I read this week how Gore had a double digit lead in October 2000, and went on to lose by a few hanging chads.

It’s interesting to think about a Presidency which might have been. But the world really can’t afford another close-run and disastrous outcome like that one.

Virtually every American I’ve spoken to on my travels recently has expressed admiration or at least respect for Obama, though not all have committed to giving their ultimate approval. Palin has weakened McCain to the point he’s throwing sticks and stones left and right, yet the pollsters say the gap is staying steady at around 8 points.

Personally I think it’s a big ask. Young voters could hit the home run for the Democrats but will they get out and vote?

As ever there are more questions than answers.
Judgement day looms, and here in Lewes we stand ready to salute that day with our traditional pagan enthusiasm on November 5th.

If there’s any way you can get down there Roads let me know – it’s quite a spectacle.

Murray masters Federer to join elite

It’s revealing that the dark (and in my view, totally unjustified, inappropriate, racially motivated and reprehensible) attacks on Obama have stepped up to a new level.

This article from the Guardian lays out the ground very well.

The adoption of the Brookline Ryder Cup chant of USA! USA! by the Republicans was a repugnant feaure of their convention, embodying the worst kind of narrowly patriotic myopia in American attitudes to overseas diplomacy. We’ve lived through 8 years of the ‘Let’s whip their Muslim ass’ approach as adopted by George Bush. And just look where that has got us.

Not sure if you saw coverage of the classic faux pas at a recent Palin rally? The Great Lady was giving forth in her increasingly whiny tone on the subject of supporting ‘our military’ when a secton of the crowd at the back, unaccustomed as they were to picking up sounds usually only audible to dogs, started chanting ‘louder! louder!’

Palin mistook this for Barracking (see what I did there?!) and asserted her fervant hope that the ‘protestors’ appreciate the sacrifice made by the brave boys fighting overseas to ‘preserve free speech’. Mr Palin leant in to explain the reason for the chanting and the Whitehouse wannabe visibly paled yet further. Priceless.

Meanwhile stock and shares continue to behave like corks overboard in a force 10. Frightening times.

Picking the cover photo must have been a close run thing there. Especially with such a strongly competing second story: ‘Homing in on halibut’.

No wonder there are reports of fishy goings on under the Governor’s command. She may not be hooked yet, but Palin’s judgment is clearly on the line. It’s looking reel serious, and she might be netted sooner than we sink.

American Idol indeed!
Sadly (and I’m not about to defend the woman) I fear we’ve not seen the best of Palin in recent weeks. She has that ‘rabbit in the headlights’ look, still unsure if the world stage she stands on will prove riddled with trapdoors. As a result she’s unsure of her footing, skittish, brittle and snappy. Having researched her work in her home state she has more to offer than we’re getting to see.

I still think she’s mad as a wasp-stung badger and I don’t want her bony finger anywhere near the Big Red Button.

And I’m even more concerned that this kind of approach might one day prove successful at the polls.

Not this year, let’s hope.

Obama may be policy-light but I can’t see how such a great nationa can effectively endorse the past 8 years of domestic and global mis-management. Of course, we face similar dilemas here in the UK. The problem is the only people talking sense have little or no chance of getting into power.

I’ve always believed our law-makers should be dragged, kicking and screaming, into office. Anyone that keen to get their hands on the tiller should be sent to Arkham.

I like the idea of a war-time cabinet, an all-star bench if you will, bringing the best of all parties in their particular field. I don’t see why we need the threat of global apocalypse to achieve this. Party politics constipates intelligent debate. Problem solving is almost always most effective (if not quite as efficient) when all considered views are considered.

McCain and Obama aren’t as far apart as they’d have us believe. Wouldn’t it be cool to sit them on the same team? It would mean we could forget about the Republican joker, too.