US Election 2008

I think ABC World News got a new look this week, that would explain the new graphics on N24.

Yea since monday at least, thats when I noticed it. Lots of Orange.

They have to edit it to remove the comercial breaks so that instead of the 4 or so they have in the US there is just one for the quarter-to BBC headlines. There are probably a few occasions where something has to be removed content wise as there is with NBC news on CNBC but the programme without breaks is short enough already

The BBC wouldn't show it live at 11:30 as it's overnight filler and its better they concentrate on domestic news at that time. Even if they did it would be difficult to do, unlike CNBC they can't just chuck up Hotboards for th duration of the breaks

I did notice that the graphics were more orangey than usual this week. I like it. Mercifully, the music hasn't changed.

It isn't just the ad breaks they have to cover AIUI. Some sequence are, or have been, sponsored, so the sponsorship stings have to be edited out and replaced, as they wouldn't be legal in the UK.

(ABC used to provide News 24 with clean stings to drop in ISTR)

What is depressing is how little content there is in a US 30 minute News bulletin. Most UK bulletins - excluding weather - run to around 24-26 minutes. Most US bulletins are lucky to get over 18-20 mins of content.

Am I the only one wondering why we're discussing this, when as far as I know, elections are in October. I'm so fed up with the over reporting on this boring topic, but there again I do try to blot out anything to do with that repulsive nation.

This is Election Year and therefore we need to get used to the Primaries and Caucuses, there'll be a short break until the Conventions then it's gloves off till November, like the Olympic Marathon, this is a Marathon that occurs every four years.

That 'replusive' nation will have a massive impact upon you, and whilst it may bore you it does have an impact.

And actually I and, I suspect, others would like to know whats happening in this crucial race. You may find it boring but thats your opinion.

American politics is much different to British politics. We can declare an election, have six weeks of campaigning and have it over and done with. Candidate nomination is also much different in the US than here. Due to the vast size of America, much more time is needed to campaign. Therefore, the nomination process starts this early so the candidates can take place in primaries and caucuses right across the country. Once the conventions have taken place and each party has a candidate, then they can hold the election.

To add to itsrobert, it is also significant that in the UK we vote for individual candidates who become our representatives, whereas in the USA they vote for representatives ('electors') who in effect pledge to vote for a particular candidate in the Presidential National Caucuses and in the Presidential Election itself.

This is why John Edwards got one vote in the Presidential election, 2004, as one of the 'electors' who was pledged to Kerry actually cast his/her vote for Edwards (in fact they misspelled it Ewards, but it was accepted as a vote for Edwards nonetheless).

The system also makes it hard for any smaller party to gain any representation in the electoral college, as they must have a proportion of the votes in each state, although it is widely thought that Bloomberg could make some impact if he was to run as an independent.

My predictions, following the Iowa caucuss, is.

Democrat:-
President - John Edwards
Vice President - Hillary Clinton

Republican:-
President - Mike Huckabee
Vice President - Rudy Guilliani

Yes, I understand it all, but I disagree it will have a big impact on me. There's much more that could be reported on in our corrupt and war torn world than Barack Obama and the other Democrat tranny.

But Obama's wiping the floor with Clinton at the moment.