New York turns left: Mayor-Elect
Bill de Blasio, left, joins Mayor Michael
Bloomberg in the 'bullpen,'
the mayor's central City Hall office, after de
Blasio's election victory on Tuesday.
Elections Topple Global Cliches about America (Die Welt,
Germany)
"Almost every preconceived notion we have become accustomed
to internationally was thrown overboard. To sum up: a leftie now governs New
York, a Black man the White House, a White man Detroit, and a Republican New
Jersey. Once again, we can forget all the clichés about America."
Thunder on the center-right: Republican Chris Christie trounced his Democratic opponent in deep-blue New Jersey, putting himself st the head of the pack for 2016 Republican nomination. But can he survive the primaries?
Hardly
any of the U.S. election results refuted usually reliable forecasters - but
almost every preconceived notion we have become accustomed to internationally was
thrown overboard.
It
starts with Bill de Blasio's victory in New York
City. The Democrats had to wait 20 years to be allowed to retake the mayoralty
of the eight-million-strong metropolis. And he managed this feat as an admitted
left winger, having confessed some time ago to believe in "democratic socialism."
In
New Jersey, which is mostly safe terrain for Democrats, Republican Chris
Christie was elected. When he came to power in 2009, his elevation to the
governor's office was considered the only disappointment in President Obama's first
months in the White House.
No Rewards for Proximity
to the Tea Party
Not
only that, but Christie was re-elected by a triumphal margin, and he won large
numbers of votes from Democrats, Hispanics and African Americans. There can be
no doubt: moderate Christie is a heavyweight in the field of contenders for the
2016 Republican presidential nomination race now sputtering into existence.
In
the swing state of Virginia, the assumption is that the party that provides
the governor is out of power in the White House. But with Terry McAuliffe, a
Democrat is taking the governorship, after his Republican adversaries failed to
demonstrate sufficient distance from what is now perceived to be a destructive Tea
Party. This is something the ideological wing of Republicans should carefully
absorb.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Another
surprise: in bankrupt Detroit, Mike Duggan became the first White mayor elected
since 1973. To sum up: a leftie now governs New York, a Black man the White
House, a White man Detroit, and a Republican New Jersey. Once again, we can
forget all the clichés about America.
