The Revenge of Winston Smith
Observations on the absurdity of everyday life interspersed with rambling rants against religion · big brother government policies · conservatism · right-wingers and obsessive capitalists · xenophobes, racists, sexists and bigots in general · tabloid journalism · the Daily Mail · self-professed moral guardians..... and much much more!
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Category: across the pond [ home ]
On the eve of the U.S. elections
Posted by Tim on Monday, November 01, 2004 | Permalink
If I had my way, the next U.S. president would be a woman, black, gay if at all possible, and, most importantly, an atheist. Such a person could really help to make the world a better place. Unfortunately the next U.S. president is going to be either John Kerry or George W. Bush.
Not living in the states, I know very little about Kerry. Certain people have been making a big thing about his flip-flops, but I've yet to work out why his choice of footwear matters. Certain (other) people have been saying "anyone is better than Bush" - understandable, although it doesn't actually say much about Kerry himself.
I suppose you could say "at least Bush isn't Reagan" - if Reagan had have been president in September 2001 we'd now be in the middle of a nuclear war - but another four years in which the most powerful nation in the world is being run by a simple-minded republican is a worrying prospect.
Still, at least it will all be over soon. Just a few weeks while they sort out who actually did win.
Update 01/11/04
Apologies for the rambley-crapness of that post.
(If a full scale nuclear war had have broken out in 2001 I probably wouldn't be blogging about these matters now).
Personally I think Bush will win. Americans seem to be living in fear (of terrorism) right now, and they think that Bush is a "man of action" - a fact that he plays on in an attempt to secure votes.
Not living in the states, I know very little about Kerry. Certain people have been making a big thing about his flip-flops, but I've yet to work out why his choice of footwear matters. Certain (other) people have been saying "anyone is better than Bush" - understandable, although it doesn't actually say much about Kerry himself.
I suppose you could say "at least Bush isn't Reagan" - if Reagan had have been president in September 2001 we'd now be in the middle of a nuclear war - but another four years in which the most powerful nation in the world is being run by a simple-minded republican is a worrying prospect.
Still, at least it will all be over soon. Just a few weeks while they sort out who actually did win.
Update 01/11/04
Apologies for the rambley-crapness of that post.
(If a full scale nuclear war had have broken out in 2001 I probably wouldn't be blogging about these matters now).
Personally I think Bush will win. Americans seem to be living in fear (of terrorism) right now, and they think that Bush is a "man of action" - a fact that he plays on in an attempt to secure votes.
Following the U.S. elections
Posted by Tim on Wednesday, November 03, 2004 | Permalink
Our good friends, the Americans
Posted by Tim on Monday, November 08, 2004 | Permalink
I've spent a fair bit of time over the past week looking at right-wing American blogs for their reaction to the U.S. elections. Most of the ones I visit regularly are thankfully free of the smugness I expected (although the slightly patronising "Kerry did the right thing in the end" stuff is a bit irritating).
Looking at the comments to these posts however reveals something rather more unpleasant.
People who oppose Bush are "un-American" - presumably you have to be right-wing to be truly American. It's the American way. I myself, being a Brit, shouldn't even have an opinion on such matters. I obviously hate America, and It's entirely down to jealousy. That's right, I spend all my time looking at the U.S. with envy, mourning the loss of the British Empire while I dunk hot buttered crumpets into my warm beer. I also should be eternally grateful to these commenters - if it wasn't for them I'd be speaking German now (although I'm surprised that so many of these commenters were actually involved in WWII).
This sort of thing does nothing to alter my opinion that America is largely populated by dumb, fat, greedy, money obsessed, right-wing, bigoted, obsessively patriotic (i.e. xeonophobic) gun-toting religious fanatics - and presumably these are the people who voted for Bush.
I don't hate America. It could be a fantastic place - if about half* of the population disappeared.
*51% to be precise.
Looking at the comments to these posts however reveals something rather more unpleasant.
People who oppose Bush are "un-American" - presumably you have to be right-wing to be truly American. It's the American way. I myself, being a Brit, shouldn't even have an opinion on such matters. I obviously hate America, and It's entirely down to jealousy. That's right, I spend all my time looking at the U.S. with envy, mourning the loss of the British Empire while I dunk hot buttered crumpets into my warm beer. I also should be eternally grateful to these commenters - if it wasn't for them I'd be speaking German now (although I'm surprised that so many of these commenters were actually involved in WWII).
This sort of thing does nothing to alter my opinion that America is largely populated by dumb, fat, greedy, money obsessed, right-wing, bigoted, obsessively patriotic (i.e. xeonophobic) gun-toting religious fanatics - and presumably these are the people who voted for Bush.
I don't hate America. It could be a fantastic place - if about half* of the population disappeared.
*51% to be precise.
IT! WAS! A! JOKE!
Posted by Tim on Tuesday, October 26, 2004 | Permalink
I wasn't initially going to bother writing about this - plenty of people have beaten me to it. But I can't help but be amazed by the effect that something so small and insignificant has had.
I am referring to Charlie Brooker's Screen Burn column in The Guide from last Saturday's Guardian. The final paragraph is what has caused so many right-wing American bloggers (see here for an example) to start foaming at the mouth:
Ok, it was in poor taste and not actually very funny (us Brits do have a very dry sense of humour) but surely it must be obvious to anyone with any degree of intelligence that it was only a joke? After reading some of the reactions to the article you'd think that the Guardian had actually put a price on Bush's head!
Someone guy asked me how the British public would feel if an American had asked where John Bellingham was when we needed him (I had to look this up - apparently Mr Bellingham is the only person to have assassinated a British Prime Minister). Frankly, I don't think many Brits would really care. As I pointed out to the afore-mentioned person, we'd probably just shrug it off and think "Tosser!". And then go down the pub.
I am referring to Charlie Brooker's Screen Burn column in The Guide from last Saturday's Guardian. The final paragraph is what has caused so many right-wing American bloggers (see here for an example) to start foaming at the mouth:
On November 2, the entire civilised world will be praying, praying Bush loses. And Sod's law dictates he'll probably win, thereby disproving the existence of God once and for all. The world will endure four more years of idiocy, arrogance and unwarranted bloodshed, with no benevolent deity to watch over and save us. John Wilkes Booth, Lee Harvey Oswald, John Hinckley Jr - where are you now that we need you?
Ok, it was in poor taste and not actually very funny (us Brits do have a very dry sense of humour) but surely it must be obvious to anyone with any degree of intelligence that it was only a joke? After reading some of the reactions to the article you'd think that the Guardian had actually put a price on Bush's head!
Someone guy asked me how the British public would feel if an American had asked where John Bellingham was when we needed him (I had to look this up - apparently Mr Bellingham is the only person to have assassinated a British Prime Minister). Frankly, I don't think many Brits would really care. As I pointed out to the afore-mentioned person, we'd probably just shrug it off and think "Tosser!". And then go down the pub.