US Election

[katie1997]

the hero worship/messiah thing was MUCH worse last time round,EVERYONE expected him to perform miracles and naturally, he couldn't (who could!) But... there's an overall sense of relief that he got in again that I share and am optimistic as a result.

what shocks me is just how truly abysmal the alternative is, how can someone who clearly cannot think for himself get to become a Presidential candidate anyway. I don't think there was anyone in opposition that I would have trusted. To me, Romney looked like a fake whereas Obama seemed genuine, very happy he has a second chance.

much thanks to londonmix and others on this thread who have greatly helped my understanding of US elections/politics.

[StraferJack]

Not to sound like IDS but I think Romney gets slightly over caricatured over here. Take him away from trying to lead/manage GOP expectations and I?m sure youd find a much more palatable individual

The bigger problem for the party is where do they go from here. They are correct that America is changing but their relatively narrow, and rapidly ageing voter-base isn?t keen to acknowledge this ? so moderate candidates only get lukewarm backing . Then you have the lunatic element trying to go ever more rightwards ? get one of their people in charge and there will be a lot of noise supporting them but the wider electorate won?t be interested

[LondonMix]

I agree about Romney. The reason he came across as fake is because at his core he's a progrssive moderate. The win the GOP nomination he had to pretend to be something he's not. Like anyone pretending to be someone they aren't he became a caricature of what he understood these people to be which appeared even more monstruous than a real extreme right winger.

My real concern with him was that his main guiding conviction was to become president. He was willing to say and do whatever it took and was able to go against his 'true' moral convictions for political expendiency. All politicians do this to some extent but he was so extreme it compromised my perception of his ability to lead. A leader will be under huge pressure post election and they need to be able to take a stand despite the political implications.

My family are swing voters (though left leaning progressives so usually vote Democratic). We were discussing Romney this morning and agree the GOP will not be able to win unless they redefine themselves to avoid the lurching from right to centre that occurs between the nomination and the election.

[DaveR]

I don't think there's any doubt that Romney is instinctively far more liberal on social issues than even the Republican mainstream, let alone the evangelical right, and his microeconomic approach to jobs and growth was arguably both closer to the US man in the street and more ultimately credible than Obama. On monetary and fiscal policy tho' Romney was a mess, both politically and economically, which gave Obama a comparatively easy ride in the area where he was most vulnerable.

I founbd following the campaign fascinating, particularly in revealing that although it's tempting for many of us to identify with the Democrats as somehow more European, actually US politics is just very very different.

[LondonMix]

Yes, that's true. American politics and culture is very different from those of Europe. Most things Europeans take for granted many Americans view as nothing short of communism and a threat to the American way of life!

[????]

...and yet the land of the free won't let millions of its citizens who want to, play online poker but they can buy a gun fairly easily! I am always intrigued by the US and it's paradoxes but I love it and most yanks I know, probably a small and bias sample, are more courteous, more small l liberal and generally better educated than many Brits I know. Always an irony to me that Brits who go on about ignorant unworldly Americans have such a biased stereotypical view of Americans themselves. god bless America.

[maritap]

I love the obamas but I really don't understand the voting. Why is Florida always the last to send in their votes

[LondonMix]

We are courteous because everyone is armed :)

I do miss the US terribly! If only I weren't married to a Brit....

[nashoi]

"Bookies called it right - PaddyPower paid out last Sunday/Betfair had it 1/4 on on Monday, which backs the view that Betfair is as valid source of likely election results as opinion polls. wisdom of crowds etc."

Some pollsters had a pretty good night, it was the political "experts" and journalists who couldn't call it. Their opinions turned out to be no more use than a toss of a coin.

http://mashable.com/2012/11/07/nate-silver-wins/

http://fivethirtyeight.blogs.nytimes.com/

http://election.princeton.edu/

[katie1997]

Otta Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Regarding the use of BHO. Surely the only other

> option is BO, and that's just rude.

President Obama uses bo to sign off his tweets so hopefully its not seen as rude :)

[Ridgley]

They were discussing this on this on LBC a few days ago they also mentioned would we ever have a black prime minister my thoughts although you have some rising stars like below. This may not happen for some time America has more of multiracial history then we do.

Chuka Umunna

Adam Afriyie

Shaun Bailey

Kwasi Kwarteng

[El Pibe]

very cool slidey picturey thingies compaing population density with romney and obama voting.

http://persquaremile.com/2012/11/08/population-density-and-the-2012-presidential-election/