USA Votes 2008

[Darren Wheeler]

Well, after many months of polling the electorate, we will soon know the result of the vote. But who will be the winners. the losers, the happy, the bitter and most importantly, 'Who is Joe the Plumber'?

After the polls have closed and the chads hung, what will the result be?

[mcmbenjamin]

I wish they could release the current poll results. Some stats say as high as 35% of voters have voted. I have. But then that could cause others to not vote if the party/person they favor is in the lead.

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
After the polls have closed and the chads hung, what will the result be?

Can we have an option for 'Don't care and I wish that the UK media wouldn't get so bloody hung up on the whole thing?' please?

Cheers
Michael

[Neil]

Originally posted by mcuth

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
After the polls have closed and the chads hung, what will the result be?

Can we have an option for 'Don't care and I wish that the UK media wouldn't get so bloody hung up on the whole thing?' please?

Cheers
Michael

I second that, especially the amount of coverage the UK media is giving it. I would love to see how much coverage (if any) our PM Election gets in the US, and if they send a whole load of reporters and presenters to the UK at the tax payers expense to cover it[ii][V]

Neil

[honey lamb]

Originally posted by Neil


I would love to see how much coverage (if any) our PM Election gets in the US, and if they send a whole load of reporters and presenters to the UK at the tax payers expense to cover it[ii][V]

Neil

Technically speaking you do not have a PM election. The various parties elect their leader, who depending on the results of a general election, then becomes PM. You vote for your own parliamentary representative in your constituency. You have no say in who becomes PM other than voting in a particular party unlike the US elections where you are voting for a presidential candidate per se.

[Darren Wheeler]

That told Neil.

[Neil]

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by Neil


I would love to see how much coverage (if any) our PM Election gets in the US, and if they send a whole load of reporters and presenters to the UK at the tax payers expense to cover it[ii][V]

Neil

Technically speaking you do not have a PM election. The various parties elect their leader, who depending on the results of a general election, then becomes PM. You vote for your own parliamentary representative in your constituency. You have no say in who becomes PM other than voting in a particular party unlike the US elections where you are voting for a presidential candidate per se.

Really? I never knew that[ii] Splitting hairs a little I think...

Whilst we aren't actually voting a specific person to be PM, I think the leader of the party at the time of the election plays a VERY important part of people's decision and I certainly don't base my vote on who is my local candidate but a lot more on the policies and person who will be leading the country after the election.

Neil

[honey lamb]

No, it's not splitting hairs. The PM's name is not on the ballot paper unless you live in his constituency. It is on the ballot paper for the presidency [:p]

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by mcuth

Originally posted by Darren Wheeler
After the polls have closed and the chads hung, what will the result be?

Can we have an option for 'Don't care and I wish that the UK media wouldn't get so bloody hung up on the whole thing?' please?

Cheers
Michael

Well said that man! I can't imagine the US running daily 'news' items when we are having a general election, thought that's probably because the parties here don't take as long for the campaign or spend anywhere near what they do in the US.

Though I really don't want to see that crazy ass woman as VP - talk about not being the full shilling.

[Darren Wheeler]

That's what being in Alaska does for you. Must be something to do with the Northern Lights

I remember once reading an article about Philidelphia in the 'World News' section of the New York Times so not sure where UK politics would go?!

I find it most interesting to watch any distraction from the whining on and on about the credit crunch and the end of the world as we know it global warming, I reckon 50% of our economic trouble actually on the ground and the highstreet has been a direct result of constant irresponsible scaremongering by the press/media who are intent on making a downturn in to a depression.

Off course there might always be a famine or something to cheer up the reporters instead.

Originally posted by easygoingeezer
I find it most interesting to watch any distraction from the whining on and on about the credit crunch and the end of the world as we know it global warming, I reckon 50% of our economic trouble actually on the ground and the highstreet has been a direct result of constant irresponsible scaremongering by the press/media who are intent on making a downturn in to a depression.

Off course there might always be a famine or something to cheer up the reporters instead.

But EGG, isn't Armageddon good for your business? [}:)]

GJ

Originally posted by Neil

Originally posted by honey lamb

Originally posted by Neil


I would love to see how much coverage (if any) our PM Election gets in the US, and if they send a whole load of reporters and presenters to the UK at the tax payers expense to cover it[ii][V]

Neil

Technically speaking you do not have a PM election. The various parties elect their leader, who depending on the results of a general election, then becomes PM. You vote for your own parliamentary representative in your constituency. You have no say in who becomes PM other than voting in a particular party unlike the US elections where you are voting for a presidential candidate per se.

Really? I never knew that[ii]

And yet your vote carries exactly the same weight as mine. I ask you, where's the justice in that?

After 12 days in the States I can say that I'm absolutely sick of hearing about this election, not because of the election itself but because of the horrendous advertising campaigns on TV.

The adverts are basically about how bad your opponents are in the most basic way. Effectively it's a don't vote for him because he's crap and will cost you money. I wouldn't have minded so much but all of the local election campaigns were even worse even to the point of insulting your opponents, accusing them of fraud and other crimes.

They were good fun for the first day or so but after that boring in the extreme. I wonder how many Americans are turned off by this approach?

Miopyk[8D]

[fozzyo]

Well its 2:10am and Obama has 175 electoral college votes against McCains 76. Fox News have called Ohio (20 votes) for Obama ... BBC not yet called it, but this is really quite exciting and engrossing TV!!

Rumour has it Florida is going to Obama at the moment (27 votes).

Mat

[buns]

As Obama is now giving his acceptance speech at 5 am UK time, I think we can take it the inevitable has finally taken place. Makes you wonder would it still have been the same outcome without all the advertising?

I think it would

buns

[Darren Wheeler]

With the count of college vote at D=349 R=162, it a pretty convincing win.

Of course the real test will be in 4 years time...

[HighFlyer]

We headed to bed about 2.30am feeling confident that Obama would do it, and I have to say that the news on waking is fantastic. I really hope he brings the changes that are needed.

Have to agree with Foz and say that I was totally enthralled by the elections last night. It was like watching Eurovision, but with it actually meaning something.

Thanks,
Sarah

I flaked out really early (partly to do with all the wine and cheese I had last night) but came downstairs again at about half three and it was looking very convincing.

All yesterday I was hoping Obama would win, but dared not hope too much as I really didn't think America would be ready for their first black president. So glad they were. I really hope Obama can act with integrity like the statesman he already appears to be.

Watching the news this morning too I was also impressed by the dignity and how magnanimous John McCain was in his speech.

[honey lamb]

I stayed up to watch - easy knowing I don't have to go to work today, isn't it? [:D] I wanted to watch history in the making and was glad I did.

Like Dean, I was impressed by John McCain's dignity and magnanimity in his speech, especially when his supporters started booing at Obama's name. He was having none of that.

It will be interesting to see how things develop from now on as Obama prepares to govern. It was reported that the FBI have security-cleared around 6000 potential candidates for the various appointments not only in the US but world-wide

[|)][|)][|)]

[RichardMannion]

Originally posted by slinky09
[|)][|)][|)]

Now did slinks stay up late to watch the look on Palin's face, and now is a little tired? [:p]

Originally posted by RichardMannion

Originally posted by slinky09
[|)][|)][|)]

Now did slinks stay up late to watch the look on Palin's face, and now is a little tired? [:p]

Did she have her teeth veneered?

[Scrooge]

Yes, but she had to return them after the press found out.