Barack Obama’s incredible ascent to power (beating out two more experieneced if not better candidates in Clinton and Mccain) is not unlike that of other leftist figures who replaced moderate / conservative Bush allies several years ago. Not a few places in the world have essentially replaced their Bush with BHO-esque candidates (minus his charisma) long ago. Nothing could have prevented the masses from removing their leaders who had anything to do with George Bush and the war in Iraq. Perhaps not even suspicious policies and a lack of experience by the opponent.
Obama probably won’t be as far left as Spain’s Zapatero or as buffoonish as South Korea’s Roh Moo Hyun, the kind of candidates who rose to power by appealing to strong anti American / war sentiments and ran on a vague (but glorified) sense of change. But if he turns out to be a second coming of either of them, public support will cool down. The love you gained by blasting away at George Bush and unpopular American policies can dissipate pretty fast if you can’t deliver on your promises. Obama’s proposals are worded in such nuanced fashion (like his tax cuts for 95%) that Americans might realize that he never intended to carry out the spirit of his promises.
It’s curious thing – the Barack Obama experiment has been nearing its end in some parts of the world, with moderates or conservative (conservative by global standards) probably ready to make a comeback if there was an election right now. Canada’s conservatives made some gains a few weeks ago. But Americans are just catching up to the trend.
