The One That Is Proud We Are The Trend Setters. . .

I don't know how many times I've heard it said that what happens first in the US will normally follow here a few years later. I can think of one or two exceptions, I understand that we embraced digital TV a good deal earlier than the US, and coming the other way, we don't seem to have been so enthusiastic about crystal meth as our American cousins.

But it is nice to see that on occasion, the US will still look over the Atlantic to the old colonial master to see how things are done properly, and Jimmy Carter has picked up one of the most useful tools that have been used over here for a while now.

Former US President Jimmy Carter says much of the vitriol against President Barack Obama's health reforms and spending plans is "based on racism".

Mr Carter told a town-hall meeting there was "an inherent feeling among many in this country that an African-American should not be president".

Now I have little doubt that there are a number of people who will never accept a black man as President, just as many would accept a woman in the same job. I'm sure that there were some whose primary objection to Thatcher as PM was that she was a woman and that some people find a Scottish PM objectionable on grounds of nationality rather than the man's policies.

They're in the minority though.

When Republican Congressman Joe Wilson shouted 'You lie!' Carter was swift to denounce him as a racist.

It is most likely that he just disagrees with Obamamamama's policy, I don't think a Congressman from South Carolina would get very far if he was forever shouting things out at black people.

Carter has been watching us, though. Let's see how many other opponents to Presidential policy are regularly smeared as being racist, either directly or by insinuation. 'What? You don't agree? RACIST!!!!!!'

I wonder if there is a USNP rubbing their hands with glee?

The One That Is Very Angry Indeed. . .

Many thanks to Bishop Hill who made a very brief posting and drew my attention to this shocking revelation from Harmless Sky.

In short, the BBC has re-edited Barack Obama's inauguration speech to basically fit their own agenda.

Newsnight reported him as saying:

We will restore science to its rightful place, [and] roll back the spectre of a warming planet. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.

What he actually said:

Paragraph 16

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act - not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. And all this we will do.

Paragraph 22

We are the keepers of this legacy. Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort - even greater cooperation and understanding between nations. We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan. With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the spectre of a warming planet. We will not apologise for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken; you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.

And why? We all know that Obama has bought (been suckered?) into the 'climate change' agenda, so why the need to wilfully manipulate this speech?

I've been of the opinion that the BBC put a very definite spin on news to suit their own agenda but to do this is beyond the pale.

Licence fee, blah blah, subscription, harrumph harrumph, bias, yada yada, but this truly disgusts me, indeed I feel the need to write a letter.

I never trust what politicians say, now I can't even trust that what they've said is sufficiently well reported for me not to trust it. Duplicitous politicians and deceitful media, oh what a wonderful combination.

The One That Is Advocating Caution. . .

There's a joke doing the rounds about George W asking Obama to come with him on a rowing boat in the middle of the Potomac so they can discuss the really secret stuff without being overheard. After about 5 mins, Obama realises he's quite cold on the river and wishes he'd brought his overcoat which he left in the car on the riverbank. 'Hang on a minute George, I'm just going to get my coat.' With that, he steps over the side of the rowing boat and walks across the surface of the water to the riverbank to retrieve it. The waiting press pack snap away in disbelief and the rolling news channels go into meltdown. Sat on his sofa at home, John McCain turns to his wife and says 'Why didn't anyone tell me the son-of-a-bitch couldn't swim?'

Right, can we all just calm down a bit?

Yes, Obama has been elected with a healthy majority, but by no means the huge victory Clinton had in '96 or the absolutely enormous landslide Nixon had over McGovern in '72.

Yes, Obama is the first black President. But it was always going to happen sooner or later. The Democrats were likely to win if Hilary secured the nomination as well, and the cynic in me could point out that they chose to put forward the man instead of the woman.

Yes, Obama is novel in the fact that for the first time in eight years, the media handlers aren't going to be holding their breath waiting for the next fuck up from the man at the podium.

And, yes, after two Bush terms the hopes for an improved, more considered USA are high, but let's face it, not much could have been worse than Bush.

Please can we drop the cult worship that is surrounding him? People say 'his approval ratings are very high.' I should hope so, he's just comfortably won the Presidential election and hasn't had a day in the office to piss anyone off yet.

When leaders attain an almost divine aura it only ends in trouble, either the leader believes the hype, or even worse, the population believes the hype. Whilst I would never compare his politics to these people*, it does smack a bit of Hitler, Stalin, Mao and that nutter who declared himself Emperor of the Central African Republic.

Let's just calm down and evaluate him on his performance in office, rather than the colour of his skin, his presentational skills and the fact that Bono really likes him. I'm not saying he's going to be a disaster, but he hasn't actually done anything yet.

In fact the fact that Bono really likes him should be ringing bloody huge alarm bells.

*Does anyone actually know what his politics are, beyond 'change'?

+++UPDATE+++

Many thanks to 'Ted' for his comments and the subsequent research I've done. This article for example suggests that Obama isn't a US Citizen and is in cahoots with members of the Supreme Court. Must admit I don't have nearly enough depth of knowledge, and as an outsider it smacks of conspiracy theory and stretches credibility to the limit, but I'm not about to dismiss it out of hand and it certainly is an entertaining way to pass a few minutes. . .