All Roads leads to the Capitol

The stakes are so high that there is absolutely no limit. Every player has gone All-in right from the outset; it is still about science and skill but much bigger than any game of poker. We are probably standing at the crossroads of American history for exactly one week from today, there were will be myriad "heads-up" contests across the nation to gain control of the American Congress.

The daily poll in one of the popular TV news programmes was if the current elections interests you in any way more than the elections in the past - I screamed, "Hell, yeah!" I was convinced the network had ran out of ideas that day and hence threw this obvious and dumb question out. But, seriously, this is one of the most crucial and deciding mid-term elections in American political history simply because of the fact that the outcome of these polls is a clear and direct referendum on the functioning and performance of the current Congress. Also, it is believed that the vote of every individual is highly influenced by the policies of the Federal government.

All politics might be local, though not this fall - amidst the already growing disapproval of the Iraq war amongst the public and the plummeting poll numbers of the President and his sagging job-approval ratings, a big republican loss would mean nothing more than a slap on the face of President Bush, the general conduct of his government and its policies. And, this is something no President would desire at any stage of his presidency for you don't want history to remember you for the wrong reasons.

Also, with the Congress being a republican bastion for some decades now, the general public discontent and the absence of a feel-good factor has caused the tide to turn the democratic way. The time is ripe and it looks to be an opportune moment for the dems to reclaim the control of Congress. With America at war that only seems to get deadlier by the day, a GOP loss will prompt the President to re-examine every move he has made in the past few years and force him to change every strategy he has pursued till this day. Also, dems will run all top house and senate committees that will enable them to place checks and balances and exercise a good amount of oversight over every move Bush makes in the next two years.

Given the stakes that are involved this year, candidates have engaged in one of the most bitter campaigns ever in American politics. Aggressive name-calling, fierce finger-pointing and acerbic TV-ads have been the order of the day. In the last few days of the battle, the tempers are flaring with people firing on all cylinders to leave no stone unturned.

It gets more exciting in these days from the perspective of a political observer/journalist and entertaining too. Not just, October or November-surprises, small events with repercussions on a large scale is causing big momentum shifts by the hour and as in sports in the world of politics, anything is possible!

Next week, America will be a nation of enthusiastic voters with hope in their eyes that the new lawmakers they've just elected use their offices effectively and come up with something concrete that will reform all of their lives.

"God Bless America"