ABOUT THIS ELECTION

The Presidency of George W Bush has been fraught with conflict and controversy. Indeed, the way he came to powerin the first place was deeply controversial. Some people think he should not be president at all. This is our chance to put the record straight: your votes will ratify his election or replace him with a leader of your choice.

For many he is a great President. Here is a man who talks plain and walks tall, a man who believes in America's greatness.

Many other people consider his attitude to the environment, defence, and foreign policy to be arrogant and downright stupid. They think he is something to scrape off the bottom of your shoe.

On balance, around the world considerably more people disagree with him than support him. Many consider that he is turning the US into a pariah state. On the right of this column you can read the Mexican writer Carlos Fuentes' impressions of the Bush presidency from back in 2001. I wonder whether he has changed his mind since.

Our illustrious leader Psilocybe P Pook (No Relation) has decided to set up an alternative presidency, one really chosen by the people. And since the US wields so much influence in the world and George is busy by fair means and foul moulding the planet in his own image and to his own convenience, the Great Pook feels that the election should be open to one and all: you don't have to be American to vote and the presidential candidates don't have to be US citizens. They don't even have to be real or human.

To view list of current nominees, click here.

And if you are one of those Florida voters denied your right to vote because of your colour, here's your chance to have another say.

HOW TO NOMINATE AND VOTE

You can nominate anyone you like, any time you like.

You can vote for any one you like, any time you like.

You can vote or nominate as many times as you like.

TO NOMINATE

Send Psipook an email stating your nomination and your reason for thinking that this man, woman, or thing would make a great president of the United States. You are welcome to include photos or illustrations to enhance the impact of your nomination on the voters.

Your nomination will be posted on the nominations page.

TO VOTE

See a nominee you like? Send us an email stating your choice.

Your vote will be added to the tally for that candidate. There will be no hanging chads, no unwanted pregnancies, no partisan voting machines.

Don't see a candidate you like? Well, feel free to nominate and vote for your own candidate. This is democracy on rollerblades.

And unlike the impersonal, yes-or-no nature of most voting procedures, you can qualify your votes with, raves, ifs, or buts. Include your comments in your ballot, and they will be duly posted.

So, go ahead, nominate or vote now before you go cold.

NOMINATE OR VOTE

New nomination: Howard Marks

Howard was a dope smuggler for many years and in that time visited the middle east and far east more than most.  He was an ambassidor for the free world and he was a sound Welshman to go with it.  He would be perfect for the presidency and would be able to sack everyone involved in the farce the yanks call a war on terror/drugs.  I also think pop-eye would make a good deputy what with his pipe smoking habit and all that.....,
                          GOD BLESS WALES,  NIK

Why I nominated David Letterman, by Coronel Aureliano Buendia

I think David Letterman should be president because --apart from following the trend of putting Hollywood goofballs in power-- we need someone in Washington who wears sneakers with their suits. Besides, I wouldn't bat an eye if I saw a grinning, fifty something bloke trying to spin another of his stupid joke-cards while sitting at the desk in the oval office. Now instead of just THINKING the president is a complete nutcase, we would now know that indeed he is. A comedian (albeit a bad one) in power could do wonders for world politics. Picture this: David Letterman at his desk, with Fidel Castro, Britney Spears, and a sausage on the leather sofa as his guests. Maybe he could get Fidel and Briteny to smooch. Now THAT would stop the whole world from killing each other.
Coronel Aureliano Buendia

Why I voted for Popeye, by Lancekin Fields

I had a look at my nomination you placed on your website and am truly honored. Popeye deserves this nomination more than anyone I can think of. Besides what I've already mentioned, he speaks English with a funny accent which is quite consistent with recent US presidents. This accent recall factor is key to winning election funds and kissing babies. I'd also like to say that because of Popeye's missing eyeball I always wondered whether I needed both of mine. I don't think Olive Oil would have chosen him over Bluto if he had two eyes. Popeye would have probably turned gay and become bed buddies with Wimpy. Luckily for his future constituents he has remained true to his calling and fornicates with Olive regularly, especially after giving Bluto a good whomping. Please add my vote for Popeye. By the way, what happens if Popeye wins?

Why I voted for Castro, by Tory Blair

Mr. Castro is cute, green and furry and would look good dangling from the rearview mirror in my car.

None of the above can be said of Mr. Bush.

That's why I voted for Mr. Castro.

TB

Wednesday, August 29, 2001
Mexican author Carlos Fuentes slams Bush as an "ignorant lunatic"

Renowned Mexican author Carlos Fuentes may be the son of a diplomat but he was anything but diplomatic here in his assessment of US President George W. Bush, whom he deemed an "ignorant lunatic."

"Sadly, Bill Clinton is no longer (US) president. Now there is an ignorant lunatic by the name of George W. Bush; well, that's what we're getting," Fuentes, invited to Guatemala by UNICEF, told a news conference late Tuesday.

With Bush, "we are headed toward failure," Fuentes said. "He is a president who in six months has practically done away with all international treaties: on the environment, social ones, all humanitarian programs and those in favor of peace; he has created a situation of unnecessary tension, of rupture."

"George W. Bush's blindness, perversity and foolishness will bring him losses in the upcoming legislative and presidential elections. He won't be
re-elected, in the first place because he never was elected," predicted Fuentes, winner of Spain's Principe de Asturias Prize for Literature in 1994 and
author of works such as "The Death of Artemio Cruz" and "Diana, The Goddess Who Hunts Alone."

"If (Bush) is going to keep breaking treaties, I hope that one day he will break the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo with Mexico and give us back Texas, California, Nevada, Arizona, et cetera," Fuentes quipped.

POSTSCRIPT:

Martin Kettle, the Guardian's man in Washington, gives us the following story:

Bush was on a walkabout tour of a certain company in the US. A lot of the workers had a chance to meet the man and shake his hand.

Finding himself face to face with the president, one worker, shook the proffered hand but commented politely that he was "disappointed" with the presidency so far. Without dropping his photo-op smile, the President responded, "Who cares what you think!"