overseas briefing English or American politics?

Author: Tarsi Dunlop

London - In London, American politics is a hot-button topic of conversation. Sometimes snippets are heard in coffee shops, other times politics dominant students' conversations, and occasionally it is background fodder for class discussions. Regardless, as an American abroad - although it is England - the topic of who will win what is a subject of great debate. I find my knowledge of American government, although I'm not anywhere near an expert, enough to explain some nuances to my new friends. Some big questions are: will a new President be able to get the country out of Iraq, who do you think will win the primaries, what about the general election, when do you vote? Yikes. I do not have answers to all questions that come my way, I have guesses, hunches and of course many hopes that some would say are overly optimistic. I did vote via absentee ballot and it did cross an ocean in time to be counted.

When glancing at the television screens around the LSE, there is often coverage of the candidates. The LSE College Democrats (no, there is no Republican organization on campus) set up a USA week around Super Tuesday. American politics are alive and well here, and thanks to the constant dialogue, the topic and bigger questions are never far from my mind. After Senator Edward M. Kennedy endorsed Barack Obama, I felt somewhat vindicated in my hopes that this charismatic speaker is not, as many people rightfully speculate, too na've for politics. I am a registered Democrat and while I have the utmost respect for John McCain, as I think many do regardless of their political affiliation, I would like to see the White House change hands. I'm not entirely sure if you can find a huge number of differences between the two Democratic candidates, but each has their flaws and strengths and I am curious about either one's chances when facing John McCain.

I think our generation, meaning the newest voting age bracket that is often cited as the least participatory in the election process, is ready to take a little bit of a leap now. It is time for a change. People in England seem pretty pro-Obama, at least many that I've talked to, and it is for this exact reason. They liked Bill Clinton, but there is something about Barack Obama that is significantly appealing to them. Yes, perhaps he is inexperienced. There will be mistakes along the way, after all look at the last seven years. A smooth presidency seems rather impossible to hope for considering the world today.

Maybe there is something to be said for taking a safe road with someone familiar who has been around the White House, but it is the discussions that I have here in England that remind me there is a true desire for change. The Clinton Presidency was a good one by most standards, but do we need a dynasty to ensure a return to that? I don't think that is necessarily so, and while I would not object to seeing a woman in the White House, if you are going to look at symbolic choices then there is no need to harp on how either Democratic candidate represents a shift. The British people care about American politics, often times it seems as though they might care more than the average American. It is a significant reminder of how the consequences of our decisions as American citizens do stretch far beyond our borders.