US domestic

Dear future Presidents Clinton and Obama (which one will be Vice President?)

March 2008

Saul Landau

I request that as your first act in office you end the “War on Terror.” Such action, I submit, would make most Americans feel more secure. Millions of us are sick of the word “terror,” of feeling terrified. Terror means fear; fear precludes hope and confidence. You advocate hope. “Yes, we can.” To do things, we need to be freed from White House panic harangue.

Last December’s CNN poll reported 40% of the public still worried about themselves or family members becoming terrorist victims. Almost half the people in the poll believed the U.S.

¡Es la estúpida economía!

March 2008

Saul Landau

Viajando a través del país se pueden ver los resultados del descenso económico --desde los vecindarios urbanos de Miami hasta las áreas rurales pobres como Collinsville y Bird's Landing al norte de San Francisco. Solo en enero, los patronos californianos eliminaron 20 300 empleos de sus nóminas. Veo más gente sin techo durmiendo en las calles de Oakland y San Francisco, los jornaleros inmigrantes que esperan en vano por trabajo.

The post super week letdown

February 2008

Saul Landau

The presidential campaign in the US amounts to marketing personalities, while cleverly avoiding the real questions of social justice.

Like tens of millions of Americans, I waited anxiously for our two day super week, beginning on February 3 with the Super Bowl (New York Giants v. New England Patriots) and ending two days later with Super Tuesday’s primaries in 22 states. Clear winners would then shape the super contest in November for the presidency.

The rituals began in sports bars across the country.

Speech found in mailbox of supreme underdog on Super Tuesday

February 2008

Saul Landau

Between now and the November election, the public and the political professionals expect me to behave like a traditional candidate. Avoid important issues and instead focus on abstractions like “change” and non-political, lifestyle issues like for or against abortion, gay marriage and owning machine guns. I’m supposed to support the deportation of immigrants and stand for lowering taxes. I’m supposed to act like the toughest leader in the world, meaning I’ll send U.S. troops anywhere to fight “terrorism,” or whatever.

Candidates say these things because their advisers tell them to do so.

Afghanistan -- the next disaster

January 2008

Saul Landau

The overwhelming public sentiment against Iraq will turn to Afghanistan as casualty rates continue or accelerate.

After six plus years, the war in Afghanistan drags on. The media occasionally cites casualties, but if it doesn’t involve National Football League veteran Pat Tillman’s execution by his own comrades, Afghanistan gets sparse attention. A few stories feature the growing number of Afghan and Iraq War vets on American streets. But the aspiring candidates ignore such “blowback.” Instead, they demonstrate verbal aggression, a characteristic thought necessary for victory.