US Election

[Sylar]

Anyone else sitting up to watch the US Election results or am I the sole sad person on here :greengrin

Romney projected to take Indiana, Kentucky and Georgia, whereas Obama is projected to take Vermont.

No real shocks thus far.

[Sylar]

West Virginia also now projected to be held by the Republicans.

24-3 to the Republicans in terms of electoral college votes.

[Sylar]

South Carolina stays Republican. +9 (33-3)

[Sylar]

Illinois projected for Obama.

Massachusetts projected for Obama

Maryland projected for Obama

Alabama projected for Romney

Oklahoma projected for Romney

Rhode Island projected for Obama

Maine projected for Obama

Tennessee projected for Romney

District of Columbia projected for Obama

[Sylar]

Mississippi projected to go to Romney

New Hampshire projected to go to Obama

[Off the bar]

not just you pal, I had a strong coffee about 11, now on the beers flicking between bbc, abc, fox and al jazeera trying to stay interested!

[CB_NO3]

Obama camp looks very relaxed. Think they will defo win this tbh. Florida will be key, but it looks to be heading blue.

[Off the bar]

Obama camp looks very relaxed. Think they will defo win this tbh. Florida will be key, but it looks to be heading blue.

looks like obama could lose florida, so long as he holds ohio no way back for romney

[lucky]

All over Obama re elected. Thank you America.

[CB_NO3]

All over Obama re elected. Thank you America.
Never in doubt.

[Haymaker]

Whilst voting for president, Colorado also voted to legalise marijuana. :cb

[hibsbollah]

Well done America.


A lacklustre and depressing campaign is over. Bill Clintons speech was the highlight of the campaign and a reminder of what real oratory sounds like.

[lyonhibs]

Phew, thank god for that.

Is this the speech being referred to?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzDhk3BHi6Q

One of the greatest public speakers of our times IMO

[YehButNoBut]

Rod has sent his best wishes via Twitter :greengrin

Rod Petrie‏@RodPetrie1875
Congratulations to @barackobama (http://www.hibs.net/BarackObama) from all at Hibernian FC. If you need any financial assistance you know where I am.

[VickMackie]

Rod has sent his best wishes via Twitter :greengrin

Rod Petrie‏@RodPetrie1875
Congratulations to @barackobama (http://www.hibs.net/BarackObama) from all at Hibernian FC. If you need any financial assistance you know where I am.

:faf: genius

[LeighLoyal]

Glad BO won. Don't care for Republicans.

[--------]

Combover ain't happy.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump


I agree with Walter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3foXJfWlgoM


:greengrin

[Betty Boop]

While the US election is taking place, Cameron is away selling arms to the House of Saud. Democracy and human right you say ?

[Just_Jimmy]

All that money on campaigns to end up where they started in both houses and the oval office.

Imagine if theyd put that into the economy? Who's best interests at play?

[IWasThere2016]

I don't think it matters who won.

Their economy is goosed without some sustainable growth parallel to cuts in spending/debt. Neither candidate seems capable of delivering these prerequisites for success IMO.

[Sylar]

I don't think it matters who won.

Their economy is goosed without some sustainable growth parallel to cuts in spending/debt. Neither candidate seems capable of delivering these prerequisites for success IMO.

There was more at stake both domestically and globally than just their economy and in that sense, it absolutely did matter, but I agree neither is likely to improve that anytime soon!

[VickMackie]

All that money on campaigns to end up where they started in both houses and the oval office.

Imagine if theyd put that into the economy? Who's best interests at play?

Surely the money did go into the economy?

They must have had to spend it on tv ads, flyers, flags etc etc

Them moving around the country will have had large gatherings of people spending cash. Albeit short term.

[HibsMax]

I have lived over here for almost 15 years and, at a high-level, I personally haven't noticed a difference to my quality of life regardless of who is in power.

To me one of the biggest problems is farming out manufacturing to China (and other countries). The United States doesn't really produce anything any more. Cars. Yay.

Another problem, in my eyes, is the amount of money we spend on defence. I am a member of a fish and game club which is mostly frequented by those of the conservative leanings. They all want tax cuts but they don't want to cut defence spending. So where is the money going to come from? Other areas which means spending cuts. Some people would rather throw tons of money into defence (defence from whom?) than use some of that money to support those people, legal citizens I mean, who cannot support themselves. Unfortunately when you talk about welfare almost everyone assumes that these people collecting are lazy good-for-nothings milking the govt. I don't doubt that is true for some people but not everyone. I don't even know who we're defending ourselves from. I would never suggest scrapping all military spending but how much is enough?

[HibsMax]

Surely the money did go into the economy?

They must have had to spend it on tv ads, flyers, flags etc etc

Them moving around the country will have had large gatherings of people spending cash. Albeit short term.
flags made in China no doubt. ;)

[Beefster]

All that money on campaigns to end up where they started in both houses and the oval office.

Imagine if theyd put that into the economy? Who's best interests at play?

Any money spent does go 'into the economy'. Aside from that, $2.6bn is loose change in terms of the US economy.

[Haymaker]

I have lived over here for almost 15 years and, at a high-level, I personally haven't noticed a difference to my quality of life regardless of who is in power.

To me one of the biggest problems is farming out manufacturing to China (and other countries). The United States doesn't really produce anything any more. Cars. Yay.

Another problem, in my eyes, is the amount of money we spend on defence. I am a member of a fish and game club which is mostly frequented by those of the conservative leanings. They all want tax cuts but they don't want to cut defence spending. So where is the money going to come from? Other areas which means spending cuts. Some people would rather throw tons of money into defence (defence from whom?) than use some of that money to support those people, legal citizens I mean, who cannot support themselves. Unfortunately when you talk about welfare almost everyone assumes that these people collecting are lazy good-for-nothings milking the govt. I don't doubt that is true for some people but not everyone. I don't even know who we're defending ourselves from. I would never suggest scrapping all military spending but how much is enough?

I feel that a large amount of Americans, those of a certain age especially, are so scared of welfare is because of the Cold War. A long period of time where (not only) Americans were told that any form of collectivism or social programs were "communist" and therefore bad. For example, the older lady (maybe late 50's) interviewed in NV last night on the BBC referring to the health care and food stamps initiatives had made America a "communist country" (her actually words).

This I think is also the same for defence, the left over Cold War notion that someone is out to get you.

I hope I made enough sense there but I am too distracted by the snow to think straight! :cb

[GhostofBolivar]

Don't understand the jubilation over Obama's victory. The lesser of two evils is still evil...

[twiceinathens]

Representatives in one house - majority Republican
Senators in other house - majority democrat
Each talks of "reaching out" and applying non-partisan principles in the interest of the American people.
In practice this will probably mean give nothing and demand that the other side accepts our policies and demands.
A recipe for years of further stalemate.
I sincerely hope that this will not be the case and that Congress will generally act in the common interest but I don't hold out much expectation.

Just to be even more cheerful I think we come nearer to this approach on this side of the pond with each passing year:boo hoo:

[Haymaker]

Representatives in one house - majority Republican
Senators in other house - majority democrat
Each talks of "reaching out" and applying non-partisan principles in the interest of the American people.
In practice this will probably mean give nothing and demand that the other side accepts our policies and demands.
A recipe for years of further stalemate.
I sincerely hope that this will not be the case and that Congress will generally act in the common interest but I don't hold out much expectation.

Just to be even more cheerful I think we come nearer to this approach on this side of the pond with each passing year:boo hoo:

See I think the House is where the Republicans come unstuck. If they continue to hold up, defeat and moan about every democrat effort to help the economy then the next four years will be the Democrats shouting loudly in the media that the republicans are damaging 'Merica, no help, not in touch, not "our (democrats) fault", "We tried but they wouldnt listen" etc etc. THIS may bring swing voters over to the D side next time, a much easier win. The Democrats will just keep saying "We tried all these ideas - THEY wouldnt help America" etc... could be a vote winner.

However, if they worked together and the Democrat policies fail...


I can imagine a few people sat in Washington having a thought crisis right now.

[Betty Boop]

Just days after the election, David Petraeus head of the CIA resigns, citing an extra-marital affair. More to this than meets the eye surely ?

[--------]

Don't understand the jubilation over Obama's victory. The lesser of two evils is still evil...


Does that not apply to the result of any election? :cool2:

[Hibernia&Alba]

Well I'm very happy with Mr Obama's win. I'm always more relaxed when there is a Democratic President. On health care, guns, taxation, job creation, religion, foreign policy and so many other things, I'm happier to see Obama in office than Romney. He mightn't be FDR, RFK or George McGovern, but he's so much better than the alternative.

[Beefster]

Well I'm very happy with Mr Obama's win. I'm always more relaxed when there is a Democratic President. On health care, guns, taxation, job creation, religion, foreign policy and so many other things, I'm happier to see Obama in office than Romney. He mightn't be FDR, RFK or George McGovern, but he's so much better than the alternative.

US domestic policy has the capability of making you relaxed or otherwise?

[Jonnyboy]

Am I right in saying I heard the talking heads on 5Live saying that 80% of white American males who voted chose Romney because he is white? I'm asking because I find it amazing if true. All this talk of policies, spending, recovering economy etc meant jack 5hit as folk just voted based on their prejudices?

[Sylar]

Am I right in saying I heard the talking heads on 5Live saying that 80% of white American males who voted chose Romney because he is white? I'm asking because I find it amazing if true. All this talk of policies, spending, recovering economy etc meant jack 5hit as folk just voted based on their prejudices?

Sounds like conspiracist nonsense to me.

[HibsMax]

Am I right in saying I heard the talking heads on 5Live saying that 80% of white American males who voted chose Romney because he is white? I'm asking because I find it amazing if true. All this talk of policies, spending, recovering economy etc meant jack 5hit as folk just voted based on their prejudices?

You might be right, maybe you did hear that. ;)

I honestly can't tell you why people vote the way they do but I can tell you:
1. I'm a member of d hunting club (I don't hunt but that's another story). They're pretty much all republican - but I won't disrespect th by assuming to know why. Could be guns. Could be anything.
2. When Obama was voted in the first time I heard someone saying they hope someone shoots the n*****. Classy. So yeah, there is a racist element (or at best ignorance) but whether that affects their voting habits I can't say. I know it doesn't affect mine.

[Haymaker]

Found this..


http://www.policymic.com/mobile/articles/18946/obama-secession-citizens-from-18-states-ask-president-to-secede-from-the-union

[Beefster]

Am I right in saying I heard the talking heads on 5Live saying that 80% of white American males who voted chose Romney because he is white? I'm asking because I find it amazing if true. All this talk of policies, spending, recovering economy etc meant jack 5hit as folk just voted based on their prejudices?

It has to be mince, JB. Romney didn't get 80% of th white male vote.

[HibsMax]

It has to be mince, JB. Romney didn't get 80% of th white male vote.
That's not what JB said though. He said that 80% of white males who did vote for Romney did so based upon race...not that 80% of white males voted for Romney.

[Beefster]

That's not what JB said though. He said that 80% of white males who did vote for Romney did so based upon race...not that 80% of white males voted for Romney.

Sorry, I didn't word it properly. I meant the same thing. I'm sure I read somewhere it was more like 65-70% of white males and 60% of white voters overall.

There was also the suggestion that the whites were voting because of racial prejudices but 93% of African Americans voted for Obama. I think it's pretty stupid to assume that anyone is voting on racial grounds incidentally.

[HibsMax]

I think it's pretty stupid to assume that anyone is voting on racial grounds incidentally.

I am not so sure. This is obviously just (my) opinion but I feel pretty safe in saying that there are some people out there who voted based on Obama's race. There are a lot of dumb people over here. I can't point to a single person who did so, it's just a feeling I have based upon things I've seen and heard (not related to the election and race I should add).

The Westboro Baptist Church believes that Obama is the anti-christ (although that's not because he's black apparently) so you can be damn sure he didn't get any of their votes - although that is not a race issue. I only mention it because, seriously, Obama is the anti-christ? That doesn't sound like a reasoned statement to make but it is a belief that these people have that could have an impact on voting. How many other people / groups / voters are there who have similarly wacky beliefs? If you accept that some people did not vote for Obama because he's the devil then you have to concede that some people also did not vote for him because of his skin colour.

[Beefster]

I am not so sure. This is obviously just (my) opinion but I feel pretty safe in saying that there are some people out there who voted based on Obama's race. There are a lot of dumb people over here. I can't point to a single person who did so, it's just a feeling I have based upon things I've seen and heard (not related to the election and race I should add).

The Westboro Baptist Church believes that Obama is the anti-christ (although that's not because he's black apparently) so you can be damn sure he didn't get any of their votes - although that is not a race issue. I only mention it because, seriously, Obama is the anti-christ? That doesn't sound like a reasoned statement to make but it is a belief that these people have that could have an impact on voting. How many other people / groups / voters are there who have similarly wacky beliefs? If you accept that some people did not vote for Obama because he's the devil then you have to concede that some people also did not vote for him because of his skin colour.

You're absolutely right and again, my wording has been rubbish. I don't doubt for a second that some racists definitely voted for Romney because of Obama's skin colour.

Rather than the individual though, I was referring more the mass - 'white males', 'black women' and so on (but didn't make that clear).

Having seen that Church on a couple of documentaries and news programmes, I think it's pretty clear who the anti-Christs are...

[HibsMax]

You're absolutely right and again, my wording has been rubbish. I don't doubt for a second that some racists definitely voted for Romney because of Obama's skin colour.

Rather than the individual though, I was referring more the mass - 'white males', 'black women' and so on (but didn't make that clear).

Having seen that Church on a couple of documentaries and news programmes, I think it's pretty clear who the anti-Christs are...

In that case, we agree. :-)

Those WBC nutters state, according to the entry on Wikipedia, that the only true Neo Nazis are fags. I don't even know how to make any sort of sense from that comment. Where do you begin?

[(((Fergus)))]

I am not so sure. This is obviously just (my) opinion but I feel pretty safe in saying that there are some people out there who voted based on Obama's race. There are a lot of dumb people over here. I can't point to a single person who did so, it's just a feeling I have based upon things I've seen and heard (not related to the election and race I should add).

The Westboro Baptist Church believes that Obama is the anti-christ (although that's not because he's black apparently) so you can be damn sure he didn't get any of their votes - although that is not a race issue. I only mention it because, seriously, Obama is the anti-christ? That doesn't sound like a reasoned statement to make but it is a belief that these people have that could have an impact on voting. How many other people / groups / voters are there who have similarly wacky beliefs? If you accept that some people did not vote for Obama because he's the devil then you have to concede that some people also did not vote for him because of his skin colour.

For and against, or just against?

[HibsMax]

For and against, or just against?

Both, but when I posted I was referring to those who voted against.