Election Live-ish Blogging (all times GMT)

02:08
With my new-ish 28″ tv and cable subscription, I’m ready. To the missus’ dismay, I’ve been a Fox addict the past few months. American friends may not realise that CNN International here is some Australian bird I’ve never heard of talking about Euro news; it’s not the same CNN as the States. We don’t even get MSNBC here. We get CNBC. Woohoo. Euro-business news. I got a glimpse of MSNBC (and this is the first glimpse I’ve had of the infamous Keith Olberman, Rachel Maddow, Chris Matthews etc) as CNBC streamed it for about an hour or so. Incredibly, it went back to CNBC business news.

02:15
Bloody hell. Obama 174 v McCain 64? Obama’s marching up to 270 pretty sharpish. North Carolina, Virginia and Florida have yet to be called. If they go, McCain will have a huge mountain to climb. Interesting stat from CNN: Obama’s attracted most of the post-graduate educated voters. Hardly surprising. Obama is highly intelligent and it shows without him having to show off. Perhaps Americans have had enough of Joe Six Pack propelled into office and not knowing the implications of what he’s doing. The Repubs lost the right-wing intelligentsia to Obama. Talk on the street is they think that Palin is going to re-build the Party. Laughable.

02:30
I think it’s sad Obama’s granny didn’t get to see this.

02:35
I’ve just seen that fucktard Jessie Jackson on tv saying how an Obama win would be such a wonderful thing because: “It shows black people they can be whatever they want”. I heard this same shit on a BBC broadcast from a pub in frickin’ Brixton earlier tonight. Folks, why ya waiting for Barack Obama to give you permission to get off your ass? Once again, Gerard Baker of the Times nails it.

02:36
Holy smokes. Ohio to Obama? Good night.

04:30

McCain’s concession speech reveals a man with a kind heart and a worthy opponet. Too bad many of his supporters do him no credit. Switched from CNN/Fox to BBC: Has John Bolton run off in tears?

0500

Listening to Obama’s acceptance and rightwing nutcases on Blogtalk Radio calling him the “Anti-Christ” and predicting “Armageddon”. Is this the best of remaining Repub thinking? I predict years in the wilderness.

1400

The man on the Clapham omnibus with expectations a little high?

Guys, BHO’s an intelligent man, and Lord knows that’ll make a welcome change, but this “Messiah” business is crazy. And as for the self appointed “security” at the polling booth?

My Prediction For Obama

Will America have it’s own “Cool Britannia” with its intersect of politics, art and music?

Now those were the days: We were all so optimistic. Now maybe Americans will appreciate what it’s been like having Gordon Brown running the show.

I don’t see much difference between Gordon and McCain – both are lame tossers.

Yes, You Did

Wot a frickin dingbat.

NB
Now THIS is funny. (H/T Iain Dale, that “marxist”)

NBB

Christopher Hitchens comes out and word on the street is Colin Powell joins the party tomorrow.

Ohh! It’s like Coming Out All Over Again

There is something liberating about taking a stand and then hearing others say, “me too”.

While I do not presume to take any credit for Iain Dale’s (Tory columnist and blogger) decision to come out against McCain and for Obama, it is reassuring to find another who is willing to call bullshit.

Iain’s most interesting blog is here and his Telegraph article here.

NB
As McCain continues to lurch from one crisis to the next, I am reminded of the 1997 election here in the UK. Is Obama the new Tony Blair?

If this were the Apprentice, I’d be having McCain on the rack for picking Palin, his erratic suspension of his campaign and his going so negative that now he has to tell his own supporters to back off Obama.

It wasn’t personal, I like McCain -but I fired him and cast my vote for Obama.

It’s piss poor when it comes down to “who can handle the pressure” – but it did and Obama’s the man.

Like 1997 and the decade long Conservative struggle to recover, the Republicans have got to ask themselves a few hard questions – and not blame everyone else for their hapless candidate.

For A Young Man Who Has Never Heard About “Americans Abroad”

Dave, this one’s for you.

I Call Bullshit

Much as I cannot abide Barack Obama, a certain aspect of John McCain’s temperament is leaving me uneasy: I am unimpressed with his love for the “long ball” aka the “Hail Mary pass”.

Sarah Palin lives under a cloud of abuse of Executive power and her and her husband’s refusal to answer questions under oath. Why would McCain knowingly choose to have to deal with this? Surely, if he did vet, he would have seen that the novelty bounce would soon be outweighed by a Clintonesque investigation and hearing.

The second long ball was his “I’m going to suspend my campaign” to deal with the yet to be passed bailout. Honestly, WTF?  If he does become President, he will have to learn to multi-task fairly sharpish – otherwise, we’re all in a world of shit.

What scares me about McCain is that he now appears to be an impulsive chancer with a compulsion to roll the dice. He rolled the dice, first on on Palin and then on suspending his campaign. Do we need a President who’s going to roll the dice with Iran or Russia? Think about it – hard.

For those familiar with Myers Briggs, I am an INTP (with a smidgen of ENTP?). I’m the one on the outside calling “bullshit”.

I wondered if the candidates have been given the Myers Briggs treatment and found this. Enjoy.

NB: It’s over for McCain. Why? Because competent presidential candidates don’t leave themselves open to this 5 minutes before polling day: -

NBB! McCain’s Latest Smooth Move “A Complete Crock Of Crap” and “The Biggest Dumbass Stunt I’ve Ever Seen”. Not my words, but out of the mouth of local Michigan GOP chairman… Can McCain fuck this up any more than he already has? Will he at least take personal responsibility for the shower of incompetence that is his campaign?

I Was Made To Love Her?

Barf.

Hey, listen: I’m not the one playing Stevie Wonder songs (which have now been ruined, ta very much) for Michelle’s second time she’s been proud of her country moment.

She gave our Hillary a salute – but is it too little too late? Will the PUMAs (Party Unity My Ass) split the convention, or at least the general election vote.

Obama could learn a little from Tony Blair; and he should have made his own “Granita Pact” with Hillary a long time ago.

By failing to cultivate Hillary and her supporters, Obama, like Labour sans Tony Blair, is unelectable.

Boris Johnson Endorses Obama

Dude, you’re the Mayor of LONDON. You’re a Conservative for crying out loud.

 WTF are you doing?

Mr Johnson said the Democratic White House hopeful could do “wonderful things for the confidence of black people around the world”. A victory for Mr Obama in November’s US election would show that “they can win”, he told Square Mile Magazine.

Bloody hell. Obama’s not running for Princess of Wales. Substance? A policy? Anyone, anyone?

Bueller, Bueller?

NEWSFLASH

Someone should tell Obama there is a difference between celebrity and leadership. As for you, Boris, put down the kool-aid; this isn’t Waco.

Obama in the UK: Snoozers!

Why is this jackass here? (I know, the shoe fits both of these muppets.) My neighbours cannot vote in the US election, so what is he doing? Looking “Presidential”? Next to “Taxi for Gordon” Brown? Smart move. lol.

Mr Obama also thanked the British people for their support in the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Pardon me, but didn’t Obama make a meal out of his assertion that he NEVER supported the war in Iraq?

Is Mr Hope and Change now Mr Flip-flop, Mr Status Quo, or simply what we’ve known all along, Mr Half-Baked Bullshitter?

NB:
Did Barry visit his brother whilst here, or has he thrown Bernard under the bus like Grandma? Just sayin’.

Just Peachy

I know some people have old issues with the Clintons, but Mr “Hope & Change” needed to be defeated in the first half of this match.

Listen to the boos in Hillary’s concession speech. I guess it means I’m not the only one who thinks this situation sucks and who’ll be voting for McCain.