Hats off to my colleague Jon Kelly who has made it to New York on the BBC bus and left with this spot-on set of observations about Americans and America.
We have a private plane for the DC office so we get to see much less of the place but boy, the champagne is good...and we can see Kansas if we squint out of the side windows...
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Hello, I'm Justin Webb and I'm the BBC's North America editor.
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Comments
"We have a private plane for the DC office so we get to see much less of the place but boy, the champagne is good..."
Good to see all that TV license money goes to good use.
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This is weird. The post is linked from Nick Robinson's page but isn't on the front page of Justin's.
It also seems to be unfinished. Where are the 'spot-on' observations (or are we just posting prematurely)? No doubt it will be fixed by the time I've posted...
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Justin,
Sounds as if that United Airlines pilot nailed at LHR last week might have been on the BEEB shampoo!
This topic is a bit of a filler...... you have had accolades plus quite a beating from some quarters over the last month..... some of blogs stay on topic; some go wildly off topic too.
How about posting your thoughts on how you feel the blogs have been going over the last 4 to 6 weeks ???? Lets have some JW kick back from you please ???
Finally details of the JW bloggers Xmas party ?? Some of us are desperate to meet up post election and eyeball some immense characters live over your best champagne.... top of pops is JohnAAA !! So come on.... where and when ???? !!
Bill
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@ #1 - I think that's called a joke.
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#4 I think you're probably right. I let the excitement of being able to get the first post clouded my better judgement.
I was half in jest too as I don't worry to much about how its spent as long as I get my 24 hour news and comedy panel show (Have I Got News For You is back, yay!!).
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OMG - have we driven Justin Webb mad ? I know we sometimes (some of us) talk a lot of rubbish on this site, but when the BBC correspondent goes off on one, there's cause for concern.
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McCain's Robocalls Have Parents Worried About Their Kids; Palin Criticizes Tactic
No more off-topic than the main blog posting?;-)
ed
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Bill,
Didn't you know? It's a capital offence to suggest meeting fellow bloggers.....beware the Mods (who are as Gods)!
Peace and sandwiches
ed
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Yes, I was looking forward to observations, spot-on or otherwise, and didn't really find them. The article did stress something I remember Nabokov said, which was, it's a vast country, don't generalize on the basis of knowing a handful of people. So: so far, so good...
So here are two observations of my own to supply the lack:
Compared to either the British or to other Europeans, Americans are relatively ignorant and friendly.
One of the strangest things about Americans is that they commit record-setting violence as individuals (see the murder rate), but may be the most civil of all nationalities in groups. (Sports events are freer of crowd violence than elsewhere, it seems.)
On the most important question, I'm really wondering about the polls. You've got one (Rasmussen) with Obama only up 4, the rest with him up 10 or so. Who's right, or are they all wrong? Gallup has the reputation of being pro-Republican, and it's got Obama up 10...
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re. 7. Ed Iglehart:
I think tactics like poisonous robocalls basically come back to bite a campaign eventually. These sound so extreme that they will only fire up Obama supporters and boost turnout on election day.
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Maybe so - but we're going to need either a party or a wake on November 5th.
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The acrimony prevalent in this campaign is largely manufactured by the media. In real life the people we know on the other side of the fense are perfectly decent and not filled with viciousness. There are exceptions on this blog, but cranks seek out blogs, so they are not representative either.
Your colleague's appraisal was accurate.
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I am hoping that the BBC's private jet is available
to shuttle people around the world to his Christmas
party.
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ahh too bad you missed Kansas . Nice place
Did you pick up any weight Justin ?those Big Macs get to ya?
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Have fun all.
Marbles hope I'm not one of those cranks.
well like the Johnaaa and the ninnies I 'm probably off, My missus says I smell that way, so enjoy america as it becomes the land of dreams again.
(I know premature but the elections will not decide this the american people already have.)
See you around.
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#7 Ed,
Since my wife and I are both registered Reps we got the robocalls twice now. It is sickening to see McCain sinking so low, but it is far better for people to know how morally bankrupt and bereft of ideas he is prior to voting IMO.
Luckily I was always taught to think for myself so I have never felt the need to vote for someone simply based on party lines.
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Decent~adequate cross cut of the United States. Followed him through many of the cities and commented on a couple.
Way back in 1972, I hitched and zig-zagged accross the States, found many places with only outhouses. I noticed Jon didn't have that,.. noted.
jf. Noticed you said you used coal in the last post, do you use 'clean-coal' technology?
I don't even know what that is,.. wire used as a scrubber cris-cross the flu?
Time to 'werk',...
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Joe "'jobs' is a three letter word" Biden: elect Obama and we'll have an international crisis within six months.
Thank goodness it wasn't Sarah Palin who said this or Justin Webb might've done himself an injury rushing to report it. Luckily for Joe the Dumber, if the BBC does ever get round to reporting this latest gaffe it'll be after the Democrat campaign has told the media how to report it.
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Kinda makes ya proud to be American....
Peace and grits
ed
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I was talking about the cadidates policies, voting record, and associations.
I did not say anything about race.
But as long as we're on the subject of bigotry:
Isn't making an issue of the age of a candidate also a form of disrimination?
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Justin,
So when will you feel confident enough to make a prediction? I imagine that fence you have had to sit on all this time is starting to cause discomfort.
Also, Justin, will you be voting in the US Presidential election? Don't worry I won't ask for whom. I qualified to vote this year and voted on Saturday in Las Vegas, Nevada. Early voting has been very active here!
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I read Marbles post and was comforted.
I then read Ed's was alarmed again.
I saw the report about the woman who yelled "Socialist" at Obama in a North Carolina Diner and wondered what on earth the Security folk were up to - especially as people in the diner were surprised to see Obama (as you would be) so obviously hadn't had a security check.
I just pray that nothing happens - the consequences would be appalling, not only in America but all over the world.
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#18
Your point is? No one will need to test McCain because he seems intent on continuing to destroy the country himself just like W has been doing for the last eight years.
Looks like that is about the only job he isn't happy to outsource!
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early voting In Illinois is also very active . my wife and I went to vote last tuesday . My wife a expat Brit now with duel citizenship voted for the first time in the US .
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ref #16
One of the few benefits of being in the bluest state in the country, is that I won't be any getting Robo calls on the Presidential or congressional races.
That will leave the 10+ for referendum questions.
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Early voting in West Virginia, By God
Sad
;-(
ed
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You would assume the comment about the private jet was tongue in cheek, but with the BBC's reputation for extravagance at the license payers expense, I wouldnt bet on it!
In fairness the BBC may produce hours of rubbish BUT I forgive them all that even the recent programme from Africa were they kept telling us they needed a team of 100 experts to provide footage of animals that was no different from any other wildlife programme produced in Africa in the past 40 years, the words gravy and train spring to mind, BUT, like I said I forgive them all that for Newsnight.
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Alec Baldwin on Palin's SNL appearance
What did we expect?
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Go to http://44thpotus.blogspot.com/ for a unique British take on the strategies and oddities of the US Election
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Ref 7
Ed, I find the experience you described in your post very disturbing. Frankly, I hope those responsible for fearmongering pay dearly on election day, there is simply no excuse for what they are doing.
Regardless of motives, I think this tactic reflects on the character and morality of those that use it, and it should be something to keep in mind when we vote.
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to mars-central (#1)
the BBC budget is put to good use. You Brits may be habitually complaining about tv licence money but believe me you haven't seen the worse so as to appreciate the excellent work that BBC people do
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"Isn't making an issue of the age of a candidate also a form of disrimination?"
That's an interesting question. The answer in our society seems to be that sometimes you can make age a qualifying or disqualifying criterion: drinking alchohol, serving in the armed forces, receiving social security, etc.; other times you can not: jobs (providing you fit the accepted qualifying criteria of being between 18 (?) and 65) in particular.
I think in the largest sense you can make a very strong case that making the age of a candidate an issue amounts to age discrimination. But, reductio ad absurdem, surely from a practical point of view, electing a candidate who was, say, 110 would not be a good idea. As it happens, I don't recall any Obama ads implying you should not vote for McCain because he's 70, and think they would be pilloried if they appeared. On the other hand, a candidate's age and health might reasonably be factored into reasonable voter's decision-making processes without it seeming to me at least to be age discrimination.
Note the crucial difference that while age is sometimes viewed as an acceptable qualifying or disqualifying criterion, race never is.
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# 29
Congrats on the moniker !
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#27 I enjoyed Big Cat Live. This is the first year I've watched it, I'm not sure why I've missed it in the past.
#31 I did admit to jumping to conclusions later. If I have any objection to the fee it's that I have no choice in the matter. Back in my student days I used to get letters harassing me to buy one despite not owning a telly.
I think my real beef is with the length of time it takes to announce things on shows like Strictly Come Dancing. Is there really any need to wait twenty minutes between "and the next couple through to next week is" and the contestant's name? I think that's where the real waste is in the BBC. I think if they cut all those gaps we could get two more hilarious panel shows in.
I think I should forward all this to Points Of View.
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26, Ed Iglehart wrote:
Early voting in West Virginia, By God .
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Kinda reminds one of Zimbabwe, doesn't it ?
How can one possibly mock people at a polling site ?
Hand out the machetes, show us how you REALLY feel !
Oh, and I just checked my calendar, after reading some of the linked articles : the 4th of November is not a Sunday, that's weird, I thought it was a joke.
I mean, Sunday is the only day of the week that makes sense, I don't think I ever voted on a weekday in Germany.
_____
Fritz Kraut
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To Justin Webb
I really enjoyed the blog of Jon Kelly but I wish he could have seen more of our country.
He deserves a good drink after so many miles!
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I think that Justin is just a little worried that he'll be forced to use the BBC bus now that its journey around the country is finished.
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#34 mars_central
LOL
But I'm simultaneously watching a BBC4 programme - "the Story of Maths".
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Fritz, where does voting take place in Germany? In the UK, churches sometimes get used. This would be dificult on a sunday. Elections always seem to be on a Thursday.
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I've always heard it West By God Virginia, aka West By God, as opposed to West Virginia By God.
I live in Pittsburgh, the Queen City of Appalachia, which but for General Forbes' competence and Braddock's lack of it, would be the capital of West By God...
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#12 allmymarbles
I do not understand the propensity of so many people to blame the media. Unless you're all relying on the National Enquirer and similar I think this is unfair. As far as your assertion "In real life the people we know on the other side of the fense (quote) are perfectly decent and not filled with viciousness." This may be true in normal times. We are not living in "normal" times, this is not a "normal" election. A McCain vote guarantees a continuation of the current state of affairs, the choice could not be clearer. You think a vote for the right to own an AK-47 indicates a gentle collaborative outlook. Dems need to get a little more aggressive pointing out the shortcomings of those "decent" people.
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#20 Reuben34g
No. Because this is a national election for the next president of the US the issues are entirely different. McCain is the oldest candidate from either party ever to run. If elected he will be the oldest to serve. His health is in question (medical records not fully divulged). His running mate is not qualified to step into the shoes of the presidency. We are talking about the security and well-being of the US and concerns about a candidate's ability to serve based on health considerations and prospects for surviving in office are legitimate.
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41, newbriton.
I am not into theory, but reality. I do not see viciousness, or conscious viciousnes, in the people I come across (except occasionally). As to media exaggeration, how do you think they get advertisers to pony up? By telling the world that everything is A OK?
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#20
Reuben,
Yes. It's ageist and should not be a consideration.
However, legitimate questions for consideration are:
- can you remember what you are saying from the first word in a sentence to the second or third
- do your facial expressions indicate you no longer grasp the plot
- do your speech patterns indicate depression or other mental illness
- do you drool uncontrollably
- does your spouse look 'satisfied'
- can you last more than two hours without going pee pee
- do you ever fall asleep mid sentence
- can you climb the steps of Air Force One unaided
- are you statistically likely to survive your full term without disruptive medical events
- are you likely to need to wear depends during your term
- can you find your keys in the morning without one of those whistle beepers
- what is your idea of a racey ride? Lincoln Town Car or Porsche 911
Journalist Sam
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#41
"Dems need to get a little more aggressive pointing out the shortcomings of those 'decent' people."
Some of us are trying.
We're pointing out to anyone who'll listen what it means when Conservatives say they want a smaller government:
It means a government too small to exercise any control at all over big business, but still powerful enough to get into our bedrooms and hospital beds.
It means they want to make decisions about our health care, our religion (whose God do they want in the classroom?), our civil liberties (remember civil liberties?), and the use of public lands (drill here, mine there).
If We The People want to retain the right to make decisions for ourselves, we can't hand the country over to McCain/Palin.
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39, seanspa:
Fritz, where does voting take place in Germany? In the UK, churches sometimes get used. This would be dificult on a sunday. Elections always seem to be on a Thursday.
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It's public buildings of any kind, town halls, schools, but never churches.
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Fritz Kraut
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45 - very well put
44 - not in keeping with almost any other of your posts Sam. A bit past a jab, to mean-spirited.
If your local paper does not carry his columns, you can go to the New York Times web site you can read an editorial by Paul Krugman that all but endorses Obama. Well, at least it definitively flushes out the issues of taxes for plumbers. Yes, that's Paul Krugman this year's Nobel Prize-winning economist. Maybe, like Powell, someone with a little more authority than the average celebrity endorsement.
After reading Krugman, ask yourself why anyone is still barking up the tree of "Obama will raise taxes and squeeze small business".
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20, Reubenl; 44, Sam.
Questioning the ability of an elderly man, with a history of poor health, to run a country is not ageism. It's political correctness bending over backwards.
Would it be ageism to refuse to send a 72-year-old to the Police Academy? If you answer "yes," you had best rethink things from a practical and more honest point of view.
(You are going to say the two positions are not the same. Yes, they are. They both involve stress and require physical vigor.)
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#48
Marby,
I guess my answer would depend on whether or not I was a criminal?
Defendant Sam
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#47
Bluejay,
You are right, a low blow to the Queensbury's.
I also missed one:
- How often during the day do you need nap time?
Apologetic Sam
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The BBC does need to get out more. The BBC Bus tour was an excellent idea. Any chance of repeating it next year? You can also bring along documentary producers to cover various historical topics, camera people to shoot background footage to splice into other BBC productions. Blue Peter could tag along too.
Further, why stop with the USA? Go around Russia or China. Travel the Persian Gulf by boat, or Southeast Asia.
Finally, I hope the plane is there so BBC personnel can get to breaking news stories. Otherwise, it's a bad idea...
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Redwhiteandermblue,
Sorry im mixed up the word order. You've got it right.
Potus44, thanks for the pointer to your excellent effort.
On the ageist matter, I'm with Sam and particularly Ms Marbles. (pauses typing to rush outside and irrigate a shrub)
I, too, enjoyed Jon's ramblings.
Peace and grits
ed
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#45:
Absolutely perfect. You are SPOT on. Thank you for being observant.
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Obama has run a superior, better organized, smarter campaign since day one. .. need we say any more about his executive experience level?
They leave Nothing to chance. . . therefore the entrance into Arizona. Go Obama, go!!!
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