The United States was considered a land of promise when we were living under the so-called socialist regime (until 1990). After the fall of socialism, many believed the U.S. would help out Hungary and the whole Eastern European region with a new Marshall plan. When it did not, quite a number of people thought that the U.S. had left us in the lurch.

Ever since, you are not so popular and many Hungarians haven't the faintest idea if Bush isa Democrat or a Republican. I know it is sad. But do you know which is the majority party in India? The Netherlands? Portugal?

The question went like this: Does anyone think that a Democtaric Congress would be better? Yes, I know such a man, his name is Miklós Vámos. I have been following United States politics since the Vietnam War (I was in the high school then).

I think the Democratic presidents have performed slightly better - more effective -- than the Republicans. I know it is hard to say from Budapest which administration is/was the best. Still, in my opinion the best president since the 1960s was Jimmy Carter -- no wonder the Americans didn't like him too much while he was in office. A good president intends to solve the problems of most people, and that means that he must hurt the interests of many. His concept of the health system and the education seemed to me very good, and it was a pity he could not realize them.

All in all, I am all for a Democratic Congress -- until we talk about the specific names. When we start to consider the possible candidates, I'd better shut up, since I cannot see one I would vote for if I had a right to vote in the U.S. But Budapest is probably too far to have a clear vision from here. Let's see if the American citizens' vision is 20/20.