In response to Colin...

I hope that the P Club will always be a home to open debate, and that voices of dissent are always heard. It is in that spirit that I feel that I have to respond Colin's post from a few days ago. (Apologies for the enormous length, I had a lot to say. I know, Mr. Ed had a lot to say - shocker.)

At first glance, I simply took issue with the suggestion that we should tame some of our enthusiasm for such a momentous occasion. After all, the election of the first African-American president is a milestone, which seemed highly unlikely even at the start of this year. Furthermore, I would argue that the end of the George Bush's disastrous tenure as President is an event well worth up-ending a few beers over too. After thinking more about how I might reply to Colin's post, however, it occurred to me that I also take issue with his premise that the election of Tony Blair and New Labour achieved nothing, and moreover, I feel that such a cynical view of politics is both intellectually lazy and ill-advised.

The issue of race is one that has divided the US since its inception. The second paragraph of the declaration of independence begins: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights." Yet, the authors of this noble document were almost all slave-owners. The civil war remains the bloodiest conflict in US history - it claimed more American lives than all the wars the US has fought in the 20th century combined - and despite the crowing of a few 'Southern' historians, the root cause was slavery. Although at the end of the war slavery was abolished, blacks were forced to live as second-class citizens for another 100 years.

It's easy for us foals to view early 60s as a far distant time, but it is also important to remember that at the time of Barack Obama's birth, inter-racial marriage was illegal in many US states. During that time we've come a long way in the US, over the past 40-odd years, but it hasn't been easy. There have been tremendous set-backs and devastating losses; there have also been great triumphs, such as the victory on Tuesday night. Celebrating such a pivotal moment in history is important, not only to recognise Barack Obama's remarkable achievement, but also to recall the tireless work of so many who laid the groundwork for his victory, and most of all, to remember the terrible price so many have paid in the struggle for racial equality.

With that said, the effusive joy that accompanied Obama's win this past week has another side to it. This election marks the ouster of one of the most unpopular US presidents in history, and the end of a truly dark time for the world as a whole. Bush launched a dreadful and unnecessary war. He illegally spied on US citizens, intercepting their letters and phone calls. He suspended civil rights, held US citizens with hearing or trial, and abducted innocent people and sent them to distant countries to be brutalised. He authorised the use of torture by US soldiers and spies, and started a concentration camp, conveniently outside of the jurisdiction of US courts. Furthermore, George Bush was a lousy domestic leader; from Katrina and Terri Schiavo to the co-opting of the Justice Department as a wing of the Republican Party, his record has been one of incompetence, over-reach and corruption. The end of Bush's disastrous foreign policy, his illegal and immoral practices in the war on terror and his abysmal domestic governance are surely something to celebrate.

I think the paragraphs above go some way to explaining why I think Colin's analogy linking 1997 in the UK and 2008 in the US is flawed: Tony Blair was never, and could never be, a cultural or historical figure on par with Barack Obama. Not to mention that John Major and the Tories, for all their flaws, were never anywhere near as malign as the Bush-Rove Republican Party. However, even glossing over these imperfections, I would take issue with what is implied by the analogy: that Tony Blair and the Labour government elected in 1997 ultimately failed to achieve the "great things" their supporters (and detractors) thought they might achieve.

On a narrow political angle, Tony Blair led the Labour party, for the first time ever, to three consecutive electoral victories. Moreover, with hindsight it is clear that the 1997 election marked a watershed, the point at which mainstream British politics shifted to the centre or even centre-left. For evidence of this, one need only look at the opposition party. After the 1997 election, the first instinct of the Tories was to move even further to the right, albeit with a younger face: William Hague suffered a devastating defeat. After another election defeat and several more years in the wilderness - and several more leaders - the Conservative party has finally returned to some semblance of a viable political force. How did David Cameron achieve this? The new Conservative party represents a softer conservatism, one that embraces the NHS. There's a focus on conservation, the environment and public transport initiatives. There are even stirrings of a less hostile approach to Europe. In short, these policy positions represent a profound movement to the centre for the Tories - a move they had to make to be viable in the political climate of Britain today. A political climate, that Tony Blair was instrumental in creating.

In the final analysis Blair's legacy will be inextricably tied to the Iraq war, and rightly so. Like many Britons, I still feel betrayed by his mendacity in the lead-up to the war, and history has rendered its judgment on his decision to support Bush. However, to measure the successes (or failures) of the New Labour movement as a whole by this metric is myopic.

Finally, I would take issue with Colin's tone. Enthusiasm for a candidate or party running with on a mantra of "change" can always be written-off as mawkish naiveté. I would counter though, that knee-jerk cynicism is no better; at it's best it is intellectual laziness, at worst, a fool's substitute for wisdom. Of course Obama will make mistakes, as he himself acknowledged in his speech on Tuesday, and he will make decisions that I disagree with - this is par for the course in politics. However, feeling confidence, pride even, in a prospective leader of a country should not be construed as naive or shameful.

It's all to easy to say all politicians are crooks and liars, the parties are just modern tribalism, and that regardless of the outcome of an election, the end result will always be the same. There are many examples that prove this thesis wrong, but none so fresh in my mind, nor so stark, as the 2000 election here in the US. After 8 years of economic growth and prosperity, Americans were complacent. Conventional wisdom held that the outcome of the election wouldn't have any lasting impact on the country; and yet, imagine where we might be on issues such as climate change or the War on Terror if Gore had been in the White House instead of Bush. Perhaps the most striking, not to mention ironic, effect of the 2000 election is this: if Al Gore had won, it is almost certain that Barack Obama would not have just won the 2008 election.

All decisions have consequences, all choices matter, and few are more important than those made at the ballot box. The outcome of every election has both long- and short-term effects, many of which are unknowable. We can choose to vote according to our aspirations and our ideals, or we can let fear, prejudice and cynicism guide our electoral choices. Call me naive, but I know which I prefer.

- Mr. Ed

In Your Face

Well after all that I was a bit let down by the victory speech:



- Scout

Never one to go against the stable, but.......

I know it's all very exciting this new Barak H. Obama chap getting world omnipotence and everything, but it all takes me back to a day when we were all just ponies, some not even old enough to vote. Yes back in 1997 I heard the same intense, and dare I say it slightly naive enthusiasm when a certain Tony Blair and his trendy New Labour gibbons promised a whole bunch of change and new, oh so great, horizons. Well we all now how that panned out don't we?

Now don't get me wrong, out of the two options, the best man won but I would like to ask for a certain 'reining' (probably the best pun on pony club yet) in of celebration. After all a war in Pakistan could be just around the corner.

I know I might upset a few ponies with this, but I thought the whole thing needed some balance.

Colin.

It's all true, it was in the papers and everything

Congratulations to P-Clubbers on both sides of the pond and may I be allowed to congratulate the American people who's decision, I believe will benefit them and the world.

Just in case you thought you were dreaming, it's OK because there was some stuff in the papers about it.

Also, well done Mr Ed on your prediction of the electoral votes, spot on (almost).

- Scout

Wow

I woke up a few hours ago, rubbed my eyes, registered a pretty heafty headache, and then remembered what all the fuss was about. After months years of dreaming, hoping and waiting for this moment I am overwhelmed with emotion. The atmosphere last night out and about in Charleston was incredible. There was a a spell, at least an hour or so, after the election was called where everyone in the Upper Deck was hugging and kissing each other. Outside in the streets there were honking cars, and raucous crowds of Obama supporters celebrating. I've been here in chucktown for three presidential elections now, and last night is without parallel.










Yes, we did!

- Mr. Ed

Election special part two

7:21pm A new post for a new pad!

We're going to start the evening in the '03 (29403 the upper peninsula, that is) with pulled pork sandwiches and beers at KenthE's house. Curently in attendance are Myself, Erk, KenthE and Rufus the hound (See below) with many more on their way. In election news Vermont has gone for Obama and Kentucky for McCain. Time for a beer!



- Mr Ed

Update 8:58pm Networks have called PA for Obama.

The party at KenthE's is really kicking off. The pulled pork is delicious, the beer is going down, and I'm told the apple cobbler is to die for. The win in Pennsylvania is vital for Obama - if he lands a red state now, victory is pretty much assured. Something tell me it'll be a long night yet though. Walt, scarred by his experience during the 2000 election in DC, says "I'm not celebrating anything until the morning." Grumblings about heading out to the bars begins to grow.

- Mr. Ed

Update 9:25pm. Fox and MSNBC call Ohio for Obama.

This could be it folks! Ohio will put Obama over the top... In other news, the drumbeat to start the night's bar-crawl begins in earnest.

- Mr. Ed

Update 2:42pm Fuck yeah!

Well I think that about does it. Welcome to the 21st century, we are finally arrived. I am drunk. I am about to get more drunk.

- Mr. Ed

Live Blogging Election Special

Hi. In a desperate attempt to give myself something to do while I anxiously await the results later this evening, I thought I'd set up a live-blog thread. So all you usual P Clubbers feel free to add any thoughts, observations or bloviations to this post below, or in the comments.

4:13pm: I'll kick things off with a few observations:

~ As predicted, turnout seems to be huge. My wait wasn't too bad, but I've heard about 2 to 3 hour waits at a number of other polling places in Charleston, especially in James island, North Charleston and the upper Peninsula, all three of which have large African-American populations. South Carolina isn't about to become Obama country, but the margin here might be very interesting. More on that later I'm sure.

~ I interrupted a pony-political chat with Bluecupoard a moment ago to answer another incoming call. Turns out, it was from Scarlett Johansson, she was asking me to join her in voting for Barack Obama today. I told her I already had, and took the opportunity to ask what she was up to later in the week. She just kept talking about hope and change though, like she was a robot or something. So if you reading this Scarlett, I'm with you on the Obama thing - and I'm still interested - but you've got to learn that conversation is a two-way street.

-Mr. Ed

Update: 4:35pm Steinbrenner sent me a link to this video earlier, but I only just got around to watching it now. What's not to like about Natalie Portman and kittens?

- Mr. Ed

Update: 4:51pm Oh the waiting, oh the agony! Luckily Andrew Sullivan posted the greatest muppet video ever, which helps kill some time:



- Mr. Ed

Update: 4:59pm Steinbrenner pointed out in the comments of the post below that she was miffed that she didn't get an "I voted" sticker this morning in Jersey City, NJ. So instead, she made one for herself, and for a co-worker who was also slighted at the polls. She just sent this picture from her phone:

In other news, I couldn't hold out any more, I've started drinking.

- Mr. Ed

Update 5:03pm I'm SO popular - I just got a call from Barack Obama! He was celling to tell me that I still had a few hours to vote, and that it was really important to make my voice heard. A funny thing occured to me though as he was talking, and I'm starting to believe the republicans might have been right about him. I listened to him patiently for a while, but when I tried to respond, he ignored me... just like that CELEBRITY strumpet Scarlett Johansson before. Jeez, why are they all so elitist?

- Mr. Ed

I Voted!

I just got back from voting at the school around the corner from my house. My district had a pretty short wait, around 40 minutes, the other district though had a line at least 4 times as long. I got there around 9ish and I was back home by 10am. Here are some pictures:



Just so that I can be ridiculed later, I'm going to make a wild prediction. My optimistic side says Obama by 36o electoral votes, my inner pessimist says 320, so I think I'll plump for 340. Now we just have to sit back and watch me proved totally wrong...

- Mr. Ed

A day to remember

Regardless of the outcome, today will be singular day in history.


(Barack Obama speaking at the College of Charleston, Thursday, January 10, 2008. Image - Zvayam )

This campaign season has already broken any number of barriers and mile-stones. The simple fact that a man who is half-Kenyan and half-Kansan - and was raised for several years in Indonesia - could reach this point is both uniquely American and profoundly remarkable. That he could win a landslide victory today might say more about our need, as a nation, to repudiate the last 8 years, as it does about our faith in Obama's abilities to lead us forward in the next 4 or 8 years. Regardless, there is a palpable sense that America is a country in need of revitalising renewal, and who better to usher in a new epoch, and truly unite these states once again, than a man who is at once the essence of all that makes America truly great, and heir to its most bitter legacy.

Yes we will,

Mr. Ed

The title of this post is lifted, whole-sale, from Andrew Sullivan. You can view better/more images of the rally in Charleston here.

Nailin' Palin

- Scout

Is there time to make a small shit?

- Philip

Whassup?

Remember the "Whassup" Budweiser ads from the early 2000s? Well, here's an updated version for 2008, it seems things haven't really worked out for the guys...



Just 10 days to go,

Mr. Ed
(Currently blogging from a sofa in Chicago)

Et maintenant le voyage a la supermarche...

Missing the boat, the admiralty, the whole dang fleet, Chives has discovered Flight of the Conchords. See my compendium. If you haven't already many, many times over.


I'm the Muthaflippin'...




Like a steaming pile of last year, this has been Chives.
Um, Chives.

Meme-arama!!

Beigey and I stumbled on this little numbber on You Tube a while ago, and I've been looking for an excuse to post it- Mr. Ed's earlier post was just what I needed . There seems to be a whole meme relating to the "misheard lyrics/subtitled video" concept. What other wonders lie in wait for we P-sters, I wonder...
Anyway, here come the hotsteppa...



- Bluecupoard and Beigey

Pipe wrench fight!

A literal interpretation of Ah-Ha's classic "Take on me". Is this the beginning of a new internet meme? Let's hope so...



- Mr. Ed

Heady days

"Whoah there!"

We ponies know this expression all too well

but this week
it's been used much more frequently
as an exclamation
rather than a command

as in:

What the yellow rubbery fuck is going on!?!

The Dow had its worst week ever in terms of points as well as percent drops, losing 1874 points or down 18.15%.

-snip-

Dow Worst Week Ever:

-The second biggest weekly percentage drop was the week ending July 21, 1933 when the Dow closed down -15.55% for the week

-The third biggest weekly drop for the Dow on a percentage basis was the week ending Friday, 9/21/01 after 9/11 when the Dow fell 14.26% for the week

-There has never been a point drop in a week of greater than 1,600 points back to the Dow's inception in 1896

-The Dow is now down 40.67% off its market peak on October 9, 2007 of 14,164.53

This week the McCain campaign, despite grim economic news around the globe, has plowed ahead with the sleaziest campaign of living memory. Don't just take my word for it - here's a pretty telling clip reel from TPM:



Perhaps it's no surprise that the poll numbers haven't moved - the 1960s were a long time ago, and to be honest, the only number-letter combination anyone is worried about right now is 401(k). But it is rather gratifying to see that, not only did Obama predict that they would try this tactic:



But also that he's calling them on it:



And so is Joe Biden:



McCain seemed rattled when Charlie Gibson brought it up:



But maybe - just maybe - now, even he has realised the need to damp down his frenzied supporters:



Heady days indeed my horsey friends.

Or as some might say...

All in all
it's just a-
'nother Saab in the wall.

- Mr. Ed


Update:

John Cole has all you need to know about the Trooper-gate report that was released today.

Laugh? I nearly shat.

Sorry to buck the trend of quality posts but just had to say how much I laughed at the below. Fucking hilarious Ed!

Who knew?

That Robbie Fowler, Jimmy Tarbuck and Stephen Fry were in a Gospel trio together, way back when...

- Mr. Ed

Image from LP Cover Lover via Boingboing.

A BIG shout out...

to the post below. It's not often that we get self-referential around here, at the P club, but that last post had all of my geek nerve-endings firing on 'fuck yeah', so I felt obliged to give Blue Cupboard some props.

Go on, scroll down and feel the awe-inspiring massiveness of the numbers numb your mind...

- Mr. Ed

Now that's what I call quite big...

Philip kindly sent me this little link to Google's "2001 Index" part of their 10th Birthday doings. Why not visit and look up things that aren't on it? Anyhoo, all of this Google related such-n-suchery got me to thinking, and brought me round to the subject of this post, which, started out with the humble googol, and, well it ended up... well, I'm just going to have to cut and paste this in by way of the mighty Wiki...

How big is a googolplex?

One googol is presumed to be greater than the number of elementary particles in the observable universe, which has been variously estimated from 10⁷⁹ up to 10⁸¹. A googol is also greater than the number of Planck times elapsed since the Big Bang which is estimated at around 8 × 10⁶⁰.

Since a googolplex is one followed by a googol zeroes, it would not be possible to write down or store a googolplex in decimal notation, even if all the matter in the known universe were converted into 0's. Indeed, if you had an unlimited supply of ink and paper, you would need around 10²⁰ times the current age of universe to fully write down a googolplex.

Thinking of this another way, consider printing the digits of a googolplex in unreadable, one-point font. TeX one-point font is .3514598 mm per digit, which means it would take about 3.5 × 10⁹⁶ meters to write in one-point font. The known universe is estimated at 7.4 × 10²⁶ meters in diameter, which means the distance to write the digits would be about 4.7 × 10⁶⁹ times the diameter of the known universe. The time it would take to write such a number also renders the task implausible: if a person can write two digits per second, it would take around 1.1 × 10⁸² times the age of the universe to write down a googolplex.*

S'quite big, then...

Yours,

somehow a little afraid,

Bluecupboard

* I had literally no idea that when I cut and pasted this in from the Wiki, that all the links would stay live! Holy information fandango, Batman!! Thought I'd better mention that someone else did all of that in case you thought I'd lost my mind (and also learned a large amount about maths and physics very quickly)...