The candidates have chosen two relaxed wise guys as their vice presidential candidates - but they can't compete with Greenspan. And if God's willing Greenspan is going to continue reigning both the World and US for quite some time to come. If Shakespeare were still around it would make a great play. Whoever wins the elections it will be Greenspan who describes the framework in which the President can operate and how much room for manoeuvre he'll have, and Washington will listen as will the nation and the world. Presidents come and go - but Greenspan remains, surrounded by crown princes learning the rules of the game.
Elections are mere referendums as power is sapped from Washington.
This situation brings security to America, rightly or wrongly, a security strong enough to create the present feel good factor. With both main candidates to the White House building most of their rhetoric around this feel good factor, whilst retaining the feel bad factor for the opposition no wonder the public is uninterested. The rest of the world can just ponder whether the Americans are fooling themselves, especially as the rest of the world is a long way away from feel the benefits of the feel good factor. Bo B Melander, senior editor, foreign affairs.