It is fashionable in this country, even more so now we have a Labour Party led by a man whose whole political outlook has been influenced by that anti-Americanism which dominates thinking on the metropolitan left, to sneer at American politics.
The American political system, for all its faults, has much to recommend it. Separation of powers can lead to deadlock, but it is a bigger guarantee against tyranny than our unelected House of Lords. Public officials are far more likely to be elected, even at the lowest levels, in the USA. If the dog catchers were elected in Brighton and Hove then maybe we would see more action on dog fouling in our parks?
With no more elections to face it seems Obama has found a more authentic voice. That hopey/visiony thing was coming back last night, but sadly all too late.
It is has become a cliche to suggest that 'it was great that Obama became President, but he has not been a great Presdient', but it is largely an accurate assessment.
I make Obama's record as President ok, better than George Dubya's (ironically except for his Africa policy) but not as good as George Bush snr. Obama's opponent in 2008, John McCain, would possibly have made a better President. Mitt Romney in 2012 was probably not as good.
For all of the 'Yes we can' vision of his successful campaign, Obama was actually a product of Democrat machine politics in Chicago. If you want to know what that is like take a look at the highly entertaining series The Good Wife, which I am currently spending too much time watching back to back on Netflix.
Obviously no President, with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln, is going to say in his State of the Nation speech that 'it's not all that actually.' Obama made a good fist of defending his record, but our expectations were so high when he was first elected that I guess it was always going to end with a certain feeling of disappointment.
This time next year I will give my verdict on President
No comments:
Post a Comment