News from the President

Angelika This month, our "Mr. President" embarked on a trip to Europe. As we heard and read, Bush did not exactly cover himself in glory, as he lived up to the ugly image of the stubborn, unyielding Texan cowboy who prioritizes his friends in the oil industry above all else. Environmental protection? Never heard of it! This lack of environmental awareness is also causing Bush to lose face domestically. The Kyoto Protocol may be an unfamiliar term to many Americans, but the fact that Bush wants to drill for gas in Alaska or that he reversed the law reducing the maximum levels of arsenic in drinking water (initiated by Clinton) angers many. Therefore, before his trip to Europe, Bush showed some concern for the environment by visiting two National Parks (the "Everglades" in Florida and the "Sequoia National Park" in California). Will that help?

California isn't speaking well of Bush at the moment either. Bush is ignoring the ongoing energy crisis in California and is refusing any assistance, even though, on a global scale, California represents the sixth-largest economy, so it's a significant state for the nation. The energy crisis is already showing economic impacts. And economic growth is supposedly Bush's top priority. He argues against the Kyoto Protocol, claiming that the agreement would supposedly ruin the American economy. Many believe that his disregard for California is solely because the state is firmly in the hands of the Democrats, and Bush cannot expect any votes from California anyway. As is well known, Bush is with the Republican Party.

And even within his own party, not everything looks rosy for Bush. You might have heard of the American Senator James Jeffords, who left the Republican Party in May after almost a lifetime of membership and now acts as an independent in the U.S. Senate. The national and international press reported extensively on this bold move because his departure from the party changed the majority balance in the U.S. Senate. The Democrats now hold 50 seats and the Republicans 49. Although this is still almost a tie, the shift in the majority balance means that the Democrats will now hold most of the committee chair positions, which clearly changes the political landscape. The chairpersons of the various committees, among other things, determine the topics that are addressed in the committees. The Senate leadership also shifted to a Democrat, Tom Daschle.

James Jeffords, by the way, chose independence because he no longer wanted to support the changes in the Republican Party that had been emerging for several years and were intensifying under Bush. Traditionally, the Republican Party, dating back to Abraham Lincoln, included many more liberal figures who were respected and heard by the more conservative party members. Nowadays, the Christian fundamentalist right dominates the party with Bush at the helm. Politicians like James Jeffords or John McCain are being pushed to the sidelines. When you look at what Jeffords stands for, you can hardly believe he once registered as a Republican. He supports environmental protection and abortion rights, as well as stricter gun laws, and he opposes any discrimination against homosexuals. He also holds the record for having voted against his own party on many important issues. It should be noted in passing that American politicians generally submit much less to party discipline than in other countries. This independence is seen quite positively. What matters is their own conscience and the welfare of the state they represent.

Incidentally, Jeffords is the senator of the small state of Vermont, which, like its senator, is making waves with liberal initiatives. Vermont, for example, is the first American state to grant homosexual couples the same rights and responsibilities as married couples (at the state level) if they register their partnership (the term "marriage" is not officially used here either). A small sensation!

Yes, and Mr. Bush is also facing some trouble at home. His two daughters were caught in Texas buying and consuming alcohol at a bar, even though they are not yet 21 years old. The German press pointed out that Bush introduced this strict age limit as the governor of Texas. That's not entirely true. The age limit for buying alcohol is 21 almost everywhere in the USA, including in California. However, it is true that Bush initiated a law in Texas that, under certain circumstances, punishes those who are caught "under-age drinking" three times with imprisonment.

So, Michael has been complaining the whole time that the newsletter is getting way too long -- well, then I'll wrap it up. Just consider it as summer reading!

From sunny California:

Angelika und Michael