- by foxnews
- 12 Nov 2024
As the American political scientist Corey Brettschneider reminds us in his new book, The Presidents and the People, the danger inherent in this concentration of power was already highlighted by Patrick Henry, a hero of the American war of independence, when the US constitution was debated at the Virginia ratifying convention in 1788. What if a criminal were elected president, Henry asked. What if he could abuse his position as singular head of the executive branch and commander in chief of the military to realise his criminal ambitions? Well, here we are 236 years later, and a convicted felon and notorious fan of autocrats is neck-and-neck with the newly crowned Democratic candidate, Kamala Harris.
I arrived in the US the day before Joe Biden finally conceded that he would not stand again. Since then we have witnessed a tidal wave of hope flow into the candidacy of Harris and her folksy running mate, Tim Walz. This culminated in the Democratic national convention in Chicago, where the usual orgy of razzmatazz was accompanied by genuine joy and unabashed flag-waving patriotism.
Ultimately, what is most peculiar about this world election is the sheer incongruity of cause and potential effect. Whether women and children in Kharkiv or Rafah live or die may depend on what Mike the mechanic in Michigan and Penny the teacher in Pennsylvania think about their grocery bills.
In a surprising twist for Australia’s wildlife scene, an emperor penguin has been spotted on Ocean Beach in Denmark, Western Australia, marking the first recorded sighting of this Antarctic species on the continent. This lone traveler, affectionately nicknamed Gus, has astonished locals and raised questions about the environmental forces that might have led him so far from his icy home. Discovered on November 1, Gus’s unexpected appearance, 2,200 miles from his native Antarctic habitat, has captivated wildlife enthusiasts, tourists, and scientists alike, highlighting the broader implications of climate change and shifts in marine currents.
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