None of this is international outlook is being reported here, we’re so caught up in Joe the Plumber and whether Obama is a socialist. Its been a wild ride, it’s come down to “real” indicators from mainstream media predicting who will win by which candidates Halloween costume sell the best (McCain), who’s taller (Obama), whether the National League (Democrats) or American League (GOP) baseball team wins the World Series and most importantly, if the Redskins football team win their last game before the election the incumbent usually wins the election (the Redskins are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers Monday night – could go either way).

Nice to know, I have more stamps on my passport than Sarah Palin!

Hope all’s well in Barga!

Besides, according to Frank Viviano, the US is lagging far behind Europe, so why all the interest?

If only many Americans had an idea what the rest of the work was thinking! From what I can get on the ground here, it is all about the tremendous divide, Red Blue, Right and Left! Everyone seems so caught up in the one side or the other, more than anything else. Just like the last election. Of course the economic situation is confusing things a little bit but there is no engaging debate here, but rather it is a name calling argument, and nobody is pulling their head out of the sand long enough to look around. There is no (main stream) press coverage of the rest of the world…. and so it goes….

It all a bit overwhelming actually.

Thank you Frank for compiling these reparts from around the globe, I just wish more people would look past their own fences around here….. maybe we could all even see Russia if we squinted!

Jess