(THIS ARTICLE IS MACHINE TRANSLATED by Google from Norwegian)
The primary election in the United States is nearing the end. Slowly but surely, Hillary Clinton has been driven over to the left by Bernie Sanders. Tar sand extraction, the environment, distribution policy, health care, tax policy, minimum wage, student finances, fight against crime, Wall Street dominance – point by point, Hillary Clinton has had to soften her hard stances and approach Sander's human and social profile. This prompted CNN's reporter to ask her if it was something she would not admit to being elected.
But one day in April 2016, Hillary had finally broken Sander's victory line in the primary elections and gained a psychological respite. For several weeks, Sanders, supported by the "Black Lives Matter" movement, had pressured Clinton on the Clinton-era criminal policy that hit the blacks unfairly. With apparent mandate transfers, Hillary changed the tone overnight. In the victory speech, she was back in the old "let's clear the streets for scum" style. The old Hillary came into view.
But let's go back to 1995. Hillary looks tired as she walks among us other mortals in the huge Bella center in Copenhagen. She is US First Lady Hillary Clinton, and I was a simple NGO delegation leader from Norway. We were many thousands gathered for the social summit.
I don't know what worried her as she walked around between meetings. But something was. The humiliating Monica Lewinsky case was about to explode in the media soon. Soon 20 years of marriage to Bill may have left their mark. I was impressed with the way she handled the press in her special position as First Lady in the United States. She had recently invited a large press corps to the White House to ask questions freely. What a difference from media magician Ronald Reagan, who never gave a press conference without the questions being strictly directed!
Hillary had impressed me. In the Bella Center's exhibition hall, I took the opportunity to casually cuddle up to her, so I had something to tell my grandchildren. I do not remember if she smiled back.
Nothing new. Hillary has impressed several. The fact that she is the first woman to run for president in the United States is a symbolic act of enormous proportions. Gender discrimination, racism, and religion are important threads in American political life, and of course, in election campaigns. Hillary scores well on all of these topics, and the road to the hearts of Democratic Central Americans looks straightforward. Will the choice be "a walk in the park"?
But then the election campaign starts. Hillary struggles to maintain the lead she had on all opposing candidates just one year ago.
«It's the economy, stupid"Was one of Bill's success words when he defeated incumbent President Bush in the 1992 election. If it went well financially, people are willing to swallow camels in other fields. But good economics are no longer enough. Now are the new times. A new generation cannot be eaten with kind words. They require realities. They understand that value creation is no longer distributed downwards, as both Wall Street, the left and right heads of state, the IMF, the World Bank and the summits assure. Whoever listens to it now is the one who knows the facts and the reality. Being black, woman or environmentalist is also no longer enough. One must point to good practice, have voted correctly, have shown social commitment – and so an old man like Bernie Sanders has suddenly become a heavy candidate. More credible than the Gaddafi killer, Honduran coup supporter and Wall Street-awarded Hillary crime-clean-up Clinton.
There is a new anti-Washington movement in American politics. After Obama, people have become more critical of eloquence, which was his trademark. It strikes back when beautiful words are not followed by action: Guantánamo Settlement, Alert Protection, Disarmament, Human Rights Support, Nuclear Weapons-Free World. It was this Obama's flag. But he failed grossly on these points. He has pursued more warnings than all presidents together before him, and his drones kill more civilians than ever. Hillary is part of Obama's legacy. Yes, she is pushing for military solutions in the government.
New critical voices strike a tone in people – and this comes as a surprise to election and press researchers. After 40 years without a higher standard of living for ordinary wage earners, the breeding ground has been created for this. Youth recognize the unreasonable support for Israel, yes – not least Jewish groups criticize this in today's United States. War and secrecy are not as popular as just after 9/11.
The amazing thing about the rebellion against Washington, however, is not that it is coming, but that it has not come until now. Perhaps there is a belated Obama disappointment at all the broken promises that have become Hillary Clinton's weak point: She who was supposed to represent something new – the woman with the visions – really represents the old. In addition, she has gradually received paint damage when it comes to her own finances and misfortune.
The remaining months of the election campaign will whirl up a lot of unpleasantness that can cause even an invisibility like Donald Trump to make election miracles.
Nothing settled. When Norwegian votes from both left and right praise woman candidate Hillary and believe that she is exposed to good old-fashioned women's hatred and gender discrimination, this is little based on facts. Her policies are by no means soft. Rather, she markets old-man themes like aggressive militarism, with regime change in Libya and often bombing Syria and Iran, armaments, Wall Street into economic governance, and law-and-order politics. This has become her trademark.
And there are other points of contention: Clinton (age 68) is not that much younger than the "old" rivals Sanders (74) and Trump (69). She rises above laws that apply to others. She tricks with her own finances. She is not open about the depth of the Wall Street consultation and systematically used private email – which was not only illegal but also security madness in her role as Secretary of State.
She is out-competed on the stage by a factually based Sanders, and no longer dares to face him in duels because she is betting that the delegates that the party has given her (pledged delegates) will make the remaining popular primary choices insignificant.
It is no longer an impossible thought that Democrats must turn to Sanders during the Democrats' final congressional election in Philadelphia on July 25. There are enough gunfire charges against Clinton for one and another explosion, even if she is nominated. And it is no longer impossible for Trump to beat Clinton this fall.
For people know what kind of policy they get with Hillary. But they can hope for a surprise with Trump. And they want something new.
But perhaps Hillary Rodham Clinton will become the 45th president of the United States. Many do not think the nomination process was fair. Several require changes to the next election. The remaining months of the election campaign will whirl up a lot of unpleasantness that can cause even an inedibility like Donald Trump to make election miracles.
More banks on. Sanders' mobilization looks further than this presidential election. How Congress will look for the choice, if possible is even more exciting. 34 senators and 435 in Congress are up for election. And an Establishment-Clinton may be forced into new paths for better public health and disarmament, environmental concerns and banking control. However, there is also an exciting next election in 2020. There is no indication that the youth in Bernie Sanders' entourage will allow them to be run over again. And new, impressive and talented women with Elisabeth Warren and Tulsi Gabbard in the lead knock on the door. Also to the White House in 2020.
