News in Politics

Angelika Michael has already diligently reported on everything that has happened since our last newsletter. I would just like to add that this country now also has a new president (so nicely called "president-elect" here). But of course, you have heard about this despite the BSE crisis dominating the news in Germany. I just can't help but note that with Bush, something is coming our way. Not only does the man want to push through his idiosyncratic "Star Wars," a missile defense system in space, but he also sees no issue with drilling for more gas in Alaska, leaving environmental regulations to be voluntarily followed by companies, and talking up a recession to push through his controversial tax cuts.

Only the NRA (see Michael's gun ownership report) and Bill Gates probably love him, as he neither wants to restrict the right to bear arms nor break up Bill Gates' Microsoft monopoly. Not to mention the death penalty and his "tough on crime" rhetoric. Also, his cabinet nominations are cause for concern. Above all, John Ashcroft, who is to become the U.S. Attorney General, is giving liberals and women's organizations sleepless nights. He is considered deeply religious, arch-conservative, and more right-wing than right. He is a staunch opponent of abortion and would like to ban it altogether. On the other hand, he is a strong supporter of the death penalty (please don't ask me how that fits together). He also firmly believes that the right to bear arms is every American's birthright.

Currently, Ashcroft's hearings are taking place in the Senate, which must confirm the candidates put forward by Bush. Although Ashcroft is viewed critically by many Senate members, no one believes he will be rejected. A misery! Interestingly, the close election outcome has almost been forgotten by now. There is hardly any mention that the Supreme Court ultimately stopped the controversial hand recounts in Florida, thus helping Bush to victory, or that Gore was more than half a million votes ahead of him in the so-called "popular vote" (see last newsletter). Amusingly, counting continues merrily in Florida. There is a law in Florida that allows the public to inspect the ballots. Now, among others, leading American newspapers have taken up this right and continue counting. Even if these new counts were to make Gore the winner, it would probably not change the official result at all. Bush's reputation could, of course, suffer, but the man is so in love with himself that it probably wouldn't bother him.