England for Obama

Take a look at the photos here and here - they really are somethin’ (as Sarah Palin might say. Is Palin’ short for Paling?). Indeed, Barack even appears to be crowd-surfing. Fancy!

As anyone who follows Mudflats knows - this big news. Big news. Alaska is a firmly red state, and the Anchorage Daily News has always been in the Palin camp.

No longer, it seems:

“Gov. Palin has shown the country why she has been so successful in her young political career. Passionate, charismatic and indefatigable, she draws huge crowds and sows excitement in her wake. She has made it clear she’s a force to be reckoned with, and you can be sure politicians and political professionals across the country have taken note. Her future, in Alaska and on the national stage, seems certain to be played out in the limelight.

Yet despite her formidable gifts, few who have worked closely with the governor would argue she is truly ready to assume command of the most important, powerful nation on earth. To step in and juggle the demands of an economic meltdown, two deadly wars and a deteriorating climate crisis would stretch the governor beyond her range. Like picking Sen. McCain for president, putting her one 72-year-old heartbeat from the leadership of the free world is just too risky at this time.”

Read the whole editorial here.

They say you can tell a lot about people by looking at their friends. And if Barack Obama’s friends are Bruce Springsteen, Bradley Whitford and James Taylor, then that’ll do me just fine:

Don’t worry, James: I’m voting for Carolina in my mind.

Remember those adverts for a well known American beer? The ones which went Wassssup!? Well those bad boys are back, and this time they’re backing Barack.

Stephen Colbert talkes to Jonathan Alter, the author of a new book on Roosevelt, about the similarities between FDR and Barack Obama:

This wasn’t a surprise. And in some ways, neither was this. But the latter one is still pretty powerful.

Gallup has conducted two fascinating polls around the world - asking people who they would like to see elected President of the United States, and whether they think the American election affects them.

In the words of Family Fortunes, our survey said… that 60% of Brits want Obama to win, 15% want MccCain, and 25% don’t know or didn’t care. Well, at least that’s 10% more than want a McCain victory.

The grey countries below are for Obama, the yellow for McCain. Read the full results of the surveys here.

And by ‘ordinary’ I mean, y’know, your Joe Six-Packs and your hockey moms. As opposed to those elitists who hang out at Georgetown cocktail parties (but don’t worry, they’re jumping ship too):

And here’s the story behind the video.

One that’s particularly pertinent to us over here:

I was interviewed by a couple of American students last week - for a documentary about the British take on Obama - and as I told them, the election of George W Bush made us scratch our heads not only at Bush himself, but also at Americans for choosing him. A Barack Obama presidency, therefore, won’t just make us think hugely of Obama himself - but also of the American people for voting him in. Stranahan is right about its effect not just on our opinion of America as an entity or an idea, but on our opinion of Americans in general. As I told Matt and Charlie: I will be actively jealous of them. And they won’t have to go around pretending to be Canadians any more.

Bradley Whitford and his moustache want you to vote for The Man. No, not Jed Bartlet. The other Man: