March 6, 2000
George Dubya - THE COMMENTARY
By Joseph Planta
VANCOUVER -- His friends call him “dubya”. His father, George, is a former president of the United States of America and his brother, Jeb, is the governor of the state of Florida. He is George W. Bush, governor of the great state of Texas. A shoo-in for the Republican nomination for President, Bush is winning Primaries in the US, left and right. The only roadblock for Bush is a maverick Senator from Arizona named John McCain.
McCain, a war vet, was holed up by the “enemy” during the Vietnam war for almost five years. He’s surprised Republicans and the rest of that country, by his victories beating Bush in the New Hampshire primary and showing strong numbers against the machine Bush built. George W. Bush looks like a President. Plain and simple, Bush brings to the American political scene a different face, one that’s tough and one that looks like a winner. He’s amassed a massive war chest of funds that is now being spent to help him win the presidency this November. Can he win it though?
The success of John McCain is nothing to snuff at. His success is surprising since it has posted some winning and strong numbers. But, his success is gathered only from apathy that Republican and Democratic voters have, as it’s already imbedded in them that Bush will win the nomination. McCain is seen as moderate right-winger comparable to Bush. There are Democrats who would even vote for McCain over the current Democratic front-runners, Al Gore and Bill Bradley. McCain’s success is simply voters wanting to point out to Bush that they too are Republicans and that they too deserve some say in the platform of the Republican party in the upcoming election.
The race for the Republican nomination had a long list of contenders. Everyone from Elizabeth Dole to Lamar Alexander to Steve Forbes were at one point or another in the running for the nomination. Now there are only Bush, McCain and Alan Keyes. Keyes, is a fiery black, who adds jest, honesty and great good humour in any of their debates. He’s a fine orator, even reminding me of Corky Evans in his magnetism and eloquence. His chances are slim at best, but he brings to the race African-American representation. He won’t be able to catch up to Bush, let alone McCain, but he’s in the race to bring us back to sanity and bring the candidates themselves a place to dwell upon, in that behind the money, slogans and ad’s the candidates are still in the race to lead the American people.
McCain’s robust ability to withstand Bush in the primaries is an interesting occurrence. It is also one of the few exciting points of the campaign that’s been dragging on since Bill Clinton was sworn in four years ago. The question now is if the Republicans, no matter if they choose Bush or McCain, is if they can in fact win. Can they defeat 8 years of Democratic rule in Washington? Can the GOP regain the White House and bring right-wing rule in America?
We think Canada and Canadians are apathetic, but after the whole Monica incident that brought the government down to its knees, Americans don’t care anymore. Their economy is at an all-time high and their jobless rate is at an all-time low.
Al Gore, soon after the November election will drop the word ‘Vice’ from his current Vice-President moniker.
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An archive of Joseph Planta's previous columns can be found by clicking HERE .