Mean, nasty, tricksy, Republicans, they stole our precious! I hates 'em. I hates 'em forever.
I definitely would not welcome the President of the USA offering his opinion as to how UK citizens should vote. Likewise, I would expect USA citizens to feel exactly the same way.
It may well be obvious that, in each country, political parties and their members would have some favouritism, obviously related to relative position on the left/right political scale (and perhaps otherwise). However, such views should not need stating and, with democratic elections in view, certainly should not be stated by ministers of any current government. In practical reciprocity, it would also be appropriate for members of opposition and other party front benches to keep their mouths zipped on the issue.
If non-front bench people in a foreign political party wishes to say anything on the subject, it should be only in the most general terms, very muted, and set about with caveats acknowledging that it really is none of their business.
Is it not obvious that the above is how friendly democracies should respect each other?
Best regards
OK, I blog with a fella who lives in Brisbane. And we both have strong opinions on the US election and express them. Secretly, I think Cats fancies Sarah Palin. Who doesn't? Is that shallow?
Not really. Barack Obama looks like he was injection moulded to be the First Black President(TM) and Hillary looks like a complete bitch on wheels (because she is) and the reaction to Sarah Palin is, well, natural and that's the weird thing. Such a prosaic, normal thing as sexual attraction or even wanting to have a beer with or play pool or anything normal attached to a politico is weird. It's just not the right way of thinking now is it? Politicians must exist on a different plane.
Put simply. If I was in a diner and the Palin family got the next table I wouldn't ask the waitress to be moved and that is the difference she makes.
A third of Tory MP's support Obama, too!
What a desperate bunch of politicians we now have in this country.
I know this is a recurring theme with me, but for as long as I can remember (how long is that, llamas? Too long!) including all the time I lived there, Briitons have always assigned themselves the prerogative of telling America what to do, when to do it, and how to do it better. This has gradually evolved from a sort of smug paternalism to a sort of all-encompassing, holier-than-thou hatred. Reflexive, bile-spattered denunciation of America and/or its people is now so common as to be unremarked in the UK - it's the last acceptable racism. Much of it is based in a deep and profound ignorance of the country and its people - most Britons either do not know or cannot grasp even the most basic differences between the UK and the US, although of course that never stops them from lecturing the US and its people about what they should be doing.
Mr Brown's 'endorsement' of Senator Obama for President is totally meaningless as far as the US elections go. It's nothing more than a publicity stunt for domestic consumption, an attempt to ingratiate himself with his own electorate. He's merely using the xenophobia and ignornace of his countrymen for a brief and transitory political advantage.
Hmm - and he supports Senator Obama . . . .? I see it now . . . .
llater,
llamas
It is a shame that George Bush didn't openly endorse Blair in 2005. We all know how badly that would have gone down.
"interestingness"????
Let us discussionate this further...
The last thing Obama needs in the eyes of most Americans is to be endorsed by someone in the "Labour" party - the unnecessary "u" is an added annoyance - with its clear connotations of Bolshyness. Any of us who didn't think he was a collectivist before would not be able to deny this clear evidence of his Socialist leanings.
I believe Mencken deplored the influence of British culture over American ways. If the likes of Brown continue their dunderheaded ways, that meme is history.
Well I can not attack anyone for sticking their noses into American politics - as I have been doing this myself since 1980 (and I was only 15 at the time).
As for Mr Brown antics (and the rest of Brian's post), I am happy with it all.
I like it when the left (including stupid Conservative party Members of Parliament) make fools of themselves and fall apart.
I will not be content till McCain/Pallin win the election (so many things can go wrong - the debates, McCain working himself till he drops dead as his grandfather did, the left rigging the vote, or .....)
But, for the moment, things are going O.K.
And even a gloomy guts like me would be a liar if I said they were not.
Boris Johnson endorsed Obama a few weeks ago. I chided him by email. I don't know whether Boris reads Canadian emails but I suspect he'll regret his hasty pick.
I wonder who tricked Gordo into publicly barracking for Obama? Nobody likes interference in their internal affairs- I remember being irritated ten years ago when Bill Bryson urged us to become a Republic here in Australia. When the British press called for us to also be a republic, we voted against it!
Gordon's brown support for Obama is ironic.
It works both ways. One one level as you describe very well Brian, Gordon knows his support is meaningless. His support is late and inappropriate. Right.
However when you know your voice does not count much, when you know people forget, you can simply be free to say and do more, i.e you're free. After all maybe's gordon Brown's endorsement is purely emotional, he got caught in the massive emotional wave for Obama ?
Lol who knows where this will get us