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US Presidential Election: Talk about “Landslides” does not help anyone
The US Presidential Election victory is being characterised as a “landslide” victory by Barack Obama over John McCain. The margin of victory in the popular vote was
This landslide was won by 52.3% to 46.4% in votes (compared to 349 vs 162 for delegates), as reported by the BBC at 2pm on Wednesday 5th:
However, at 1100 GMT, Mr Obama’s share of the popular vote stood at 52.3%, compared with Mr McCain’s 46.4%.
However you slice it - that is not a landslide. It is a difference of less than ten million votes from 130 millions cast - under a thirteenth.
Bonkety Bonk: Quotes of the Weekend
Great North Pun
Steve “The New Murray Walker” Cram doing his usual witty and incisive commentary on the Great North Run, giving full value for his fee and simultaneously educating that athletic ignoramus Brendan Foster:
“The reason he has such a big lead, Brendan, is that he has been running very quickly indeed”.
Catflaps ‘R’ Us
Independent on Sunday Gossip (they call it “Comment”):
“Karl Lagerfeld: A weird old man in a ludicrous getup”.
said Janet Street-Porter, the walking, talking definition of “weird old woman in a ludicrous getup”. She’ll be moving into the Reliant Robin just as soon as the catflap has been fitted.
Mandy Pandy Pudding and Pie
David Cameron interview on the Politics Show yesterday.
Question: Is it not true that in the Conservative Party, a “Mandelson” is defined as the time interval between meeting Peter Mandelson, and him being rude about Gordon Brown?
David Cameron: “Yes”.
Ouch. It is worth noting that David Cameron avoided the question until the specific and direct statement. My opinion is that he needs to sharpen his claws, as Peter Mandelson’s firm reentry back into the tent means that New Labour’s box of dirty tricks is fully back with us and operational. They’ve never gone away, but the difference is that people who get in the way will now be shafted thoroughly and competently - journalists will be bullied, “plausibly deniable” briefings will “emerge”, and straight lies will become much more common - starting with Mandelson’s denial of the statements made to George Osborne and so many other people.
Labour needs to start governing and there is only one way to do that: Politics Decoded with Garbo
For the good of the country, something must give
It has all gone a bit quiet on the domestic political front. The focus of the media is on Beijing and Georgia, while the focus of most of our MPs will be looking out to sea on their holidays.
But one story remains. Gordon Brown’s leadership. Nick Raynsford [...]
Using the Tories for our own, slightly warped, enjoyment: Politics Decoded with Garbo
Time to sharpen the knifes?
With just a couple of days to go until the next disaster to hit Gordon Brown’s leadership, even the most ardent of Brownites has to start thinking how much more can we take of this? If the polls are right, the Tories aren’t just going to win a Labour safe seat [...]
