August 22, 2008
Democracy: Is it just a theory?
Arguably, countless eyes around the globe are gaping at one country and its upcoming presidential election. Some non-Americans are taking sides – rooting for Barack Obama or John McCain. Others are just questioning the definition of democracy. Is democracy just a theory?
August 21, 2008
Switzerland, France: Swift Boat Strategy Part II
Jean-François Schwab, a Swiss blogger at americanpolyphony, revisits the summer of 2008 in US politics, a deceptively eventful summer that has seen Obama's slight advantage in the poll disappear and turn into a 5 point-deficit in favor of McCain a week before the Democratic National Convention.
August 19, 2008
John Edwards: Scummy, fake, manipulative and pretty?
Since the former Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards admitted to having an extra-marital affair, bloggers from around the world following the story have largely focused on two major issues: First, the sad irony of a politician having an affair while his wife, Elizabeth, fights breast cancer; Secondly, the role the mainstream press played in keeping the story silent.
August 18, 2008
AIDS 2008: Lifting the Travel Ban on HIV-Positive People
The XVII International AIDS Conference ended in Mexico City last week, leaving participants with much to focus on until the next conference, which takes place in Vienna in 2010. One of these areas of focus are the travel restrictions imposed on HIV-positive people entering a country for the short or long-term. Conference organizers and many [...]
Global: The art of gaining votes
The War on Terror, the U.S. recession, health care and theories of global warming are just some of the issues that will play a factor in who becomes the 44th U.S. president. But, as the campaign plays out, will decisions be made on how the candidates treat or see each other?
The Atheist Vote
As the presidential candidates come together to discuss faith and issues of morality, there's a large contingent feeling excluded. Although they have votes, American atheists and agnostics often feel left out as politicians pander to each religion, but skip past those who eschew faith.
August 15, 2008
Who can ignore Bill Clinton?
It’s difficult to keep Bill Clinton out of the spotlight. Whether it was helping his wife, Hillary, campaign for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency of the United States or, most recently, his decision to get back to work on the Clinton Foundation, which works around the world to diminish greenhouse gasses, pushing low-cost drugs for those suffering from HIV/AIDS and battling childhood obesity. He most recently made news for a recent six-day trip to Africa took him to Ethiopia, Rwanda, Liberia and Senegal.
MENA: Visas of Fulbright scholars revoked
Earlier this week three Palestinians, recipients of prestigious Fulbright scholarships to study in the United States, had their visas revoked by the US, preventing them from taking up the scholarships. A fourth, a high-school student on a separate programme, was also stopped. Yet two and a half months ago, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice had personally intervened to make sure that the grant winners would be able to go. Why the last-minute change of heart? Bloggers from around the Middle East have a number of theories.
August 12, 2008
Korea: Why did Bush come to Korea?
Bush’s visit to Korea for one night and two days on the fifth of August made a lot of people busy: A big group who welcomed his visit in one street of Seoul, another big group who were opposed to his visit in the other street of Seoul, the police who were busy suppressing the [...]
August 11, 2008
Georgia, Russia and the U.S. Presidential Election
With the massive deployment of Russian forces in Georgia, the small South Caucasus country's conflict with Moscow over the breakaway region of South Ossetia has obvious political ramifications thousands of miles away in the United States where presidential elections will be held on 4 November. With some alleging that the crisis reflects a struggle between the West and Russia, where the U.S. Presidential candidates stand on the matter is fast becoming a significant campaign issue.
