England for Obama

Want to know what happened when Barry met Johnny? Here you go:

And here was the eminently sensible Bill Maher’s take on it, via The Rachel Maddow Show. Sorry: The Arianna Huffington Show (Note to MSNBC: this woman certainly has great views, and can certainly write. But please, please, please never get her to anchor a show again. She doesn’t have what might be called a voice for radio):

Barack Obama’s possible choice of Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State just got a little trickier. Apparently, Bubba is a “lingering concern” in the Obama camp.

Christopher Hitchens laid into Hilary Clinton last night on Hardball:

Love him or loathe him, Hitchens (or “the washed up drunk guy” as one HuffPo comment calls him) is always watchable. And after months of watching American news coverage, it’s really quite surreal hearing a British accent (or, indeed: another British accent) in the mix. Especially when Hitchens says “fuuuule”. Is it possible to find a single British pundit on American TV who doesn’t talk like Lord John Marbury from The West Wing?

*Update* Countdown covered the Bill Clinton issue last night:

(Note: I don’t think Katty Kay really talks like that. I think she just watched a lot of Merchant Ivory films and fooled BBC America into thinking that she’s British.)

…and Americans are feeling good. Despite the economy being in what we Brits would call the ‘loo’. Rachel Maddow looks at The Obama Optimism Effect (as well as press coverage of Barack’s every move; and the latest on Joe Lieberman):

In fact, it seems that everyone is feeling that little bit happier now that A Nice Man is leader of the free world. As America In The World reports, Brits’ opinions of the United States have improved since Obama was elected - to the extent that we now apparently like America more than France and Germany. Imagine!

Actually, you don’t have to imagine. Here were the results of the survey:

But she can plough through doors:

(Note: I promise not to give this woman any more oxygen of publicity. Sarah: it’s over. I’m sorry. It’s not me. It’s you.)

No, that’s not a pre-emptive call to Democratic arms in 2012 - but how long Keith Olbermann has just renewed his contract for.

That’s right, folks: your and my favourite liberal shouty man is staying at MSNBC. Here was the press release:

NEW YORK - Nov. 10, 2008 - MSNBC has voted for four more years of Keith Olbermann and the top-rated “Countdown with Keith Olbermann,” it was announced today by Phil Griffin, President, MSNBC. The new four-year agreement calls for Olbermann to continue as host of “Countdown;” additionally, Olbermann will play a prominent role in MSNBC’s coverage of all major news events. He will also continue to co-host NBC’s “Football Night in America” studio show.

Olbermann’s new contract is rumoured to be worth $30 million. Being a lily-livered, bleeding heart, liberal egghead communist*, I hope he plans to spread some of that wealth around.

*copyright: Jed Bartlet

Let battle commence!

Ah. Wait. It already has commenced.

Rachel Maddow reveals what’s going on in the Republican party right now - and where they may be headed next (the wilderness is thissaway!):

No, really. That’s not truthiness - that’s truth.

Chuck Todd looks at how Barack succeeded in making gains in every demographic, and in pretty much every state -

- which resulted in this New York Times voting shift map Brian Williams talks about:

Just so appropriate that Jon Stewart and Keith Olbermann were two of the men who got to announce that Barack Obama will be the next President of the United States. Take a look below - and spot how Stephen Colbert seems to be trying to stop his tears when he takes off his glasses and puts his finger to his eyes.

I just love all these men. They have been beacons of light, sanity and truth (as well as brilliant entertainment and great journalism) during the Bush years and this election:

Good news, election junkies: the 24/7 online coverage has started and you can watch the live stream on MSNBC below:

*Update* If the player above isn’t loading, it’s not our fault - the online stream is down on the MSNBC site too.

*Update 2* The live feed is back up.