Obama - what they said/mean

Thank goodness, a president we can understand.

Seems the time is right for a novice after all.

Time for change, time for renewal.

Call an election.

Personally I agree with the "time for change" line

Brown only offers more of the same, failed policies, failed initiatives, failed accountability, failed regulation, failed government.

Pretty much every arguement Obama used against McCain and the republicans can be aimed at Brown and Labour

This thing of ignored minorities winning elections is not a one-way street, here in the UK we might yet see a BNP candidate win a byelection.

Fresh faced ,appealing, with a mission and a style of rhetoric which people believe. What a contrast to the puffy faced, growling,haven't slept for a week, can't believe a word I say Gordon Brown. God knows Cameron may not be the answer to our prayers but anything is preferable to Brown and the incompetence that surrounds him. I shudder to think what impression of Britain ,Obama as president of the USA will take away from meetings with Brown. This man potentially is our greatest ally and protector and what he sees in Brown will shape his attitude to Britain , God help us.

Obama was elected on a ticket of "Change".


America rejected McCain because he was too closely associated with Bush (Iraq and Economic Crash)


In the UK we have rid ourselves of Blair (Iraq) and before we can move onwards we need to rid ourselves of Brown (Economic Crash-UK)


Salmond and Cameron can both claim to be part of a new order. We need them to be - because the country is in a total mess after 11 years and we need new leaders with new ideas who will deliver change.

#1

Come on Carrots, for goodness sake, the Americans have just given the conservative
political agenda, the biggest rejection in history.

This is "NO" time to be a conservative.

The conservative are done for, its an end to all conservatives around the world.

So Mr Brown, do you still think this is no time for a novice?

On reflection I'm not sure if this is funny or scary:


Downing Street insiders are hoping that, with Mr Brown's huge experience of ministerial office, he can become something of a mentor to the relatively inexperienced "leader of the free world".

Please do not unleash Brown on the US - they've just voted for change afterall!


The US wants change. Surely they don't want to be taking hot tips from the one man who helped deliver the global Economic Crash and who was part of the dodgy-dossier government who made the case for invading Iraq?

Dear Nick

I am the man in the street, doing his own thing for his family,and charity begins in the living room of my home,
I do not care one iota about what happens in the USA, WHAT I CARE ABOUT IS THE ESTABLISHMENT BRITISH RIP OFF MERCHANTS SUCH AS
(1)Local Authorities and council tax.relating to the number of employees they cost us.
(2) Utilitiy Companies who are ripping people of double that of Europe. 14% to 29%
(3) Useless watc h dogs who support the Utility Companies instead of supporting the General Public.
(4) Banks who do not pass on lower interest rates and also rip people off.
(5) Food prices that have gone through the roof on the back of oil prices.
(5) The general publics cash in failed banks who have lost everything, except if your the banks bosses.
(6) oIL PRICES at 59$ a barrrel and prices at the pumps still at UNACCEPTABLE levels.
(7) the Green Party and Carbon trust idiots wanting more tax.
(8), Bloated pay and salaries for BBC executives paid from the liscence fee.
(9) Hikes in Train fares and cuts in the number of trains.
(10), Stealth tax's still being implimented by Labour hidden in the small print by Brown.
(11) A Prime Minister and Chancellor who are nothing but useless and have no concern for the British people other than to control the masses by what ever devious means possible
(11) We need our FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY BACK,
*12) To stop copying ideas from America.
(13) to tell Brussels where to get off and mind their own business and keep their noses out of British affairs.
(!4) To declare the Lisbon Treaty Dead stuff Europe and America they caused this mess ,and like the idiots our Government is they got on the tread mill and followed suite.
Now you think this is personal, but i can say hand on heart that this is view most ENGLISH MEN, AND WOMEN agree with.

derekbarker@6.

The Americans have voted for change. We will vote for change. Just give us the chance soon.

Tony Blair got into power because he was fresh-faced he had new ideas, and people thought that things would really get better. They didn't.

We now have Gordon Brown. He is neither fresh-faced nor has he any new ideas, except the ones involving yet more taxation.

Time for change - call an election.

I'm not at all sure what this means for the UK. What I am sure of is that it was an important choice for the great nation of America and they have got it spectacularly right.

I knew they would.

You have been watching too much 'Mock the Week'.

9 Solomanbrown


I don't think either the media or the political class understand just how angry the people of Britain are.


The government seems happy to lie and spin to us on many of the topics you raised and the media seem content to let them get away with it.


Someone somewhere needs to inject some urgency into British politics and to stop treating the public as if they are fools.

The government has been defeated in the House of Lords over the issue of keeping peoples' DNA and fingerprints on the police national database.

Peers backed a Conservative amendment calling for national guidelines for deleting material by 161 votes to 150.

Good day to bury bad news again

'Dave' Cameron and the Tories desprately trying to align themselves with the most left-wing president America has ever elected. HILARIOUS!
Had a real laugh this morning, listening to 'the boy' Hague, proclaiming that this is the new generation and the change Britain needs to follow. A failed former Tory Party Leader, and Dave and George from the Bullingdon Club............... Just like Obama!!!! Ha! Ha!

The charismatic novice Obama and the experienced Brown are a team that will work together and lead the free world forward and away from the reactionary right wing. As Gordon Brown said they can work together as they have shared values.
The era started by Reagan and Thatcher has finally come to an end.
Rejoice!!!

Bill McFadden

PammyAnny

The Americans not only voted to change the conservative minded republicans, they has signed the death throes of the conservatives forever.


Peace be with you.......it's a good day!

Remember when Tony Blair was elected everyone? Remember how everyone was ready for something different, something better and how we looked forward to a bright and shiny future of prosperity and peace? But what did we get and where are we now?
I'm glad the Americans have kicked out George Bush and the Republicans but I don't hold out much hope for Barak Obama to be anything other than what he is i.e. A politician.

I heard all these statements from the people themselves on the news.

The only one that appeared obvious in its message was Cameron's - he seemed to stress the word "change".

Of the three messages, I this his has the strongest appeal on this day because the USA has voted for change.

Brown has to show that to "help people fairly through these difficult times " with shared values does not mean a change is needed here.

Soloman. With your cunning use of random caps and ill judged use of the shift key, in no way do you look like a frothing at the mouth ranting lunatic.

That salmond line made me smile

#6


rejected 'conservative'?

I don't think so.

The only way to reject conservative in the US is not to vote at all as both democrats and republicans are right wing by UK standards.

This is a rejection of;

Two wars one of which was illegal.

A credit boom which has left millions with debts they cannot ever repay.

Old hand leaders who feel it's no time for novices.

Move over Gordon Brown; you appear to fall into all three categories.

Not least how will Obama greet the man whose default setting for a year has been "This is a problem that started in America" ??? I suspect Gordon Brown will find himself rather unpopular in the US having blamed them for his own credit boom for the past year.

RBS did not start in America
HBOS do not start in America

These problems were home grown by a chancellor hell bent on fuelling a credit boom that has left us with the highest personal indebtedness in the world; 180% personal indebtedness to income...

Call an election.

Nick,

there is a major problem that few people seem to be taking an interest in.

When Mr Obama refers to change then do not other countries have similar feelings. Time for change alright. Take Iraq.

You can believe that people in Iraq are now saying ok America it is time for change. It is time for you, Americans to leave our land. It is the same for Britain, it is time for change leave our land.

In Afghanistan and Pakistan you will soon hear the same chant aimed at America and Britain, leave our land. Get out, you are the terrorists. You kill our women and children, and murder our freedom fighters using unmanned Drones.

So, in the same way as I have said about Gordon Brown, one more death is unacceptable. It is time for change, go home.

Finally, you can take it as read that Gordon Brown will hold an election in May 2009, he will try to get credit for any initial bounce in America, the economy will only get worse, and we cannot afford the wars. Both countries are being bankrupted.

So Obama has struck not only for the Afro Americans but for all the novices of the world!!

Poor Mr Brown is left on his own to solve the world problems or perhaps it is time for a change in this country too.

Bush has bequeathed America with two failed wars, a massive budget deficit, a hopelessly unregulated financial market, a divided country...

Sound familiar?

shellingout: "Time for change - call an election."

Imv, there is NO ONE in Westminster capable of forging that change.

Lab or Con, the political will is to maintain the status quo: snouts in the trough.

"We're doomed. All doomed."

#7 Good point.

Another argument that supports Cameron. This seems like a good time to press ahead with their case. Other things they could possibly exploit-

1. They could blame Brown for people having to spend less at Christmas

2. At it gets colder, they could repeat that "people are worrying now about the high winter bills coming next March"

This assumes that people will spend less at Christmas and we get a bad winter.

Devolution body to take evidence

The Calman Commission is due to publish its final report early next year
The body reviewing the workings of Scottish devolution after 10 years is due to take evidence in London.

The Calman Commission was set up in March to look at how things have changed since the Scots voted in favour of creating their own parliament.

It will consider the Barnett formula, used to allocate public spending across the UK based on population share.

Sir Kenneth Calman has said all the evidence received has called for the formula to be based on needs instead.

Scottish votes

The Barnett formula was devised in the late 1970s to automatically apply a proportionate share of any change in comparable spending programmes in England to Scotland.

Lord Barnett, who created the formula when he was Labour's Treasury chief secretary, has said the formula was never intended as a long-term measure.

However, BBC News political correspondent Jo Coburn says there are serious doubts that the UK government would be prepared to overhaul the formula for fear of upsetting Scottish voters.

The commission is due to publish its final report early next year.


It will be a good idea to bury this until after Thursday as well

Gordon Brown, he really is an opoportunist at the highest level.

I can just see today, its only just past 10.30am and already we have over 5 soundbites from Gordon Brown about how well he knows Obama, how he can help him and how our relationship with the USA (which apprantely extends back only these last 12 months) will improve....... more classic quotes please Gordon, i cringe more and more, i can only hope our next election has a similar result, lowest rating prior to polls out....

6. derekbarker

Come on Derek, youre not trying to tell me that the democrats are left of (our) centre are you?

The democrats are conservatives with a small c. The republicans are Conservatives with a massive C

The Americans have essentially rejected the hawks, rejected a party with an apatite for war and one who sailed blindly in to economic collapse.

They have finally realised that Bush was a disaster. They also realised that voting for a guy that may not complete the term, only to be replaced by helicoptering, moose shooting, creationist might not be a clever move.

And good for them.

Our turn next eh!

Very funny, like 'read between the lines' in Mock the Week which always gives me a good laugh.

@16

I can't see Obama wanting anything to do with "experienced" Brown.
He is tainted with all the baggage of Bush Failed economic policy and lies over Iraq

#14 jonathan_cook

Someone somewhere needs to inject some urgency into British politics and to stop treating the public as if they are fools.

Hear! Hear!

@17

You misjudge why Obama won.
Obama wins because he isnt tainted with economic failure and the Iraq war.

Change for changes sake just like Britain in 1997.

The same will happen in 2010, Change for changes sake alone

The government has been defeated in the House of Lords over the issue of keeping peoples' DNA and fingerprints on the police national database.

Peers backed a Conservative amendment calling for national guidelines for deleting material by 161 votes to 150.

Good day to bury bad news again


Nick - why wasn't this reported?

I thought Nick Clegg made a comment too. What happened to that? Was it not quotable? Would it not have more relevance to us southeners than Alex Salmond's?
And do we dare hope American voters have taken a small step away from the right? Not yet on the "slippery slope to socialism", but hopefully one small step in that direction.
Obama carries the hopes of the American voters and much of the world on his shoulders. What a responsibility!

Hopefully, the boost given by Obama's fantastic win in the US will bolster time for change in Glenrothes tomorrow.
People have suffered enough under Gordon Brown's lot. Anyway, who can actually see Lindsay Roy standing up in Westminster and making a sensible speech? Anyone who can give up a job that is so necessary to the education of our young people is not worthy of being in control as an MP. How long will it take for him to get fed up with that job as well? Or is the salary and the PERKS more of an encouragement for him?
After all, he will soon be of retiral age.
He has left a sinking ship and I doubt if the parents of children at Kirkcaldy High School will forgive him for that. If anyone else had 'taken leave of absence' to look for another job, he would have been fired.

We must have an election now.
It would be a relief to wake up and not to have to face Gordon Brown ranting on.
(It's not my fault, It's global, It's them big boy's in America, they made me,)
I wish he would change the record, an election would at least give us peace from his hounding and pushing himself into our private lives and a chance to get off our knees.
He has tried his best to force us to join the EU, He knows a vote would be NO.
This country NEEDS a change of government.
Spread the joy of an election to UK.

Gordon Brown: "I know Barack Obama and we share many values"



Here is a reminder of some of Brown's values:


Plotting and backstabbing


Knowingly crashing the economy


Lying


World Statesman


Pensions Raid


10p Tax on the poor

Stealth Taxes



I don't think you do share any values with Barack Obama Mr Brown.

#29

Carrots, We are talking about the first Black American President, who wants sweeping tax changes, health care for the poor, peace in the world and a more regulated banking system, A President that wants to bring the troops home from Iraq ect.


Come on Carrots, the world has changed
those who hold to the old principles of conservatism are out dated and drift wood.
.

Poprishchin@18

That is my fear too. There are too many similarities between the backgrounds of Obama and Blair for comfort:

Legal training

Charisma

Young family

Political wife

Highly efficient political support team

I do hope the Americans haven't bought a Blair in a poke.

However, I do think that a mixed race president will help reposition the USA in the world. And I do hope that Obama will be able to cope with all the expectations of the people - including mine re repositioning!

And how does everyone feel about the Clintons lurking offstage?

24 Westkentview

Spot on.

Nick,

I wonder how long it will be before we hear the term carpetbaggers coming from the American press and media.

As for David Lammy, who apparently knows Mr Obama, I will never ever forgive him for being part of a government which abolished Community Health Councils.

I can't wait for the result of the Glenrothes bye-election, oh and Gordon Brown will have to bring a sombre mood to the Commons at PMQs because of the death of another soldier in Afghanistan.

Finally, I can only hope that the Speaker gets Brown to actually answer questions and stop quoting remarks by the conservatives, and they are the liberal democrats not the liberals.

Obama will fail, mainly because he doesn't represent so many people in America, especially if the change to which he refers will be the impoverishment of so many by higher taxes. There is the scorched earth policy being undertaken by the Republicans, get your revenge, impeach Bush for crimes against humanity and waging an illegal war.

The nuanced aspects of Keynesian economics, the shift in global politics, and world poverty have something to say. The Anglo-American dance with Reagan-Thatcher economics is over. This will be scary for the egos who've done well under that scheme but they're going to have to get used to it.

The mass psychology versus the party psychology of the right have crashed, and the left of centre train is in tune with the underlying national and global economic flow. That means developing success and society from the ground up is where it's at. The right don't naturally get this so have a problem.

People talk of change but as any Buddhist knows, you can't change the world, only yourself. Buddhism says: "Before enlightenment; chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment; chop wood, carry water." If you want change you have to wake up to change and the potential of change in yourself.

Let go, sweetie.

In his acceptance speech, President Elect Obama said the time of a person's place in America because of great wealth was over. Republicanism/Conservatism is dead in the water. It is the Conservatives who need to change. They still believe in looking after the few and not the many, as their policy on Inheritance Tax shows. William Hague's attempt to identify with the Democratic party and Obama was risible, particularly as the Tories were so anxious to show solidarity with the Republicans when John McCain addressed the Tory faithful at their conference.
David Cameron, you are no Barack Obama, and the Conservative doctrine will never be able to ally with that of the Democrats. There is more that separates you than unites.

For all those who believe thish is an end to Conservatism, lets look at Obama's policies

20% Corporation Tax
38% Top rate Tax paid over 140,000
Healthcare paid for by affordable private insurance
Government taking 38% of the nations wealth to fund it

If this is progessive politics can we have some here.

Nick, do you think the bed is big enough for all his (new found) friends to get into? One thing I am certain of though, good old Gordonbennet can take little comfort from Obama's win. Just as Oabama outed the discredited Republican 'elite' Cameron will do the same to the discredited New Labour 'elite' come election time. Rather than celebrating good old Gordonbennet ought to be thinking about what this victory for Obama means for his troupe of clowns. What it means is that the writing is on the wall for New Labour. We're going to do the same to them come election time. Gordonbennet and his clowns have almost bankrupted our country and as in the US, they'll not be forgiven for it.

Your last little snide comment gave me a wry smile.

I am most interested to know when some journalist somewhere will ask Mr Brown and Mr Darling about Iceland and just when they knew the Icelanders were in trouble and also if they are going to sue the British Government.

Perhaps asking that hugely numerate chap ,the new Secretary of State for Scotland, when he is next going to visit either Ireland, Iceland or Norway, would be another interesting little question which some journalist somewhere might ask.

But obviously NOT a BBC journalist.

Time for a change, lets have a novice.
After all the "best chancellor of the last 100 years" messed up the economy big time. He's now been let loose on the United Kingdom.
The IMF have publicly blamed the USA and UK for the world economic problems. He cannot duck responsibility for much longer before he is kebabed.

#38 jonathan_cook

A veritable catalogue of disasters.

Gordon most definately is not the answer. Cameron hasnt got it either; the Conservatives now are where NuLiebour was in 1996. Things have changed since then, significantly and the Tories arent ready, still after all this time. We have, unfortunately let loose a generation of politicians in our own image - the "whats in it for me?" generation. I sincerely do not think that ANY of them, regardless of their political colour have the slightest interest in genuinely serving the electorate, only in feeding their own egos and bank balances. I just wish that the public had the gumption to stand upto these charlatans, poke them in the chest and remind them just who they are accountable to. As it stands at the moment, we have a political class who are nothing better than professional liars... people who lie and cheat in return for public money.

Derek Barker, you are kidding yourself if you truly beleive what you write. Or, you are Alistair Campbell.

What scares me is that unless the mainstream parties sort their acts out and start acting in our interests instead of their own, is that the charismatic leader that we need (and maybe that America has elected, time will tell) is not going to emerge from the mainstream, he/she will emerge from the far right. I sincerely hope Nick Griffin or his successors do not have their eureka moment any time soon.

Those of you who keep on thinking that Brown is the panacea, he's the answer to getting us out of this self inflicted disaster zone... you're welcome to him. I'm trying my utmost to emigrate.

The Glenrothes by-election had been deliberately moved to be the day after the usa election so that the results will only seen by the bbc as an "and finally...." minor story.

I wonder if the Americans, after their initial euphoria, will wonder whether or not they've done the right thing.

Obama seems to believe in the state taking control over people's lives, and that's as anti-american as you can get. To an outsider it looks like they've chosen someone new to see what happens and because they were sick of the current government (much like the uk did when they elected blair in 1997), but that they don't know for sure if it'll be a good move in the medium/longer term.

I spy a big glamorous job for Bill Clinton in the Obama administration.

It "allows" him to serve his country and ensures that Hillary and her supporters remain on side.

Maybe US representative at the UN which would be a nice local job for the husband of a NY Senator and also allow him free rein to travel abroad.

If we want some more experience how about Al Gore as Environment Secretary?

This would appease those looking for experience in an untried President and keeps them all inside the tent p*ss**g out as it were.

"Downing Street insiders are hoping that, with Mr Brown's huge experience of ministerial office, he can become something of a mentor to the relatively inexperienced "leader of the free world"."


I really wouldn't be surprised if Brown thought this to be the case. There really is no bounds to his arrogance.

He's already the self-appointed saviour of the global financial system and apparently is so egotistical that he thinks he can simply march into Saudi Arabia and demand that oil prices are cut.

So I have no doubt that Brown will take every opportunity to associate himself with Obama and appropriate yet more self-importance. When you are that unpopular what else can you do but hang on the coattails of those who are really setting the agenda?

Brown has announced that Obama shares his values. Blast, I was hoping for better times!

CEH

How much is Gordon Brown paying you?

39. derekbarker

And that differes from the Tory party in which respect?

Derek

Youll like this key left wing policy from Obama



Obama's Stance on the Economy:

Barack Obama has offered a detailed plan to get America’s economy back on track, by creating new jobs and easing the burden on hardworking Americans by offering middle-class tax cuts.

Yep sounds very left wing to me.

With saturation coverage of events in the USA it's a good day for burying bad news. Any idea what our great leaders have quietly filed away today?

For those of you trying to make comparisons between American politics and UK politics and making bold claims about a left wing consensus sweeping through the rest of the world I have to say you are very wide of the mark.

Firstly the British Conservatives are to the left of even US Democrats on almost every issue of domestic policy.

Second in the UK we have a centrist consensus between the two parties. There are only very minor differences in terms of policy. We elect a change of executives and consultants rather than a change in major policy.

So to try and transplant the ideological divide from America into the UK is wholly naive.

When will Nick Robinson will admit to having a Labour party membership card ?

Nick,

Gordon Brown a "progressive" - you have got to be joking !!!!!!

His ideals, values, opinions and methods are decades out of date, and hpefully he will be joining these as being part of history himself soon.

That comment tops anything that CEH or Derek Barker could come up with !!!

Gordon Brown and Obama "sharing many values" .......

believing that your country should elect it's leader clearly isn't one of them.

I wouldn't read too much personally into any analogies between the US presidential election politics and the political status in this country.

The only real commonality of interest for me is that both countries were desperate to replace their leader, and the US has now got it's wish. We are still stuck with Gordon Brown, however.

It means that success comes to he who has the gift of the gab, aka charisma.

Other notable charismatics were:
Adolf Hitler
Soekarno
Idi Amin
Saddam Hussein

Let's hope he's a Winston Churchill in the making

Peter Sidwell

Carrots

What century do you think we live in?

I think he said he would create tax cuts for those who earn less than 250,000 Dollars a year.

So plumber joe also gets a tax cut.

He then moves the higher rate of tax to those in and above the said amount.

Come on Carrots, more jobs, you dont have a problem with that! do you.

Jezz, are you confused with the tax burden? an asset based economy, opposed to the fast buck greed of the conservative nature.

History has dealt a blow to the conservative
way, give up your greed and join the human race......REJOICE.

Change is the keyword - after over 11 years of Brownism, this country desperately needs change. As Cromwell said: "(Brown,) you have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately ... Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"

U11714077@63

"We are still stuck with Gordon Brown, however."

Who wasn't even elected by the voters. How about a bit of democracy here.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

60 derekupfront
"When will Nick Robinson will admit to having a Labour party membership card ?"

I don't believe that he carries one, the problem is that if he is nasty to NuLabour he gets cut out of the scoops, so he has to stay on side or else have nothing original to put on his blogs.
By such means do governments control the press, and this government does it a great deal more diligently than previous governments have done.

Isn't it pathetic the way these sad, creepy people try to jump on Obama's coat-tails?

Did they support the Chicago Senator before the Iowa caucus? No: so it is all our old friend and mentor Mr British Hypocrisy all over again.

The reason why Obama won was that he was a new face with a new message at a time when the old faces and old messages were proven bust.

I suppose now we are going to have to put up with egotistical buffoons setting themselves up as the British `Obama'. This is an American phenomenon and good luck to them. There are no British parallels and, for the sake of the nationalist purists, no Scottish either.

Lord Mandelson is facing renewed calls to explain dealings with Russian tycoon Oleg Deripaska after they fail to appear in his declaration of interests.

Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker described the new business secretary's entry in the House of Lords' register as "threadbare and totally inadequate".

More bad news released on a good day to hide bad news.

Thats 3 i've spotted that the beeb have let through. Going on the iceberg theory there must be another 21 items of bad news out there today that havent made it into a report yet

History has dealt a blow to the conservative
way, give up your greed and join the human race......REJOICE.

I see this as history dealing a blow to the idiotic way. Now we need to get rid of our home-grown idiots - this government. Give it time and we too can rejoice. The very real down-side is that the die is cast for Obama and Cameron. The US and UK economies have been utterly gutted by a decade of mismanagement that is, for want of a better phrase, wilfully criminal. Or, at best, utterly incompetent. The kind of incompetence you'd get if you handed the economy over to a bunch of eight year olds.

Ohhhhh. What shall we do? Oh, I know. Borrow lots of money and spend it on stuff. New cars, foreign holidays, shiny new buildings, free money for all my mates.

Point is, I'm not sure this debacle can be turned around without a decade of pain. There'll be no remortgaging of our appreciated house for a new car, a trip to see Mickey in Florida and a home cinema for some time to come. The public finances are going to be utterly trashed. It'll be like having had a war without even the stirring patriotic music on the radio and a flag to wrap ourselves up in. It will be dire. That's what Obama, Cameron and the tax-payers of the US and UK have to look forward to.

So thanks, George Bush. Thanks, Gordon Brown. For totally destroying our economies. Way to go!!!!!

Failure of capitalism? Triumph of idiocy more like.

So tell me waht this means..

"this is a moment that will live in history as long as history books are written..."

Gordon Brown this morning on the Obama victory.

Is this the newlabour agenda to save money?? They are going to stop writing history books? Are they keen that the appaling newlabour track record of personal indebtedness does not make it into the history books?Are they keen that all thos "no more boom and bust" speeches are airbrushed from th history books?

It's come to a sorry state of affairs when either the elected government is planning to remove history books or the prime monister can't even speak the english language.

Call an election.

At least Black Obama was elected by the people. Gordon Brown looks wistfully on as he realises only too well that he was NOT.

Tony Blair was a great hope of the British people who were looking for real change. He didn't deliver. Black Obama may find it more difficult than he thought it would be, but for the sake of America we hope he succeeds.

Here is an interesting take on why Gordon Brown and Labour are not getting the kicking they so richly deserve at the moment:

Why Brown is still here



So the question is will the media narrative change?

I guess Nick's piece today might answer that. I suspect the media are now craving some arty shots of Gordon and Barack together so that they can spout off opinion pieces about the special relationship and how this will change under Obama.


Meanwhile - on planet earth - the population of the UK are being taxed to within an inch of our lives, are dealing with a downturn and crying out for a change of government who we know got us into this mess and are now lying to us.

Unfortunately - the needs of the public are not a fashionable thing for journalists to focus on at the moment.

I forecast 3 to 5 months of Obama and Brown love in by the media.........

Change is the keyword - after over 11 years of Brownism, this country desperately needs change. As Cromwell said: "(Brown,) you have sat too long for any good you have been doing lately ... Depart, I say; and let us have done with you. In the name of God, go!"

So some people keep saying but what they really mean is they like their comfort zone and want their favourite party to take over so it can be stroked. That's not change, that's habit.

"Sometimes, we will hit the target...
but miss the self."

Be still, grasshopper.

@69

What is the point in staying onside to get scoops that are valuless by being untrue and unbeleivable in nature.

Much better to practice real journalism and truly scoop a story that no one else has got and hence bring down the publics rightious wrath as the last real journalists did with Nixon.

Can anyone else sight any examples of real scoop journalism since Nixon was brought down.

@73

Brilliant insight until you spelled minister incorrectly

I get where your brain was though. a cross between minister and monster hence monister.

I am amused by the way the two political leaders in the UK have leapt forward to claim ownership of Senator Obama's victory. And by Jove, posters on this blog are doing it too! The US should really give us a vote next time.

Congratulations to the senator. He faces a curiously Kennedy-like situation in the defence challenge thrown down today by Russia. That should give him all the 'experience' he is going to need and good luck to him.

#73 RobinJD

Ditto. Call an election.

Serious times need sensible people Mr Brown
Serious people are certainly not all sensible. You for one.
Just admit you've made some great blunders over the last 11 years and you've learned from them.
Then you might be taken seriously.

"Conservative party policies are rejected ... in Britain"

What exactly is he basing this on? Every opinion poll I've seen has Cameron in the lead. Yes, his lead has come down as of late, but more people in this country prefer Conservative policies over Labour ones.

"The Glenrothes by-election had been deliberately moved to be the day after the usa election so that the results will only seen by the bbc as an "and finally...." minor story."

Oh Dear!

Glenrothes is irrelevant.

Please get a grip.

(There is a world out there.)

Please just cast your minds back to when Obama came to London. He seemed far more relaxed with Cameron than with Brown. Brown at the time was running scared and having a really tough time - can't remember the exact headlines as there have been so many - and Cameron was doing well in the polls and really looking statesmanlike with Obama.

Cameron needs to start to talk to the people more. Talk of his plan to get us out of this mess. To invigorate some confidence in him, and to make us believe that there is possibility of things better to come. Talk about his first 100 days of power and what he will be putting forward as policy. Gordon will be thinking of an election next year I'm sure of it - if not Gordon may be gone after Glenrothes anyway!

65 Derek

I quote direct from his web site:

Obama's Stance on Taxes
Barack Obama provides a middle class tax cut for 95 percent of American workers. Middle class families will get three times the tax relief from Obama than they would from John McCain.

Plumber Joe gets a tax cut along with 95 percent of em.

No problem with creating real jobs with real growth, just have a problem with creating lots of government jobs via high taxation on wealth creation.

No blow to conservatism, just a big blow to the incumbents and the creators of the current mess.

Time for real renewal, not a brown version.

More good fun

#76 CEH

So some people keep saying but what they really mean is they like their comfort zone and want their favourite party to take over so it can be stroked. That's not change, that's habit.

"Sometimes, we will hit the target...
but miss the self."

Urm....I don't know about anyone else, but I am certainly not in any sort of comfort zone. I can't say that the Tories are my favourite party either, but as that is probably the only alternative we will have, then so be it.

Gordon's missed the target and the self. What would you say to him, Charles?

In 1979, the message used against Callghan's pathetic government was 'Labour is not working'.
When unelected Brown calls an election the message should be 'It is time for change, it is time for a novice'.

Looking quite good for the SNP now in Glenrothes - thinking about changing my prediction.

Derek #57

You are obviously not au fait with the 'classes'in the US. Middle class Americans are the equivalent of working class Brits. Yes, Obama is a new socialist as you will soon find out. He is America's equivalent of Robin Hood, increasing taxes on the wealthy to give to the poor. That was McCain's warning to voters throughout the campaign, that Obama would take their money through taxes and give it to the low paid. He will also introduce free health care for all. Do you think that sounds like Conservatism? No, I thought not.

"Downing Street insiders are hoping that, with Mr Brown's huge experience of ministerial office, he can become something of a mentor to the relatively inexperienced "leader of the free world"."

- oh I hope not ! Obama is an inspirational speaker and I hope leader - the last thing he needs a charisma free leader like GB to advise him

GB couldn't inspire anyone - his track record speaks for itself and while Cameron seems lightweight on occasion he at least is a break with this lot who have lead us in to false wars and economic crisis

86 Carrots

Thanks for posting your link


More good fun


If anyone watches Daily Politics Experts Verdict on this link - then they will have noticed Nick say that the media will now be scrambling for the first photo of Brown and Obama.


Oh dear - it looks as if my post at 75 is starting to come true already.

Irrespective of occurrences - it looks like the media want a positive Brown and Obama love-in narrative running.

It is going to be sick making watching Brown basking in the glory whilst evading all the problems he has caused in the UK.

Given Obama doesn't even become President until January 20th we've already got 3 months of media driven Brownand Obama love in to stomach.

Then there will be a few months more after Obama gets the keys to the Whitehouse and Brown and Obama have "official discussions"


That is 5 or 6 months of unwarranted good news for Brown.

The desperation behind the move to bring Mandelson back is now clear. Brown had to stop the Labour plotters and needed only to buy just enough time to survive until the US elections - before he Brown could hide behind the Obama honeymoon.

JC @ 92

Hey, your little "Have Your Say" snippet about Brown c.f. Obama is up in lights on the PMQ page, did you know that? ...

(Jonathan Cook, Hampshire no less)

what a shame

89 Sagamix

I don't know - last time I was able to find any news - it looked like Labour might just edge Glenrothes.

Timing Glenrothes just after the US election was very clever. I guess we are seeing what Mandelson and Campbell are helping Gordon with.

Even if Labour lose at Glenrothes - the whole story will be masked by the US election. I can't see Glenrothes causing Labour too much sweat - the media are now thirsty for a positive Brown and Obama narrative.

Labour will continue to get a soft ride in the media until April / May I reckon.

re: 69 skynine

True, and that was something which I think Campbell brought about back in 1997.

The problem is that the bbc, if it was doing its job properly, would simply turn around to the government after that kind of blackmail with an attitude of:

"ok, if you're not willing to give us your side of the story when a story comes out, and you're not willing to tell us what you're doing, then we're going to assume the worst case scenario and paint you as the villains on every aspect of your party/government business."

Trouble is, then the government will counter-blackmail the counter-blackmail with a threat to the license fee, and I think that's the crux.

The point is that if the bbc was commercial then they could easily counter the labour blackmail, but as they're dependent on the license fee they're beholden to labour and can't tell people the truth even if they wanted to (which they don't).

Privatise the bbc and call an election; let's get back some of our lost democracy before it's too late.

(fancy dress guy fawkes's arrested today under terrorism legislation because the government didn't want to look unpopular/silly; I'd like my country back please labour before you destroy it completely)

#92 jonathan_cook

I reckon Mandleson's been brought back to make a start on running the election campaign for Gordon. As the Labour party have no funds, the good old british taxpayer will be put upon to fund all the parties' campaigns. How long before this gets an airing in the Commons?

What would you say to him, Charles?

"In the first state, man and sword become one and each other. Here, even a blade of grass can be used as a lethal weapon. In the next stage, the sword resides not in the hand but in the heart. Even without a weapon, the warrior can slay his enemy from a hundred paces. But the ultimate ideal is when the sword disappears altogether. The warrior embraces all around him. The desire to kill no longer exists. Only peace remains."

-- Hero (2002), King of Qin.

93 Sagamix

Yeah - you spotted me!

In my opinion, we English lost our way when we lost America and we should try to find that place again.

Where is our Obama?

Somebody has to step up and light the English political path.

Preferably a person who, like President-elect Obama, has a coherent vision of a society where the majority of the people are pulling in the same direction.

We English need to find that person - and I'm certainly not thinking of Simon Cowell's X-factor politician - we've had already that with Mr. Blair!

PS. President-Elect Obama's children have been promised a puppy who needs to be named - might I suggest - inspired by our grovelling politicians - it be named lapdog.