That's 'cos we elect the PARTY not the person. Our PM is whoever that party have selected as their leader. The Americans elect a leader irrespective of which party wins what. There's a BIG difference!
Not strictly true, but I'll let it slide because I've not slept for 3 days.
On the upside, I've just been invited to a wedding for two of my good gay mates in 2013, set in the stunningly beautiful Chesapeake Bay. Good job Maryland 
It still looks pretty close Yellow Rose. I reckon I'll last another half hour before sleep.The BBC coverage seems better than ITV and Sky I wouldn't watch anyway.
Yes it's still very close Rosie. I've been switching between UK and US media. Consesus atm is Obama will win, I really hope so 
Yay Obama did it!!! 
Congrats to him and for keeping the faith Yellow Rose 
It was worrying when some states were late to call and with people still queuing to vote etc 
I watched until the Republican guy on the BBC panel was more or less throwing in the towel.
Fox News had pretty sour grapes I hear 
Aint it odd how passionate the Americans are about who wins.
Cher ttweeted she was crying at the result.
When us lot over here couldn't give a monkeys who is Prime Minister
I think its because its such a stark choice in the U.S.? both sides are polar opposites and each side has much to lose. Here? Meh. Blair's New Labour were basically soft Conservatives by another name. Cameron / Clegg are still kind of wishy washy. They're not absolute idealogues... you'd have to go back to Thatcher for that. For better or worse, at least she believed passionately in her views and wasn't in it for post politics opportunites, on the side money-making or the narcissim of power like recent politicians.
I am impressed by how engaged and articulate American voters are about politics in interviews. They haven't been overtaken by who-cares-they're all-the-same cynicism like we have here.
That's 'cos we elect the PARTY not the person. Our PM is whoever that party have selected as their leader. The Americans elect a leader irrespective of which party wins what. There's a BIG difference!
Not strictly true, but I'll let it slide because I've not slept for 3 days.
On the upside, I've just been invited to a wedding for two of my good gay mates in 2013, set in the stunningly beautiful Chesapeake Bay. Good job Maryland
That'll be fantastic Suzy
I am impressed by how engaged and articulate American voters are about politics in interviews. They haven't been overtaken by who-cares-they're all-the-same cynicism like we have here.
I thought that until all those I saw interviewed kept blaming the state of their country and lack of jobs on those pesky Chinese 
I'm just glad our news will no longer be saturated with this bloomin' election Obama was as one American voter pointed out, the best of a bad lot - personally I don't rate him much but way a better choice than Romney
too funny
That's 'cos we elect the PARTY not the person. Our PM is whoever that party have selected as their leader. The Americans elect a leader irrespective of which party wins what. There's a BIG difference!
Not strictly true, but I'll let it slide because I've not slept for 3 days.
On the upside, I've just been invited to a wedding for two of my good gay mates in 2013, set in the stunningly beautiful Chesapeake Bay. Good job Maryland
That'll be fantastic Suzy
Nosey - Suzy . . . .erm
Where do you live - just outta idle curiosity
I am impressed by how engaged and articulate American voters are about politics in interviews. They haven't been overtaken by who-cares-they're all-the-same cynicism like we have here.
I thought that until all those I saw interviewed kept blaming the state of their country and lack of jobs on those pesky Chinese
I'm just glad our news will no longer be saturated with this bloomin' election Obama was as one American voter pointed out, the best of a bad lot - personally I don't rate him much but way a better choice than Romney
Haven't the Chinese devalued their currency or something like that making their products cheaper than they should You're right though America has a lot more to worry about than the Chinese Pengy.
Anyway what do I know? I still can't figure out the difference between The Senate and The House of Representatives
"Erin I read some of his tweets earlier, hilarious. He's deleted some too. Don't lose your hair Donald! Then again.........
Erin I read some of his tweets earlier, hilarious. He's deleted some too. Don't lose your hair Donald! Then again.........
Donald Trumpton
"We are not a democracy! Our country is now in serious and unprecedented trouble...like never before. Our nation is a once great nation divided!"
Sigh - really?
Worse than the Cuban missile crisis?
This is why i avoid politics
Erin I read some of his tweets earlier, hilarious. He's deleted some too. Don't lose your hair Donald! Then again.........
How can you be so mental AND so rich?
Message to Donald
Message to Donald
That's 'cos we elect the PARTY not the person. Our PM is whoever that party have selected as their leader. The Americans elect a leader irrespective of which party wins what. There's a BIG difference!
Not strictly true, but I'll let it slide because I've not slept for 3 days.
On the upside, I've just been invited to a wedding for two of my good gay mates in 2013, set in the stunningly beautiful Chesapeake Bay. Good job Maryland
That'll be fantastic Suzy
Nosey - Suzy . . . .erm
Where do you live - just outta idle curiosity
I'm Irish in origin and live in the UK Saint.
If you love someone you should be able to get married and not be discriminated against. I think it was Maryland and Maine who voted it in last night? Hopefully the rest of the US will follow .
Oh and Tammy Baldwin became the first openly gay woman to get into the senate [Wisconsin].
There are fewer gay celebrities on US mainstream tv than here, hopefully that'll change too.
Haven't the Chinese devalued their currency or something like that making their products cheaper than they should You're right though America has a lot more to worry about than the Chinese Pengy.
Anyway what do I know? I still can't figure out the difference between The Senate and The House of Representatives
Yes I think they have but you'd think the way these people were talking Rosie, it was done specifically to put US citizens out of jobs - it affects more than just the States 
and I have no idea of the difference between the Senate and HOR - probably cos I can't be arrised to look it up I have enough trouble understanding Lab/Con/Lib differences
Message to Donald
love that pic
Well done Barry Boy! Knew he'd do it!
Nosey - Suzy . . . .erm
Where do you live - just outta idle curiosity
I live in London Renton.
Another four years of push-me pull-me wranglings from the House of Representatives doing their best to block and sabotage policy from the President
At least they didn't get their wish of making Obama a one term prez 
Another four years of push-me pull-me wranglings from the House of Representatives doing their best to block and sabotage policy from the President
At least they didn't get their wish of making Obama a one term prez
So true Suzy^^^^
How they can tie his hands and then come with the economy isn't getting better its pure madness!
Another four years of push-me pull-me wranglings from the House of Representatives doing their best to block and sabotage policy from the President
At least they didn't get their wish of making Obama a one term prez
So true Suzy^^^^
How they can tie his hands and then come with the economy isn't getting better its pure madness!
I get a faint feeling that they realise they can't have that big tax thing in January, I haven't quite got the hang of it yet. It will not look good for the Rebublicans if they make life difficult for Obama over that. It would be sending out a signal that they're happy to send America to hell in a hand card for the sake of party politics.
Aint it odd how passionate the Americans are about who wins.
Cher ttweeted she was crying at the result.
When us lot over here couldn't give a monkeys who is Prime Minister
I think its because its such a stark choice in the U.S.? both sides are polar opposites and each side has much to lose. Here? Meh. Blair's New Labour were basically soft Conservatives by another name. Cameron / Clegg are still kind of wishy washy. They're not absolute idealogues... you'd have to go back to Thatcher for that. For better or worse, at least she believed passionately in her views and wasn't in it for post politics opportunites, on the side money-making or the narcissim of power like recent politicians.
I am impressed by how engaged and articulate American voters are about politics in interviews. They haven't been overtaken by who-cares-they're all-the-same cynicism like we have here.
I don't know whether it is such a stark choice. I think the politicians make it seem so in order to play up to people's innate prejudices and win votes.
IMO, you have two right wing neo-liberal parties. One more right wing than the other.
I'm as pleased as anyone that Obama won but like our politics, there's been a rightward drift over the last few decades.
The right, here but in the US more-so seem to use 'socialist', 'communist' and 'liberal' as a general term of abuse applied to anyone who is in opposition to neo-conservatism in its rawest form.
Clinton's 'tough love' and signing off the abolition of the Glass Steagall Act were neo-liberal policies. Bush's crazy property free-for-all was probably promoted by right wing opinion formers as enabling working class aspiration, much how the right wing celebrated Thatcher's council house sell off. Obama continued the US's extremely dodgy (and I'd say racist) criminal justice policy of putting thousands of its citizens (especially black Americans) in prison. The US taxation system is far more weighted to the interests of the rich than ours - it's just that the Republicans think it needs even more tweaking to look after the rich a bit more.
"Before I start, I am very pleased Obama won!
A lot of very rich celebs with young fans feeling smug, sanctimonious and self satisfied. Let's face it, Democrat or Republican, that lot benefit from high incomes and very low taxes so can cast their vote for Obama and say to their usually young and therefore left leaning fans, 'I feel your pain, ordinary people' with all the reassurance that US system will continue paying them through the nose and lightly taxing them.
The thing is, these endorsements work both ways, like in this country where showbiz Labourites are derided as 'champagne socialist' by the Tory press. If you were a working class conservative in the US, I'd imagine multi-millionairess, Mariah Carey's support of Obama would just entrench your conservative views.
If I were a Republican in the US I would see Mariah Carey's contract at EMI as directly responsible for the loss of jobs at EMI. EMI have publicly stated that Mariah's contract lost them so much money they had to shed jobs. With my Republican hat on, I would say Carey is a celeb liberal who doesn't live in the real world.
I'd sooner care what ordinary working class Americans think about Obama's victory than BeyoncÃĐ or Oprah.
Before I start, I am very pleased Obama won!
A lot of very rich celebs with young fans feeling smug, sanctimonious and self satisfied. Let's face it, Democrat or Republican, that lot benefit from high incomes and very low taxes so can cast their vote for Obama and say to their usually young and therefore left leaning fans, 'I feel your pain, ordinary people' with all the reassurance that US system will continue paying them through the nose and lightly taxing them.
The thing is, these endorsements work both ways, like in this country where showbiz Labourites are derided as 'champagne socialist' by the Tory press. If you were a working class conservative in the US, I'd imagine multi-millionairess, Mariah Carey's support of Obama would just entrench your conservative views.
I'd sooner care what ordinary working class Americans think about Obama's victory than BeyoncÃĐ or Oprah.
You're grumpy tonight
It's not all economic. Perhaps some of the showbiz crew are quite happy that there is a cultural shift towards inclusiveness. Might be a good feeling for BeyoncÃĐ to tell her little girl that she lives in a world with far more possibilities including becoming President herself one day, and not be taking the piss. Or if little Blue Ivy didn't fancy politics she could be the first lady to her wife
Before I start, I am very pleased Obama won!
A lot of very rich celebs with young fans feeling smug, sanctimonious and self satisfied. Let's face it, Democrat or Republican, that lot benefit from high incomes and very low taxes so can cast their vote for Obama and say to their usually young and therefore left leaning fans, 'I feel your pain, ordinary people' with all the reassurance that US system will continue paying them through the nose and lightly taxing them.
The thing is, these endorsements work both ways, like in this country where showbiz Labourites are derided as 'champagne socialist' by the Tory press. If you were a working class conservative in the US, I'd imagine multi-millionairess, Mariah Carey's support of Obama would just entrench your conservative views.
I'd sooner care what ordinary working class Americans think about Obama's victory than BeyoncÃĐ or Oprah.
You're grumpy tonight
It's not all economic. Perhaps some of the showbiz crew are quite happy that there is a cultural shift towards inclusiveness. Might be a good feeling for BeyoncÃĐ to tell her little girl that she lives in a world with far more possibilities including becoming President herself one day, and not be taking the piss. Or if little Blue Ivy didn't fancy politics she could be the first lady to her wife
Not grumpy at all suzybean, just throwing out a different viewpoint and playing devil's advocate for the fun of it!
I don't think multi-millionairess BeyoncÃĐ and Jay z have to worry too much that their little treasure will face discrimination. Money buys you out of discrimination, meanwhile the US continues to imprison black Americans at obscene rates that imply a racist criminal justice system.
Yeah, okay. You're famous so shut up! Really controversial
Yeah, okay. You're famous so shut up! Really controversial
They're welcome to their opinions, and I'm sure it's nice to think your favourite celeb votes for the party you vote for but ultimately they are super rich and a very small minority. They don't have the same monetary and tax concerns as the vast majority of people so their opinions are largely irrelevant.
Before I start, I am very pleased Obama won!
A lot of very rich celebs with young fans feeling smug, sanctimonious and self satisfied. Let's face it, Democrat or Republican, that lot benefit from high incomes and very low taxes so can cast their vote for Obama and say to their usually young and therefore left leaning fans, 'I feel your pain, ordinary people' with all the reassurance that US system will continue paying them through the nose and lightly taxing them.
The thing is, these endorsements work both ways, like in this country where showbiz Labourites are derided as 'champagne socialist' by the Tory press. If you were a working class conservative in the US, I'd imagine multi-millionairess, Mariah Carey's support of Obama would just entrench your conservative views.
I'd sooner care what ordinary working class Americans think about Obama's victory than BeyoncÃĐ or Oprah.
You're grumpy tonight
It's not all economic. Perhaps some of the showbiz crew are quite happy that there is a cultural shift towards inclusiveness. Might be a good feeling for BeyoncÃĐ to tell her little girl that she lives in a world with far more possibilities including becoming President herself one day, and not be taking the piss. Or if little Blue Ivy didn't fancy politics she could be the first lady to her wife
Not grumpy at all suzybean, just throwing out a different viewpoint and playing devil's advocate for the fun of it!
I don't think multi-millionairess BeyoncÃĐ and Jay z have to worry too much that their little treasure will face discrimination. Money buys you out of discrimination, meanwhile the US continues to imprison black Americans at obscene rates that imply a racist criminal justice system.
Does it really? I'll mention that to my brother next he fails to get a taxi to stop for him even though he's suited and booted.
Or my other brother who gets stopped about once a month in his posh car.
I don't know whether it is such a stark choice. I think the politicians make it seem so in order to play up to people's innate prejudices and win votes.
IMO, you have two right wing neo-liberal parties. One more right wing than the other.
I'm as pleased as anyone that Obama won but like our politics, there's been a rightward drift over the last few decades.
The right, here but in the US more-so seem to use 'socialist', 'communist' and 'liberal' as a general term of abuse applied to anyone who is in opposition to neo-conservatism in its rawest form.
Clinton's 'tough love' and signing off the abolition of the Glass Steagall Act were neo-liberal policies. Bush's crazy property free-for-all was probably promoted by right wing opinion formers as enabling working class aspiration, much how the right wing celebrated Thatcher's council house sell off. Obama continued the US's extremely dodgy (and I'd say racist) criminal justice policy of putting thousands of its citizens (especially black Americans) in prison. The US taxation system is far more weighted to the interests of the rich than ours - it's just that the Republicans think it needs even more tweaking to look after the rich a bit more.
You're right Carnelian, it is indeed played up by politicians.
Good point about the Glass Steagall act. Hard to believe Clinton did that - all the hard lessons learned by the great Depression just ignored!
What is that saying: those who do not learn from past are condemned to repeat it.
Before I start, I am very pleased Obama won!
A lot of very rich celebs with young fans feeling smug, sanctimonious and self satisfied. Let's face it, Democrat or Republican, that lot benefit from high incomes and very low taxes so can cast their vote for Obama and say to their usually young and therefore left leaning fans, 'I feel your pain, ordinary people' with all the reassurance that US system will continue paying them through the nose and lightly taxing them.
The thing is, these endorsements work both ways, like in this country where showbiz Labourites are derided as 'champagne socialist' by the Tory press. If you were a working class conservative in the US, I'd imagine multi-millionairess, Mariah Carey's support of Obama would just entrench your conservative views.
I'd sooner care what ordinary working class Americans think about Obama's victory than BeyoncÃĐ or Oprah.
You're grumpy tonight
It's not all economic. Perhaps some of the showbiz crew are quite happy that there is a cultural shift towards inclusiveness. Might be a good feeling for BeyoncÃĐ to tell her little girl that she lives in a world with far more possibilities including becoming President herself one day, and not be taking the piss. Or if little Blue Ivy didn't fancy politics she could be the first lady to her wife
Not grumpy at all suzybean, just throwing out a different viewpoint and playing devil's advocate for the fun of it!
I don't think multi-millionairess BeyoncÃĐ and Jay z have to worry too much that their little treasure will face discrimination. Money buys you out of discrimination, meanwhile the US continues to imprison black Americans at obscene rates that imply a racist criminal justice system.
Does it really? I'll mention that to my brother next he fails to get a taxi to stop for him even though he's suited and booted.
Or my other brother who gets stopped about once a month in his posh car.
Fair point and no, money will never entirely buy you out of discrimination, but it helps massively. I don't think wearing a suit implies you've arrived and are in showbiz power couple Jay Z and BeyoncÃĐ territory but I take your point. However, America still has 1 in 4 black American males in the penal system, under Obama. A national disgrace IMO.
I found this an interesting comment on the News. The US Ambassador to the UK was interviewed the day after the election and he said he looked at all the Polls across the UK and found that 91% preferred Obama. That amused me as I couldn't imagine 91% of the population preferring any British politician of any party, but admit I don't know the stats of electoral votes over the years.
But I think we're looking at it from how it might affect global relations rather than how it will affect the US citizen directly. Whereas when it comes to a home election we're interested in how it affects us personally and the global effect is of much less importance.
