Of late, the world news scene has all been a bit scary. That whole Isreal/Palestine situation, half of Europe experiencing floods, civil war a-plenty in Africa, bad global warming predictions - it’s all been a bit grim. This has been made worse still by a real lack of good quality entertainment television to take our minds off of things.
What was desperately needed was some light hearted comic relief, just to cheer everyone up - and by god, if this election hasn’t hit the spot just perfectly. One of the best political spoofs I’ve ever seen, the jokes keep coming think and fast: “we can’t understand this ballot paper”, Gore’s got more votes but Bush wins, hilarious candidates - the writers for this one surely deserve some awards.
Ridiculous, ain’t it? I gotta admit, as a jingoistic, provincial, proto-typical ugly American, that I find the whole thing quite amusing myself. I think it’s a good thing that the rest of the world thinks this is a joke. It might actually be good for our national character to learn a lesson here. Of course, that presupposes our national rulers (and a whole lot of overly righteous citizens) are capable of taking that lesson. I don’t think any of them are. Their own opinions are too loud for them to hear anyone else’s. So, at least I can laugh along with ya, Gary.
I think it was Tim Russert who was saying something like ‘if this had been the plot of a movie or a book, the critics would cry out how improbable, it’d never happen’!
you forgot to mention the nice tie in that the contested votes are in a state where the other brother leads…
and Castro offered his technical assistance in supervising the recount!
OK, being a furriner myself, I’ll admit to a few chuckles on the US’ expense. OTOH, the media, our heads of state (sending their congratulatory (sp?) telegrams too soon - how’s that for a joke ?) etc. have provided their share of the entertainment.
But try to look at what’s really happening: Two of the worlds most powerful politicians actually have to wait for every last John Doe’s vote to be counted. Noone is muscling in to take over “for the good of the nation”, nobody gives a hoot as to what the military is thinking and the dirty laundry is aired for all to see. Personally, I find it heart-warming. Sure, a few bugs have been discovered in the process, and if this leads to a constitutional debate, so much the better for the US.
I feel we owe the UK in particular this sort of entertainment. I mean that whole monarchy schtick you’ve got going over there has been keeping us in stitches for quite some time.
Well. I expect a general election in the U.K. next year, so we will provide some amusement too. Maybe not on such a grand scale, but then we are only little. Maybe if Tony Blair’s underage schoolboy son goes out and gets out-of -control drunk again (when Daddy is wittering on about family, parental responsibilites etc.,) that might help.
Anyway, that Queen Mother woman HAS to die sometime soon, so when that happens, I bet the U.K. media will provide plenty of laugh material. (Keep a vomit bucket handy, though.)
Well, sure, the pilot was good, but don’t start handing out the kudos yet. I’m not sure if all the running gags and drug references will really be enough to keep the series from getting stale after a while.
Speaking of it being better than the West Wing, I can’t wait for the Network vultures to pick this apart as they grab a piece of the tv movie of the week…which’ll probably happen within the next month. My guess is it’ll beat the Amy Fisher trifecta.
“But try to look at what’s really happening: Two of the worlds most powerful politicians actually have to wait for every last John Doe’s vote to be counted. Noone is muscling in to take over “for the good of the nation”, nobody gives a hoot as to what the military is thinking and the dirty laundry is aired for all to see. Personally, I find it heart-warming. Sure, a few bugs have been discovered in the process, and if this leads to a constitutional debate, so much the better for the US.”
But it is humorous, even to some of us (me, anyway). All of our rabidly partisan liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats are screaming themselves silly. In another two days, I think they will have lost their voices due to over-use (a blessing).
I’m delighted that all our forign friends are enjoying the show. Rest assured, we will survive it.
Hey, if you think the election is funny, wait 'til January!
“Live, from the White House in Washington DC, it’s Sock Putppet Theater!” For a special treat, viewers get to call in and get to guess who has their hand up Dubya’s ass, making his lips move.
Bored with that? Don’t worry, in February we have:
Leave it to Dick Cheney! Tired of being President and wanting something new, Dubya gives all the responsibility to his next-in-charge.
And in time for the April Sweeps:
Father Bush knows Best! Dubya, gotten caught with his hand in the scandle jar one-too-many times, calls his father for advice.
By the time the year 2004 rolls around, we’ll have torn down the Executive Mansion and put up a “Punch and Judy” puppet theater.
Yes, please - the more the merrier. And maybe Castro can come too. We’ve got a John Prescott (Deputy Prime Minister) who shares Dubya’s tendency to mangle words and sentences, so maybe we could arrange a public meeting of the two for sideline entertainment. Or we could get Tony to relive his days as a long-haired student rock group guitarist. Hell, I thought I’d be inspired with lots of good ideas but I seem not to be. Never mind, still plenty of time.
Haven’t got figures right now, but I seem to recall that Thatcher had 40-something % of the popular vote, and Blair’s figure is higher, but, as far as I can recall, not too impressive.
This is a very good point. Here is the most powerful nation on Earth, with an election where no one really knows who will be the next president, and what is happening. Riots? Chaos? Bread lines? Food hoarding? People running off to the woods to write manifestos against technology? Militias marching in the streets?
Nope - instead, things are business as usual, as we wait for a resolution. And in the offices, supermarkets, homes, and schools, in general the tone is simply “this is very interesting and sorta bothersome”, rather than “It’s Armageddon! No future!”
Sure, the TV can show us crowds protesting in Florida - IMO, these crowds look a lot smaller and lot less angry than the ones when the Elian Gonzales fiasco was underway. Try to think of the mood and possible events in many other countries around the World if something like this happened during their election.
The world in general can take an example from the way our populace reacts to this.
OK, since this is the Pit:
And where the fuck do Italian newspapers get off claiming that our election system is “too complicated and medieval”? Look in a fucking mirror, Italy, before you criticise the US!
