Keith

sweetie

2008-05-16T14:27:08Z

"Hold on one second, sweetie" ------ Obama

Barack Obama has apologised to a Michigan TV reporter after he called her "sweetie" and dodged her question about autoworkers. Peggy Agar, who works for ABC, had shouted a question as Mr Obama toured a recession- hit car plant, asking: "How are you going to help the American auto workers?" It was only later Mr Obama realised his brush-off was going to land him in trouble. Ms Agar told the Detroit News: "I've been called worse." Ms Agar said the apology surprised her but she was more concerned he had not answered her question. [Sources: BBC News etc]

[Luckily he didn't call her Jello.]

W Virginia (II) etc.

2008-05-15T13:50:15Z

"The bottom line is this: the White House is won in the swing states and I am winning the swing states" ----- Hillary Clinton

"She's in it to the end," said Clinton's campaign team. It would take a miracle or a disaster for her to win now, they say. Well, the stupid media certainly don't help. For example, Channel 4 News' Sarah Smith (normally quite reliable) , reported (last night), "Clinton (Bill) was called a racist when he said Obama's campaign was just a fairytale". It's really annoying that they don't get the fact right, and people now seem to accept as the truth what has been grossly misrepresented. What I understand is that Bill Clinton's "fairytale" referred to Obama's stance on the Iraq war:

"The former president drew criticism for the "fairy tale" comment he made while campaigning in New Hampshire for his wife Hillary Clinton, Obama's main rival for the Democratic Party nomination in the November presidential election. "It is wrong that Senator Obama got to go through 15 debates trumpeting his superior judgment and how he had been against the war," Clinton said during the rally. "There's no difference in your voting record, and Hillary's, ever since," Clinton said. "Give me a break. This whole thing is the biggest fairy tale I've ever seen," Clinton had said in accusing Obama of distorting his stance on the war. ... "There's nothing 'fairy tale' about his campaign. It's real, it's strong, and he might win," Clinton said in a phone interview for the Rev. Al Sharpton's Radio One network talk show." [Source: Reuters; Boston.com - Bill Clinton: Obama no 'fairy tale']

Hillary herself has (recently) been accused of exploiting racial divisions - as well as "reverse racism" - all because she uttered the word "white" - just the once, i.e. she told USA Today to consult an Associated Press story "that found how Senator Obama’s support among working, hard-working Americans, white Americans, is weakening again, and how whites in both states who had not completed college were supporting me". Look, she was just making an observation of the facts - something I’d read myself, that in Indiana, white working class voted overwhelmingly for her. Even in North Carolina, in spite of Obama’s overall win, some counties voted along the same demographic pattern. He lost whites without college degrees by 44 points in Ohio and by 42 points in Pennsylvania (as mentioned in this article). Even as far back as February, we all knew that "Obama's fate is in the hands of the white working class".

Hillary Clinton was vilified for this by an over-the-top Brit drama queen, self-appointed US know-it-all, Andrew Sullivan. (I won't dignify him by calling him a "pundit").

"Yes: a candidate was explicitly arguing that she was the candidate of white Americans. No Republican would be so crude, certainly not John McCain. And that became her primary rationale for carrying on. After North Carolina, the short-term electoral costs have evaporated: West Virginia has a black population of just 3.3%, Kentucky has 7.5%, Oregon has 1.9%, Montana and South Dakota both have less than 1%. There are no black superdelegates willing to switch from Obama to Clinton at this point," he wrote. [Source: Times - Hillary Clinton’s suicidal gamble with race poison]

But Obama himself has blatantly played the race card - in South Carolina. I wouldn't say that was despicable as such, but can you even begin to imagine the furore if Clinton had asked whites specifically to vote for her? You know, maybe Geraldine Ferraro had a point - Obama is getting away with stuff because he is black (or perceived as "black enough"). At the time, I thought his racially motivated exhortations would back fire, but now few primaries down the line, I realise that in general the US population are far more forgiving when a black person makes what could be perceived as a racially sensitive remark, whereas that rule doesn't necessarily apply to a non-black person, even with people like the Clintons, who are said to be emotionally involved with the political struggle of black people. It really is sad. Obama is to blame for this divisiveness. As Charles Rangel, the dean of the Congressional Black Caucus said (back in January) "How race got into this thing is because Obama said 'race,'". (He has been even-handed in this I suppose, when he slammed Clinton for that "race comment". 'I can't believe Sen. Clinton would say anything that dumb,' Rangel told the media.) The press really went for Clinton on that one, whilst having given, and still seem to be giving, Obama a free ride. For example, the New York Post had reported that Clinton "played the race card ...," dismissing Obama "as a candidate who will have a hard time winning support from 'white Americans.'

The facts are: 1 in 5 white voters said race was a deciding factor. 50% of Hillary supporters say they won't vote for Barack Obama. "You need somebody who's listening to your voice. You need somebody who cares about working people, and is going to fight for them, each and every day when I'm in the White House - that's the kind of President I intend to be," said Obama. (That's Hillary's words he's xeroxed all right.) Channel 4 News commented, "That sounds exactly like Hillary talking, even though Obama doesn't mention her by name anymore."

Mark Halperin (Time Magazine) said, "Her only hope now which has been true for several weeks, is for something to happen to Obama to make him an unacceptable choice for the party leaders who will pick the nominee in the end - and that hasn't happened yet, but she's bought herself to allow that to perhaps happen." He thinks Clinton has no interest in wielding any influence on Obama should he win. She believes Obama will lose the presidential race for the Democrats should he be nominee.

Obama is far from being the wonderful healing unifying candidate he claims to be, if the behaviour of some "Obamites" is any reflection: "In anticipation of the West Virginia primary, college students for Obama were hurling insults at farmers and truck drivers holding signs for Clinton." [Source: Seattle Times - Op-Ed Obama supporters unwise to attack Hillary Clinton]

I have also heard it mentioned several times that Obama supporters have booed at Obama rallies when he has mentioned her name. I suspect team Obama will now work hardest on black superdelegates who still support Clinton. Very sad if they do have this racist strategy (I wouldn‘t put it past them!).

Michael Bloomberg (108th Mayor of NYC) was asked by Newsnight (last Friday) whether he thought HC should now drop out. He replied, "That's her decision... if you put yourself in Hillary Clinton's head, Hillary Clinton has a dream, America is a country of dreams - she wants to be president. I don't subscribe to this - ‘you’re helping McCain by having a fight‘ ... quite the contrary - you’re battle-testing the candidates on the Democratic side... You’re getting all the bad news out and they still survive, and John McCain isn’t in the news.. this is not good for John McCain. This is better for the Democratic party, it is democracy at work. I have contact with all of them. John McCain campaigned for me in 2001. I've introduced him in events, I introduced Obama in events. I talk to Hillary frequently because she’s still is senior senator in NY state, And if I need something in Washington, Hillary Clinton is always responsive, or her staff is instantly responsive.”

Oh yeah, some grinning twit named Edwards has finally plucked up the courage to publicly endorse Obama. It was a bit of a surprise. Clinton hadn't been told in advance, not even as a matter of courtesy. And, supposedly Obama felt guilty about not having campaigned in Michigan, so he produced "something special" in his Michigan rally - namely former candidate John Edwards (whose cancer-stricken wife actually supports Hillary Clinton's healthcare plans).

"Missing from the event was Elizabeth Edwards, Edwards's wife, who has been a passionate proponent of universal health care. The Edwardses were said to be split on the endorsement, with Elizabeth Edwards said to favor Clinton because of her preference for parts of the Clinton health care plan. Obama, who accepted Edwards's endorsement with praise for the speech and the man, also praised Elizabeth Edwards and her commitment to health care." [IHT - John Edwards endorses Obama] (Obviously then, it is not Elizabeth but John who wears the pantsuit in the Edwards household.)

It is well recognised that the timing of the announcement was made for maximum drama, to try and dampen Hillary's big W Virginia win. New politics? I don't think so!

Burma cyclone; China earthquake

2008-05-12T21:12:52Z

Our Foreign Minister David Miliband accused the ruling military junta of "malign neglect" and said he would be "amazed" if the death toll was less than 100,000.

We are now told (by Oxfam), "Burma cyclone death toll could reach 1.5million"

If only a fraction of that population sacrificed their lives in successfully overturning the inhumane, uncaring, self-serving junta, more of their fellow Burmese might survive. If only the world had resolved not to allow the ruling junta to wrest power unlawfully from the Burmese people, more Burmese might survive the terrible aftermath of the cyclone. Alas, liberal intervention is never a popular option. Even in this terrible time, no one feels that military intervention is justified. Ergo, even more needless deaths amongst survivors, from not receiving the aid they need in time. Of course I feel sorry for those people, but I'm not going to donate on this one. There must be plenty of tsunami money left over that could be spent here. The other thing I note - there hasn't been any news of Aung San Suu Kyi. Apparently her house has been damaged by the cyclone, but no mention of her. I assume she must have survived. She's a sad neglected figure fighting a seemingly futile battle, and her own people too cowardly, really, to fight for her or for themselves. They really were better off under British rule, sad to say (and that was a long time ago).

Even China, friend of the junta now has its own disaster to deal with, and surely cannot help the Burmese in the capacity needed, even if they wanted to. An earthquake in Sichuan (near Chengdu) of magnitude 7.9, some 6 miles below ground, with many aftershocks, has left at least 8,700 dead. Wenchuan, the epicentre, is a county of 111,800 people. In Beichuan county, which is close to Wenchuan, the number of deaths was estimated at 5,000, with 80 percent of the buildings destroyed. Shaking was felt as far as Hong Kong and Bangkok in Thailand, 1,950 kilometers away.

W Virginia

2008-05-12T12:46:44Z

"Yet there she was, glad-handing at a Mother's Day “celebration” in West Virginia with her daughter Chelsea at her side" [Yep, the fight will go on, as it must go on!]

This article sure paints a pretty picture: "With dogwoods blooming white in the deep green woods on the mountainsides, yard signs for local candidates dominate the scarce patches of flat land where houses are perched. But in the small towns, folks are talking about the crossroads of presidential politics and their lives." [Source: Statesman - West Virginia primary points to Clinton]

Quite frankly, we should get things in perspective. North Carolina and Indiana are quite irrelevant states when it comes to a general election and a Democrat president. Both are red-blooded red states! In 2004, Indiana voted 60% for Bush (vs Kerry - remember him? - 39%); and North Carolina voted 56% for Bush (vs 44% for Kerry). So really, what is the big deal for Obama's supposedly wonderful triumph in NC? i.e in winning this "big state". Yeah so what? Clinton won all the other big states.

* It is possible that Republicans helped Clinton win in Indiana, which must be abd news for her! "In each state Clinton carried the vote of Republican voters - 52 to 44 percent for Obama in Indiana, and 61 to 32 percent in North Carolina. Republicans made up only 5 percent in North Carolina's Democratic primary electorate, but made up 11 percent of the vote in the Indiana Democratic primary, enough to provide Clinton's expected margin of victory." [CBS News Non-Democrats Influenced Ind., N.C. Vote]

On the other hand, in Pennsylvania, where Clinton TRASHED Obama, they voted 51% for Kerry (vs 49% for Bush) in 2004. West Virginia too is, I'm afraid, irrelevant to the Dems, with 56% for Bush in 2004 (vs 43% for Kerry). (President Clinton campaigned for Kerry back then; that inconsequential turncoat has declared his support to Clinton's rival Obama). Oh wait a minute - W Virginia has largely been Democrat dominated for many decades before 2004. So Clinton, with a 30 point lead over Obama in the poll here, should be better placed than Obama to take this state back, as presidential candidate.

Addendum Recent opinion polls indicate that Mrs Clinton would narrowly beat Mr McCain in the state but Mr Obama would lose by nearly 20 percentage points. [Afrik.com - Western Virginia : A hostile country for "Black" Obama]

=========

West Virginia, the "Mountain State". It is said to be "Clinton country by demographics" The state populace is nearly 95 percent white and about 3 percent African American. College graduates, whom Obama also usually carries, make up only about 15 percent (Reuters say 17%) of the voters, compared with more than 25 percent nationally. The median household income is about $34,000 — about $9,000 less than the national median.

Other tidbits [from Reuters Factbox]:

"Coal seams run through 53 of this mountainous state's 55 counties. Coal mining remains crucial to the state's identity, though the industry employs far fewer of the state's workers than it once did. Pro-environment positions that play well in other parts of the country are often unpopular here."

"Only 17 percent of West Virginia adults hold a college degree, the lowest figure among the 50 U.S. states. West Virginia also ranks near the bottom in median household income and housing value and near the top in poverty levels."

"Democrats have dominated this pro-labor state for the past half-century, though President George W. Bush's nods to the coal industry helped him carry West Virginia in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections."

deja vu

2008-05-09T00:10:27Z

"I think we want to keep this going so that the people of West Virginia's voices are heard and their votes are counted! This is a little bit like deja vous all over again. Some in Washington wanted us to end our campaign, and then I won New Hampshire. Then we had huge victories on Super Tuesday, then we won Ohio and Texas and Pennsylvania, and I was never supposed to win Indiana. Well, I am running to be president of all 50 states, and I want to be sure that we count all 50 states." ---- Hillary Clinton

"Me, I like combat. You know, I think the best training for campaigning is campaigning, so I think that as they have campaigned, the support in our country has grown for our Democratic message. Look at, more than a million Democrats voted in Indiana. That was great, and a big, strong vote in North Carolina of Democrats turning out. So this is all very healthy." ------- Nancy Pelosi

Is this a sign of "girl power" or rather "girl solidarity" at long last? Apart from shining the light of truth onto the Chinese regime in relation to Tibet, this is the only intelligent thing I've ever known Pelosi to say.

It really is another attack of those "she must withdraw" deja vus. Why should Clinton withdraw from the race? If it's a race worth winning, then it's worth fighting for. If the Dems didn't have their silly "so fair that it's unfair" rules, Clinton would have sewn up the nomination by now. She has won all the big states (those with the most electoral votes). Those so-called democrats whining for Clinton to drop out don't seem to understand what democracy is all about. They don't want others to have their say! As this commentator put it, "democracy functions because of an active and engaged public". The fact remains: neither candidate has the required number of pledged delegates. Democratic Party requires that a candidate has 2,025 delegate votes before receiving the nomination of the Party. And besides, why the rush to judgement? - "It's not as if Obama's landslide in North Carolina and Clinton's Indiana squeaker sent a flood of superdelegates to the game-ending, presumptive, and indisputably victorious Obama."

Chelsea gunman

2008-05-08T11:25:32Z

As we now know, the gunman in the "Chelsea siege" the other day turned out, to my suprise at least, to be a "high flying" barrister, Mark Saunders, and one who specialised in family law (with QEB Chambers, the leading family law firm). Of course being a specialist in family law doesn't make one immune to family problems:

"Oxford graduate Mr Saunders was popular and successful, earning £500,000 a year and tipped to become a judge. ... the drama began shortly before 5pm with an angry row between Mr Saunders and his 40-year-old wife, a barrister at the same chambers. Jane Winkworth, who lives in the flat below, went out to investigate and found the gun being aimed at her. She ran back inside and called police. Officers were then seen talking to Miss Clarke, who had fled the couple's flat, to find out what sparked the drama and the best way to end it. But Mr Saunders, who had two legally owned shotguns, fired at police and at other homes nearby. Mr Saunders had uncharacteristically left work early and begun drinking heavily. Between the shots, he refused repeated requests from police negotiators to surrender." [Source: Evening Standard: Did they really have to shoot my son, asks barrister gunman's father as police suspect 'suicide by cop']

"Did they really have to shoot my son?" asked his father. I'm afraid yes, they really did. He was firing live ammunition out of his window, and at the police. One bullet entered the window of a house opposite, and could have killed the inhabitant, as well as innocent bystanders.

It also goes to show, just because you're in the legal profession doesn't mean you can be reasoned with. And if you're young, fit good looking, earning £500,000 and can't find happiness, God help you, I say. What a total tosser and a LOSER!!! He should have shot himself and spared everyone the trouble. I hope the residents in that area sue the hell out of his estate for damages.

Clinton Mistakes

2008-05-08T10:11:11Z

The Clinton campaign made a lot of mistakes, essentially all centred round underestimating the ~~enemy~~ opponent. The other way to look at this is the Obama campaign team were adept at exploiting every advantage afforded to candidates. In particular, they realised the power of the caucus (quite undemocratic in my view) - gaining most of his pledged delegates lead over Clinton in this way. The negative aspects of caucuses is that they depend a lot on motivation (over and above that of merely going to vote) and can be fixed by bullying tactics (as there have been allegations of). As described here, "Caucus participants, for the most part, are party activists who cling to the farthest-left end of the platform; they are not Middle America."

In spite of their cleverness, I don't think Obama is very principled, and that, I believe, will lead to their ultimate downfall. For example, I have a lot of sympathy for this view (from a commenter to a political news blog):

"I will rather vote for McCain than vote for Obama. I hope she stays on the race until EVERYONE has voted. Asking her to quit is like telling those people who have not voted that their opinions do not count. Is that the American way of doing things? If Obama was half decent, he would try to include Michigan and Florida and welcome the contest in the remaining states. The fact that he won’t shows that he is not acting any different from the old politics he supposely will change" [Source: Reuters Blogs Tales from the Trail]

I don't think Obama is half-decent, sadly. In my view, the Clinton mistakes are mostly mistakes with the benefit of hindsight.

US Primaries (II) - N Carolina, Indiana

2008-05-07T12:57:00Z

"And I am running to be the President of all of America - north, south, east and west, and everywhere in between. That's why it is so important that we count the votes of Florida and Michigan. It would be a little strange to have a nominee chosen by 48 states." ---- Hillary Clinton (Indiana victory speech)

In general, I am dismayed yet again by how the media always seem to skew the perceptions against Clinton. There is some sort of media campaign subtly running in the background. I just get a sense that overall, the tone of reporting is anti Clinton. Not that I expect the media to be biased for or against a particular candidate. There was a little glimmer of hope that the media would, so to speak rally round - or perhaps at least be less horrid to Clinton when they highlighted the fact that her feisty, fighting approach - her "trademark gutsiness" - had won her a great deal of admiration.

Even from one female Republican voter, as seen on Newsnight (last night) who told the programme, "This tiny, petite little woman, OK, is willing to take on Washington bureaucracy, corruption in our federal government, stand up for what‘s right. They hit her and she comes right back up. They give her one good punch, and she comes up with a ferocity that made me go 'wow!'

However, most of the time the media seem to wonder why she's still in the race, and keep painting a picture of hopelessness for her efforts. For example, Sky News have suggested that now is the "start of the long goodbye" (for Clinton they mean of course). ITV News said she sounded "deflated" last night, and her speech sounded like a "concession speech". The pundits are writing her off - again. They expect her to now bow out graciously, because (they say) she owes her party that debt. OK to be realistic, just as he hasn't quite managed to "close the deal", she hasn't been able to pull off a "game changer" either.

More than half of Clinton supporters in the two states said they would not be satisfied with Obama at the top of the ticket, while a third of Obama voters in Indiana and a fourth of those in North Carolina said they'd vote for McCain or would not vote in November. [Source: Hattiesburg American - Clinton still underdog in Dem battle]

"So don't ever forget that this election is not about me, or any candidate. Don't ever forget that this campaign is about you -- about your hopes, about your dreams, about your struggles, about securing your portion of the American Dream." ----- Barack Obama (NC victory speech)

I don't buy that, personally. It's about him.

Sunny

2008-05-07T11:17:55Z

Lovely weather at the moment, which is predicted to last all week. At the project site yesterday, a small group of residents, who are Afro-Caribbean, from a nearby block sat outside the front door enjoying the sun. One of the group, an older gent who wore a colourful Rastafarian cap, of bright colours, red, yellow and green. I thought to myself, a slice of Jamaica right on our doorstep? I have to say they weren't particularly friendly, but neither were they uncivil. They just seemed indifferent. I think you do get that way, living in London. I'll try to make more effort next time I see them - like say "hello" (rather than just smile at them). G seems to think they're quite friendly. So perceptions may have some bearing.

On the negative side, I have noticed a bit more rubbish on the roadside. Some one has vandalised the doors of another building close by. That's not at all helpful. On the plus side, a door which had come off another nearby building has now been replaced (after months). And fortunately, there's no wide-spread or large scale graffitti on the walls (hope I haven't spoken too soon). Later yesterday when I looked out the window, I noticed a little girl encouraged by her mother (single mum?) to use the pavement as a toilet. She left a long wet trail across the pavement, no doubt making it quite slippery for the short while before it dried out. It's anti-social behaviour, but it's not the child's fault. I hope she doesn't "learn" that it's OK to pee anywhere she wants in public. It crossed my mind that it was just like errant pet dogs allowed by owners to foul the pavement. Even some dogs are taken to the park for their toilet. Why couldn't the mum have at least got the kid to do it off the pavement?

US Primaries

2008-05-07T00:59:21Z

Breakings News: CBS: Hillary Clinton projected to win Indiana Democratic primary. US Media: Barack Obama wins North Carolina Democratic primary.

Chelsea siege

2008-05-06T21:32:46Z

"A gunman has been killed!" I read out, suprised, the ticker tape news summary on BBC.

"Good!" replied G.

The summary says, "A gunman has been killed following a stand-off with police in Chlesea, West London. Armed police storm building after shootout." When I followed the incident earlier, they were still talking about a negotiator being on the scene, after gunshots were reported fired near Markham Square, which is close by to Kings Road (is a favourite shopping street to London's rich and famous while the area has dozens of million-pound plus homes).

"Officers were called at 4.50pm on Tuesday after reports of gunshots. They were shot at and returned fire. So far there are no reported injuries and no-one has been arrested. One eyewitness said there was an argument between a man and a woman before the shooting started. Sky News reported a distressed woman was heard claiming the gunman is her ex-boyfriend who is licensed to own four different types of guns." [Source: Press Association]

N Carolina; Indiana (II)

2008-05-06T13:28:56Z

The big issue this time is the price of gas. Hillary backs a 3-month gas tax holiday, which Obama derided as "a gimmick" and "phoney". But isn't Obama sitting down with white working class to a breakfast of sausage and chips even more gimmicky and phoney? As for the gas tax holiday, I noted when McCain proposed it, I had two on my LJ f-list discuss gas issues. One (a Dem ... I think) didn't think it would help in the long term, and the other (an inveterate Republican as far as I can tell) mentioned what was implied to be absurd Obama proposals for tax on gas (e.g a 20 percent tax on the cost of a barrel of oil above $80). I'm not automatically saying the gas tax holiday is "gimmicky". I for one would welcome any sort of holiday, including a gas tax holiday. Just take the money, people! I don't appreciate Obama's position that you should not alleviate suffering, however temporary, amongst bitter white working class people (who only have God and guns to find solace in), amongst other groups of folks, pending a better energy policy of the future. (Obama has backed gas tax holidays in Illinois before - three times!)

North Carolina - "a God-fearing, gun-owning, lock-'em-up-and-throw-away-key state that loves its NASCAR." In North Carolina, it helps if you like barbecue, basketball and go to church. The new residents flowing into this fast-growing state, with a population of 9.1 million, are younger, coming for jobs in high-tech industries, the profiles of people who have been voting for Obama in this extended primary season. The African-American Democratic primary vote could be close to 40 percent, according to estimates from North Carolina Democratic Party officials. A state big in agriculture. North Carolina is the world’s fifth-largest corn importer. Its poultry and hog farming industries are each valued at more than $2bn a year. The state boosted its corn production to record levels last year but still imports about 10 times more than it grows. Other crops grown include cotton, grains & oil seed, peanuts and tobacco. It's also number one in the USA for sweet potatoes, turning out more than 600 million pounds of sweet potatoes annually (mentioned here). 115 delegates are up for grabs.

Indiana, a former steel producing state, is the fifth-largest corn producing state in the US, making it a leading beneficiary of rising crop prices and increased use of corn-based ethanol in fuel. Manufacturing accounts for 20 percent of all Indiana jobs, the highest proportion of any U.S. state. New ventures in pharmaceuticals, biofuels and medical sciences are joining established industries like steel, engines and mobile homes. Residents of Indiana are known as Hoosiers. 72 delegates are on offer.

[Sources: Washington Post - What the Candidates Should Know About N. Carolina; Chicago Sun Times - Hillary rallies as Obama's N.C. lead shrinks; Reuters - Factbox]

Burma Cyclone (II)

2008-05-06T12:00:59Z

15,000 people now thought killed in the storm in Burma ("Myanmar"). Some 30,000 are now said to be "missing". The death toll could rise to 50,000 (reported BBC News).

Whilst quick to crack down on protesting monks, the junta's military might is hardly evident when it comes down to helping the people they control. The dictatorship there failed to pass on warnings of the cyclone to Burmese citizens. Even accepting aid is the big story in the background, to the consternation of many, including First Lady Laura Bush, who fears that the Burmese regime may refuse US aid.

"This reclusive adminstration have bowed to reality. They need international aid, and yesterday they asked for it, well sort of. ... The junta have accepted emergency aid, in principle, from Japan, Thailand and India. The UN has 30 tonnes of high energy bsicuits ready to ship, but their aid and logistics experts are still waiting for visas, nobody really sure how cooperative the junta is preapred to be. Burmese Burma's 400,000 strong army proving scarce on the gorund, say some in Rangoon (Yangon)," reported Channel 4 News.

The fact that the Burmese dictatorship even accepted that they needed outside help was described as their "crossing the Rubicon" (Sky News). What a joke. It's ironic, but I would guess that the Burmese people would gladly welcome, and be grateful a miilion times over, for the type and scale of assistance offered during the Katrina disaster (imperfect as that may be). And to think they wanted Bush out of office for that! Ridiculous, if you ask me. Katrina affected an area the size of Britain; some 1,500 people were killed across the Gulf Coast, some 1,100 of them in New Orleans. Burma (678,500 sq km) is roughly three times the same size as Britain (244,820 sq km). Not all of Burma was affected by the cyclone.

"Based on a satellite map made available by the United Nations, the storm's damage was concentrated over about a 30,000-square-kilometre area along the Andaman Sea and Gulf of Martaban coastlines - less than five per cent of the country. But the affected region is home to nearly a quarter of Myanmar's 57 million people." [Source: Canadian Press Myanmar says nearly 14,000 may have died in cyclone as foreign aid prepares to move in]

Go figure.

As I post, Burmese state TV say death toll rises to 22,464, and 41,000 reportedly missing.

Burma Cyclone

2008-05-05T13:44:34Z

Breaking News: According to Sky News, the Burmese Foriegn Ministry acknowledges that up to 10,000 people may have died in a cyclone (tropical cyclone Nargis which hit the country Saturday).

Only around three hours ago, they said the death toll was 350, then about an hour after that, they revised the death toll to 4000. Presently it is 10,000 but who really knows? (Perhaps that latest figure included the 3000 unaccounted for, and feared dead). The Burmese junta are said to be reluctant to ask for outside help as it may be seen as their not being "in charge".

21:38 "US First Lady Laura Bush Monday accused the Myanmar military regime of failing to warn its citizens in time about the approaching cyclone which ravaged the country, leaving thousands dead. "Although they were aware of the threat, Burma's state-run media failed to issue a timely warning to citizens in the storm's path," Bush said, referring to Myanmar by its former name of Burma. "It's troubling that many of the Burmese people learned of this impending disaster only when foreign outlets, such as Radio Free Asia and Voice of America sounded the alarm."" [Source: AFP]

boiling point

2008-05-04T22:40:35Z

"I don’t try to be anything I’m not. I am, you know, I am what I am." ----- Hillary Clinton

According to wannabe first lady Michelle Obama, "Barack has hit boiling point".

Are we supposed to feel sorry? You know what they say - if you can't stand the heat, get out of that goddam kitchen!

According to some political pundits, Democrats risk "black anger" if Obama isn't nominated. I'd never vote for anyone on the basis that if I didn't, I'd risk the anger of the racial group to which that person belonged. That's just ridiculous.

Furthermore, it is claimed, "African American’s[sic], who consistently vote for Democrats over Republicans by 4-1 margins in General elections, will not vote for Hillary Clinton. ..... Here in New York City, in Harlem, anger in the Black community at Hillary and former President Bill Clinton has reached such a boiling point that a movement is underway to force the former President to move his offices out of Harlem."

That's really sad. I thought the Clintons always did their best to support civil rights, and did a great deal of good to further the cause of equality for blacks. Yeah, there's a lot of hate around, that's for sure. So much for Obama's message of hope and unity.

Here's a view from Pakistan: "My one great problem with Obama still is that he has never in this campaign, or as far as I can remember, had anything good to say about the presidency of Bill Clinton. Worse, he tried to find ‘inspiration’ in Ronald Reagan. ..... Obama partisans keep trying to compare him with JFK, but in my opinion the more apt comparison is Adlai Stevenson, the original ‘egg head’ and twice the loser to Dwight D Eisenhower. And Hillary Clinton is probably comparable to Harry S Truman." ------ Syed Mansoor Hussain [Daily Times - Mortal combat]

The McCanns

2008-05-03T21:19:04Z

"We’re not characters in a soap opera" --- Gerry McCann

"Oh I thought they were," said G, when I mentioned what Gerry McCann had said (on one of their recent TV blitz appearances). "Perhaps they should extend their search to Austria - they do a good line in hidden people there, don't they?" he added.

*sigh* the McCanns, don't get me started. But they have got me started. I viewed their latest media onslaught, and I do find myself completely in two minds about them. On the one hand they are acting very much like concerned parents, anxious to recover their missing daughter Madeleine, preferably alive. On the other hand, we have seen perpetrators of child murder (the Soham murderer) and kidnap (Shannon's own relatives) play the part of the concerned citizen or aggrieved victim, to an unsuspecting public. Now, the McCanns, officially designated "aguidos" (suspects) by the Portuguese, could well be seen as very much the part of parents with a terrible secret (or two) to hide. WHY should I believe everything the McCanns say? Give me one good reason.

I really think they are playing dangerous game by coming onto the media, all guns blazing. It's all very well trying to help their daughter. But what I find irritating is the McCanns insistence that they had done nothing particularly wrong in leaving their children unattended while they dined on tapas. They keep saying - had they even the tiniest suspicion that anything like that (abduction) could have happened to Madeleine, they would never have left them alone. Somehow with all this media news flow, it seems forgotten that they didn't need to leave their children on their own. The hotel catered for a nanny service. Why didn't they take that up? (Pinching pennies?) Someone should ask the McCanns - a GP and a hospital consultant - just that. (I think people are just too darn polite to ask them that). There is no excuse for leaving Madeleine and her (not one ... but) two younger siblings all on their own. I feel they should just not try and defend their actions any more, and apologise and show some humility and contrition for child neglect. They should hang their heads in shame and advise other parents to learn from their mistakes. They should, like the Catholics they claim to be, ask for forgiveness. They should ask for our forgiveness too, since they have involved us all in their personal tragedy. They owe us the public a lot.

Plus the fact (as put forward by the McCanns) that Madeleine had asked them why they weren't around when she was crying the night before, any parent would have taken that to be alarm bells ringing. They might say to the child, "Don't worry sweetie, we'll make sure we're around tomorrow night" might they not?

On the matter of the "Austrian syndrome" theory (mentioned here) - there might be something in that. Did you know, during the second world war, people were required by law to have underground bunkers? Is it any wonder then, that some of these bunkers would emerge during peace time as crime scenes?

Green

2008-05-03T13:58:17Z

Just a thought - I think I shouldn't have voted for the Green party. Just before the voting, I had a reminder (from some old news footage from the 2004 mayoral election) that the Greens in fact stood for anti-consumerism. I know they put forward all this greeny, enviro-kindly stuff but deep down, they seem to suggest that ultimately we should all stop buying anything, especially nice things, stop travelling, stop eating. But .... we shouldn't be allowed to die, because when we decompose we will involuntarily emit greenhouse gases, and thereby increase our carbon footprint! Green is the colour of vomit. I'm now kind of regretting that I voted for Sian Berry. (Even her name has a green tinge! .. as in berry, as in fruits and nuts... emphasis NUTS). Anyway my second preference vote for her never counted, as my prefered candidate. Boris, won!

I'm getting a green withdrawal symptom.

Boris - "cut the cackle"

2008-05-03T12:20:12Z

Boris Johnson, someone who has been "dismissed as a joke, a clown, a buffoon, a man defined by his hair", will in fact be officially sworn in as Mayor of London today (he will sign the declaration of office at 14:00). (He assumes office midnight Sunday).

In his acceptance speech, which showed both humility and generosity, Boris said, ".... And that brings me to my final thank you which is of course to the people of London. I would like to thank first the vast multitudes who voted against me - and I have met quite a few in the last nine months, not all of them entirely polite. I will work flat out from now on to earn your trust and to dispel some of the myths that have been created about me. And as for those who voted for me, I know there will be many whose pencils hovered for an instant before putting an X in my box and I will work flat out to repay and to justify your confidence." [Guardian - Johnson's speech in full]

"Both the speeches we heard, from Ken Livingstone conceding defeat, Boris Johnson accepting his new role, Mayor of London, they were both very distinguished and sensitive speeches in different ways. Ken Livingstone I think accepting rather too much responsibility for his defeat. Interestingly he got about 200,000 votes more in defeat than he did when he was re-elected in 2004. Boris Johnson making it clear, his intention to be mayor for the whole of London, and that's a good start," Tessa Jowell told BBC News's John Sopel. Others have commented that the speeches were "dignified" and "gracious".

The Sun - Labour’s May Day massacre; The Times - Brown bloodied as London falls in May Day massacre; Daily Mail - Boris is London mayor as he routs Red Ken to complete Gordon Brown's day of misery

One political pundit suggested that Boris's victory reflected more the current anti-Labour government tide than personality issues of the candidates. Boris himself acknowledged that there was a big anti-Labour movement, which helped his campaign. "In the end after too long in office, people get hacked off, I think that's what he [Ken] suffered from," Boris told Sky News. "What he had going for him, was that he stood for change, against a man who'd been in power for 8 years," said BBC News. Younger voters are said to like him because he is "mischievous, irreverent, funny".

The Guardian's Polly Toynbee has a dim view of Boris, "We have absolutely no idea what kind of mayor he'll be because he's never won anything... we know nothing except that he's always two hours late for everything, he never has the right speech, he never knows who he is talking to, and he often leaves people rather offended, but maybe he'll mend his ways." There's possibly going to be "control" from Conservative central office to make sure that Boris's mayoralty doesn't go off the rails. Johnson will represent David Cameron's brand of conservatism. Prof. Tony Travers thinks that Boris will want to try and "create a story what they're trying to do for London so that people can understand it".

The job of the mayor, who is responsible for a £11 billion budget, centres on planning, transport and policing. He won't be someone who will micro-manage that budget, but will more likely appoint "good people" to manage that budget for him. Boris Johnson's biographer Andrew Gimson said, "he is a brilliant joker, there's no doubt about that. But he's also serious - and in that respect he's like various American politicians - like Schawzeneaggr and Reagan - both dismissed as mere actors, in fact turned out to be very very great politicians. Boris has the potential to be a great politician... We can expect a complete change of style. On crime, he will be more determined on cracking down on children who come out from school at 3:30 and make life a nightmare for everyone else who get on a bus." Ken Livingstone has described Gimsons biography on Boris as "the scariest thing he read since 'Silence of the Lambs'".

Boris himself thinks he can do a better job than Ken, as well as build upon what Ken has already done, and correct Ken's mistakes. He told BBC News in his a post-victory interview, "I will be very proud if in 4 years time we can have achieved a significant reduction in crime, particularly on the spaces the mayor is directly responsible i.e. the buses and the tubes, and we're going to bring in immediate measures to do that.. And boot me out, boot me out, boot me out with gusto in 4 years time if we haven't pulled that off. I will be very proud if we set out the Mayor's fund for London - which will be a great thing for redistributing funds from [inaudible] to the voluntary sector in London. I want to lead national debate about having a new airport for London. I want to make sure we can deliver the Olympics properly."

"At the end of the day, Boris had a better message for Londoners - it's really as simple as that. For everything that Labour says, crime in London, which is key for most our constituents remains increasing [?} - particularly violent crime, gun-enabled crime. What it needs, is a mayor who's got a very strong personal commitment, so his pledge to chair the Police Authority is really important - that's exactly what the Giulianis and the Bloombergs have done in New York. Second point, the really loathed bendy-buses - the replacement of that with a much more user-friendly form of transport. Third point, the determination to give taxpayer value back at City Hall, because Ken has thrown money at problems rather than finding the most efficient way of dealing with them. So there are three very specific issues. And fourthly, protecting the environment in outer London and in the suburbs," said Shadow London Minister, Bob Neill.

In another post victory interview with Sky News, I though Boris summed it up very well when he said, "I think what Londoners want is someone who's going to cut the cackle, deal with the problems they face, articulate the issues clearly and simply, deliver tax payer value, cut crime, get more police out on the street."

On charges of racism and homophobia, his sister Rachel leapt to his defence. She told Sky News, "He's married to a woman who is half Sikh-Indian, his children are a quarter Indian.. as for homophobia, he went to Eton ....." Johnson's dad, the old block of whom Boris is a chip off, believes that Boris's success will be down to a classical upbringing. "If you can really master ancient Greek, you can do anything! Pericles' view of Athenian democracy is a very good model if you're going to be mayor of London".

The more I see Boris perform on TV and hear him speak, the more I think he really ought to be a Dr. Who character (one of the aliens most likely, perhaps a benign one). Too late now I suppose, now that he’s the second most important Conservative politician in the country (after David Cameron).

BNP

2008-05-03T01:32:25Z

In all the excitement of Boris, the media has for now overlooked the "breakthrough" by the BNP. Richard Barnbrook who came fourth in the London Mayoral election, has won a seat on the London Assembly. (I've not heard this reported by Sky News or BBC News so far). Given that Barnbrook won legitimately through the electoral process, I hope there won't be stupid protests over this. Democracy does mean that some viewpoints, unpalatable they may be, have to be heard. Anyway, I'm beginning to wonder if the BNP really are racists nowadays. Is is really tenable to be overtly racist in modern Britain? Why are they constantly demonised by default? Are the BNP lying when they say they're not racist?

I don't see anything wrong with Barnbrook's (stated) position (just looking at the words): "We're not racist at all. We do not perceive one person's religion, identity, culture or way of life as being better or worse than our own, we are simply different." He says he wants to fight to ensure that in future "every single Londoner is treated exactly the same - no political correctness and no positive discrimination. Nobody will be favoured over anyone else regardless of creed or colour." [Source: Times - BNP's man in the Assembly defends the party]

London Mayoral Election (II)

2008-05-02T22:55:46Z

BORIS wins!!!

Final total:

Boris Johnson 1,168,738 votes

Ken Livingstone 1,028,966 votes

Ken defeated by 140,000 votes.

Analysis:

First Preference votes:

Richard Barnbrook (BNP) 69,710
G Batten (UKIP) 22,422
Sian Berry (Green) 77,374
Alan Craig (Christian Party) 39,249
Lindsay German (Left List) 16,796
Boris Johnson (Con) 1,043,761
Ken Livingstone (Lab) 893,877
W. McKenzie (Independent) 5389
Matt O'Connor (English Democrats) 10,695
Brian Paddick (Lib Dem) 236,685

Eligible Second Preference votes to:

Boris Johnson - 124,977
Ken Livingstone - 135,089

=========

Previously [Written just before the final results was announced]:

Still no result yet. The latest indication is that it will be known around midnight. No one can give a proper answer why they started counting the London mayoral votes only this morning (when other council votes were counted last night). Something to do with poll workers have worked long hours already, and needed to "start fresh in the morning" in tackling the complicated London 3 part voting papers (i.e Mayoral, London Assembly, and Local Council).

As far as we know, Boris Johnson wins most first preference votes in Bexley and Bromley, Havering and Redbrige, and West Central constituencies. Ken Livingstone wins most first preference votes in North East, City and East, Brent & Harrow, Greenwich & Lewisham, Enfield & Haringey and Lambeth & Southwark constituencies. Ken Livingstone has not done as badly as Labour has done nationally (their projected share of the vote is 24%). With 14 of 14 constituencies declared, the results (first preference votes) are as follows (source Sky News):

Boris Johnson 1,043,761 (43%)

Ken Livingstone 893,877 (37%)

Brian Paddick 236,685 (10%)

As no one has won by over 50% on first preference votes, the counting of second preference votes needs to be done, before the winner is known.

On LBC Radio, someone (a cab driver) had a strong view, “Anyone who doesn’t want to see the back of Ken Livingstone should hang their head in shame!”. I was told about a joke heard on “Have I Got News For You” (which went something like this): "Whether Boris or Ken wins, there will be more police on the streets - Brian Paddick” (he was of course a policeman). Tessa Jowell, Minister for London, has acknowledged that it was highly unlikely that Ken would remain mayor after tonight.

Many have dismissed Boris Johnson as the "joke candidate", but there are some who think that far from being the fool, Boris is a "hard, right wing nut".

If Boris wins (as widely predicted), he takes over on Sunday!

London Mayoral Election

2008-05-02T15:38:03Z

On the London mayoral race, Andrew Pierce (Daily Telegraph) commented, "It [London] was never seen as a possible take for the Conservatives. And remember how Labour painted Boris Johnson - they painted him as an effete old Etonian buffoon, and now they're going to have this man in London as mayor, almost certainly in my view. He can virtually do no wrong, because there was so little expected of him, from the way the Labour party portrayed him. It will be a terrible blow to Ken Livingstone. He hates Gordon Brown. I can tell you, he will wreak a terrible public revenge on Gordon Brown, There won't be any knives in the back from Ken Livingstone. He'll kick him straight in the front."

"By the look of it, it is not going to be me today," admitted Brian Paddick (ex-police Assistant Commissioner, Lib Dem mayoral candidate). He has discounted any possibility of working with any of the two main candidates - e.g. as Chair of the Met Police - whoever wins, because he thinks that would be "hypocritical". (But surely it is hypocritical to now not want to do his best for Londoners when he swore he would do so as mayoral candidate?)

Everyone now thinks Boris will win it. This afternoon, on the basis of a "electronic voting system" BBC London reported that in nearly half of 14 constituencies where Ken got most first preference votes last time, he is behind this time. Turnout overall was 45% (compared to 37% last time). An interview that Gordon Brown gave today, indicated that he believed the writing's on the wall. The PM said he had congratulated and praised Ken for what he did for London. It sounded like a "valedictory" speech said Sky News. More like the "dead talking to the dead" one Conservative party member reportedly described it.

A complaint has been made by the BNP, about some ballot boxes being unsealed. However the returning officer say that it is more an issue of "lack of stickiness" (of the seal on the boxes) than any foul play. BNP think they can get at least one seat on the London Assembly if not two. If they get two seats, they'd be officially designated as a party and get attendant privileges such as their own press office. They've been counting the votes for the past 8 hours and are said to be near the half-way mark in some constituencies. So, the result may not be known till around midnight tonight, they say.

Election Night 2008

2008-05-01T23:00:02Z

Lots of chat on BBC1 and Sky News on all things to do with the local elections. Someone has compared the Ken and Boris show to Clinton and Obama bashing one another in debates. (Of course we now see Obama chicken out of debates before the next set of primaries). London is said to be "the big prize". A couple of the pundits (Sky News) are calling the mayoral race for Boris, and one of them said Boris might win bigger than people expect. I've also heard it suggested that turnout in London could have been as high as 70% (unheard of).

==========

BBC1 Election Night 2008 (see BBC's Elections 2008) Thu 1 May, 11:35 pm - 6:00 am 385mins David Dimbleby is your guide for the first major electoral test Gordon Brown has faced since taking over at Number Ten. Will he do any better than Tony Blair last year? And can David Cameron turn the Conservative Party's lead in the polls into an General Election winning platform? Nick Clegg is also a new kid on the political block - does he have electoral appeal? Jeremy Vine has his latest box of graphics tricks to explain what's happening as the results come in. And it's also your chance to discover the new world of Emily's blog - the fastest, sharpest, most politically opinionated take on what's really happening in the local elections. We have teams at all the key battlegrounds, with regular updates on what's happening in your area and a full regional summary at 12.15am, 1.30am and 2.15am. With BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson and Professor Tony King providing all the analysis, there is nowhere better to find out who's running things where you are. [S]

London Elects

2008-05-01T11:12:06Z

Did you know? "The London elections are held every four years. The first were held in 2000. There are almost 5.5 million registered voters in London. You have to be on the electoral register to vote in the London elections in 2008."

(As mentioned previously, I'm voting Boris for mayor). To help make up my mind about the second choice candidate, I decided to go through the Candidates' booklet this morning.

Looking at the BNP's mayoral candidate's page, I would agree, "it's not racist to oppose mass immigration and political correctness - it's commonsense!". Looking at their range of policies, I really don't see anything racist as such. I would rather vote for them than the Jesus freak from "The Christian Choice", who is standing on the basis of family values as a panacea to all society's ills. Ever since we learnt that John Major had been bonking Edwina Currie whilst promoting "Back to Basics", I have a deep suspicion of anyone who says they will "promote marriage and stable family as a long term solution to youth crime, educational-underachievement and child poverty". (You know what, when these sanctimonious people trumpet "marriage" - the last thing they mean is gay marriage!)

The English Democrats "Putting England First" - are against a "Scottish-run parliament". I think they're fraudulent no-hopers, as their candidate Matt O'Connor has dropped out of the race (last Friday) - after falling out with the party. Anyway, as he was the person behind "Fathers 4 Justice", he is, in my view, unfit for high office. (I am appalled that ITV News still haven't drawn people to the fact that although his name is still on the ballot, the candidate has withdrawn).

Lindsey German (one of the anti-war lefties) states, "I stood against the Iraq war from the beginning, and have been central to resistance to the New Labour wars". As far as I'm concerned, so what? This is the London mayoral election, not a war council. She's a loser, sorry, and does not deserve my vote.

Oxford educated Sian Berry for the Green Party is an attractive option for my second preference vote. Nothing too far-fetched in her proposals, although I have my doubts about imposition of a "living wage of £7.20" per hour and the 20 mph city-wide speed limit on all residential roads. If I don't vote her for second choice, she'll probably get my vote for the London Assembly.

Independent - Sian Berry: Will the woman described as 'environmental Viagra' turn us on to the Green Party?

The UK Independence Party says "No to mass immigration" - which I can agree with, but they seem lightweight on other issues.

There's nothing intrinsically wrong about the Lib-Dem policies offered by Brian Paddick. But he's gone right down in my esteem after publicly calling Kate Hoey "bonkers" (why the personal attack?). I also dislike Nick Clegg, so too bad Lib Dems. I voted for Simon Hughes (second choice) last time round, but no longer can the Lib Dems count on my wasted or tactical votes.

Quentin Letts wrote, "She [Kate Hoey] stands up to the bullying of party conformists. In the best sense of the word, she has class. It is perhaps little wonder, then, that so many of her fellow politicians find her so difficult to understand. An angry Ken Livingstone sneered yesterday that she was a 'semi-detached' member of the Labour party. Quite unlike serial disloyalist Ken himself, of course. Meanwhile, the Lib Dems' London mayoral candidate, Brian Paddick, reacted to news of her cooperation with Boris by saying: 'Hoey is bonkers — she and Boris make a perfect couple.' This was silly of the generally level-headed Paddick. Kate Hoey may be outspoken, but she's not bonkers for standing up for her beliefs. Should that not be an ideal for all good politicians, especially those who call themselves Liberals?" [The Daily Mail - Courageous. Free-thinking. Principled. That’s why Kate Hoey is a very unusual MP]

As for Ken, I can't stand him any more. He's smug, arrogant, imperious, untrustworthy. True, he provided excellent leadership in the aftermath of London's "7/7" incident. But I'm afraid his rude behaviour towards London Assembly members, his tendency to court left wing leaders and controversial Islam mullahs (I'm referring of course to Al Qaradawi - mentioned here), not to mention all this evasiveness about his children by so many different mothers - all count against him this time.

Sore throat

2008-04-30T22:47:59Z

Quite a debilitating day, with the poor weather and the on-going sore throat. I think I should be fine by tomorrow, and certainly fine to vote in our local elections (mayor and London Assembly members, I believe). I'm going for Boris first choice. Haven't decided on second choice yet, but it certainly won't be Ken or Brian. It will most certainly not be BNP either, although I have to admit, I heard their mayoral candidate Richard Barnbrook on the radio the other day, and didn't find anything particularly offensive. They're not even anti-immigrants (supposedly), just seem to call for fair immigration. (Of course they could just say nice-sounding things just to get votes).They're a bizarre party, which I have never really bothered to find out much about. One year, I was quite shocked to learn that they actually had Indian (Asian) supporters of their party. (I would have discounted this as a hoax, except it was one of the BBC news programmes). I must admit I have not checked up on the policies of any of the other minor candidates. I'll probably go for the Green party candidate.

Someone suggested that Brian Paddick hinted that he'd prefer to see Boris in power rather than Ken. I know I have not ever heard Paddick actually say to vote Boris as second choice. Perhaps it's just the media reading too much between the lines.

"reverend"

2008-04-29T21:26:37Z

Obama has publicly "distanced himself" from Rev. Wright (ironically, for actually telling the truth!)

Wright had suggested that Obama's previous denunciation was somehow political posturing. (That's exactly what it was!) Obama said Wright's assertion that the senator's prior denunciation was politically motivated was "a show of disrespect for me."

"And if Reverend Wright thinks that that's political posturing, as he put it, then he doesn't know me very well," said Obama. (So, after - not 20 minutes, or 20 days - but 20 years the Rev. Wright still doesn't know him very well? - how the hell is the rest of us supposed to know him at all well? Unless of course, the Rev. does know him all too well! which I think is the more believable explanation).

"And based on his remarks yesterday, well, I may not know him as well as I thought either," Obama said. (Yeah right).

Obama said, "After seeing Rev. Wright's performance, I felt as if there a complete disregard for what the American people are going through and the need for them to rally together to solve these problems. Now is the time for us to not get distracted. Now is the time for us to pull together. And that's what we've been doing in this campaign. And there was a sense that that did not matter to Rev. Wright. What mattered was him commanding center stage. Obviously whatever relationship that I had with Rev. Wright has changed as a consequence of this. I don't think that he showed much concern for me. More importantly, I don't think he showed much concern for what we are trying to do in this campaign and what we're trying to do for the American people and with the American people."

I could have told him that a month ago, when he infamously did his race speech - at the time lauded as the most significant race speech since Luther Kings. All for what? Only to now "call it quits" with the Reverend. Quite frankly his great "race speech" now looks quite quite ridiculous and a joke, in this context. I feel sorry for his poor white granny, whose allegedly racist views were paraded and in a way, shamed in public. He made a bad judgement call back then:

Obama had passionately proclaimed, in his "race speech", "I can no more disown him [Rev. Wright] than I can disown the black community. I can no more disown him than I can my white grandmother – a woman who helped raise me, a woman who sacrificed again and again for me, a woman who loves me as much as she loves anything in this world, but a woman who once confessed her fear of black men who passed by her on the street, and who on more than one occasion has uttered racial or ethnic stereotypes that made me cringe."

We now see of course, that was just all just words, all nonsense. He can and has disowned Reverend Wright, therefore, by his words, he can disown both the black community and by the same token, poor old granny! He's just another politician - nothing special, nothing new, nothing hopeful. He's worked out that Rev. Wright is a liability. He'll say anything to win.

"There's a big difference between talk and and action, but if you're going to talk then you ought to mean what you say, so people can count on it" ----- Hillary Clinton