Some Politics 'n' shit

By Lewis Denby · November 8, 2008

By the way, Americans: well done.

That sounded a bit patronising, and I didn't mean it to at all. I'm genuinely impressed that the United States has completely leapfrogged British Politics with this election, picking a genuinely inspirational leader with a selection of fabulous policies. Time will tell if he can implement them well, but he seems to have the best intentions.

And he's black - which, y'know, is a much bigger deal than it should be, but the symbolism is inescapable. I know we had Colin Powell and Condoleza Rice, which have kind of got the biggots used to the fact that black people exist, but only a Democratic party would put an African American man and a woman up for leadership in the first place. The Deomcrats proved themselves the party to choose long ago. America proved itself wonderful by electing them.

Anyway, hoorah. It makes me really sad that my country's leader is - as Frankie Boyle, who I'm off to see tonight, put it - a sad face drawn on a scrotum.

Comments 16

wolfqueen001 Nov 8, 2008

Yay; maybe the world will love us again.

Halon Nov 8, 2008

I didn't vote, so if something goes wrong don't blame me!

Genj Nov 8, 2008

During Halloween I stopped three trick or treaters that came upon my door. I took their bags of candy and carefully placed the contents of each bag in a scale. I weighed their treats and delicately divided their candy equally among the three. I then said "Here. I am spreading the wealth just like Barack Obama."

wolfqueen001 Nov 8, 2008

I didn't vote, so if something goes wrong don't blame me!

You'd better not complain, then. And people can still blame you. They could be like "You could've voted for McCain or some third party candidate, but instead you do nothing."

Halon Nov 8, 2008

Nah, Mccain is just as bad as Obama to me. I was too lazy to do the absentee ballot and it wasn't worth traveling an hour to vote for a third party candidate (wasn't crazy about any of them) or the lesser of two evils.

I voted in 2004, though!

bluberry Nov 8, 2008

I voted libertarian, but even if Obama does work out terrible, come on. what black guy can hold a job for four whole years?

(ohhhhhh)

Genj Nov 8, 2008

I didn't vote, so if something goes wrong don't blame me!

LOVE IT OR LEAVE IT, SUPPORT OUR PRESIDENT-ELECT BECAUSE THESE COLORS DON'T RUN.

wolfqueen001 Nov 8, 2008

Baha.

Lewis Blogger Nov 9, 2008

"I didn't vote, so if something goes wrong don't blame me!"

Yeah, that's a great fucking attitude to have, isn't it?

JANUS2 Nov 9, 2008

I watched this funny interview with a midwest Democrat on the BBC. He was worried that Obama will try to appease the "Communist" Democrats on the west and east coasts.

From the limited amount I have heard and read, Obama sounds like he's going to copy Tony Blair and move to the centre. After ten years of New Labour, this is nothing to get excited about.

Lewis Blogger Nov 9, 2008

"From the limited amount I have heard and read, Obama sounds like he's going to copy Tony Blair and move to the centre. After ten years of New Labour, this is nothing to get excited about."

Really? Have a closer look.

Actually, I see your point if you're looking at it from the perspective of Blair's pre-election promises in 1997, but Obama seems far more sincere. Time will tell whether or not he sticks to his word. He seems to be a genuinely good bloke.

Halon Nov 9, 2008

The democrats have been pulling the same shit as the republicans for the past four years or so and their basic philosophical ideas are the same. I don't think much is going to change at all with Obama. Both Obama and Mccain want to expand government (both at home and abroad), neither respect civil liberties, and neither talk about the real important issues today such as monetary policy. Why should I be bothered to travel more than an hour either way to cast a vote for one of them that's meaningless because of our crappy electoral system?

Also, I don't know if you Europeans are aware but the way our political system is set up with the two parties that offer essentially the same solutions is flawed beyond belief.

Halon Nov 9, 2008

From the limited amount I have heard and read, Obama sounds like he's going to copy Tony Blair and move to the centre. After ten years of New Labour, this is nothing to get excited about.

He's also running on the same platform Bush ran on eight years ago, as the "peace candidate" (although he doesn't really hold that opinion anymore) who wants to help and get along with everyone. We all know how that turned out with Bush.

Lewis Blogger Nov 9, 2008

All the US opinions are clearly infinitely more valid than mine. It'd be interesting to see how the media coverage of the election differs from country to country. Over here it's been very much focused around Obama in the mainstream, though the tabloids went on about how homely and nice Palin was for a while, even though she's clearly Satan's pet dog.

Also, how come you have to travel so far to vote? Is it just to do with where you're registered, and if so, couldn't you have altered that? I never have to travel more than half a mile to the nearest polling station - there are usually about 10 in each city.

Quality Frankie Boyle joke at his gig last night:

Did you see Obama's speech the other day? He had to make it behind a sheet of bullet proof glass... which shows how racist America still is, doesn't it? I mean, just because he's black... doesn't mean he's going to start shooting everybody...

Halon Nov 9, 2008

Each state is divided into several districts (the higher the population the more districts) and you can only vote in the district that you're from. I go to college in a different district than where I live and am registered to vote in. Of course the way to solve this problem is to get an absentee ballot, but due to my lack of enthusiasm for this election and a good amount of laziness I never requested one.

I really hope Obama can make this world a better place and does a great job as president. I'm just not convinced that he will. Hopefully I'm proven wrong, though I can't say I'm happy with what he's said so far. As nice as it is to be respected by the rest of the world again, I hope he always remembers what his purpose is as president, which is to serve the people and uphold the Constitution and not follow the special interests.

wolfqueen001 Nov 9, 2008

" I mean, just because he's black... doesn't mean he's going to start shooting everybody... "

....XD

I'm more worried people'll shoot him, though....