American elections 2004

Tell me about it! Why these people can't just do all their campaigning in the space of one month or so... :angry:

 

Its a pretty big country.

 

And Media Hype seems to count for more than actual policies.
British politics are rapidly going down the same route... :angry:

 

It would help if we had some decent options. For Americans and other strange life-forms let me give you the run down of British Politics as I see them.

Labour: The current government headed by Mr 'big smiles' Blair. Style over substance. Don't actually seem to achieve anything but work hard to make sure whatever their not doing looks good.

Conservative: The offical opposition lead by err... who is it this week? The party that goes in spasms every time the word 'europe' is mentioned. Motto: If in doubt knife you own leader in the back.

Liberals: Was one of the big two at the start of the twenth century but now adays are the protest voters party of choice. Good at winning by-elections not so good at general elections.

UK Independence Party: Really only a protest vote party but worth noting for the general stupidity of their position. Wants Britain out of Europe and to turn the clocks back to oh... at least the 1950s when beer was tuppence a pint, everything was in pence and shillings and womans place was in the home. Did quite well in the last set of European elections which says some really depressing things about my countrymen.

The really funny thing about all of them is they bang on about protecting British indepence from horrible foreigner who eat funny food and probably smell, but the second America whistles they come running.



Hand up all Americans that think their two party system is suddenly looking good.

 

I think Ebar has summed up our political situation rather well...

 

You forgot the Monster Raving Loony Party, the only British party which IMHO will do what is says.

An it's leader 'Screaming Lord Sutch is a really good Bloke.'

 

And here I thought that our situation was bad...

 

I have to ask how the hell do you Americans actually manage to put up with your elections? Even over here the coverage seems endless and basically bores me to tears. I feel grabbing our media by the collective throat and screaming 'Until someone has actually won I don't give a rats ass!' Can any of the Americans here offer insight?

 

I like that UK Independence party! I am not familiar with Brit politics but with those options, I wish they were here in the USA!

Sound like a good old fashioned bunch of guys! Certainly beats what we have to choose from here in the USA.

Here, I have a choice of a do-good bungling idiot or a person that will do his best to have the government take even more control over the populace.

Not much of a choice.

:smok:

 

I have heard them referred to as the guy who can't make up his mind, and the guy who can't change his!
:lol:

 

Hey you want them you can have them. It because people like them at every opportunity to do something in Europe we have declined then ultimately ended begging to be allowed in. That kind of stuck-in-the-mud-
muttonheaded-wasn't-things-better-in-the-good-old-days thinking that has turned Britain into the C list nation we all know and love today.




Hmm...... on second thoughts you definately have them we will use them as our secret weapon to bring down the America and the British Empire shall rule again! Wahahahahahahahahah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Um, look what happened last time America went isolationist!
Sure, America can have them, but couldn't we send them somewhere they will be of use - like Africa. They could be used as bait to ensure that Safari tours always see lions...

 

I have long since given up watching *anyone's* election ads; I already know who I'm going to vote for, so why bother. As for the media, they tend to be so biased it's ridiculous, and then they have the unmitigated gall to claim that they're impartial! Some people here have suggested limiteing the campaigning season to three months or less. I personally think that that is an excellent idea, but that the politicians will never go for it. :roll:

 

I would love it for America to once again go isolationist!

Just withdraw and leave everyone to themselves! I wonder how long many countries would last out there on their own? Not to mention what it would do to so, so many economies!

:smok:

 

Including America's...

 

No question about it!

The only mark in our favor is we have all the resources we need to recover, all we have to do is use them.

Not so in most other places.

:smok:

 

During our last election a protestor threw an egg at our deputy prime minister John Prescot. He threw punch and the two of them ended up scrapping on the ground until the police pulled them appart.

The British public at large forgave Prescot since it livened up an otherwise extremely dull election. (Tory partly was in full self destruct mode at the time)

 

That was the highlight!


In my head, I think that political campaigns should simply state what policies the party stands for, how they will impliment them, and why.
They may attempt a limited critique of the opposing party's policies.
The politicians then bugger off, although remaining on standby to answer any tricky questions on policy that might come up. The public chooses the party it thinks will do the best job (which is why they are supposed to vote!). Votes are cast. One party wins. Huzzah.

Who gives a *$@# if candidate X has a better war record than candidate Y?
Who cares that candidate X looks better in front of a camera than candidate Y?
Who cares if candidate X has 'acted' in various popular films?

Ahhh... if only....
:roll:

 

People get what they elect. Politicians make grand promises each election then either can't / won't make good and yet people vote for them again. I honestly think that people who stick loyaly to one part are soft in the head.

Undoubtedly the next election all parties will make grand promises such as increase spending and reduce tax. (presumably that idea will be based on the 'reasonable' assumtion of America deciding the whole independence thing was a mistake and the owe us over two hundred years of back tax)

 

Hear hear!
The criticism of other parties, in my ideal view of this, would be limited to the ability to debate the points of your party with that of the others. There you can say why you are right and the other is wrong. But don't kick below the belt by saying in a tv ad that the other guy lied about his war past and therefore you are better because you're gonna start another few wars. Hah! (Or, of course, an ad saying that the other guy is a war monger who will bring the country down with him and you should never vote for him, vote for me, I got three purple hearts. )