BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Rovey Waid
Date: 06 Nov 04 - 12:44 AM

Do you Canocks and Limeys have your nose up the Palestinians asses yet telling them what to do?

RW

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Puppet master
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 11:54 PM

Us retards need something to keep us busy.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:52 PM

ELECTIONS?????ERECTIONS?????

Arn't you folks a MONARCHY?

It is the general USA public opinion that Charles is useless, his eldest is a poofter, but if there were a revolution, the youngest male heir holds promise (unless there is still one younger in the Arab States - inwhich case - let them all die chaste.)

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Fats
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:27 PM

Troooooollin'
Troooooollin'
Well bless my soul
How I love to troll.

Fats D.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Susan A-R
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:05 PM

I happen to wake up to BBC every morning because it's somewhat more trustworthy than my own news, so I do end up paying attention, and I have a fair numnber of friends who do likewise, so anecdotally, yes. I must admit to some confusion as to how often and when elections actually occur, some confusion about votes of no confidence, when parties select their choices for prime minester, etc. I was aware of the Northeast England vote, but don't know much about what the regional government concept implies.

I do find it odd to have a country of close to 300 million people, obviously varying a lot in beliefs, lumped together so. I come from a town that voted 75% Kerry, 25% Bush, I guess I'm from the same country as the rest of the folks who felt somewhat differently, but we vary, region to region, person to person, state to state. I am getting a bit pissed off at the implications from both north and across the pond that we are all ignorant assholes. That tells me who's what. I'm with Ebbie. I worked on this last election and work on other political efforts here in Vermont with it's Socialist, Democrat and Independent representatives to Congress. Stop lumping us all together

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Padre
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 09:38 PM

The answer is, I don't bother about elections in the United Kingdom, and they don't need to bother about our elections. That is what being a sovereign nation means.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: jimmyt
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 05:01 PM

It seem that either my last comments of the sophomoric rants af the lockerroom boys has killed yet another thread. grin

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 01:14 PM

My popularity must be hitting record levels. :-) Anonymous GUESTs who don't like my political views are now pretending to be me...

Gosh, I wonder what embarrassing thing they will say next? (sitting back and waiting with anticipation)

You know, guys, Joe Offer and the other moderators here can see from what URL you are posting. Are you aware of that?

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 11:53 AM

So, you trolls have had your little fun. Now, can you shut up and let the people have an intelligent discussion?
I guess I can't understand how you can get any pleasure out of posting that crap.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: DougR
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 11:47 AM

I think Bill D hit it squarely on the head. Of course we are interested, but I do not believe we would try to interfere in other country's elections as many newspapers in Europe did with ours. You may find editorials in U. S. newspapers supporting one person or another, but no tampering with the election.

Davey said it better than I though.

L. H.: I'm beginning to see why Bobert has been so whacky lately. He must have been sending his mewdications to you!

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:52 AM

Sledge is evidently sorry he lost someone else's election.

My Condolences

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Puppet master
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:52 AM

P.S   Davey sucks cock (and the world revolves on its axle one more time)

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Puppet master
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:50 AM

Mary the last several posters have been Davey,

i.e he puts guest sledge and then signs his own name DC,
I have been using Daveys name to wind him for the last 2 days.

DANCE PUPPETS, DANCE

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Mary
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:45 AM

Will Sledge & Davey continue their cyberspace love making else where, you're not impressing anybody.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:42 AM

Sledge thought he was so cool
His momma named him after a tool
His head was like steel
His nuts had no feel
Cause he is a numb nutted fool

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Sledge
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:37 AM

Only if it is Little Hawks cock

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:10 AM

I love the sound of redneck cock plunging into my anus

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Sledge
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:08 AM

I should know.

Little Hawk

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: jimmyt
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 10:01 AM

To be honest and candid and hopefully non-controversial, I have always been amazed at how the average man on the street in UK discusses politics, social issues, American issues, healthcare, etc with the same zeal that American "men on the street" discuss sports or hunting. I think it is a legitimate observation that people in the UK are, by and large, better informed about their issues as well as anything AMerican (except strangely American baseball).

I would suppose that you could make the assumption that this makes them smarter, or conversely, Americans are dumber. I think this is not a valid assumption. When I travel, I do not make the assumption that "We do it right back home, and Y'all are all wrong here in ENgland." I personally think headlines in your Mirror, that to paraphrase, "How could 59 million people be so dumb?" is pretty insulting and stereotyping.

I do not like cooked greens like turnip greens, or collard greens which are a mainstay in the American south. I do like spinich and kale. DOes that make me smarter and the southerner stupid? I don't think so. I think it is a difference that not too many generalizations should be drawn from.

I am quite sure that the average American who voted for George Bush is a nice person that you would be happy to live next door to, to have your children play with theirs, that may be different but, doggone it, they are people just like you are. I am only writing this as an effort to try to bring out the information that wherever I go, I find that people are generally good. They are not evil, they are not stupid, they just see things differently than you may. I have seen bumper stickers with rainbows on them from the gay movement with the message "Celebrate diversity." Well I do, and it doesn't end with gays, blacks, Jews, Muslims, etc It means all people to me. Just an opinion.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 09:48 AM

I SUCK BIG GREASY REDNECK COCK

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Little Hawk
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 09:43 AM

Sledge sucks goat gonads.

LH

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 09:41 AM

Hey stop using my guest name to make me look stupid, I can do that all by myself.

Keeping it real for Hillbilly homosexuality

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 09:36 AM

I can't read so it don't matter.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: sledge
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 09:18 AM

I think we have the winner of the next Booker prize ;-)

Sledge

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 09:14 AM

Ah drink mah Turbo Dog from a rusty ammo box.
I chaw my terbacky an spit my juice. I'd like to go to heavin but it ain't no use.

LH

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: sledge
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 08:56 AM

All those poor little elves facing an uncertain future, shocking!

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: muppett
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 08:46 AM

Yep cause it could effect Santa

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Paco Rabanne
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 08:41 AM

Does anyone in England care about the elections in Finland?

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 08:27 AM

To be serious for a moment, I don't think that most Americans apart from the readers of the NYT and the Washington Post etc have any idea what is happening outside the US, nor do they care. The name Tony Blair has only registered on the conciousness of many over there due to the present little fracas in Iraq. Normally international news is only reported on mainstream news media, when Americans are directly involved. Do remember that the US is a big country, and many people who live there have never been outside it's borders, and many who have, only went because they were drafted. Lindy England is a good example of someone who might never have travelled more than a couple of hundred miles from the town of her birth had she not joined the military, and look what happened when she left home!
Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: muppett
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 05:05 AM

Bloody ell (and I make no apologies for swearing), I started off this thread wanting to know whether or not the ordinary folk of America are bothered about UK Politics, this was done in all innocence as recently there's been a lot of news coverage over here about US Politics and the ordinary folk I have contact with on the estate and community centre I work in couldn't give a frig about it, So I just wanted to see if the same could be said in America about UK Politics. Ebbie & El Greko there was no intention to be insensitive,intrusive or be 'America bashing'.
The sort of answer I was after was what Yorkshire yankee gave me. I just wanted a straight answer to straight question, but what do I get stupid silly squabbling. By eck its no wonder the world is in such a state it's in, if we don't listen to what is being asked or try and read into something that's not really there.

If any American mudcatters want to PM me to further this chat I'd be interested to hear them. Meanwhile can we be straight and honest with one another
Right I'll take my serious hat off now and await any replies

Cheers
         Muppett.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 05:05 AM

If this link works

Click Matt Cartoon

Giok

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: DMcG
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 04:08 AM

A tongue in cheek article in today's paper:

It was a very tense night. All over America millions of viewers stayed up late waiting to find out the result of that referendum on a regional assembly for the north-east of England. In bars in the midwest, tattooed truckers and Vietnam vets anxiously bit their lips as CNN reported that exit polls from Chester-le-Street made the referendum to close to call. ...

(The result was announced today: 78% voted against.)

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 04:08 AM

GO brush your teeth sledge!

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: sledge
Date: 05 Nov 04 - 12:45 AM

Turbo dog sounds like an interesting beer perfect for the average gap-toothed slack-jawed shotgun-toting tobacco-chewing "squeal like a pig"-ordering yokel.

Sledge

"Authors note" While the above statement may reflect some negative stereotypes perpetuated in print and film, I of course do not think that this represents a fair picture of most US citizens! Just Guest Davey.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: DougR
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 10:09 PM

U. K. elections are the business of citizens of the U. K. We may be interested, but have no business interfearing.

DougR

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 10:02 PM

Well, Muppett, as a transplanted (to Sheffield) Yank, I feel qualified to answer your question. Most folks in the US do not take much of an interest in non-US elections. Heck, a lot of folks in the US don't take all that much interest in *US* elections! This one just gone was exceptional, as you probably know.

Having lived in both the US and the UK, I can tell you that the coverage of the US elections here is about 100 times that of US coverage of the UK's (or just about any other country's) elections. Even when it's not election time, UK coverage of US politics is *huge* compared to US coverage of UK (or again, just about anyone else's) politics. When I first moved over here, the Clinton-Lewinsky scandal was BIG in the US and I remember thinking it would be a releief to not be constantly hearing about it on the news... boy was I wrong! I suspect it was even more on the news in the US, but I was amazed by how much coverage of it there was over here.

Back to the subject... before I moved to the UK, I could tell you who was PM of the UK, but I couldn't have told you who the challenger/loser was (unless it was the previous PM). And I have to tell you that I was probably more knowledgeable than most. (That's not bragging – I just know that I was brought up paying a bit more attention to politics/other countries than most kids I knew, because my dad taught/teaches political science at a [small] local university.) US media will tell you "So-and-so is the new president/prime minister/whatever of wherever", and they may even mention who was defeated – and maybe a teeny bit of background info – but it only gets mentioned once or twice, and most people (me included) don't remember something they've only heard once or twice (especially when it's just "boring" politics...). Here's a little game we could try (if you want to): See how many US presidents someone from the UK can name (without resorting to any references – just off the top of your head); then see how many British Prime Ministers someone from the US can name... I'd be willing to bet a rather large sum of money that at least 7 out of 10 times, the UKer will be able to name significantly more Prezzes than the other way round.

There is *very* little coverage of *any* other country's elections in the US media – even Canada, which is right next door to us. Sadly, I think it's safe to say that more Americans don't know the name of Canada's PM than do. (There was a very sad/funny incident where "a camera crew from the satirical Canadian television show 'This Hour Has 22 Minutes' asked Bush his reaction to "Prime Minister Poutine's" assessment that the Texas governor would win the presidency.

'I appreciate his strong statement,' Bush said. 'He understands I believe in free trade. He understands I want to make sure our relationship with our most important neighbor to the north is strong.'

The prime minister's name, of course, isn't 'Poutine,' a word that means a Quebec gustatory treat, a mass of greasy french fries drenched in cheese curd and gloppy brown gravy.")

Media coverage in the US tends to be by, for and about the US. When I lived in the Detroit area, I could get Canadian radio & television, and I remember thinking more than once that Canadian news programs were much broader in the news they covered – made me realize how US-centered most of our news is. I used to purposely tune in to Canadian news because I felt it gave me a more balanced view of things – and more info about what was going on in the rest of the world. It's the same thing all over again if you compare US news to UK news.

Also bear in mind that an alarmingly large number of US folks can't even point to the UK (or all *that* many other countries, I'm afraid) on a map (I'm NOT proud of this – far from it!), so how good are they going to be at keeping track of its elections?

These "slights" aren't out of spite – they're "just" the result of being so preoccupied with ourselves and our country, which is at least partly (in my opinion) because as a country we are so large, rich and powerful (not to mention spoiled) that we seem to think that what happens in other parts of the planet doesn't really affect us – at least not all that much... except for maybe needing more oil, but aside from that...

Of course this is short-sighted and selfish thinking, but hey, WE won't be around when all these chickens (which we have done so much to fatten up ourselves) come home to roost, so why should WE worry?

To be fair, not all USians think this way – but far too many of us do (far too many for *my* comfort, at least).

Soooo... are you happy now, Muppett?

P.S. George, I felt appalled and ashamed of my country when I read what happened to your Godfather (and not for the first time, nor will it – I'm sure – be the last, more's the pity.)

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 07:38 PM

By the way, I drink Earl Grey. Hot. Just like Picard, only I add a slice of lemon. And it's spelled "Grey", not Gray. Take note of that.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 07:37 PM

Yes, I like limericks, but here's a better one:

An anonymous Guest, name of "blank"
Had a willie that wretchedly stank
He would wank on it vainly
To a pic of Dick Cheney
Till it finally expired and shrank

His favorite song was, of course: "I Can't Get No Satisfaction"

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 07:27 PM

Ha! Now someone is pretending to be me. I am really quite fond of limericks too.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 07:19 PM

To Guest:

C'mon over to tha good ole US and take in one o our National Sport events, a Monster truck rally an guzzle some o our national drink, Budweiser.

Hey, you think mah woman looks good? She's still got most o her teef.

Davey, Stereotypical Yank

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 06:20 PM

Sledge the Limey troll:

If you had balls you would be drinking Turbo Dog instead of Earl Gray.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,LH
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 05:58 PM

Sledge the devious Mudcatter
Pretended that size didn't matter
But when a Swede named Ole
Excavated his hole
He came and emptied his bladder.

Little Hawk

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST,Davey
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 05:47 PM

Some fuckwad is using my screen name to post. Trying to hide the accurate profile I gave of an average limey.

Probably the same hamster brain troll that does not know his English history.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 03:45 PM

In the memorable words of DougR, Little Hawk, horse pucky.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Little Hawk
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 03:38 PM

Okay, here's an answer to your question. The USA will be quite perturbed if you Brits kick Tony Blair out of office...but...they will probably arrange for some other controlled surrogate to take his place, so I doubt it will make a whole lot of difference. Your parties, like theirs, and like Canada's, only pretend to serve the public.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: jaze
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 03:02 PM

I have some interest in your leader since our countries have always been such strong allies. More so Britain than probably any other country ,but for that reason. But I don't know that we get much info on the feelings of your countrymen about your PM the way you probably got bombarded with this election. For those of us not happy with the outcome of this election, it's nice to know there are those of you around the world who understand and sympathize. We appreciate your support.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 02:38 PM

Thanks, El Greko. It smarts.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 02:24 PM

You are right, Ebbie - it shouldn't have been asked. Especially not now. Especially not in that aggressive way ("well, do they, DISCUSS!"). And super ted gave the correct response in the very next posting - well the first part of his sentence anyway.

loadsalove

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: Ebbie
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 02:07 PM

Speaking of being "mildly incensed", I consider this question at this time to be insensitive, intrusive and America-bashing. At this point I would appreciate and would have expected a more sympathetic air from the UK, not to mention Canada. Damn it, you know how we are feeling.

But to answer the question: NO. Unless the people you elect, appoint or inherit impact the US in a major way, I'll take only a mild interest in who fronts you. They are mostly just names to me- with occasional bits of information filled in by Mudcatters in that country.

On the other hand, when you let us know how you are feeling about individual issues you will have my interest, my sympathy and my voice.

There are still a great ;many people in this world and on the Mudcat who don't realize the importance of geography. Countries that have 80 other principalities and powers within 5 hours of them are of course going to take greater interest in them and have access to much more news about them than we in the US do. What you hear and what you feel about other countries are analogous to what I hear and feel about Minnesota, say, or about Florida or about Hawaii.

Grow up.

Subject: RE: BS: Does the US bother about UK elections?
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Nov 04 - 01:21 PM

Sledge,

There are those of us Yanks who do not derive our entertainment from monster truck rallys, NASCAR racing, etc., and I, for one, damn sure don't drink that Budweiser skunk piss.   I am very interested in British politics and elections. My wife is a UK citizen (Scottish), which might, at least in part, account for some of that interest. I get embarrassed for the people of the UK when I see the outlandish behaviour by members of Parliament and the House of Lords during sessions broadcast on CSPAN. I am equally embarrased at the fact that the majority of my own countrymen saw fit to leave that little prick in office for another 4 long years. By the way, I've been hearing from some of your own countrymen that "Bud" is the most popular beer on the market over there. Now THAT I can't quite comprehend, considering the quality of beers and ales in Great Britain.

"Cheerio the noo'"

S