Here are two observations about the American political system: first, it has become so stable that it can only destroy this stability itself; second, it has created and skillfully exploited a myth about its global influence, regardless of the party to which the president belongs. In November the myth collapsed, although this is not the only consequence of the November defeat.
Any shock for America automatically becomes a shock for the whole world, at least in the American eyes, and the eyes of those who are too lazy not to trust the global or American mass media. True, there is the French press, which is ready to criticize everyone, and the BBC, which is imbued with the same noble ambition. But somehow these desperate but rare attempts to oppose the myth are being reduced to naught by skillful soundproofing. The myth forgives the BBC everything, as a gentleman forgives an old lady for her harmless grumbling, all the more so since it is caused by long lack of attention. As for more or less serious criticism, it is either ignored, or brushed aside as propaganda.
But this is why the system is weak. When you are destroying yourself from within, and people around you are convinced or pretend that you are right, there is nobody to save you.
In 2006, the system the U.S. neo-Conservatives were trying to adapt to their personal, corporate, group, and finally, national interests, has cracked. During the November elections to the Congress it became overheated due to the efforts of those who misreckoned its maximum capacity. Coercion of the 200 year-old mechanisms of American democracy had its effect, and the fuel which is essential for the system's operation - American voters - went elsewhere. The situation became so serious that the captain had to change without delay his most loyal members of the team, who had gone too far in their miscalculations.
Bush had to part not simply with his buddies but with the symbols of his epoch - Donald Rumsfeld and John Bolton, who, together with Dick Cheney prevailed over Condoleezza Rice - compared to them, she seemed almost a dove of peace. Rumsfeld has been replaced with Robert Gates, who is much closer in his views to Rice than Cheney. The new Defense Secretary openly says that there is no hope for a victory in Iraq.
Bush has lost the Congress, both chambers at once, and become a lame duck, which is unable to pass through parliament any bill requiring funding. This is not a paralysis of government, which America has had more than once. The Democrats do not want the country they are determined to rule in two years to go down the drain. This is simply a stalemate situation, which will gradually spread to the regions dependent on U.S. policy.
The Jewish lobby, which determined U.S. policy in the Middle East, is leaving Bush as well. It has come to understand the impossibility of radical plans as regards Iran and Syria. It is believed that Condoleezza Rice does not object at all to the idea of a peace conference on the Middle East without Israel. The Democrats conduct sweet conversations with Ahmadinejad's representatives, while Israeli Deputy Prime Minister Avigdor Lieberman complains to the Russian language press in New York during his U.S. trip that America does not have enough public support for the idea of destroying Iran as the world's biggest evil.
Bush's two major projects - Iraq and Afghanistan - have fallen through. The democracy brought in by the Hercules and Abrahams costs dozens of American lives every day. The relatives, neighbors, and former classmates of those killed in action have lost confidence in the author of the project, and voted against the Republicans.
Even party colleagues are leaving Bush. Many Republican nominees do not want to have Bush around - either in their campaign ads or meetings with voters.
Latin America is drifting away from Bush, too. His idols Reagan and Bush Sr., and his rival Clinton spent a lot of time, trying to conquer it. Bolivia, Venezuela, Chile, Uruguay, Brazil, and Argentina are posing an obvious threat to the Monroe doctrine.
Results of congressional elections will tell on many regions in the world, but not all changes will be for the better. Let's analyze them one by one.
(The continuation of the article will be posted soon)
