Submitted by rickeyre on
And a hearty congratulations to the President-Elect of Palau, Johnson Toribiong, after winning Tuesday's poll in the North Pacific republic. The outgoing vice-president, Elias Camsek Chin, conceded defeat on Friday.
The Pacific Magazine website has the latest unofficial count for the presidential, senate and lower house elections.
Submitted by rickeyre on
A great orator giving a great speech for a great occasion. It sent tingles down the spine watching Barack Obama give his victory speech on TV live from Chicago at 4.15pm this afternoon my time. The full transcript is worth repeating (source CNN):
"Hello, Chicago.
Submitted by rickeyre on
It's been a long time since I have been proud of the United States of America. (If ever.) But today I'm proud of the American electorate for coming up with the right answer, and one that is such an historic breakthrough.
Congratulations to Barack Obama, and congratulations to the United States of America!
Submitted by rickeyre on
According to Richard Sandomir in Tuesday's New York Times, only one man has gone to become US President after making an appearance in the Monday Night Football commentary box. That man was Ronald Reagan. According to Sandomir,
Submitted by rickeyre on
In a big week for the cast of Fawlty Towers, John Cleese made a delightful appearance with Keith Olbermann on MSNBC's Countdown on Friday night to discuss the Presidential election, even reciting some poetry.
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SENATOR McCAIN: ...I'm very, very happy to know that five former secretaries of state who I admire enormously--Henry Kissinger, Jim Baker, Larry Eagleburger, Al Hague--Jim Baker, Henry Kissinger, Al Hague, Larry Eagleburger and one other, and over 200 retired flag general--generals and admirals are supporting my campaign. I'm very proud of their support.
TOM BROKAW: Senator, we opened today with a--how you're doing in Iowa. The Des Moines Register has endorsed...
SENATOR McCAIN: George Shultz. George Shultz is the other one.
Submitted by rickeyre on
If the President of the United States is the "leader of the free world", then why don't the constituents of the free world get a vote?
In a nation where the electoral system is a veritable dog's breakfast, the election of a POTUS is the result of a mish-mash of (to mix animal metaphors) "first-past-the-post" systems. Which means that, unlike Australia, you can't allocate votes for your local POTUS Electoral Collegians on a preferential basis. It's all or nothing for the candidate of your choice.
Submitted by rickeyre on
Not just quote of the week, but a nominee for the 2008 Gold Rummy from New South Wales Premier, Nathan Rees, speaking about traffic congestion in a keynote address to the 9th World Congress of Metropolis in Sydney on October 23:
"Congestion is a concern for all Sydneysiders and if you think you are in traffic, you are in traffic. It's not a relative concept.
"It's like being in love. If you think you are in love, you are in love. If you think you are in traffic, you are in traffic."
Submitted by rickeyre on
This US Navy video shows what a great place Diego Garcia is for your next tour of duty. Unless, of course, you and your forebears lived there until 1971 when kicked out to make way for said militia. Hey, it's almost screaming out to host a remake of McHale's Navy...
Submitted by rickeyre on
A disappointing verdict in the British House of Lords today, with citizens of the Chagos Islands in the Indian Ocean, forcibly evicted in the early 1970s, losing an appeal to reverse a decision preventing their return to their home.
