 liberal gadfly Molly Ivins |
Former editor of the liberal monthly The Texas Observer, and syndicated columnist on politics for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (among many other endeavours past and present), Molly Ivins, on writing about the American psychodrama (this autumn’s U.S. election) suggests that having the United States to the south of us is “like having the Simpsons for next-door neighbours.”
While vacationing in Kananaskis, Alberta, Ms. Ivins was, she says, queried repeatedly by Canadians about the prospect of electing George Walker Bush to a second term in office.
“You couldn’t possibly …” they begin, only to break off. “Are you not aware of what …” “Surely you realize how …” But they can think of no polite way of asking if we are such freaking idiots that we haven’t noticed the damage that has been done by the Bush administration to the American reputation all over the world.
Ms. Ivins finds herself at some pains to try to answer the ever-so-delicately phrased question: Are you people actually going to re-elect that nincompoop? In replying to queries placed by politely astonished Canadians, she finds herself dumbfounded at what her fellow Americans may do come November 2nd, leaving her readers with a wearying concluding thought, “Some days are much tougher sledding than others.”
