen added. ‘But right afterwards, some formed a College Democrats group. I think it really got them excited to see someone who is not much older than they are being part of the process.’
The Canadian bartender rang the bell for last call and it was time to find our way home through the streets of Marylebone. By now, I’m good at this.
We said our goodbyes and I walked past the little restaurant where I had had dinner on my own a few nights earlier, after the Democrats Abroad friendly ‘debate.’ At that point, my thoughts had switched from politics to antipasto, but I did notice that the two college-aged women at the table next to me were talking in New York accents.
One said to her friend, ‘And she was like asking me, would you ever run for president? And I was like, yeah, y’know, I would.’
Is that what American college students are thinking?
Five months to go.

Posted on Saturday 24 of May, 2008 [09:25:29 UTC]

About six months to go and time to do some polling. After sending out e-mails since last November asking my friends what they think, this month I decided to give them specific questions to respond to.

Contrary to my brother’s prediction, not all my friends are left-wing, northeastern, academic, National Public Radio-worshipping, chardonnay-swigging liberals. Well, not all.

Sixteen responded to my survey, or sent related comments, some of whom hadn’t spoken up before. Eleven female and five male, all white except for one African-American woman. Some liberal I am.

Of the bunch, there is only one stated Hillary Clinton supporter, Dick in south Florida. Three of the women are for Barack Obama, and two others, including the African-American, will vote for whichever Democrat runs. One Republican, the youngest respondent, didn’t come out clearly for John McCain, but two others did. Three people didn’t indicate a favourite, but lean Democratic. Four were vociferously anti-Hillary, two male, two female.

It’s not a scientific poll, but let’s see what they have to say…

Should Hillary Clinton drop out of the race? Why or why not?

Dick the Hillary supporter said no, ‘because she will win.’ And because back in December Merle Haggard predicted, ‘It'll be a landslide for the Democrats,’ at that time, meaning Hillary.

Sharon in Pennsylvania, one of the Barack fans, said yes because ‘she is behind and staying in may cause some to revert to voting Republican.’ The other two Obama supporters were split, and one of the uncommitted women says Hillary should stay in but, ‘I wish Bill would drop out.’ Both of the any-Democrat-in-a-storm women say she should stay in, cautioning, ‘It's not over yet.’ Blue in a Red State adds, ‘She won big states, and the super delegates are important…There's huge interest and focus in the media, all of which puts McCain in the shadows.’

Predictably, most of the anti-Hillary group believe she should go. Charles in central Florida says, ‘Her hair looks terrible and poor Chelsea is tired of defending her Dad's, "I didn't have sex with that woman."’ Robert, an academic in Washington, DC, feels she is ‘a liar, a thief, and completely unqualified to be president.’ Pat, a recently retired academic in Ohio, states, ‘The party is so divided now, and the dirt will only get muddier; by staying in she's almost handing the outcome to McCain. But she won't drop out. Ms. Clinton would not think of doing anything for the good of the party.’

The Republicans want her to stay in, mostly to help them. McCain supporter Tom from south Florida says, ‘Why should she drop out if the race is so close and she still has a chance to win? Just because the media have fallen in love with Obama and are putting pressure on her to drop out is no reason for her to give up.’ And Karen from Ohio says hopefully, ‘the longer she is in the more it divides the Democrats.’ Our young Republican states, ‘I thought there was no chance a Republican would win, but as long as Hillary and Barack continue to bad mouth and campaign against each other, McCain can just sit back and wait for the votes. She's giving every Republican hope.’

''If she doesn’t drop out and does get the nomination…
Who should/will she choose as a running mate? And
What position should/will she offer Barack Obama?''

Hillary’s lone supporter offers, ‘a white male, younger, from a swing state.’ The other Democrats suggested anyone from senators Joe Biden, John Edwards, or John Kerry, to governors Evan Bayh of Indiana or Jim Webb of Virginia.

The anti-Hillary brigade was more cynical. Robert dismissed the question because ‘She will only get the nomination through either fraud or backroom dealings.’ Charles asked, ‘Is there anyone left from Travelgate not in prison or granted a presidential pardon?’ Both Pat in Ohio and Liz in Pennsylvania figure that Bill Clinton will be vice president anyway. Pat asks, ‘If she does not choose him…who in their right mind would want a second rate position working with a bitch who will never let him near the White House?’

Lauren the young Republican agrees about Bill’s place in his wife’s administration, but the McCain supporters and un-committeds suggest Obama or Edwards.

Most say that Hillary shouldn’t or wouldn’t offer Obama anything, although one anti-Hillary wit suggested, ‘Head of kitchen staff.’

''If Barack Obama gets the nomination…
Who should/will he choose as a running mate?
What position should/will he offer Hillary Clinton?''

Obama’s supporters suggest Biden, Edwards, Kerry, senators Chris Dodd or Edward Kennedy, or New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. ‘Someone very experienced in foreign policy,’ says Anne from Pennsylvania. Anti-Hillary Pat in Ohio also mentions the Hispanic governor because, ‘Clinton's term for Richardson is Judas.’

Dick the Hillary supporter also suggests Dodd, or anyone else ‘white male, older, from the northeast.’ The non-committed like either Edwards or Richardson, but still hold out hope for an Obama-Clinton rapprochement.

Robert says that Barack will ‘have to pick a white guy,’ and Charles figures, ‘a Jewish, female disabled war vet.’

Most of the Republicans say it will be Richardson, but Tom in Florida hopes for ‘Kennedy, thereby ruining Barack’s chances of winning.’

As for Hillary’s fate in an Obama-led America, most think she will go back to being a senator, ‘where she has more power, or try for Governor of New York’ according to Pennsylvanian Anne. Uncommitted Ruth in Massachusetts says ‘Czar of Health Care, taking us to universal coverage.’

Charles suggests Barack should ‘let her co-author his next book,’ and two other non-fans invite her to apply for an internship, ‘so she can learn a life skill,’ as Robert says.

Who should/will John McCain choose as a running mate?

On the already-decided Republican campaign, most agree McCain’s VP will have to be someone younger. The name mentioned most often is former candidate Mitt Romney with a few nods to Florida Governor Charlie Crist, by Democrats and Republicans alike.

Blue in a Red State offers, ‘I think he'll need a right-winger to bring back the “conservatives” for whom he's too liberal. Perhaps somebody from the religious right?’ Florida Democrat Alyce suggests, ‘A psychiatrist because he seems chronically depressed,’ and the two non-committeds say Condoleezza Rice, described by Howard in Pennsylvania as ‘maybe his only chance.’ Caroline, my only British respondent asks, ‘Is there more than one Republican left in the US?’

If you support none of the above, who would be your ideal ticket?

The McCain and Obama supporters are all happy with their guys, although Caroline could go with Bill Gates and Al Gore. Hillary’s man in Florida wishes for her husband matched with former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, and Pat in Ohio votes for herself.

Charles in Florida seems to have no ideals left: ‘In one case we have a 70-plus ex-war hero from (count ‘em) three wars ago with little or no real government achievement other than real courage and commitment to country and on the other hand we have an ex-First Lady who could not even control her husband or his antics and is by all measures a "true bitch" in every sense of the word. Lastly we have Obama. Half black, half white, and all new. Gotta like his eloquent way of saying nothing but at least making it sound like change.’

More idealistically, Blue in a Red State wishes for someone with ‘Experience, intelligence, compassion, universal health care, education, against torture…accountable (problems for the Clintons on that one), anti-free-trade (…but since free trade isn't free, let's call it pro-fair-trade), human rights, women's rights (I'd so like to move past the abortion hot button). I just need to find another planet.’

But our young Republican still can dream: ‘I'd like to see an independent run and have a chance. It would be refreshing to see someone who shares views from both sides so we could actually get something done. It would also require voters to learn about the issues instead of voting just based on party affiliations.’

Uncommitted Howard would opt for John Lennon and Paul McCartney because ‘at least the music would be good.’ As My Irish Husband Tony adds, ‘now that’s a ticket to ride.’

So what have we learned? (1) I have really interesting friends. (2) This is a really divisive election. (3) No matter what happens, some people are going to be really pissed off.

Six months to go.

Posted on Tuesday 15 of April, 2008 [18:48:47 UTC]

We’ve lived through Super Tuesday, super Texas, super Ohio, tiny Rhode Island, tiny Vermont, deep south Mississippi, and vast, empty Wyoming. My sister-in-law, a teacher in Ohio, is glad to have reached the end of the political advertising and automated phone calls. ‘Let me say that John McCain can go on and on and on,’ she writes.
When I asked my fellow Americans on my e-mail list to tell me once again what they are thinking about this election, no committed McCain supporters surfaced. Howard in Pennsylvania dismissed the 72-year-old candidate on the basis of age: ‘I have over 50 senior citizens in the assisted living home I am operating and, as much as I love them, I wouldn't let any one of them run the microwave or lawn mower let alone the country.’
So what about the Democratic battle? While there are some vehement Hillary supporters out there, on my e-mail list, Obama rules.
His message must be getting through, because all used the same description, ‘a breath of fresh air.’ A recent college grad in Pennsylvania went on to say she thinks he is ‘a mover and shaker. Voting for Hilary would smack of nepotism...so many ties to old politics, past family members in office, yada yada yada—everything we want to get away from. Plus...come on, Hillary! What's with the football helmet hair?’
David, a non-voting ex-pat Brit living in Seattle, describes a U of Washington sociology professor as a Barackista, ‘though she’d love to see a female president. She worries that the Clintons owe too much to too many people and that Hillary will have to spend inordinate amounts of time repaying political debts rather than getting on with the business of sorting out the mess that George W. Bush is going to leave behind.’ She feels ‘Obama is more electable.’
This is echoed by a retired advertising woman in Pennsylvania, ‘I started off being for Hilary but over the past few weeks I have moved my loyalty to Obama. I truly am tired of the same old politics and I am hoping that he will bring a whole new perspective...not only by himself but through the people he will have around him.’
A Black educator in Florida is volunteering for Obama since Edwards dropped out, but would support Hillary. ‘Thinking back over all the years…I've encountered more problems because I'm a woman than I have because I'm Black…But that isn't why I'm voting for him. I truly believe he will make a difference in our world.’
David the Brit and his American partner who can vote are leaning to Hillary. ‘She has more concrete policies than Obama, giving you a much clearer sense of the action she wants to take once in office, and she is the more accomplished and assured of the two of them, particularly in off-the-cuff discussions. Obama is the more inspirational speaker, and is great at energizing an audience, but he’s been lacking detail, and that has worried us both. The dream ticket for us would be Clinton-Obama, she being the senior partner.’
A Pennsylvania arts administrator has gotten involved with the local Democratic committee to re-engage ‘with the ideals of my youth. The country is still kind of sick at heart I would say...I suppose if anyone can deal with it, it's Hillary. She looks stronger and more focused and confident every day.’
But who will be the winner in November?
Blue in a Red State predicts, ‘If it comes down to Obama vs McCain, it'll be new guys vs old, semi-black vs white, get out of Iraq vs stay the course…I think lots of excitement might be generated by O's folks; they really know how to get buzz going. My problem is, of course, that I find it very empty buzz.’
A Pennsylvanian supporting Obama because she feels he has a better chance of beating McCain, admits, ‘I’m afraid for our country. I think there is a lot riding on this election for us. Either Hillary or Obama will help us internationally, I believe, more than McCain.’
Pat, a professor in Ohio, says, ‘McCain sure isn't great—but far more trustworthy than Ms. Clinton. While Obama may lack experience, hope continues to be a good thing.
And, yes, rather than vote for Ms. Clinton—even I would vote for McCain.’

But Professor Dick in Florida cautions us, ‘One prediction you Brits can take to the bank: McCain will not win.’
One former conservative, living in New Mexico, says, ‘I look forward to wrestling my country back from the arrogant right wing of the Republican party and putting real American values to work at home and abroad.’
Unfortunately, my youngest correspondent is the most cynical: ‘It's picking the lesser of three evils, anyway. Politics are politics: innately corrupt.’
Those who fear an Obama candidacy will mean a Republican victory, feel this election is the Democrats’ to lose. In the words of the newest candidate, Ralph Nader, ‘If the Democrats can’t win this year, they ought to hang it up.’
In the words of Pat in Ohio, ‘How can a party—who had the election so sewed up because even a Democratic trained monkey could have won against the vestiges of "Bush"—be on the verge of destroying itself and losing in November?’
One Hillary supporter is so enflamed, she wrote to Democratic national committee chairman Howard Dean, and shared her comments with me: ‘I told him I was quitting the Democratic Party after a lifetime of personal Democratic voting; told him I hung in there when we were outsmarted by the Republicans in Florida and Al Gore lost; told him I was there when John Kerry was the best we could muster and even John Edwards’ charisma couldn’t light a fire under him and we lost again. But this year, this is the last. This year the election was a giveaway to the Democrats. Yet could we pull together and get behind the leading candidate? Oh no; god forbid that we strategize and form a voting bloc that guarantees the Democrats will win. Maybe the party leaders didn’t get behind the leading candidate because he was a woman. Maybe that wasn’t it. Doesn’t matter. We are pulling apart and this division will help McCain…The only question now is whether I will actively vote against Obama and help elect John McCain…Can’t say I would vote for someone against Roe v. Wade, but I may well sit home.’
On a brighter note, David the Brit attended the Washington state caucus, and found the whole process quite a contrast to that back in his home town of Birmingham, UK:
‘So how would this work in Europe? Can you picture a situation where people bring their children along to see what happens in the political process, and STAY for an hour or so? I remember going to the polls with my parents, but of course, there was no debate at a British polling station. Here, kids got to hear people discussing issues with good humour and a lot of passion—can you picture it in the UK? In Germany? Caucusing strikes me as a great exercise in democracy, and people came away feeling like they’d played their part in deciding the next person to run for President. Not a bad feeling at all.’
Eight months to go.

Posted on Sunday 16 of March, 2008 [20:21:23 UTC]

There may be nine million bicycles in Beijing (who counted?), but I saw almost that many in Oxford where I went to vote in the Democrats Abroad primary.
On the train from Birmingham I shared a table with two young men deeply engrossed in their laptops. Glancing out the window at the lovely English countryside, I glimpsed the USA World Wrestling match that the one next to me was watching.
The clerk in the station’s tourist centre pointed me in the right direction for the Rothmere American Institute. For the first time in weeks it wasn’t raining, so I decided to enjoy the walk.
The path was the same I had taken last month for the Dems Abroad ‘speakeasy’ I had come to as a trial run. Past the pub where we’d met that night, I crossed the street at Rhodes House. Is that where Clinton lived when he was here as a Rhodes scholar all those years ago? He hadn’t met his future wife yet.
That morning I had awoken to Hillary’s voice on Radio 4, at a victory rally celebrating Super Tuesday. ‘I want to thank my mother,’ she said above the noise of the crowd, ‘who was born before women could vote, and is watching her daughter on this stage tonight.’ What a world.
Past the chemistry department buildings, I changed from my walking shoes to my make-a-good-impression shoes and entered the modern building with the American flags discreetly showing in the window. Following the signs and arrows down the steps, I asked a woman where the Democratic primary was. ‘The noisy voices—in that room,’ she said.
She was right. It sounded like a different country. Not loud and obnoxious voices, but definitely American. After three years of living here—with My Irish Husband Tony’s Dublin brogue—it sure sounded foreign.
I filled out a form, showed my passport, and was given a blue form with ‘Provisional Ballot’ printed across it. It’s provisional until they check that you didn’t cheat and vote on-line as well; however, they can’t check whether you cheated and also voted in your home state primary. (I hadn’t.)
After voting and snarfing a complementary Oreo enticingly placed next to the blue plastic ballot box, I introduced myself to the tall, red-headed local chairman at the registration desk. ‘My cheap train ticket from Birmingham means I can’t go back until 7:07, so I can volunteer if you need me.’
‘Sure!’ he said, in fluent American. ‘Alex here has to leave soon, so you can take over for him.’
Alex looked familiar from last month’s pub visit. Originally from Portland, OR, he is studying for a master’s here, and planning to stay on for at least a year with his newfound British girlfriend.
He explained how the Democrats Abroad primary works.
‘We get 22 delegates to the convention. Eleven will be chosen by the vote of all the Democrats abroad, at primaries like this, on-line and by mail, and allotted by some complicated formula. The other 11 are super delegates, people from the party, etc.
‘Proportionately, you are better represented here—each delegate equals about 2,000 votes—as opposed to a big state like California where it is about 14,000 votes per delegate.’
I asked Alex how he got involved in politics.
‘Oh, my parents were always taking me along to political rallies. And I volunteered in New Hampshire in ’04 for Kerry,’ he said.
‘How was it?’
‘Cold,’ he remembered.
The woman who had directed me to the room joined me at the welcoming table after I had taken Alex’s position.
Geraldine has lived in the UK since the 70s. ‘I’m for Hillary,’ she confided. ‘That’s pretty unusual here.’
‘Why?’ I asked.
‘The students are all for Obama. But I’m really glad to see young people realizing how important this election is.’
The red-headed chairman, getting ready to leave, turned to me.
‘You said you can stay until we close at 5:30, right?’
‘Right. I can’t get the train back until 7.’
‘Then I’m appointing you co-counter. Is that okay?’
‘Sure!,’ I replied, honoured. What a country.
Bill, the chairman of Democrats Abroad UK who lives in Oxford, announced, softly, that a seminar was beginning in the next room and we had to be quiet so they wouldn’t ask us to move. We all began whispering and shushing each new voter who enthusiastically came in to cast a ballot.
I followed Bill in to the hallway to ask him how the primary had gone the day before in London, but I was intercepted by an Oxford Mail reporter.
After explaining where I was from, who I had voted for and why, she asked me, ‘And how old are you?’
I hesitated. I’d confessed to my students, but…
‘Old enough to vote,’ I replied.
A few Oreos later, I sat down with Bill to get the story on yesterday’s much larger London event.
‘We had 1700-1800 people there—three times what the hall would hold.’ He checked his notes.
‘1547 were voters, but they bring British spouses, partners, etc. Four years ago there wasn’t a primary in Oxford and only 600 showed up in London, so we had no idea how many would come this time.
‘We planned the program for 7 to 7:40, but only got through about 2/3 of it. The candidates’ representatives didn’t get to speak, but by now, most know what Obama and Clinton stand for. I made an announcement, “We have a problem, but it is a good problem. Could those who have voted leave so those waiting five deep outside can get in?” We had 400 voters per hour. After 9 pm we took the ballot boxes off the stage, leaving one by the door, and started counting.
‘It’s not a secret ballot. Each box has a label on it: Obama, Clinton, Other and Anonymous if you don’t want the others to know.
‘Everyone I’ve seen vote in Oxford was white. Was that true in London?’
‘Mostly white, but there were some minorities,’ Bill said. ‘Before you came there were some black students and a black mother with her child here.’
Bill checked his notes for the final London tally. ‘433 for Clinton, 998 for Obama, 16 other and one write-in for Gore. They will be added with the votes here, on-line and through the post, so we won’t have a total until the end of the month.’
Back at the check-in table, as one Democrat Abroad after another entered, took off his or her bike helmet, and listened to the explanation of how to vote, the conversation turned to typical ex-pat concerns. How long have you been here? Where did you meet him? Will you go back? Visas, passports, the government’s proposal to tax rich foreigners who earn money elsewhere but live in the UK (not a problem in our household), and dismissive ire for Americans who don’t bother to vote.
At 5:30, we closed. As co- counter I grabbed another Oreo and sat down with Bill to count the blue papers from the plastic box.
First, we separated them into Obama and Clinton. ‘Make piles of 25,’ Bill instructed. I counted Clinton—exactly 25 plus one that might be invalidated because it had no local address—noting that only five were male names.
Bill handed me his pile of 25 Obamas to re-count and re-check, and then the tall pony-tailed guy with the Obama button counted and checked another pile of 25. After three rounds of this, I realized that if two Florida counties had been this careful eight years ago, we wouldn’t be in this pickle.
Final tally: 118 Obama, 26 Clinton, to be validated after checking against on-line votes.
A fellow Democrat from the registration table offered me a lift in to town and explained on the way that she has lived here more than 20 years, coming as an international banker and staying on after marrying a Brit.
She dropped me at the Sainsbury’s where I picked up a salmon pasta salad with a handy plastic fork tucked inside the lid, green and black olives with feta cheese, a tiny overpriced bottle of chardonnay (no plastic cups—damn), and a double tiramisu to share with Tony back home. I noted an unusual number of young American voices ahead of me in the line.
After walking past the crowded bicycle stands outside the train station, I scammed a plastic cup from the coffee stand in exchange for a contribution to the tip jar, and waited on the platform, watching Hillary and Barack on the telly, both claiming victory for Super Tuesday.
On the train I offered my olives to the two women sharing my table, busily working on their laptops. ‘No thanks,’ said the one across from me. ‘Quite a picnic there.’
In the seat across the aisle I could see the headline in my fellow passenger’s Daily Mirror: ‘51st State: Democrats Abroad Vote in London.’
Nine months to go.

Posted on Monday 18 of February, 2008 [21:23:08 UTC]

In 1984, back in Pennsylvania, my friend Mary and I, neither of us very political, attended a rally to hear Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman vice presidential candidate. We were all kept waiting outside a huge empty room while her entourage found its way to the hotel, and then we stood around in that room waiting through other speeches to get to hers. Afterwards, I got a blurred photo of her being ushered out via a hallway. She was inspiring. The event was not.
After moving to Ireland, then to Florida, I ended up in Birmingham in the UK. Mary moved to California, Washington DC, Michigan, then back home to Iowa. She works there now as a fund-raising executive and supports Hillary Clinton.
I always thought Mary was, like me, a big city girl—from Manhattan, or Chicago. Imagine my surprise the day she took out childhood photos of herself in a cornfield. But it couldn’t compare to my shock when she showed me pictures of a parade in Des Moines. ‘There are black people in Iowa?’ I asked, incredulously. ‘Oh, yeah, some,’ she had said.
So I called Mary the day after the Iowa caucuses, the first contest to choose American presidential candidates.
‘How was it?’ I asked.
‘As my friend Pam said, chaotic and disorganized.’
‘Tell me more,’ I said, intrigued.
‘We got to the local school gym a bit after six pm. At the same precinct caucus four years ago, 341 showed up, twice as many as the one before. This year there were 585. But if you were in line when the doors were locked at 7 pm, you got in.
‘You sign in, and, as long as you are a registered voter—independent, even Republican—you can become an official Democrat that night. I’d been through this before, so I brought cookies.
‘Your famous toll house cookies?!’ I asked.
‘Yes. Not as bribes, but because the whole thing takes so long, everyone gets hungry.
‘You stand under your candidate’s sign. They had to send the Joe Biden and Bill Richardson people to other rooms, and the Barack Obama people were sent to another gymnasium.
‘We didn’t start until 7:50, so they skipped stuff—like passing the hat to raise money for the local and state Democratic party. By 8:20 we were just getting our initial results—Hillary had 116, Obama 242, etc.—and a guy with a Blackberry told us that CNN was already claiming John Edwards and Mike Huckabee were leading the state. I guess other precincts were more organized.’
A candidate has to get 15% of the people at a caucus to be ‘viable,’ and that meant 88 at Mary’s. Those in the lesser candidates’ corners have to switch to someone viable.
‘That’s “re-alignment.” Each candidate’s representative speaks for two minutes. I liked the guy from Chris Dodd. He was good looking and very impressive. He explained that Dodd wasn’t campaigning in Iowa because he was back in Washington introducing legislation—working. But Dodd did want his name out there for vice-president or secretary of state.’
Interesting.
‘Dennis Kucinich’s rep said that he will impeach George Bush. The Biden guy was the best dressed—nice jacket, dark turtleneck—but boring. The woman representing Richardson said the country was being held hostage to corporations, and that Richardson was CEO of a big state. The young black man representing Edwards was quite good. But Obama’s campaign sent a dorky white guy who just repeated everything we’d heard before.
‘I was disappointed with the Clinton representative. I’d heard him before make a good argument for her electability by pointing out that in all the polls she beats any Republican; not always the other Democrats, but always the Republicans. But this time he just told some lame story.
‘Anyway, at 8:45 we had 20 minutes to re-align, and there was a really disorganized head count. Hillary picked up about one-third of the people available, so we finished with 138. That figures into a weighted average of the nine delegates our precinct is allotted for the state convention.
‘My friend was at a more organized precinct, where there were 700+, but they were done by 9 pm. This being Iowa, my friends and I went over to her house for pie. And we watched the candidates on CNN.’
So, is this any way to pick a president? No one knew these caucuses existed until an unknown Southern governor, Jimmy Carter, won them in 1976.
‘Y’know, Iowans are decent, ordinary people. But we’re not representative of the nation. As Pam said, “This is not a harbinger.” Out of the 585 in my precinct, over 200 went for Obama, but there were only about 20 African-Americans, a few Mid-eastern and Asian immigrants.
‘A lot of Iowans have never met a black person. They went for Obama, but they are all complaining about the ‘newcomers’ who are invading their schools. In November, I don’t think Iowa will vote for a black president.
‘A recent college grad I work with said she wasn’t impressed with her first caucus. She wouldn’t do it again. And our student intern, Mark, told me his precinct was a “mob scene.”’
So I talked to Mark.
Studying political science, communications and sexuality studies—quite a mix!—at the University of Iowa, Mark is from Wisconsin. But he applied for Iowa residence to qualify for lower tuition. His precinct was almost all students, almost all white. Out of 133, only he and eleven others stood under Hillary’s sign.
‘Very optimistic when I went in, but to think that Iowa is so un-representative of America and yet it pushes these candidates forward…
‘I was just blown away and quite frustrated. My other Clinton-supporting friends and I were told to switch to Edwards if Hillary wasn’t viable. Her campaign thinks she has a better chance against Edwards. But the Biden people just left. Maybe that’s what we should have done. We ended up with four of our precinct’s delegates going to Obama and two to Edwards.
‘When the Obama people came over to sway us, they couldn’t answer any questions about the issues. They’ve just jumped on his bandwagon. One woman even called Hillary a bitch! I told her she had consumed the social belief that any woman in power must be a bitch.’
I mentioned to Mark and Mary that over here it seems Hillary’s gender is a non-issue. Not so, says Mary.
‘Pam told me that, when Hillary’s name came up over the holidays, her brother-in-law turned beet red and said, “She’s a bitch!” When asked why, he couldn’t give any reasons. There are a lot of people out there who don’t like her and don’t trust her. They’re threatened by her superiority.
‘I started working for a woman president that day you and I went to see Geraldine Ferraro,’ Mary said. ‘Then, we earned 71 cents for every dollar men earned. Now we earn 72 cents. Twenty plus years and we’ve gained a penny. And if we don’t have a woman president in another twenty years, we will move up by only another penny.’
So, assuming Hillary is the candidate, who will be her running mate?
Mary said Edwards. Mark said, ‘She could do well with Richardson or Dodd, but…her best bet might be Edwards.’
What does the Hillary campaign say?
‘Richardson,’ Mark said. ‘He’s been re-elected as a governor of a red state. He’d bring in the south and the west…’
‘Doesn’t he need to drop a few pounds?’ I asked. ‘Otherwise he looks like this great big guy standing behind the girl.’
‘Hmmm. Maybe. It’s still early.’
Ten months to go.

Posted on Sunday 13 of January, 2008 [21:30:04 UTC]

Scanning my Democrats Abroad e-mail newsletter, I realized that there would be a Barack Obama meet-up in London a few blocks from my hotel. Why not?
Decidedly uncommitted, but always interested to learn more, I arrived at the Duke of York pub in Marylebone at 7 pm. The barmaid explained that the meeting was upstairs, but drinks came from down here. I ordered a large house dry white.
Andrew, next to me at the bar, shrewdly detected my accent and asked if I was there for the Obama event. We walked up the tacky-carpeted stairs to the function room where Karen, who I had met at the Democrats Abroad screening of one of the many debates, greeted me. ‘You came from Birmingham! Thank you,’ she remembered. ‘I’m uncommitted,’ I reminded her.
We settled in with our large white wines, pints of cider, and Diet Cokes with a slice. Karen explained her commitment to Obama that had spread to her previously diehard Republican parents and gran. As we each introduced ourselves, the most committed felt the need to share the reason for their presence.
The woman who had lived here 30+ years, married to a Brit, had previously voted Republican, if at all, and had never been politically active. She was afire. The African-American woman seated next to me, who came to England 13 years ago ‘for love, stayed when love left, and decided I had to be a writer’ (I’m sympathetic), is travelling to New Hampshire to volunteer in January. Andrew from the bar, studying for a Master’s in International Relations here, is volunteering for Obama in Iowa over the holidays. And another young American student is abandoning her adopted home of England to go back and work for Obama full-time.
Karen moved our verbal biographies along and then used her mobile and a phone card to ring her contact in Des Moines who reported to us from the ground. Tactics, strategy, mechanics. Wonks. They love this stuff.
Good for them. Imagine young people getting excited about American politics again—and they don’t even live there! Imagine long-time passive Republicans transforming into active Democrats. God bless George Bush--the best fund-raiser the Democrats have had since Bill Clinton. (Of course, Hillary works the same way for the Republicans.)
As for me, I’m happy to be the observer and chronicle the enthusiasm that has been missing from campaigns since my youth. The African-American said she hadn’t worked for a candidate since the shootings at Kent State. Me too.
It was great to feel so much positive political energy, although it was mixed with a bit too much anti-Hillary rhetoric for my taste. Although I still feel uncommitted, no matter who gets the nomination, we have to get behind him or her.
Would any of us really vote for a Republican after the past seven years? Would we even consider not voting after the debacle of the 2000 election?
When I read in the newsletter that there would be a phone call to Obama’s campaign in Des Moines, I e-mailed my Iowa friend to see if she might be on the other end. She wrote back, ‘I am a die-hard Hillary supporter because a woman must get this job so other women can get theirs at equal pay.’
For all the disgust with politicians, and blind non-productive hatred on both sides, this campaign could be the first in decades won by idealists.
On our way out of the pub, the young British student, enrolled in American Studies at her university, said, ‘I’ve never seen people get this involved and excited about a British election…’
Eleven months to go.

Posted on Sunday 09 of December, 2007 [17:24:23 UTC]

The most wide open American election in eight decades—no incumbents on either side—is twelve months away.
It might result in the first woman president, the first African-American president, the first Hispanic-American president, the first Italian-American president, the first Mormon president, or yet another upper class white guy. From over here it appears that Senators Hillary Clinton and/or Barack Obama are in the lead, but who are all those others?
As an ex-patriate Yank, I devour the Observer, the Guardian, Radio 4, BBC World Service, CNN International and—best of all—Jon Stewart’s The Daily Show, but I still wonder, what are my American friends thinking?
So I asked them. I sent an e-mail to the list of friends who have been receiving my blog about living here in the UK. It’s not a scientific sample, but they all have opinions I respect. Sometimes we disagree; then we usually avoid discussing politics.
I assured them that this wouldn’t turn into a nasty e-mail debate, and heard from people across the spectrum.
One said it’s way too early to think about it. The others had obviously thought about it a lot.
The consensus was that Hillary is in the lead, but no one was enthusiastic. One supporter, ‘Blue in a Red State,’ predicts that a Clinton candidacy would guarantee a Republican victory. The right wing’s ‘visceral hatred of her will further shatter society, which will radically limit any social progress she might promise.’ A benefits consultant in Massachusetts is worried about the ‘unbelievable hatred (Clinton) inspires in some parts of the country.’
Who would she pick as her vice-president? This choice is a huge factor in the electability contest. Do Democrats really want posters showing a black man standing respectfully behind a white woman? Or an older, grey-haired man hovering over her like a doting father? One of my respondents predicted Hillary running with dark horse Delaware Senator Joseph Biden or New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Delaware is too small a state to deliver many votes, but New Mexico’s final tally in 2000 was as close as my home state of Florida.
Most felt the Republicans had nothing to offer, even to their most fervent fans. ‘There is not a real candidate among them,’ said my friend from Massachusetts, which she described as ‘the state (Governor Mitt) Romney pretended to govern.’ Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is their frontrunner, but some mentioned that the religious right’s opposition to his pro-choice, pro-gay stance would split the vote.
But whoever their candidate, Blue in a Red State said, ‘if they are facing Clinton, they'll have an easier time winning. Sadly.’
Overall, these Americans sounded truly disappointed. Some hoped for Gore to jump in, but don’t think that is likely.
A communications professional in Richardson’s state says she ‘sees no one qualified, really qualified to take the country where it needs to go. I would welcome a candidate, any candidate, who could put country before party and knew what he or she was doing.’
A semi-retired Pennsylvanian said, ‘I am not totally in love with any of the candidates on either side of the aisle....as yet. My feeling is that they are all too, too political.’ Her friends agree that there are ‘so many people in the race, yet no one stands out.’
Another Pennsylvanian added, ‘Many Americans are starting to get tired of the immature behavior on both sides already, and we have a long way to go!’
One year in fact. How will opinions and allegiances change as the expected and unexpected events of the next twelve months unfold?
One year to go.

Posted on Sunday 11 of November, 2007 [17:58:52 UTC]