I was delighted to read that Keith Olbermann's contract with MSNBC has been renewed for another cycle.
MSNBC in general, and Keith Olbermann specifically, have had a real impact during the last few years in rebalancing US news following an unhappy period when FOX dominated the airwaves.
Keith's best moments have been his Special Comments - hard-hitting straight to camera statements on issues of the day. On several occaisions he has taken Bush to pieces, and this time he has nailed those who support the ban on gay marriage in California and other states.
It's very emotional, very strong and very clear, and answers anyone who doesn't beleive there are real liberals in the US:
Possibly the most historic US Presidential result of all time, and he'll take office almost exactly 100 years after the founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People.
This could radically change the perception of race across the US and of the US across the globe.
It seems pretty bizarre to me that the wealthiest country in the world doesn't seem able to organise itself to run an election properly - but such is the enthusiam generated by the campaign this time that it doesn't seem to be stopping folk from voting.
The Obama campaign have done a terrific job of making his supporters want to get out and vote for him, as the polling of early voters shows.
I am prepared and willing to wait all day. I have cleared my calendar to make sure I can spend the whole day. And the time I don’t spend waiting or voting, I will spend poll watching and holding signs. This is far too important not to make a personal sacrifice to make sure my vote counts. And, as an Army wife, one day of work loss is meaningless compared to the days my husband has and will spend on deployment. To all within the sound of your voice: Get out and vote!
LaShunda from Mobile, Alabama:
I am seven months pregnant and standing for long periods of time hurts my back tremendously, but in spite of my pain I plan on standing in line as long as it takes to exercise my right to vote, especially when those before me endured even greater hardships to have this right.
Joe St Louis, MO:
I have been waiting 8 years to vote…….
And this comment from a Candian reflects my own view:
Marie, Ontario:
Well Jack I’ve been voting here in Canada for over 40 years and can’t remember more than a half dozen people being in front of me in a line to vote.
This makes me wonder how a country that can send a man to the moon can’t organize and run elections without having so much turmoil and such lengthy delays at the polls.
Anyway to answer your question if I was an American I would wait all day and half the night to cast my vote for Obama as I feel it is just that important.
Well it rained, and it hailed, and it was freezing and windy but ...
Well we're now back from Cornwall after a largely cold, wet and windy week.
We were staying just on the edge of Bodmin Moor but because of the weather didn't get the chance for any proper walks there.
But despite the weather we had a great time.
Amongst other things we visited the lovely Tintagel and its castle, the Arthurian Centre near Camelford, Bodmin, the Eden Project, Padstow, the famous Jamaica Inn, Landhydrock House, Flambards Experience (the wettest and clodest visit to a theme park ever but with a fantastic end of season fireworks display), Healey's Cyder Farm, Futureworld, Lizard Point and Westward Ho!.
We also happened upon a very friendly Post Office in a lovely village called St Brewards which also has an internet cafe and hosts several other village activities - do visit it if you're in the area - they do a lovely mocha. (There is a lively campaign to 'save the Post Office' even though it isn't currently on the threatened list).
Everywhere we went we got an exceptionally friendly welcome and all the places we visisted were well geared up for children.
We rounded the week off with a fancy dress halloween party at Michaelstow Manor Holiday Park where we were staying.
We now have a list of just as many other places to visit that we couldn't get to this time and are planning to head back as soon as we can.
A new suite arrives & Heading for Cornwall for half term
Well, just one year, three months and a week after being flooded our new suite has arrived.
This was the last big thing we were waiting for to get our house back in order.
There is only a bit of 'snagging' left to sort out now.
Anyway to celebrate we're off to Cornwall at the weekend for half term.
We are staying near Bodmin (which I think must be in my former colleague Dan Rogerson's constituency?) and we're hoping that the weather won't be too bad.
Anyone got any ideas for good family things to do - our youngsters are 10 and 6.
Exciting news for the ground-breaking Obama campaign that they have raised more than $150 million during September.
Even more impressively they received donations from more than 632,000 new donors and nowhave more than 3.1 million donors altogether who have given an average of $86.
This is very impressive on several fronts:
It once again demonstrates that Obama is creating genuine mass enthusiasm across the US.
It shows that it is possible to outraise the GOP's big donors and special interests by getting a large number of small donations.
And finally it means that Obama is going to be able to continue to out advertise and out organise McCain from now on in.
Are there lessons here for the Lib Dems? Yes - although we shouldn't pretend that it will be easy or that everything that works in the US will work here.
But it does reinforce what we already knew (and what a few of our seats alreay do) - money is out there if you can identify the right people to ask, put a convincing case that their donation will make a difference and demonstarte that you are spending money effectively.
One of the Local Parties I work for has a regular income (ie from Standing Orders) of nearly £3K per month now - enough to cover all the regular costs. 100% of anything else we raise from events, appeals etc. pays for extra campaigning.
All it has taken to achieve that - and there is still a lot of untapped potential - is to ask the right people in the right way and to build up over time.
Obama really is a fantastic speaker (and a personal link)
Surfing various American websites I realised that an Obama rally was about to be shown live which I am now watching.
He is speaking to a massive crowd in Kansas City, Missouri, and, after a relaxed start about the local sports teams, he is now in full flow on health care and the economy.
He has just been talking about health and his mother. I hadn't picked up that she had died of Ovarian Cancer at the age of 53, a year before my own Mum died of the same illness at the same age.
I am struck by the conviction with which Obama speaks, and the ease with which he mixes his personal story, real life examples, policy, philosophy and political rhetoric.
He has just built to a crescendo and finished and crowd has gone wild - rock start style.
He really is a fantastic speaker and is clearly attracting massive crowds, even in places the Democrats wouldn't have dreamt of winning just a year ago.
I spent today at South Central Conference in the excellent Town Council run Oakwood Centre in the middle of Woodley.
The Conference was buzzing and was the usual mix of debates, speeches, training, fringe and exhibition.
As ever it was full of familiar faces as well as some new ones.
The turnout was high - presumably because Nick Clegg was going to speak at the end of the afternoon. When he spoke many of us had to watch his speech on the screen in the cafe as the auditorium was full.
I was there to do two briefing sessions on plans for the European Campaign as well as to do ten minutes promoting Nick Clegg's Million Door Challenge in the main hall.
I was somewhat taken aback when, having done my presentation I was asked to 'hang on a minute' and was presented with a very amusing 'Focus on Fawcett' (featuring a set of those embarrasing photos that usually turn up on your wedding day) and a rather nifty HMV voucher along with some kind words from Regional Chair Steve Sollit about my work for the Region for the past ten years.
I was a little stunned and gabbled out a few words of thanks which I hope made some sense to the audience.
It has been a great ten years working in the region (which used to be Hampshire and Chilterns) and working with so many activists, many of whom I now consider friends, and it was with some sadness that I decided to drop back to a more local and less stressful role.
But I am very appreciative for the gifts, and for all the kind words I received from so many people today.
Grew up in Redcar, Yorkshire.
Spent six years at the University of Leicester including two sabattical years.
Was on the NUS National Executive 1992-93.
My working life has been with the Liberal Democrats including stints for LDYS, Oxford West & Abingdon Lib Dems and Chris Huhne MEP.
I now work for the party's Campaigns Department.
I have written a number of campaign manuals for the party, LDYS and ALDC and was Editor of ALDC's Goldmine for several years.
