Hope and change.
Sometimes the words go together. Sometimes they do not.
The world of presidential re-election politics across the globe is in flux.
This weekend's turn of presidential events in France, Russia and Germany paints an interesting picture of global re-election politics for many nations' presidents.
In particular comes this weekend's presidential defeat of France's centrist Nicolas Sarkozy by socialist Francois Hollande. Sarkozy has had five years to move France towards a more Nato-friendly, Euro-centered, global ally of the United States. Though it was a narrow defeat (51-49%), France now lurches away from its former policy direction.
Vladimir Putin's re-accession this weekend to the presidency of Russia, moves Dimitry Medvedev off of center stage. Medvedev's four years as Russia's president held little sway over the Russian electorate - even amid claims of voter fraud.
Germany's President Merkle now faces uneasy losses in state parliaments in southern Germany - a fact not boding well for upcoming presidential elections.
The nations of the world are uneasy. Waiting in the wings are Greece and Israel - both encountering election changes at lower levels, as Germany is.
Change is not just in the air... it is on the ground.
And the buck stops somewhere...
It is no different here in the US, where the answer to that expression was first coined.
The answer is plain: with the President.
Hope and change were also brought to the US presidential election dialog 4 years ago.
President Obama's election of 2008 was anchored to hope; change followed.
For many across the globe and within the US, the promises provided by the elusive desire of hope evaporate with each month of unemployment or under-employment.
Hope is being deferred.
And with each personal loss of hope, comes national (and global) change... in the presidency.
Like the showy Mr. Sarkozy and the listless Mr. Medvedev, Mr. Obama may find himself a victim of "change" completely separated from the word "hope".
Even the ancients knew that "hope deferred makes the heart sick."
And the heart of global presidential politics appears to be somewhat ill right now, with the temperature changing things quite qucikly.
Den
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