RINOs in the midst...........

The US is in the throes of an intense and emotional election campaign. This will continue for another year and a half, i.e. until November 2012 when the next presidential election is scheduled. One might conclude we have nothing better to do with our time than become involved in the backstabbing and blood- letting of a bitter campaign.

Three parties are contending, or rather two with the Republican party seriously split between its middle-of-the-road majority and the smaller and more conservative Tea Party faction. The latter have a reasonable agenda. The Tea Party is against tax increases, big government, and any limitations whatsoever on their individual rights as American citizens. They are paranoid about our national debt, imbalance of payments and public spending which they claim is out of control.

Mitt Romney, the current front runner, is a middle-of-the-road Republican who strategically seeks to embrace and entice most voters. In this posture, he is quite close to middle-of-the-road Democrats who seek re-election based on the same principle. Capture the majority vote, win the election, and govern accordingly. For his, and most other Republican efforts, Romney is labeled a RINO, Republican in Name Only. He and his fellow RINOs get right up the nose of the Tea Party Conservatives. They cannot abide his desire, for example, to devise and implement a leftish plan for public health care as he did when he was Governor of Massachusetts. Indeed, conservative political groups are being formed to soil his name and track record in order to promote right wing candidates like super moms Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann.

While their objectives have certain merit, Palin and Bachmann come across to me as a couple of pretty, saucy, bright, cheerleaders for motherhood and the American Way. In this capacity, they promote righteousness, fair play, and that inimitable American characteristic of being holier and richer and better than everyone else in the world. These ladies march like unstained Christian soldiers under the banner of liberty and freedom for all and with the conviction that such ideals are enough. Never mind the American poor, the third world, the Muslims, the North Koreans and other nationals living under the burden of dictatorial and oppressive regimes. Their story may be swallowed by millions of Americans, but it does not go down well in Rangoon. Indeed, it goes down poorly in Europe as well which, in its comparative political maturity continues to view Americans as a bunch of college kids on spring break.

Bachmann has nearly accomplished what the American left wing has desperately, but unsuccessfully, attempted to do ever since Palin descended on the scene; to mover her out of the picture. Bachmann is perceived as an intelligent Sarah Palin. The media has made much ado about Bachmann's recent popularity in Iowa and the Midwest. Having been born there, one might expect a favorite daughter response from the totally overrated Iowans. As the state that begins the electoral process in what is called the Iowa Caucuses, it is important to many candidates to make a good showing there. But the real tests are in East Coast states that are more representative of American public opinion than little and largely conservative Iowa. New Hampshire is one which is second in line in the electioneering circuit and, more importantly, North Carolina, which is third. Soon after North Carolina comes Florida which is the acid test for party candidates seeking to win their party nomination to run for President.

To date, I have heard nothing about a challenge to Obama from other Democrats. This is indicative of his popularity and his strength within the party. His policies have been largely directed to the poor and lower middle class whose favor is directly convertible to votes for Obama. He has also managed to woo the unions and thereby successfully tap into their power, influence and money. In the process, O has incurred the wrath, indeed strong dislike, of the political right. Wiser heads, however, continue to blame the progressively self-interested Congress for America's economic, social and political ills.