Wednesday
(3)To deny one's own basic nature is an act of futility I find. Being a political animal, I have been up for the entire night watching the results of the US Presidential Election unfold on the BBC whose coverage, I must admit, had been admirably comprehensive.
As I type, it is now just past 7.00am in the UK and it appears (and I use that word advisedly) that George Bush has been returned to the Whitehouse.
Anything I have to say in response to this will be drowned out by the weeks, and possibly months, of wailing, whining and teeth-gnashing that is going to be emanating from this side of the Atlantic but I do think that it might interest Bush-supporters in the USA to know that every single BBC reporter looks like they have just swallowed a wasp.
If you can't be loved at least you can be hated.
You would happen to have a picture of some of those reporters would you? I've got a blank spot on my wall.
Posted by Andrew Robb at November 3, 2004 07:17 AM
I know its fun to make fun of the BBC , but spare a thought for the Guardian. The results in Clark County, focus of the letter writing campaign, were:-
Bush, George W. Republican 34,444 50.96%
Kerry, John F. Democratic 32,824 48.56%
Posted by Christopher Price at November 3, 2004 07:50 AM
I second that request for a good picture or two. I'm not ready to celebrate yet, since Ohio, the biggest state that could put Bush over the top may not be called until the 'provisional' ballots are counted, starting 10 days from now. You couldn't swing a dead cat in Ohio, Florida and a few other places without hitting a lawyer or two.
If Bush does indeed win a close one, the Beeb should remember that he had a 5% or so media headwind to overcome. Plus a 1%-2% or so cheating margin in Iowa and Florida.
Posted by Dave Sheridan at November 3, 2004 07:53 AM
My view is that the results are clear, this NOT like Florida 2000 the vote diference in Ohio is 100,000 not a few hundred, the President has clearly won reelection. It is time for those dems who wanted a clear vote to admit one has occured and concede.
Posted by Steph Houghton at November 3, 2004 08:10 AM
I am looking forward to seeing Michael Moore make some comment on this election. For me the biggest reason to want a Bush win was to see the faces of his opponents in the aftermath.
The problem with making a constant stream of extreme comments is that you come to believe them. Many of these people really believe that the US has just re-elected Hitler and they are depressed beyond belief.
I would have loved to see Jacques Chirac's face when he realised which way it was going, that would have been a classic.
Posted by EU-Serf at November 3, 2004 08:50 AM
I watched the BBC Breakfast television coverage and nearly all the comments came from Democrat pollsters, analysts and party hacks. The BBC news anchor appeared pretty fair, to give credit where it is due. But the atmosphere was glum.
The evolution of the media world over the next decade is going to be fascinating. Good time to be a writer, I hope.
Posted by Johnathan at November 3, 2004 09:01 AM
wailing, whining and teeth-gnashing that is going to be emanating from this side of the Atlantic but
Gerhard Schröder is going to be relieved, he won't have to explain to a President Kerry why he won't send troops to Iraq, just as with Bush.
Anyway, a second-term Bush hopefully won't resort to stunts like his steel tariff fiasco.
Posted by Ralf Goergens at November 3, 2004 09:40 AM
Watching an interesting analysis on the Daily Politics. I bet Alan Duncan and the CF idiot-contingent (ie most of them) are feeling a wee bit stupid sucking up to Kerry.
Posted by Andrew Ian Dodge at November 3, 2004 11:44 AM
Thank you. This is exactly what I wanted. I've said that if the two candidates were otherwise identical I would vote for the one other countries would like less.
Posted by triticale at November 3, 2004 01:09 PM
I assume that the wasp being swallowed is not the "White Anglo-Saxon Protestant" that typically populates the Republican Party? If it was a pun, congrats.
Posted by treefroggy at November 3, 2004 04:12 PM
Schadenfreude, it's not just for breakfast anymore!
Posted by Michael Farris at November 3, 2004 04:45 PM
but I do think that it might interest Bush-supporters in the USA to know that every single BBC reporter looks like they have just swallowed a wasp.
Thank you for that image, Mr. Carr. You have just made my day a little brighter, when I thought it couldn't possibly be.
Posted by Rebecca at November 3, 2004 05:47 PM
