But how much danger does Palin pose? Considering that the audience for her speech were paying $500 to attend the conference, I’m guessing that they aren’t totally representative of the entire ‘low-tax-small-government’ group; though if those attending are what is hideously termed ‘thought-leaders’, they don’t need to be completely representative. Scott Brown’s election to the Senate was another sign that there might be a shift back to the comfort of conservatism.

I’m not hugely familiar with US politics, but I watch enough of The West Wing, read enough newspapers, and know enough about the generic game of politics, to conclude that Americans aren’t necessarily turning Republican, rather they are reacting to the perception that President Obama hasn’t lived up to expectations. This isn’t an original idea of my own, but Obama needs to do something populist but sensible, while keeping up the dull, but essential, work of governing. In short, he needs to remind people of the idea of “Hope” from his campaign. But as I said, US politics is not my forté.

It may be because I’m listening to the BBC World Service’s extremely thorough coverage of it, but there’s an awful lot of a furore about President Obama’s visit to Ghana isn’t there? It’s astonishing how a foreign leader—especially one of such a controversial state—can be so universally popular in so many countries. I can’t help but fear though, that he will be unable to do anything other than disappoint. He is the President of the USA after all, and that is where his final allegiance lies, not in the rest of the world. I’m liking the content of his speech to the Ghanaian parliament though, a refreshing change from what has come before.

Photo credit: worthbak on Flickr.

My problem with the article is twofold. First, it doesn’t offer any form of solution to the problem it raises. It is all very well to say that subsidies don’t work, but to then go on to say that “a demonstration of leadership would help burnish ‘Brand America’”. Where is that leadership to come from if there is a rejection of promoting clean technologies that are often initially unable to compete with established (and subsidised) ‘dirty technology’? Second, while I agree that we collectively made a huge mistake over biofuels (a mistake which hasn’t been realised by many of the public yet), that doesn’t mean that we should never entrust decisions over which technologies to support to decision-makers again. Instead of shutting down our promotion of environmentally sustainable tech., we should learn from our mistakes, and ensure that we make better decisions in future. The world is packed with scientists and policy experts who can help with this process.

So, sorry Economist, but your article seems to be contradictory and, from my view, wrong. I suppose that, at the very least, you accept that climate change is happening now, and something needs to be done.

So Sarah Palin sat at the “news-desk” on Saturday Night Live and nodded her head along in good humour to Amy Poehler rapping through her campaign. Why doesn’t this happen in British politics? There is a lot to dislike in Palin’s politics, but just as with McCain and Obama’s recent after-dinner speeches, she’s shown that she can see the light side of the campaign and politics.

I wouldn’t suggest that all the ‘popular’ bits of American politics should be adopted, but seeing the debates, campaigning where the candidates meet ordinary activists (and sometimes even real people), and television participation, it seems that the candidates have a higher profile. Probably the voter turnout will be less that it could be, but — so long as it is backed by actual policy positions — the degree to which the campaigns communicate with the electorate seems really positive. And yes, I know that the positions they’re running for are just a tiny bit more significant than a seat in the Commons, but there’s still scope for scaled down self-deprecation and popular communication.

By the way, can this really be McCain?

I don’t know about the RNC, which will be radically different from their original plan, what with some unsettled weather in the Gulf of Mexico and all, but the DNC seems like the most amazing piece of political theatre seen since the turn of the century.

Listening to radio coverage from WNYC’s The Takeaway, looking at blogs and watching video of the convention, I couldn’t help but notice the flawlessness of it all. The same production values seem to be applied to the myriad of unofficial supporters sites and campaigns which surround the candidates. I particularly like Hotties for Obama.