I agree with the pandering to "American" themes. People work hard all over the world. The US is actually behind many industrialized countries in infrastructure and technology. We consume too much and save too little which leaves us stressed and eager to embrace righteousness so we can feel better about ourselves. Both parties exploit these patterns and few find it expedient to question them. I think Obama is smart enough to know that. like John McCain himself acknowledged recently, a lot of words get said in a political campaign. It seems that to get elected, candidates still have to embrace misleading collective myths. Obama's campaign has relied less on nationalistic platitudes than McCain/Palin. Few countries are free of this tradition of political theater, unfortunately, and it's useful to remember that brainwashing, while distressingly prevalent during this election cycle, isn't limited to Americans.

Someone should expose the people behind the strings of the McCain campaign. Lee Attwater, when he was dying, apologized for the lies and negativity he generated with these guys against Michale Dukakis. Roger Ailes of Fox TV, who probably coaches Palin, once offered in a seminar that negative mudslinging can only be countered with immediate and firm denials. Obama is not a hidden enemy. He is not a socialist, a terrorist, or anyone to be afraid of. I think this time the Obama campaign knows this and is running a brilliant campaign. It is important, though, that the media report what they really see and not bend over backwards to be fair to outrageous lies and mud-slinging. Call it for what it is!