In the US a large part of the people tend to vote for the person with the best campaign team. As a foreigner, I remembered George W. Bush as the junky-son of the former president. But somehow the campaign team made the American public forget that the guy stuffed his nose with white powder! And he became the president... twice! Even after he messed up the first time already. Well... not really twice... I remember something about Al Gore actually getting more votes

Actually, there are many who feel both elections were suspicious....In 2004 there were a lot of "oddities" in Ohio....in particular there were many issues....anyway...The US election process is IMHO a disgrace. First of all, I think every candidate should get exactly the same amount of campaign time and resources. As it is now, it´s more about who can hire the best campaign managers. Candidates are allowed to lie about their competitors. I´m really shocked at the brazen lies. You may have read here a few of us mention Dennis Kucinich, I actually think he would have been the best choice for president, but he´s not pretty enough and he doesn´t have the corporate sponsors...so he has not had much of a chance. 

Interestingly, the right wing French politician Le Pen considers Harry Truman and his government as a bunch of war criminals just like I did before. He says: "If we talk about war criminals, aren´t those who bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki also war criminals?" he asked, referring to the US nuclear attacks on the two cities on August 6 and 9.

Here is the link:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100814/wl_asia_afp/japanfrancebritainpoliticsfarright

Lol, you have a gift for quoting questionable people First the Italian prime minister on democracy, and now Le Pen on war criminals. I´m sure Le Pen was happy to point out any Jewish people to the Nazi´s during the war. I guess he was just too young at the time, or he would have been a hot-shot in the Nazi party of France.

I understand that you don´t like the persons I quote from. After all, one of them is a proven womanizer with a decadent life style and the other is a right wing extremist. Nevertheless, they have a point with the things they said. Furthemore, this subject is a bit like a taboo for the venerable world leaders who can´t risk offending the big brother.

Anyway, would you explain your own idea about Truman´s role in the bombings and whether he committed a war crime by targeting all the people (civilians) in two cities? Do you think nuking large cities in order to debilitate the enemy can be considered an ethical option.

I am crystal clear about this. If I was in his shoes, I would NEVER EVER take an inhuman decision like that and I firmly believe the perpetrators of this despicable historical act deserve to be damned forever.

There has been more debate about this matter this year than previous ones. Of course it was a despicable act.....I am constantly amazed at the depravity and cruelty displayed in some humans. It is very depressing...very. That depravity is not limited to any particular nation. It exists in all nations, given the opportunity.

I am also inspired at the bravery of firemen who run into burning buildings to rescue people & animals, the doctors in Medicins San Frontieres. Altruism is also part of human nature, it´s just unfortunate we don´t see it more.