BS: Fed-up with US Elections

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Stringsinger
Date: 12 Feb 08 - 03:56 PM

Politics is a form of show business. A lot has to do with how the candidate looks on TV.

There are some considerations though. These electable clowns when and if they become president could be responsible for guided missiles whistling over your head.

I am fed up with US Elections and the candidates but even so, without information and
some form of positive activism, the US will go into wartime bankruptcy which will have a definitive impact on the UK and subsequently on your pocketbook as well as mine.

I don't like it any more than you do but to ignore it is to turn your back on a charging lion.

Unfortunately, this may be one of the most important and significant elections to date.
John McPain will take this country to war. That's his platform.

Obama and Hillary are having a personality contest but if one or the other gets into office, it might possibly stem the tide toward WWIII or international depression.

If you don't think that the political situation is dire, you ought to check out the speeches that these Republicans are making and the ostrich-head-in-the-sand approach of the Democrats. This bread and circus could put the world in deep doo-doo.

Frank

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: pdq
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 03:20 PM

Great response, CarolC. You have a bit of class in addition to the tenacity of a pit bull.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Alice
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 02:20 PM

1:10 am Closing prayer of the Republican National Convention, "Heavenly Father, please do not let them find out how we stole the last two elections and help us in our plans for this one!"

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 02:06 PM

Most countries are happy with one election day, but in the US they have endless elections just to find out who's going to contest the election.

It's the price we pay for living under a federal system. Certain powers are reserved for the individual states, not Washington DC, and running elections is one of them. The only elections that must be held on a certain date are the general elections in which members of Congress and the President/Vice President are chosen. When all other elections, primaries included, are held is up to the individual states.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: CarolC
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 01:23 PM

Perhaps pdq will find this one funny as well...


Agenda for the 2008 REPUBLICAN National Convention
(Just Released 2008)

7:00 pm    Opening BILL OF RIGHTS BURNING (wiretapping, spying on U.S. Citizens, Suspension of Habeas Corpus, etc.)

7:15 pm    Pledge of Allegiance to the BIBLE, followed by ceremonial Shredding of the U.S. Constitution (which has been deemed "outdated")

7:20 pm    Larry Craig proposes a "wide-stance" platform to "pitch a bigger tent"

7:25 pm    Religious prayer and "family values" worship with Ted Haggard (no methamphetamine allowed)

7:45 pm    Key Note Address: "How to Double the National Debt and outspend ALL the Presidents in History in less than 8 years" – George W. Bush

7:55 pm    Rush Limbaugh proposes all "drug addicts" be thrown in prison! (except him, of course)

8:00 pm    How the Earth was created a mere 5,000 years ago (despite ALL THE SCIENTIFIC evidence) – Mike Huckabee

8:15 pm    Gay Wedding between Larry Craig and Ted Haggard- Jimmy Swaggart Presiding

8:35 pm    Mark Foley proposes a new age of sexual consent (15 years old, for BOYS only)

8:40 pm    "Let's All Send OUR…YOUR kids to War" – A discussion of ideas with Mitt Romney and George W. Bush

9.00 pm      Osama Bin Laden Memorial Rally – George W. Bush (He's dead right? We got him, right? I don't really pay that much attention to him anymore)

11.00 pm    Iraq Forever! Let's stay the course for the next 75 years – John McCain

11:05 pm    Speech: "Oil SHOULD BE over $100 a barrel; F*%K the Middle Class" – Dick Cheney 11:15 pm    Torture the hell out of the detainees, regardless of their guilt or innocence - Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense

11:30 pm    "In Defense of Marriage: the sacred covenant" a.k.a. "Wives and Mistresses: striking the right balance" – Newt Gingrich, Rudy Giuliani

11:45 pm    Round Table Discussion: How to convince everyone that government always F$@ks everything up, then get elected and prove it!

11:50 pm    "Holding Oily Hands and Sharing Oily Hugs: My Life with George W. Bush" – Prince Bandar of Saudi Arabia (country of origin of Bin Laden and MOST of the 9/11 hijackers)

12:15 am    "Truth in Broadcasting Award" - Presented to Fox News (Fair and Balanced)

12:30 am    Address by Lobbyist Jack Abramhoff – Via satellite from Federal Prison

12:45 am    Key note address: How to increase the national debt while funneling the nation's treasure to your buddies – Dick Cheney, Halliburton

12:50 am    Speech and toast by Alberto Gonzales to the departure of hard working attorneys. "Don't F*&K with my boss' rich friends"

12:55 am    Tom Delay proposes a toast to selling our country to lobbyists for private gain – Via Satellite from one of his many vacation homes

1:00 am       Platform Discussion: Secret Gay Sex, YES! Out In the Open Gay marriage, NEVER! (Haggard, Foley, Craig, presiding)

1:05 am       Speech: "on 9/11 I was 9/11 about 9/11, but who 9/11'd 9/11 anyway" – Rudy G. (a.k.a. Mr. 9/11)

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 01:11 PM

I agree, Amos..I was just sitting trying to decide whether to respond to that heavy-handed 'humor'...then saw you had done it for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 12:59 PM

I was rather surprised he didn't put in anything about Obama having five Islamic prayer breaks every day. It was that kind of funny...

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Amos
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 12:13 PM

PDQ:

Maybe I am just an asshole, but I found your humour (borrowed) unfunny and slightly pathetic because of the undertones of acid which informed it. There's plenty of avenues for humor that steer clear of hatefulness. Stereotypes that falsify the nature of people in highly derogatory ways is not one of them.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: CarolC
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 12:09 PM

Bread and circuses.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Ebbie
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 11:45 AM

This brew is bitter to the tongue.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Donuel
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 09:22 AM

I bet most people don't know that Diebold electronic voting Inc. has had a name change but not a software change.

Just because your voting machine won't say Diebold doesn't mean that it is not.

Just change the name...to protect the guilty.
Reminds me of calling detention centers freedom zones.

you don't think Hillary would accept electronic vote tampering if she knew about it do you?

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Mrrzy
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 09:17 AM

LOL! Drive Hillary home, I almost fell off my chair!

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 09:14 AM

When Ted Kennedy drives Hillary home will he go by way of Chappaquiddick ?

Answers on a post card to Mr & Mrs Kopechne . . .

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 06:03 AM

Richard - I agree that "who" wins the presidential election will have a mojor effect on us over here, but what is being reported isn't the presidential election. It's elections to see who gets put forward to elections which will eventually decide who are candidates for the real election.
Only the final one that has any REAL significance as far as England is concerned. I don't even know WHEN the presidential election is due, but it isn't for a hell of a long while yet.
As far as I am concerned, it is the day they go to the go to the final polls and start hanging by their chads that it becomes proper NEWS.
So far, it is just Caucus Races, Mock Turtle Soup and Mad Hatter's Tea Parties.

As I said earlier, if Obama doesn't win the nomination, I probably don't need to know ANYTHING about him - same for Clinton, although, obviously she was already known over here.
As it is, the TV has given me more information about Obama than it has about ther new leader of the Liberals in my own country. There seems to be something wrong there.
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Barry Finn
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 02:47 AM

I'd rather drive with Ted than go hunting with Cheney
or than go partying with Georgie

Barry

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: John O'L
Date: 11 Feb 08 - 12:36 AM

As with most things, in the US they do their electing on a grander scale than eveybody else. Most countries are happy with one election day, but in the US they have endless elections just to find out who's going to contest the election.
But you can tell how much they love it from the other threads. In Rio they have Mardi Gras, in the US they have an election.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: pdq
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 10:13 PM

I love all kinds of humor, from Tom Leher to Lenny Bruce, even Phil Ochs was a comic genuis at times. Some of the best humor, in recent years, has been from the Right and Bill Clinton has been much of the inspiration.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Alice
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 10:06 PM

Kind of like us having to read about cricket matches... or is it rugby or something.
(just teasing)

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Riginslinger
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 10:06 PM

pdq - One would assume from you last entry that you think Bill has Hillary insured for a bundle.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: pdq
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:49 PM

Denver , Colorado

Agenda for the 2008 Democratic National Convention

 
7:00 pm        Opening flag burning

7:15 pm        Pledge of Allegiance to the U.N. In Spanish

7:20 pm        Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

7:25 pm        Nonreligious prayer and worship with Jessie Jackson and Al Sharpton

7:45 pm        Ceremonial tree hugging

7:55 pm        Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

8:00 pm        How I Invented the Internet - Al Gore

8:15 pm        Gay Wedding - Barney Frank presiding

8:35 pm        Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

8:40 pm        Our  Troops are War Criminals - John Kerry

9.00 pm        Saddam Memorial Rally - Cindy Sheehan and Susan Sarandon

11.00 pm      Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:05 pm      Collection for the Osama Bin Laden kidney transplant fund  - Barbara Streisand

11:15 pm      Free the Freedom Fighters from Guantanamo Bay - Sean Penn

11:30 pm      Oval Office Affairs - William Jefferson Clinton

11:45 pm      Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

11:50 pm      How George Bush Brought Down the World Trade Towers - Howard Dean & Rosie O'Donnell

12:15 am      'Truth in Broadcasting Award' - Presented to Dan Rather by Michael Moore

12:25 am      Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

12:30 am      Satellite address by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

12:45 am      Nomination of Hillary Rodham Clinton by Nancy Pelosi

12:50 am      Speech and toast by Hugo Chavez to the departure of  'the Great Satan,' George W. Bush

12:50 am      Hillary proposes a toast to our 89 million new Democratic Mexican voters

1:00 am        Ted Kennedy proposes a toast to the extinction of the Republican party.

1:05 am        Coronation of Hillary Rodham Clinton

1:30 am        Ted Kennedy proposes a toast

1:35 am        Bill Clinton asks Ted to drive Hillary home

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:35 PM

I suppose there'll be some dirty ticks campaign to spread a rumour that McCain is really an illegal immigrant from Canada with an agenda of imposing French fries on freedom loving Americans.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: bobad
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:05 PM

From Wiki:

The Alfalfa Club is an exclusive Washington, D.C. social organization, founded in 1913. The Club exists only to hold an annual banquet honoring the birthday of Civil War General Robert E. Lee. The club's membership, which numbers about 200, is composed primarily of American politicians and influential members of the United States business community, and has included several Presidents of the United States. Each member is permitted to bring two guests to the annual $200-a-plate dinner, held each year in January.

The president is usually asked to deliver remarks at the dinner. President George W. Bush spoke at the Alfalfa Dinner each year of his presidency.[1]

One of the evening's activities includes the playful nomination of a presidential candidate by the Club's leadership. The candidate is then required to make a speech. Interestingly, several such candidates went on to hold the actual presidency after being nominated, including Richard Nixon in 1965 (elected in '68), Ronald Reagan in 1974 (elected in '80), and George W. Bush in 1998 (elected in 2000). In 2004, the Club nominated the former president of the Motion Picture Association of America, Jack Valenti. Its 2000 nomination was Australian-born James Wolfensohn, constitutionally ineligible for election to the U.S. presidency.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Amos
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 09:00 PM

SMoke Alfalfa, of course. For medicinal purposes.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:59 PM

Well, Geoff, whether we can change it or not, the identity of the next "leader of the free world" is likely to have a profound effect on us.

If I was a God-botherer, I'd be bothering (except that the choices now are only between the worrying and the panic-inducing)

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: bobad
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:56 PM

I wonder what they do at the Alfalfa Club.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Ebbie
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:53 PM

"Both McCain's grandfather and father were Admirals in the United States Navy", per Wikipedia

Height: 5.7 (1.7m)

Didn't I read somewhere that almost invariably the taller of candidates wins the US presidency?

Organizations:
Member, American Dream Political Action Committee, 1997-present
Member, Council on Foreign Relations, 1997-present
Honorary Board Member, Hispanic Youth Foundation, 1997-present
Honorary Board Member, The Leonard Cheshire Foundation, 1997-present
Honorary Member, National Hispanic Foundation for the Arts Advisory Council, 1997-present
Honorary Vice Chairman, New Majority Council, 1997-present
Board of Trustees, Gallaudet University, 1995-present
Founding Member, Pacific Council on International Policy, University of South California, 1995-present
Chair, Board of Directors, International Republican Institute, 1992-present
Life Member, Navy League, 1987-present
Member, The Alfalfa Club
Member, Air Force Sergeants Association
Honorary Advisor Board, Arizona Black Chamber of Commerce
Honorary Co-Chair, Advisory Board of Directors, Arizona Cancer Research Foundation
Honorary Member, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Complimentary Member, Association of the United States Army
Honorary Member, Barry Goldwater Foundation
Honorary Member, Fifty-Five Years and Up Incorporated
Honorary Member/Board of Regents, Francis Scott Key Foundation
Honorary Member, The John Goodwin Tower Center
Honorary Board Member, Kids Voting Arizona
Member, The Military Order of World Wars
Honorary Member, Mo Udall Foundation
Board of Directors, Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom
Member, Purple Heart Association
Member, The Retired Officers Association
Member, Sons of the Revolution in the State of Virginia
Member, United States Naval Academy Alumni Association
Member of Board of Visitors, United States Naval Academy
Honorary Member/Board of Directors/Council of Notables, United States-Spain Council
Member, Veterans of Foreign Wars
Member, Vietnam Veterans Association.

Good grief, he's a busy man.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Bee
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:20 PM

McGrath, I'm pretty sure McCain's frozen fries, owned by the wealthy McCain family of PEI, Canada, don't have much to do with the US candidate.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 08:18 PM

The McCain of the chips-fries (potatoes) (and pizzas and lots of other packaged frozen stuff) is Canadian. No relation to the U. S. politician (don't like either one). The McCain Company is controlled by the McCain family of eastern Canada somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: gnomad
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:41 PM

It's lazy journalism in my book. A story on a plate, plenty of details to go at, nice country where they speak our language and will provide an expenses receipt which the accounts dept will only query if it is huge, sounds important, why do any real work just to have the story spiked by an editor with an eye to the ratings and zero integrity?

Yes we need to know whose arse our own native arseholes are going to lick, but until we get to choose arseholes it is largely academic.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Peace
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:31 PM

It beats soap operas.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:31 PM

I've been curious to know if this McCain bloke is anything to do with the oven chips.

I dunno Geoff - it's a bit like the Africa Cup of Nations, of which I've just enjoyed watching the final. Outsiders can have more fun sometimes. (I'm looking forward to the European Cup...) (NB Both those are "soccer" references)

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:30 PM

Geoff, the BBC TV service news gives us coverage of your elections, as well as the ones in the U. S., Lower Slobovia or wherever. I really don't mind because it is given in the form of news and comment, not 'situations' or 'view with alarm' nonsense, and color instead of substance. They do get a little confused over the American system of loaded caucuses and primaries without rationale.

The BBC news is far superior to CNN, MSNBC, etc., which try to spin stories out of nothing. I'm glad to get it.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:17 PM

It's bad enough it's all over this site, without having to put up with it on TV as well... Ho hum, it'll all be over soon enough though.

I disagree though Geoff - we really do need to know whose arse our government is going to have to lick.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: bobad
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:08 PM

Don't you know that the president of the US is king of the world?

You think you get a lot of US news in the UK - try Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Sorcha
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:07 PM

You think YOU'RE tired of it? Pity US!

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Amos
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 07:06 PM

Geoff:

It's razzle-dazzle, smoke and mirrors. But as the last 100 years have demonstrated, our countries are tied up hip and shoulder, and the sense is probably be that this is more exciting than VAT debates, and with perhaps more far reaching ramifications down-stream.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 06:57 PM

Sorry, that should have read McCain oven chips, not McDonalds...
Quack!
GtD.

Subject: BS: Fed-up with US Elections
From: Geoff the Duck
Date: 10 Feb 08 - 06:56 PM

Every news programme has major coverage of the United States pre-election elections. We get in depth analysis of Hilary Clinton and Obama and some republican bloke. Ronald Macdonald, was it??? Could it be the first black or woman president?
Quite frankly WHAT'S IT GOT TO DO WITH US? we live in England and don't have a vote.

Of course, the final outcome of the REAL election, when someone hangs their chads and the US of A actually gets a new president will be of interest. Let's face it, we all need to know who has a finger on the button that can blow us all to hell, but what do we need to know about the ones who don't have their finger on ANYTHING?

I'm not having a whinge at Americans - I just don't know why the BBC are wasting so much of our time on something that really is not news to anyone outside of the United States.

Thoughts please...
Quack!
Geoff the Duck.