2004 Election : what now ?

Originally Posted by limerickman

I watched the coverage of the US election - stayed up through the night in fact, and watched wall-to-wall coverage on BBC, ITV and our own national stations, with cut ins from those bastions of impartiality ABC, NBC and CBS.
(For our American friends - you're political analysis on all stations is inferior.
For your own sakes - you ought to get some control on the outlandish stuff that your media presents you with. Amateurish at best.)

Couple of quick comments : Local channels here were hopping in and out of CNN coverage.
At 03.30 hrs GMT (22.30 EST), Joe Lockhart of the Democratic Party tells some bloke from CNN "we will win Florida, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa....."
He tells us that the basis for this epiphany is that "our exit polls........."

One hour 45 mins later : Florida goes to Bush and Ohio is "leaning" to Bush.
So much for exit polls and Mr.Lockhart.
So much for CNN indulging Mr.Lockhart.

Then, on the basis of Lockharts predictions - we have a CNN muppet colouring-in states on a map with either red/blue to show us the predicted outcome, based on Lockharts analysis !
The upshot being that CNN and Lockhart looked stupid - and indeed they appeared to be delusional.
And all this going on, while Ohio and other states are still voting !

Democracy indeed - media people talking through their collective arses while
people are still voting and could be influenced one way or the other.

Wouldn't get Dimbleby or Paxo doing that kind of stuff here.

Anyway - the result is now in.
To the future.

My question :

The rest of the world now need to make a choice.

Bush's policy - given it's strengthened endorsement in the result - presents
Europe, Asia and Anzacs with a choice.
Should the rest of the world move away, politically from the USA, given the
result ?
Or should we stand "side by side" with the USA, in the hope that perhaps
we may be able to influence USA policy going forward ?

Thoughts from those outside of the USA appreciated. (Yanks can reply also
if they so wish)

Originally Posted by szbert

I didn't have time to read the rest.

Originally Posted by limerickman

should read "I haven't the ability to read the rest".

Literacy, I know, it's a second language to you, Marion.

Originally Posted by skydive69

We are very concerned as to how mighty Ireland aligns itself politically. LMFAO

Originally Posted by limerickman

Should the rest of the world move away, politically from the USA, given the result ?

Or should we stand "side by side" with the USA, in the hope that perhaps
we may be able to influence USA policy going forward ?

Thoughts from those outside of the USA appreciated. (Yanks can reply also
if they so wish)

Originally Posted by szbert

Stayed up all night watching the US election? I didn't have time to read the rest.
I'll be damned if I'd lose a wink of sleep wondering who the next grand poobah of Ireland will be.
Limmerickman, buddy, pal, find something more amusing to do with your time. This is really sad.
Have a great day!
Enjoy your life!

Originally Posted by Ssushi

Regarding the question: I would hope that Europe moves economically, politically and militarily away from the States. We should move to isolate them now, not in a vindictive way but certainly in the interests of world peace. I read today that Blair had already said that Bust should make moves to have better relations with Europe but he can't do that if he doesn't change may of his policies (which he won't).

I'd like to see the EU (population 450 million), start to make a more positive effort to bring Bush into line (US Pop approx. 280 million). I see it happening but not for a while - the EU is in its infancy and will need time to develop uniformity at the policy level.

I know that this will get flamed ("you're such a EuroPeon Libo SuzyQ".... etc...) but am totally prepared for the idiots in this debate to make fools of themselves in front of the other, rational, normal people who like to be here...

SuzyQ the EuroPeon

Originally Posted by Ssushi

Regarding the question: I would hope that Europe moves economically, politically and militarily away from the States. We should move to isolate them now, not in a vindictive way but certainly in the interests of world peace. I read today that Blair had already said that Bust should make moves to have better relations with Europe but he can't do that if he doesn't change may of his policies (which he won't).

I'd like to see the EU (population 450 million), start to make a more positive effort to bring Bush into line (US Pop approx. 280 million). I see it happening but not for a while - the EU is in its infancy and will need time to develop uniformity at the policy level.

I know that this will get flamed ("you're such a EuroPeon Libo SuzyQ".... etc...) but am totally prepared for the idiots in this debate to make fools of themselves in front of the other, rational, normal people who like to be here...

SuzyQ the EuroPeon

Originally Posted by mjw_byrne

It would be nice to see the rest of the world isolate the US politically and economically until it falls into line. But it'll never happen. Besides, America has something of a track record of taking by force anything it can't get peacefully.

On an aside: it's very sad to see that there are so many hateful, aggressive people in these forums. Maybe they're like that because they're relieved Bush won, or maybe they're just unpleasant people, but either way they make things crappy for those who want to behave in a civilised fashion (whether they support Bush or not).