China: US Elections

PJ: Candidates for the republican nomination have enjoyed bashing President Obama, each other and other countries around the world, many of whom are allies and all of which are important to US international interests. While criticizing Obama, the candidates have claimed that he wants to take the country towards "European Socialism" (which they use as a Boggieman but in reality does not actually exist), they even attack each other with that same claim (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/12/gingrich-campaign-says-romney-is-looking-at-european-socialist-ideas/). Another favourite has been to take on China as the world's great demon (see Mitt Romney's China Bashing: http://www.tnr.com/blog/the-stump/96274/mitt-romney-china-basher). And let's not forget how they have all pandered to Israel (to gain the Jewish vote) at the expense Arab nations even going so far as to insult the Palestinian people which in turn has insulted the Arab world (http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/10/palestinians-invented-people-newt-gingrich). Two of the current crop of Republican candidates have not taken to nation bashing (Ron Paul and Jon Huntsman) but according to the polls, neither is likely to attract enough republican voters to secure the nomination.

It might be wise (but I won't hold my breath) for candidates to use the same diplomatic language that they would need to employ if actually elected to the presidency. The world is watching this election and so far, the derogatory comments from these candidates towards countries with whom they share the planet is setting the stage for frightening times ahead.

Xinhua News

GOP candidates sprint toward finish line in Iowa Caucuses
by Xinhua writer Wang Fengfeng

DES MOINES, United States, Jan. 2 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential hopefuls began their final dash Monday toward the finish line in the Iowa Caucuses, the first electoral event in the months-long contest for the party's presidential nomination.

The six major candidates scheduled some 19 events across the state, trying hard to gain favor of voters while wasting no time to attack each other.

Rick Santorum, a former Pennsylvania senator who stayed under the radar for most of last year, received a barrage of attacks as recent polls showed his support surged to the third place, with a chance to finish among the first two in Iowa.

Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is vying the conservative vote against Santorum, led the attack, depicting Santorum as a failed Washington politician.

"You've got Rick Santorum who's talked about being a fiscal conservative, but he's voted eight times to raise the debt ceiling. He's raised the debt ceiling more than Obama has. He's a serial earmarker and as a matter of fact stood up as late as yesterday and said he was proud of all those earmarks," he said on NBC's "Today" show.

The Perry campaign also released a negative ad highlighting Santorum's congressional voting records on approving earmarks.

Santorum, speaking to supporters in Boone, directed his attacks not against Perry, who polled fifth in the most recent poll, but at Texas Congressman Ron Paul, who polls second. He accused Paul of being not conservative enough.

Meanwhile, the two frontrunners, former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney and Paul, both held packed events.

Romney, who appeared in four rallies across Iowa, focused his attacks on President Barack Obama, while Ron Paul had his son Rand Paul, U.S. Senator for Kentucky, come in town to warm up the crowd ahead of the father's appearance before fervent supporters at a Des Moines hotel.

However, the most exciting newsmaker of the day was Santorum, with media outlets and pundits focused on his every move as the candidate suddenly becomes a hot ticket item.

"Romney was considered likely to do reasonably well. But Santorum was so low in polls in the past year, single digits, for him to come in and become third place or better, that becomes the story out of Iowa," Dennis Goldford, a professor of politics at Drake University, told Xinhua.

If that happens, he noted, Santorum is sure to emerge "at least in the short run as a potential alternative to Romney that the hardline conservatives would like."

Iowa Governor Terry Branstad told Xinhua on Monday that the race was likely to be "between Romney and Congressman Ron Paul and Santorum."

The same poll by Des Moines Register that put Romney first, Paul second and Santorum on the third place, also noted about 40 percent caucus goers could change their mind, and Goldford noted that nothing is a done deal until the last minute.

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-01/03/c_131340220.htm