I have been reflecting on what makes someone like Christopher Hitchens so popular. I mean to be quite truthful I would not normally warm to such a smug, bullying, cocksure,  private school, Oxford educated, condescending, Pommy prig. But after a while I certainly did in his case.

I think many American voters are going through the same process with a certain Republican Presidential nominee namely Dr Ron Paul.

Even Libs like Cenk on the Young Turks can not help themselves.
http://youtu.be/iGPDTkeYjFs

I'm not wanting to directly compare the two because that in reality is impossible, particularly in Paul's case because it is such a small pool. However there is a quality I think that both have or had in Christopher's case, that has the rest of us thinking 'I really don't think they are the least bit interested in pulling the wool over my eyes'. 

Some of the words and phrases that come to mind are consistency, straightforwardness, telling it like it is, not beholden to others, conviction, honesty.

Don't get me wrong I am with Cenk in believing Ron Paul has some appalling policies, further Hitchens' lurch to the right, while understandable, left me vehemently disagreeing with him of certain issues.

But one can't help but feel that both are treating us as they themselves would like to be treated, with openness and a degree of respect, prepared to champion for the rest of us. This is why they are were able to garner such ardent followers.

And yes I'm sure that such things were probably once said about Hitler and Mussolini, and even Gaddafi and Saddam. Oh it is a fine line sometimes.

I think part of it is the ability to not put on a mask with the makeup.
It can be said for 99% politics is about looks, showman ship.
Selling ones self,that different manufactured self.
I will consider us a better world if we ever elect a rude but honest ugly person to lead because he/she has the best policy's and we know they are not no core.
Ron Paul will see his run stop after early promise, America votes for stars.
And in truth? I doubt they have the ability for rational political debate.

As I drove through the quiet Brisbane traffic this morning, listening to Australian News Radio, I heard that he of the big mouth, small brain and large hair (Donald Trump) had changed his registered alligence from Republican to Independent. It reminded me once again what an absolute mess is American politics. That a buffoon such as Trump could even be considered as a potential front runner for the highest office in the land makes Abbott and Gillard look like Abraham Lincoln. (To be continued)

I am an unashamed Australian Liberal i.e. equivalent to an American Conservative due to our strange juxaposition of word meanings --- but the current crop of Republican hopefuls surely could only attract the vote of the brain-dead. They are a pot-pourri of the weird, strange, and downright stark raving mad, and Ron Paul is just as bad as the rest of the nutters. I don't know how many of you have been to the USA lately, but I first went to America in 1967 and have visited many times over the years. My last visit was in 2010. America is no longer the home of the brave and the land of the free. It is an unequal society where people starve in the presence of plenty, and Wall Street bankers are paid $25 million a year for wrecking the economies of the whole world. I am still a believer in the power of free enterprise (just like Hitchins), but Like Hitch I also abhor the dictatorship of the Wall Street oligarchs!

Dear favfern,

The US really does seem to now be just about winners and losers. Is that the attraction though?

It is as if people do indeed recognize the game for the most part is rigged, they know the odds are long but the rewards are great, and in a society where so many of the successful are unabashed about flouting it, they are the new warriors, they have stuck to their guns and beaten the odds.

No one wants to be the waitress serving the drinks at the poker table, or the dealer. They all want to be players, risking it all knowing only a lucky few will make it.

 Why is it the Hitchens would adopt the country as his own? To embrace its myths and to advocate its desires and fears?

To have joined the chorus of warmongers wanting a swift and decisive military solution to Iran seems to me to have been a particularly American position.

Let's roll the dice baby. Why have all this power (read advantage) and not be prepared to use it? How can we be winners if we are not playing?

America put Hitchens center stage, he became a player in the greatest show on earth.

The current crop of nominees are there because they are deemed the most electable. Why, because they are dead against any rules that might stymie the game, to lessen the chances of beating the odds since to make it you gotta take it, primarily from others, and protecting the suckers lengthens my odds.

It is hard to condemn though from a nation exhibiting all the signs of a gambling addiction.

I remain concerned with todays America, its balance directions.
Favfern said it all.
I Am just as proud to be from the only left faction in fact progressive, the ALP.
I passively gloat at Australia's better health care/education/welfare/ much more than Americas.
Yes I am aware of the wrongs, that 80% of the homeless are said to be ex service personnel?
Stunning!
I however am not unaware of those country's America confronts.
Not blind to the equal of Americas Christian Fundamentalist rabbits, in those other country's.
Nore will I ever fail to remember the middle east other country's sharing that faith, lie to us.
And are told it is ok, a page exists, talking of those lies, even fears, that mans most important part,will and have fallen off because of drinking coke!
Yes world is not perfect America's lost, on the way down in my view.
But take your eyes off the opponents at your peril.
Syria today who tomorrow will murder its own people rather than free them?