Ryan Evans

National:
It seems in the upcoming Texas Democratic primary, Sen. Barack Obama will be receiving a surplus of support from Republican party members. As much as a tenth of the Democratic turnout will be supporting the first term senator from Illinois. Most of this support has stemmed from anti-Clinton sentiments. A few Republicans in Texas are saying if Clinton loses the state, she is finished. No more Clintons in the White House as many proclaim. This seems to be a great hope for Texas Republicans. Obama has begun to pull almost even with Sen. Clinton and the GOP support could be quite crucial in a dead heat race such as this. This apparent Republican support should not be surprising in times such as these.

Opinion:
This strategy seems a bit cheap, or uncalled for. However, this is how modern politics are run now a day. Voters want to find ways to handicap the candidate they staunchly disagree with the most. I find it strange that the Republicans are supporting Obama though. He has the better chance at beating McCain than Clinton does. Yet, I guess the people do not want to sit through another four to eight years of another Clinton. Obama is the media darling and is appearing as the lesser of two evils right now. Frankly, I see Hillary as a better presidential option at this point. That pains me to say but it is just how I feel. Sad isn’t it?

National:
Ralph Nader announced his candidacy for president last week. Today he has chosen his vice-presidential running mate. Matt Gonzalez, who was a former member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, ran for mayor of San Francisco in 2003 as a Green Party member lost to Gavin Newsom. Nader has run in the past three elections:1996, 2000, and as an independent in 2004. He is still loathed by the Democrats for apparently costing Al Gore the election, via siphoning votes away from him in the close race in Florida.

Opinion:
This sounds like a winning ticket here. Two pointless politicians who have yet to win anything that substantial, what a wreck. Voting for this ticket is a wasted vote. However, what if he siphoned votes away from the Democratic nominee and cost him, or her, the election? Wouldn’t that be crazy? He would probably have to fear for his life if that were to happen because the Dems. would go absolutely nuts. He has denounced the claims of him ruining Gore in 2000, and said it was the Democrats own fault. Oh what a hoot, and what a winner!

International:
Kenya’s political rivals signed a power sharing agreement today. This agreement is coming after two or so months of violence in the east African country. Opposition leader Raila Odinga, and president Mwai Kibeki have been at odds since the December twenty-seventh elections. Both side had been accused of fixing ballot boxes and poll stations in the country. However, this new agreement will create the Prime Minister position for opposition leader Odinga. This is most clearly what he wanted. The agreement should cool down the violence in Kenya, but the country still has plenty of ways to go.

Opinion:
This is definitely a step in the right direction for this nation. Kenya had been one of the more stable republics in Africa. It is good to see this power sharing agreement. Hopefully, this will further prevent any one official from gaining too much power in this government. Yet, both sides had been accused of fixing and rigging votes. But again, at least neither side will become a Kenyan dictator, or so I hope. This is, or could be, an important American ally as it is a democracy in east Africa. Let us all hope for the best.

International:
The Summer Olympics will come to Beijing in five or so months. Chinese scientists are trying to do what no one else has been able to do before. They are trying to control the weather. Almost 7,000 artillery guns and about 4,000 rocket launchers are being set up to try and seed the clouds and prevent or speed up rain. The Chinese want everything to be perfect as the Olympics are to be the unveiling of China’s economic prominence. The Chinese are hoping to hold clear opening and closing ceremonies to the games. If the Chinese are able to do this they will once again defied all odds.

Opinion:
As you can see, or read, the Chinese really want the Olympics to go smoothly and soundly. They are no longer in rural poverty but now an economic powerhouse. China wants to be world’s most prominent nation. If they can control the weather, then they are stinking ridiculous. However, this weather control system could be a cover for a new type of ballistic missile system, or a defense system. If the United States knows what is good, then it will move into China’s good side. This new and modern China could either be very beneficial or a dangerous threat to our well-being.