I think it was when Thatcher won her second term that I learnt some political realities: pander to reactionary hatreds and get the rich folks who own the media on your side (or at least get them to not be too critical) and you're laughing, even if most of the electorate are crying. I had watched the overnight election coverage at Gis's flat with Woodcraft Folk posters on the wall and we could not believe what had happened after all the terrible things she did to education and the health service and the arts and so on... but she won. Four more years of hopeless depression followed. And now: that post with the photos was my reaction to the Bush victory. I am hopeful, but... the elephant in the corner that everyone is ignoring is whatever new atrocity they are planning, like invading Iraq. This time, regime change has not been leaked in advance.

How much better would things be if Kerry had won? Maybe he could address the US economy and stop spending like Bush, perhaps he could rescue US relations with the rest of the world, but things might not be better for Cuba and Latin America as a book Cuba: a new history by Richard Gott opines. In fact the US could continue bombing people as before. They would probably continue their inflammatory intervention in Colombia.

The next US election might well be Condi vs. Hillary. Condi - the Girl who Cracked the Ice is a long article on Condoleezza Rice, a very interesting person, which only left me puzzled as to why she would support the Iraq invasion. Maybe she should write a book too. Or Hillary vs. Arnie. Save Us.