Rocks in a candy store (Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM)

[bloom]

"There is a recurring theme in US presidential politics, at least from an Arab point of view. And it goes like this: while Israel is in a candy shop, choosing between a lollipop and gum, each sweeter than the other, Arabs are like Charlie Brown at Halloween -- their trick or treat bag is full of rocks.

It's hard, after all, to choose between two candidates who appear little better than each other on issues of most concern to Arabs. "Kerry seems more rational," was a typical response to Al-Ahram Weekly 's straw poll of 100 randomly picked Egyptians -- as well as 10 prominent public figures -- regarding how they would vote and why. "He seems less dangerous than Bush." The key word, in both sentiments, is "seems", since no one knows for sure.

Most respondents were much clearer on the way they felt about Bush. "I hate Bush because we know he hates our guts," was retired re-insurance executive Fathi Hamam's blunt response. The vast majority of those polled -- 90 per cent or so -- echoed his sentiments. "Saying the word 'crusade' made him look like a crusader," Hamam explained. "If there is even a one per cent chance that Kerry will be different, then we should try him."

The majority of respondents to the Weekly 's poll -- 51 per cent -- would vote for Kerry, given the chance. A significant 32 per cent chose neither. Bush got only 12 per cent of the votes, while five per cent chose Ralph Nader.

<snip>

In the Arab world, as was made clear by the Weekly's survey, as well as by similar experiments on radio, TV, and in other media outlets, politics is local. "Bush has been treating the Arab world as if it were an American state," one caller told Negoum FM. That feeling is the driving force behind most people's desire to have "anyone but Bush" sitting behind the Oval Office desk. "Let's find out what Kerry has in store for our region," medical student Mohamed Adel told the Weekly."
<more>

http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2004/714/fr1.htm