I'm obviously not going to vote, but if I would be allowed to vote I'd have a long look at Kerry and then I'd have a lot of complaints about him and his probable policy. I could write all my complaints and that would be quite a long list. I could name many people I'd like better than him on that job he applies for.

And then I'd have a very short look at the only realistic alternative for that job, the person who at present has that job. This one glance would make it a very easy decision between the two candidates.

They wouldn't admit it in public, but even a sizable percentage of German conservatives would prefer Kerry. But then, McGrath has sometimes reminded us that a European conservative could in the USA be considered to be left of the middle. He has said that half jokingly and half seriously and he's right.

Wolfgang