For a while there, I thought we might have to invade but it seems like you've managed to choose a good head of state. Obama now has an uphill struggle against the horrid mess that the poisoned chimp has left in his wake.
At least Obama is a good man with a forward thinking approach to politics and the world. Well done United States of America, you've not fucked it up this time!
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I don't have any interest in politics, however I do find the entire election proces quite fascinating, so I spent some time last night watching the results come in, and also reading up on why the American electoral system is so convoluted (it all comes down to the historical logistics of campaigning to such a vast country).
Some things of note;
1) The difference in actual votes is only about 5% (current estaimtes are Obama 52%, McCain 47%). If they used Proportional Representation the results would be very different...
2) It really does show a very polar split in the American population. If you lived in a built-up area, were black or young you would vote Obama, if you were older and lived in the country you voted McCain.
3) the entire concept they have of "calling" a result is very interesting...a combination of the media guessing the result, and some attempts at sampling of various areas. Much of the commentary early on on the BBC commented that after 2000 and 2004 the various media networks were going to be a lot more prudent when declaring a state for one candidate or the other. As we speak 2 early closers are still undeclared until all votes are counted (though I bet they feel utterly pointless right now).
I stayed up until Iowa was called last night... Not quite daring to believe until it was clear that there was zero chance of a republican win!
Will be interesting to see what he does from here. If nothing else the IQ of the most powerful man in the world has doubled.
I was up until the 2am declarations, and then was briefly woken up by California declaring, and the Democrats getting over the winning post.
Most of the analysts reckoned it was all over after Pennsylvania...
1) The difference in actual votes is only about 5% (current estaimtes are Obama 52%, McCain 47%). If they used Proportional Representation the results would be very different...
They do use proportional representation, though. Do you mean that if they didn't use PR, the result would be very different?
If they used full Proportional Representation then you wouldn't have Democrats with 349 seats, and Republicans with 162. They use (as we do) a first past the post (FPTP) allocation within each state.
In theory its possible to have 100% control of all states with a majority of 51 votes...1 for each state. As it is they use FPTP, and a majority in a state gives all votes for that state to the winning politician, rather than a split based on overall outcome.
It's the same as our system to all intents and purposes, it just tends to skew overall governmental bias disproportionatly to a reasonably small percentile winner.
Oh, I understand! I see where you're coming from. :)
Plus they elect for everything president governor senator sheriff coroner prosecutor probably half a dozen other roles and anyone can apply.
Anyone can apply? Evil matt for president? ;-)
president you have to be born in the US (that's why arnie didn't run) and you have to be over 21 That is it. A few years back Micheal Moore ran a convicted fellon and two time murder for president under the slogan "From the Big house to the white house" on the grounds that most presidents are crooks so why not get one who is know to be a crook before hand.
It's over 35 for president I believe.
bah close enough :D
Bizarrely I only know that after playing Trivial Pursuit at uni years ago. Don't you hate it when pointless knowledge sticks in your head?