Category: Uncategorized
Barack and his Grandfather
Western Pennsylvania
So a canvasser goes to a woman’s door in Washington, Pennsylvania. Knocks. Woman answers. Knocker asks who she’s planning to vote for. She isn’t sure, has to ask her husband who she’s voting for. Husband is off in another room watching some game. Canvasser hears him yell back, “We’re votin’ for the n***er!”
Woman turns back to canvasser, and says brightly and matter of factly: “We’re voting for the n***er.”
More Kmiec
Catholicism transcends party. In Catholic terms, neither ticket is perfect. But with right intent, either can be supported by a Catholic in good conscience — always being ready, as St. Peter counseled, to “give an explanation to anyone for the reason for your hope, with gentleness and reverence.”
Garrison Keillor on Sarah Palin
It was dishonest, cynical men who put forward a clueless young woman for national office, hoping to juice up the ticket, hoping she could skate through two months of chaperoned campaigning, but the truth emerges: The lady is talking freely about matters she has never thought about.
Edinburgh Discussion
I would like to relay what was probably the funniest moment of the evening during the discussion in Edinburgh. It was during the question period after the opening remarks.
A questioner asked where to get information beyond the mainstream media if someone wanted to be deeply informed. I explained that I get much good information from blogs and there are blogs on both sides of the aisle that I would recommend.
I said, “My favorite blogger is Andrew Sullivan who is interesting because he’s a gay Republican Catholic who is head over heels for Obama.”
Sir Christopher leaned into his microphone and said deadpan in a stage whisper, “So to speak…”
The audience erupted and I turned red.
Inside Sarah Palin’s Brain
Click on the picture to enlarge it and take the time to follow the whole chart. Hilarious.
Thanks to Aden Renkie.
Edinburgh Discusion of the American Elections
A discussion on the U.S. Presidential debate, hosted by the Fleishman Hillard Edinburgh office, was held last Wednesday evening in the stunning Signet Library in Parliament Square in Edinburgh. It was a lively affair due mostly to Sir Christopher Meyer, former British Ambassador to the United States and a member of the International Advisory Board. His witty observations and telling anecdotes delighted the crowd. I did my part as the American politico, assuring the audience that Fleishman Hillard was completely non-partisan, in case my personal Obama sympathies peeked through.
The panel was chaired by The Right Honorable George Reid, a very proper Scotsman right out of central casting. You can hear him at the beginning of the video. A fascinating man who served in the Scottish National Parliament, among many, many other things.
My favorite question noted that many Americans were unschooled in international affairs, even though the entire world had such heavy stakes in this election. “We feel like we’re on a roller coaster, run by the Americans, and they don’t even know we’re aboard!”
Thank you to Michael Stanton-Geddes, budding cinematographer and currently serving in the FH Brussels office, for the following brief snatches from the event. It’s about 5 minutes long.
Edinburgh Castle
I’m about to hop a plane, so I don’t have time to elaborate, but here’s a little slide show of my visit to Ediburgh Castle. Details to follow.
Not Like Those Americans!
Conservative Party Leader David Cameron made brief unscheduled remarks to the conference today to comment on the financial situation. Very moderate tone, even statesmanlike. But, twice during the speech he vowed not to be like those Americans with all their partisan wrangling.
There I sat in the audience slumped in my chair with head bowed in shame, an real life example of bad political behavior.
Change!
Well, whaddya know? Change is the mantra here, too. Except they have a “plan” for change.
I went to a so-called “fringe” event today where a panel discussed what policies needed to go into a conservative “manifesto” for the next election. Funny how political debates with British accents sound so elevated. Still, the discussion confirmed what we know, which is that the British Conservatives are more like American moderate Republicans. I think our mainstream Republicans would be considered religious kooks over here.
