Claims the little one: In her speech, Ms Blears also complained about a "spreading corrosive cynicism" in political discussion. She turned her fire on political "bloggers" - accusing them of fuelling disengagement by focusing on "unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy" and of being written by "people with disdain for the political system and politicians". "The most popular blogs are right-wing, ranging from the considered Tory views of Iain Dale, to the vicious nihilism of Guido Fawkes," she said. But she added: "Unless and until political blogging 'adds value' to our political culture, by allowing new and disparate voices, ideas ...
We didn't go to a big display. We got a small cheap box of fireworks (£5) and a pack of sparklers, and set them off outside the house. Various neighbours' children joined us. It was WAY more fun than going to a big display. :D Quote of the Day? I'm not sure if it goes to cassandravert or sovietkiki Vert said:But of course it was also a historic election. Not everyone in the US has felt represented in politics. There are some kinds of people that we give lip service to, but when push comes to shove, they are not ...
The City Council issued the following news release today with good news about how the vacant and derelict land fund will improve sites across our City : Landscaping to improve the appearance of a former factory in Kingsway East, better access for pedestrians to the rear of Lochee High Street and a nature park at Riverside are set to benefit from a £5m cash boost. Members of Dundee City Council's planning and transport committee will be told that the schemes, along with 26 others, will be carried out in the next three years using cash from the Scottish Government's vacant ...
Well I haven't checked the blog world yet but my guess is that there will be the odd thing about a certain election far far away......... Four years ago, I happened to be working in London when Bush won his second term. The team I was working in were a pretty international lot and I remember how shocked we all were that he won. After all the general consensus of opinion was that, he never really won the first time and to top it had been making a pretty bad hash of the job ever since. Surly they wouldn't make ...
Embedded video from CNN Video A very sober man gets a little emotional.... "It was like New Years Eve.It was like Millennium New Years Eve".
Last night the United States elected their first sensible president for over eight years. I really feel there was a sense of optimism across the world this morning. What America needs is someone who will restore this nations standing in the world. I have watched Obama during the course of the campaign, he is a fantastic speaker and I really feel his policies are needed to meet the challenges America faces today.
This gem can be found on LabourHome. The original text is this : Do liberals annoy you? jkitleft Sat Oct 11, 2008 at 12:22:27 PM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook I am young, so I don't know many in my age group who would describe themselves as 'socialists', or 'social democrats'. Most describe themselves as liberals. What does that mean exactly? They're 'liberal', because they are pro gay-rights, pro-choice, and anti death penalty. They annoy the hell out of me. Don't get me wrong, I think gay rights, a woman's right to choose, and the abolishment of the death penalty are ...
With the US elections all but over our attention turns back to domestic politics and the inevitable tensions that are beginning to surface in the One Wales Government as Plaid Cymru come to realise that the Wales Labour Party's commitment to devolution is surface-deep after all. The Tories have brought out their own report today in which they have also reverted to type. Their open-mindedness about acquiring more powers for the Assembly and even supporting a 'yes' vote in a referendum that was evident at the time of the coalition talks, has now dissipated into thin air. There are of ...
With the by election in Glenthroes taking place tomorrow can the Labour party sneak a win and prove to the media, political commentators and other countries that people in the UK believe in their economic packages. If the people of Glenthroes elect the Labour candidate I think they will send a message to Cameron, telling him that the economic package by Brown has weakened opposition and Labour are back! We will see who wins the election tomorrow...
Mutterings, mumblings and sotto voce cursing. Tonight's one of my two favourite celebrations in the year, being Guy Fawkes night when I normally have fun with fireworks. The other night which I particularly enjoy is Halloween with all it's ghosties, ghoulies (note correct spelling) and hints of Samhain (note potential spelling disagreements). Sadly there's been a marital bull issued against my pyrotechnic proclivities due to the assorted coos, horses and sheeps in the vicinity - can't scare the livestock says she. OK, says me, fair enough. Can we have some over at your Mum & Dad's says I hopefully? Nope ...
Phew, Obama gained a solid victory. Nice one. Having watched the news for far too long at the expense of sleep I don't think I can sensibly write any more. Nuff to say this is the sort of thing that makes politics worthwhile.
Sarah Smith on Channel Four news just said that European leaders are expecting a "more nuanced" approach to foreign relations from Obama. "Nuanced"? Isn't that a word used by "cheese eating surrender monkeys"?
Is it just me, or does Lembit's last e-mail read a little like the appeal of a despairing X-Factor constestant? Try: When all the pretence of normal life is stripped away by hard times, you get to know yourself better. I've learned why I want to do the job of President. I know I can reach people in a special way, to make them listen and feel listened too. I know it comes from a motivation from deep inside me.It is quoted in full at The People's Republic of Mortimer.
An eighteen year old American will have lived through five presidential elections. In only one of those, 2004, did the Republicans win the popular vote.
I did not stay up very late last night, but even so it was clear that Obama had won by the time I went to bed. At least I think it was. It was hard to tell because I was watching the BBC coverage. Let me join the chorus of disapproval from Liberal Democrat Voice, Iain Dale and A Lanson Boy and say how poor it was. Essentially David Dimbleby and his pals were sitting around waiting for the American networks to declare the various State results. But they gave us no steer on which States to look for and ...
Oh, good Lord. When I started blogging, I had no idea where I was going. But where blogging seems to have taken me is concentrating on Alaska, x thousand miles away, rather than obsessing about the pavements, roads and pooper scoopers within yards of my home. And, indeed, Alaska rears its remarkable head again. Sarah Palin could become a US Senator! Pass the sick bag, Alice. But help is at
I spent most of last night on the sofa under my duvet watching the results of the American elections, dosing off to sleep every now and again between states being called. There is obviously a real feeling of change in America and Obama has been the figurehead of this change. It got me to wondering whether we have already had this experience back in 1997. Back then the nation yearned for change.
It's great fun to ruminate on all the ways McCain "cocked up" his campaign. But, of course, he did very well and it is almost impossible to think of any member of the Republican party, save perhaps Colin Powell, who could have done better. Anyway, let's have a bit of fun. The first thing that occurs is that the McCain campaign didn't stick to one message. They didn't stick to two messages.
The Daily Telegraph reports: A brief statement issued by the Lib Dem whips office in the Lords, said he was standing down because he did not agree with "the Government's current proposals for a Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, and with some aspects of its proposals for constitutional reform."Lord Lester, a noted human rights lawyer, was appointed by Gordon Brown last year shortly after he became Prime Minister to advise on constitutional affairs. It was part of the GOAT plan - a government of all the talents.
Taegan Goddard's Political Wire brings us this gem of a quote from President-elect Obama: "Well, the truth is, Brian, we can't solve global warming because I fucking changed light bulbs in my house." – Sen. Barack Obama, quoted in Newsweek's special election issue, during debate preparations on how he wanted to answer if Brian Williams asked [...]
Well, the outcome's in no doubt, but the actual result is - which means we can't yet officially announce a winner of our Lib Dem Voice Presidential Prediction competition. As it stands, we're still pending the official confirmation of who has gained North Carolina's 15 electoral college votes. At the moment, it's narrowly in the [...]
here!
Like many people, I was a little bit emotional in the early hours of this morning. It wasn't just that Barack Obama had made history, and proved what can be done in American politics. Or the sight of scores of African Americans, thrilled and excited at their new sense of opportunity. Or that the world's eight-year long nightmare, the presidency of George W. Bush, is about to end. There are two reasons I am especially pleased. First, we may now see American leadership - and the promise of real progress - on addressing the climate crisis. President-elect Obama is committed ...
An outside chance for the Dems last night was to take a Senate seat in Minnesota, with comedian and author Al Franken as the Democratic candidate. You may know Al from his work on Saturday Night Live, his books Lies, and the lying liars who tell them or Rush Limbaugh is a Big Fat Idiot - or [...]
Over at Paint the Town Orange, Helen Duffett muses on an essay in online magazine Wired suggesting that blogs are past their sell-by date with Twitter, Facebook and Flickr taking their place. In the spirit of navel gazing, I started thinking about what it really means for blogs to be past it. Paul Boutin, who wrote the Wired essay, has a few things to say against blogs. The spirit of amateurism is dying, with popular blogs being commercial affairs, or run by groups of authors who can out-blog the enthusiastic amateur many times over. The ease of uploading multimedia content ...
President-elect Obama's story could only have happened in America. Today every person on the planet who believes in democracy can walk taller. The power of democracy to effect peaceful change has just been demonstrated. Obama won by awakening a determination in millions who had not voted before, not even in the high water mark election of 2004, to willingly register to vote and then to use their votes, and to do that he had to get them on his side, to include them and to inspire hope. There is a lesson for us about leadership here. And there is more ...
As Kos's map shows, the senate results are not yet in. There is a post explaining what's going on with these races that are yet to be called here. The presidential result is already determined, so the electoral college predictions are largely academic (give or take an LDV mug). But the Senate races are important. The Democrats had hoped that they might come out of this process with a filibuster
It's been pretty depressing lately, with the short days and long periods of dark combined with grey days. But today nothing has seemed dark and miserable, today is a great day. It will be no surprise that my joy comes from Barack Obama winning. I'm so happy. My day has included hugging many people at school, because of how happy I am. Obama has done an incredible thing. He's given Hope to the Hopeless, and he's inspired not just a nation but the whole World. His campaigning machine has been incredible. He's raised millions from small donations from ordinary people. ...
For all that Auntie is the nation's favourite, I've got to add my voice to those, including Iain Dale and Mark Pack on LDV, who have criticised their coverage of the US elections last night. I don't disagree with the decision to send so many staff over for the coverage. I think that it was justified given the importance of the US, the historic nature of the election due to Obama's candidacy and the excitement about the result. In fact, I think that the BBC should be putting more effort (not quite as much as this, but significantly more than ...
The election's not over for John McCain. His website is still urging people to go and vote...(image here for when they get round to updating it)
Both opposition leaders were able to make play with Obama's victory at PMQs today. David Cameron compared his "novice" status to that of Obama, and Nick Clegg asked why the Prime Minister - who had minutes earlier compared his own government's priorities to Obama's - did not adopt Obama's policies on cutting tax for lower [...]
From the Guardian: So now we know what John McCain really thinks of his running mate Sarah Palin - and that's not just because of the awkward body language between them during his concession speech in Phoenix, Arizona. An exasperated McCain has been telling friends in recent weeks that Palin is even more trouble than a pitbull. In one joke doing the rounds, the Republican presidential candidate
A man who still thinks the Liberal Democrats are called the SDP has placed a bet with me as he believes to think President Obama would get shot in his first term in office, I obviously disagreed with him so the bet is on!
Paul Boutin thinks blogs are SO four years ago! Writing at Wired he says that the rise of other sites like Twitter, Flickr and Facebook offer quicker and richer ways to express yourself. He particularly likes Twitter: "Twitter — which limits each text-only post to 140 characters — is to 2008 what the blogosphere was to 2004. You'll find Scoble, Calacanis, and most of their buddies from the golden age there. They claim it's because Twitter operates even faster than the blogosphere. And Twitter posts can be searched instantly, without waiting for Google to index them. As a writer, though, ...
Standby for some entertainment. I love this woman. In their special election edition, Newsweek reports that Gov. Sarah Palin's "shopping spree at high-end department stores was more extensive than previously reported. While publicly supporting Palin, McCain's top advisers privately fumed at what they regarded as her outrageous profligacy." "One senior aide said that Nicolle Wallace had told
Wiritng for The Guardian's Comment Is Free blog today, Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg welcomes Labour's U-turn on NHS top-up payments: The rules that forced patients to pay the full cost of their NHS care if they chose to use their own savings for an expensive but life-saving drug were clearly unsustainable. Worse, the rules were [...]
One of the features of Kirsty Williams' campaign website is that it has a blog, largely written by members of her campaign team but occasionally by Kirsty herself. Today Kirsty reflects on Obama's win last night: Barack and the Democrats have smashed ceiling after ceiling in this election campaign. We in Wales will be smashing our own ceiling in the next few weeks, electing the first female leader of any Welsh political party. It's not just that ceiling I want to see us smash though. As the world turns to a new generation of leaders with Barack in America and ...
As you can see by clicking on this link, ten men have been stopped, arrested and searched under allegations that they may be planning to bomb parliament. I gave the warning to Pendle Lib Dems yesterday so don't blame me if we don't have a membership Secretary! Maybe the warnings from previous posts are part of the plan?
I predicted the outcome of the presidential election over at LibDemVoice as you can see by following the link but my prediction was of the ball no thanks to Obama. I predicted: An Obama Win (at least I got that right) 300 electoral colleges for Obama and 238 electoral colleges for McCain Obama to get 60% of the vote and McCain to get 40% but our friend Obama had to go further with his wins and take more colleges then I predicted, so Obama I didn't get a LibDemVoice mug no thanks to you!
On Monday night, I saw Barack Obama speak. On my return to the UK, I intend to write more about that and my other US electoral experiences. Standing there in a field along with approximately 100,000 people, I saw someone in the tradition of FDR, Martin Luther King and JFK. But watching him make his acceptance speech, I was struck by his reference to, and rhetorical echoes, of Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln was a Republican. He led a party that was liberal and modern. He was also a great orator. Lincoln famously said that "a House divided against itself cannot stand". ...
Barack Obama has succeeded in bringing together a broad-based movement for change (not just hoping for change but being the change) . Focusing on the issues of the day including economic downturn, the war on terror and wider social justice issues such as access to heath-care and education, Obama has given the Democrats confidence and purpose- 2 vital elements in any political campaign. Added to that, his inspiring rhetoric, a clear narrative and a well-funded, hyper-efficient, organised grassroots operation have mobilised millions of people across the world to join him in his journey. Many politicians attract support, few genuinely inspire ...
I wasn't able to stay awake for long last night. Shortly after 1am I saw the projection for a McCain win in Kentucky and an Obama win in Vermont. Neither was a surprise and I decided to switch off the tv rather than attempt to stay awake. I woke this morning to the news of an electoral college landslide, if not a vote landslide. Back in the UK, both Brown and Cameron appear to be reading
I'm still euphoric after spending most of the evening waiting for the Presidential election results in an upmarket club in Regent Street, as a guest of Operation Black Vote. Fantastic crowd and atmosphere. Even before we knew the result, many of us agreed that there had already been a seismic shift - a possibility had become a reality. Its hard to take it in. Just 43 years after African Americans were first given the right to vote, a black man was in reach of become its President, and hours later it was confirmed. Barack Hussein Obama is the next President! ...
And then we have a chink of light with the House of Lords defeating the Government over the issue of keeping peoples' DNA and fingerprints on the police national database. Peers backed a Conservative amendment calling for national guidelines for deleting material by 161 votes to 150. The UK has the largest police DNA database in the world - with more than four million people on file. Under current laws, the database holds DNA records from suspects arrested in England and Wales, regardless of whether they are subsequently charged or convicted. And innocent people who volunteer to give a DNA ...
I thought people might be interested in the below which I have just posted on Daily Kos; David Cameron, leader of Britain's Conservative Party, welcomed the election victory of Barack Obama in the following terms; "In electing Barack Obama, America has made history and proved to the world that it is a nation eager for change. This has been an exciting and inspirational contest with two great candidates. In these difficult times people everywhere are crying out for change. Barack Obama is the first of a new generation of leaders who will deliver it - he has my whole-hearted congratulations. ...
Those who are concerned at the intrusion of Big Brother Government into our lives have one more thing to grumble about with the publication of a code of practice for pet owners. Cat and dog owners are to be told to provide "entertainment" and "mental stimulation" for their pets under the new government advice. The code of practice also includes advice on diet and providing "somewhere suitable to go to the toilet". It says owners should watch for signs of stress and advises on introducing cats to dogs without the fur flying. Owners will not be fined for breaking the ...
Well - the must have invite of the year - to the American Embassy on election night! I got there about 10.30pm - which is a really late start for an early to bed early to rise sort of a geek like me. However - the general excitement of the potential of the night worked its magic and I managed to stay there until around 2am. So - what's it like? Incredibly well organised - as American official entertaining always is. Obviously disappointed to find that there were around 1,499 other invitees - but hey. Amongst said invitees the celebs ...
I read that Jeremy Clarkson is the latest TV personality to be on the receiving end of a deluge of complaints for making an offensive remark during a broadcast. Now I thought Clarkson's remark was pretty unpleasant and I utterly loathe the man (though I do find him entertaining in spite of his odious views). But, [...]
Two quotes from the US press emphasise the awesome, historic nature of Obama's victory: Los Angeles Times: Barack Obama, the son of a father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas, was elected the nation's 44th president Tuesday, breaking the ultimate racial barrier to become the first African American to claim the country's highest office. A nation founded by slave owners and seared by civil
Anyone still caught up in Obamamania and/or mainlining chocolate biscuits to stay awake may have missed the last trio of emails from our own presidential hopefuls this morning. Lembit's offering, as the Guardian rightly suggests, is a gamble, not one that works on me but one I find interesting nonetheless. This is the "most candid letter you'll [...]
Tonight there is a meeting of full Council at Bury Town Hall from 7. I don't think there'll be crowds there to match Chicago last night, but you never know. I actually think that, since I stayed up til 4am this morning watching America, the most entertaining part of the evening may be keeping your eye on me trying to stay focused after two hours sleep. But the agenda is actually full of important things that I will do my best to cope with, despite my thoughts lagging about ten seconds behind where they should be due to sleep deprivation. ...
The most defining political moment of recent times will be written about for years to come, and by people with a better and wider grasp of its significance and ramifications than I will ever have. But there is a sheer, simple symbolism in waking up this morning to an America which has elected as its President a man so steeped in the politics of hope and optimism. And it is a joyous pleasure which anyone who wanted him to win can revel in. Never in my lifetime, and rarely perhaps ever, has the promise of one man's leadership stirred so ...
Apologies for no posts for the last few days. There has been a server upgrade which has meant that I couldn't update the site. It rumbled on a bit, to the extent that I was unsure this morning whether the server was serving me, or the other way round... But I think it's sorted now. Hurrah, and thanks to ALDC for the upgrade. Rick
If everyone put on Guido masks and by afternoon walked into Westminster village with lantern's in our hands Brown and all his cronies who sit in parliament would shit them self. This would be funny especially with all the earlier warnings as shown here and here! Who would freak out the most? I would think that would be the Cameron as he would be more scared about his media image and wanting to be Super Cameron so he would shit himself. Lord Greaves might take a break from speaking, "phew" is what other peers would be saying when he was ...
Students these days - they just don't care. Where are the massed crowds and the protests of outrage for today's student fees protest? That was my first reaction this morning; and I wondered if that proves I must be getting older! I was also shocked about the almost total lack of publicity around the Students' Union building. But as I left Chelmsford's Anglia Ruskin campus, I also realised that
The Huffster, or Huffpo, has posted some great celebatory pictures from around the US here. I have rather cheekily taken the liberty of temporarily borrowing a small indicative and low resolution photo from the show as a temporary adornment to my masthead to recognise the awesome and historic nature of President-elect Obama's victory last night.
"Remember, remember the 5th of November. The gunpowder, treason and plot..." I looked up the rhyme in preparation for the column this week and it really reminded me of my childhood. Bobbing the apple, treacle toffee, sparklers. The smell of the bonfire. The crackle of excitement and dry wood. We had an amazing Bonfire in Hastings this year. [...]
Well, you would have to be churlish not to recognise the historic importance of today's news...and that's pretty much me, although for once I shall keep my churldom at bay. Americans have to be admired from going in a very short space of time from segregation across a large part of their country to electing a black President and I for one congratulate their democracy. This really is a huge result and it hopefully changes everything. Someone said to me that Borat the Farmer could single-handedly revive the world economy through sheer optimism and it would be good to see ...
Every mainstream political party in Britain is celebrating Barack Obama's victory in the US presidential election. The messages of change and hope resonate as loudly on this side of the Atlantic as they do on the other. I stayed up until 3.30am watching the states being called, going to bed happy to know that Colorado [...]
So, today is the fifth of November, and a bonfire has been lit under world politics. Whatever happens, we are living in a very different world today than we were yesterday, and there is a mood of happiness and hope abroad, but it seems so fragile. Lets not let it die, people. And wasn't it incredible, So beautiful and above all, Just to see the fuse get lit this time, To light a real bonfire for all time. What a beautiful day indeed. Can we keep this going? Yes, we can. Dear Mr Obama, Congratulations! There is a glorious mood ...
I have not written anything since the 25th of January 2008. Not a single comment has been posted on my policy ideas. Does this mean nobody has read them? Or just not worth commenting on? Or they would not work; if not why not? The policies we have in place now do not work.
Thanks
Oh dear. Oh dear. It's not all sunshine this morning. Ted Stevens is leading by just under 5,000 votes in the Alaskan Senate race, with 96% of the votes counted. If Stevens is elected he will almost certainly be ejected from the Senate in January because of his ethics conviction. This means there will have to be a special election. That will almost certainly be Begich (Democrat) versus Sarah
I made it as far as Obama's victory speech before I decided to have a little nap. I had very strange dreams. When you see Obama using the techniques of Gospel preachers to rouse a crowd of 250,000 people to chant, "Yes we can!", not just once but hypnotically, like a mantra, you know you're witnessing a man of very, very special talent. When he says, "It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, without a new spirit of sacrifice." and "We rise and fall as one nation, as one people" and "Out of many we are ...
Firstly, Woohoo!!! :) When I delved into the deeper reaches of Virgin Media's cable offering, I was happy to find that CNN international were carrying the normal US CNN election night programme. Imagine how delighted I was to find that CNBC seemed to be carrying MSNBC! Oh, oh it's Keith Olbermann! Oh and Rachel Maddow! Looks like it's going to be a better viewing experience than I imagined. For a while I stuck with MSNBC flicking back to CNN during the ads (lukily the ad breaks weren't in sync) then disaster! MSNBC was no longer there as CNBC had replaced ...
First - ITV wiped the floor with the BBC in the quality of its election night coverage. A great mix of news, statistics, humour and drama. What has particularly stuck in my mind was a very short, but absolutely on the button, description of what the Virginia result could mean - the home of American [...]
Could Barack Obama be the last person to be elected American President who was also the 'most powerful person in the world'? At the moment it's hard to see anyone more powerful, but in 4 or 8 years' time, the US is unlikely to be the world's largest economy, may not control the world's most precious resources, and will be even more at the mercy of global forces than it is at present. The good news, I believe, is that we now have a US president who is able to engage with the wider world and who seems to have ...
This morning, I'd like to declare myself more chuffed than a really chuffed thing. More chuffed than a chough, in fact. It's been a long road since I saw Obama on Panorama and instantly decided to throw my lot in with him and also place a bet for him to be the Democrat nominee. (That reminds me, Stan James owes me some dosh as of today!) What I saw there on Panorama, in January 2007, in the
The USA has voted for change and elected Obama and much of the world breaths a sigh of relief. Definitely the best decision. Obama promises change, I just hope it will be change for the better. I suspect the change will be mixed. Foreign policy might be more sane and the standing of the US internationally will be better. [...]
If you weren't up to watch it live at 5am GMT (as the hard-core of LDV readers were), then do take 18 minutes out of your day today to watch President-elect Obama's acceptance speech, delivered shortly after his stunning election victory over Senator John McCain was confirmed. The rhetoric is, as ever, dazzlingly revivalist - [...]
Just think how diferent the world would be today if the US had had a similar defining moment in 2000. If Al Gore had been elected President then there would have been no war in Iraq and no Guantanamo Bay. Relationships between Europe and the States would have been considerably warmer, and indeed the UK's standing in Europe would not have plummeted because of its complicity in Iraq....
The Guardian reports the welcomes from all three main party leaders to the morning's news that Barack Obama is the President-elect of the USA: Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, was more open at his delight in a Democrat victory. "British voters may not have been able to vote in this election, but its outcome is [...]
Sorry but the coverage on the Beeb was terrible; on TV at least. Hardly any acknowledgment of the races for the Senate and painfully slow to call states...it was a bigger scandal than Ross/Brand/Clarkson all rolled together....
Having returned from a few days' holiday, doing no casework whatsoever (thank you Alan and John!), I have the temerity to take today off as well. The reason for this is not that I wish to commemorate the misdeeds of Guy Fawkes nor the misdeeds of the government of the day which led him to do what he did. Nor is it that I've decided to celebrate the result of the election in the USA though I
This is the situation as it stood at 8am this morning. I really do not need to add anything except that the hopes and dreams of many Americans and much of the free World now rests on the shoulders of this extraordinary politician. I thought about staying up to watch the results coming in but in the end I was just too tired, and let us face it, the one part of the political process I hate the most is the counts. Nevertheless it was a pleasure to wake up to this landslide victory.
Congratulations to Barack Obama!
A quick message for those who believe Barack Obama's election has proved anything is possible. Can we have a Black Man as Head of State in America? Yes We Can!Can we have a Woman as Head of State in America? No We Can't!Can we have an Atheist as Head of State in America? No We Can't!Can we have a Gay Man or Woman as Head of State in America? No We Can't! Can we have a Black Man as Head of State in Britain? No We Can't!Can we elect our own Head Of State in Britain? No We Can't!Can we ...
As America takes us all on a giant and exciting leap into the unknown, so David Dimblebore brings us all down to earth with a bump. Sometime after 5am, it had been a long night, the crowds started gathering outside the White House - spontaneously, unlike the Blair's orchestrated gathering back in 97. People in America needed to get out on the streets and celebrate - to be with other people - to
Ding, Dong the witch is dead the wicked witch the wicked witch! (Cough) Sorry for the celebration but I had to say good riddance to the Republicans and especially Bush. At least the people of America listened to the plea by the people of the world and elected Obama. He has a heck of a lot of expectations to live up to but I think he will be able to do it. Obama has a massive, well planned out campaign that really took him to the top and got him elected. A lot of his campaigning was online done using ...
Friday When John McCain first announced his choice of Vice Presidential running mate I was contemptuous. Sarah Palin's politics are rebarbative and her religious beliefs simply ludicrous. Yet there is something about the way she fells a moose (they abound in the frozen North of Rutland) that puts me in mind of the first Lady Bonkers. I spend the day looking up flights to Anchorage. If you like This Sort Of Thing, read: Monday: Nick Clegg goes to Sainsbury's Tuesday: Remembering the Cod War Wednesday: Robocalling Thursday: Cablemania
Congratulations to Barack Obama, and congratulations to the American people for, as Churchill put it, doing the right thing in the end after trying everything else first. Thoughts on the map: Obama gains Virginia, Ohio, Florida and Iowa in the East. All classic swing states except Virginia, which is becoming swingy because of growth in the DC suburbs. Obama gains Nevada, Colorado and New
The most obvious answer to this question for most people who are bleary-eyed from last night would be too bed. However, let's attempt to move beyond that and look a bit further on; first we have to say congratulations to the Democrats who didn't quite win a landslide but certainly won a decisive victory. At the time of writing it looks like Barack Obama will win the electoral college by 364-170 votes with somewhere around 52/54% of the popular vote. Meanwhile, the Democrat's have extended their advantage in Congress but look set to fall short of the 'magic 60' in ...
Congratulations to President-elect Obama. With the legacy he's been left, I can only hope that this won't prove to be an election it was best to lose; but as Hillary Clinton pointed out, it often falls to the Democrats to dig the US out of whatever mess the latest GOP president has left it in. In 2000, George W Bush won the presidency, despite getting fewer votes than Al Gore. This year it looks like Obama has won more votes than McCain, but it may end up fairly close (51-47 or something like that). On that close result, he's predicted ...
Test Valley Borough Council's Overview and Scrutiny Committee has voted to oppose addition of fluoride to the borough's water supply. Over the past month the committee has considered submissions from the strategic health authority, local dentists, supporters and opponents of the proposals. This included a special meeting devoted to receiving evidence from both sides of the argument The committee's recommendation is as follows "Having weighed up the evidence presented, this Committee remains unconvinced of the health benefits of fluoridation of public drinking water and therefore recommends to full council that it does not endorse additional fluoridation of the borough's water ...
Well, who imagined we could ever use that headline? No matter how many times it's repeated - to the point the cliche becomes stale - this is a truly historic moment, both for President-elect Barack Obama, and for the American people. We at Lib Dem Voice salute you. If you want to re-live the night through [...]
Ok, you can't really argue with the other guy giving up. I believe it now. I'm smiling. McCain is being very generous in defeat and offering help and support in the future. I know I should go to bed, but I can't really miss Obama's victory speech, can I? If it's any later than 5am, though, I will give up. Obama is speaking now and is brilliant. I am going to go to bed as soon as he stops, so goodnight y'all! Final edit - this speech has everything - grace, dignity, passion, inspiration - an even a puppy:-) LibDig ...
I remember Kurt Vonnegut, who didn't make it this far. So it goes. "You were sick, but now you're well again, and there's work to do."
It's stupid o'clock in the morning and I should be thankful for jetlag, however, it would seem that the next President of the USA wil be Barack Obama and that victory truly will be a victory for hope in this benighted world. A great taboo has been broken in America today. Yes, I know that he's got faults - hey, who is perfect? This win though is a ray of light in a world with too many dark corners. maybe he'll let us down as New labour did but at least we know he'll be really trying for a better ...
Well he's done it! Possibly the most historic US Presidential result of all time, and he'll take office almost exactly 100 years after the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People. This could radically change the perception of race across the US and of the US across the globe. Let's hope so. In the meantime, another beer, in celebration ;-)
Tuesday: Hooray! Good luck! Now, get it right, Barry O!
04:18 Hooray - it's over. Dignified McCain concedes. 04:17 McCain to concede shortly according to Dimblebore 04:15 Obama now only 2% behind in Missouri with 60% in. Maybe it might get it right after all. 04:08 CNN showing Obama 5000 or so ahead in Indiana. 04:00 BBC calls it for Obama. YAY! 03:59 - CNN have coloured Virginia in blue...... Obama's lead improves. 03:56 in my absence, BBC were talking about McCain being very bipartisan and conciliatory in his forthcoming concession speech...... 03:53 - my laptop completely froze but have restarted and all so far so good. It was the ...
12:40 I am oscillating between catching a bit of shut-eye, losing the will to live and spasms of excitement. In 2.5 hours of watching CNN I have just seen the first real data on CNN. Indiana is tight - 51 for McCain against 48% of Obama with 21% of the votes counted BUT the county split shows that the Democrat areas such as Gary haven't started counting yet. So, Obama is doing really well in
Norfolk Blogger has the story and Jon Herbet being conviced of common assault: Conservative South Norfolk Councillor Jon Herbert has joined two of his council colleagues by being convicted of a criminal offence. You can read all about the way this Tory Councillor treated Council staff HERE. The Tories campaigned hard in South Norfolk last time on [...]
After so many false dawns. This is wonderful!
03:36 Apparently Massachusetts and Michigan have approved decriminalising cannabis. 03:31 Remember that Republican who said Obama was unAmerican and called for an investigation and her Dem opponent then raised $1.3million in a week? She is 5% ahead with 24% of precincts in. 03:29 I was talking bollocks about Virginia at 03:21 - I got it mixed up with West Virginia........ 03:24 Gap widens in Virginia - now 39000. 03:23 - Nick Robinson just made a point about US electing a novice........ 03:21 - my Virginia obsession continues. The highest Democrat vote in recent history was Clinton's 41% 12 years ago. ...
Am awake (just), tea made, tv, laptop and heating on. I thought it was only polite to get up to see whether my friend Elspeth has made the difference for Obama in Colorado. So far, so good, I guess........... LibDig This!
More than once I have gone to bed to a Democrat victory, and woken up to a GOP win... What you are watching are very much exit polls, not real votes... Don't count your chickens... But let us live in HOPE And why is the BBC coverage so bad? Are you drinking what Hitchins is drinking?
ETA at the top: We're doing a proper liveblog anyway: So, two of the mainstream politics blogs I hang around on a lot are 'liveblogging' the US elections, and I'm supposed to be contributing. Liveblogging? That means actually writing content on the blog, using the comments box for information, and updating the post with important information as and when you get it. It was nosemonkey's liveblogging of the London bombings that got me into the idea of blogging in the first place. I think it's a great thing. So my favourite blogs are liveblogging the election results. Cool. Except ...
The BBC has a correspondent at John McCain's campaign HQ in Ashes, Arizona. Oh, give 'em a poke. Any luck? Nope, still ashes. Richard's getting us ice cream and some more big chocolatey birthday cake we've been saving. Mmm, it's all nice and fudgey. And the cake too. Last week we bought a lot of ice cream - including Baked Alaska and Fossil Fuel, in honour of Governor Palin. Well, that's what I said, anyway. Richard pointed out that in half-baked Alaska, you can't have fossil fuel, because fossils are the creation of Satan just to tempt those wacky evolutionists ...
