Losers say what?

Just when I thought the debates finally did its job, just when I thought The New York Times, The Washington Post and yes, even The Economist made the much needed endorsements and just when I thought the deteriorating situation in Iraq says it all, the American voters decided they wanted four more years of neo-conservative war-mongering leadership.

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the end of the world. Has the world’s only superpower successfully isolated itself from the universe, not just in terms of foreign policy, that it seems that the whole world except the Americans realize that Dubya is not just a bitter pill but an ineffective one at that. Now all of us will have to take this bitter pill, thanks to the religious bloc.

Two months into the Nov.2 elections, the Kerry campaign seems to have finally picked-up: winning all of the three presidential debates, showing of Michael Moore’s Fahrenheit 9/11, decline in world oil prices anticipating a Kerry win. But surprise surprise! 51% of American voters chose to endure four more years of US budget deficit, job loss, irresponsible environmental and energy policies, deteriorating social services, civil liberties trampled upon, protection of big business and tax cuts for the wealthy, unilateral foreign policy and bullying of the UN, Abu Ghraib scandal and more Iraq follies and a widespread culture of violence. I could just go on…

In spite of the looming budget deficit, the Americans reelected the President who cut taxes on the 1% rich and increased spending for the military. In spite of the inability to capture Osama Bin Laden and the absence of WMD in Iraq, the impetus for the preemptive strike, the Americans reelected the President who sent soldiers to their death in vain. In spite of world clamor for regime change, the Americans reelected the President who bypassed the United Nations and just about every legitimate alliance for a war that can never be won nor justified.

Apparently, the Americans did not decide on any of the above-mentioned platforms. They voted on the basis of values. The most tolerant and libertarian society that is the United States voted for a candidate who is categorically against abortion, stem-cell research and gay rights but has in all arrogance bombed its way into a sovereign country, killing civilians and sacrificing soldiers, and up to this day has kept Guantanamo Bay sealed from public scrutiny. So much for values.

The people have spoken, Bush has won, Kerry has conceded. Again, the Americans did not listen.