Tag Archives: barack obama

Mark Pack

Warning: don’t believe the American Presidential election turnout myth

By Mark Pack | Mon 10th November 2008 - 10:20 am

You’ve seen the stories: massively effective political machines, registering and then mobilising people in unprecedented numbers, leading to big early voting, huge queues at the polls on the day and colossal turnout.

One problem though: it’s a myth. For all the numerous reports, headlines and footage we’ve had telling us the story of turnout soaring up, up and away, the truth is starting to emerge that, actually, turnout was pretty much the same as four years ago. Overall it looks as if turnout will be 61-62%, only slightly up on 2004’s 61% turnout. 2004 was a relatively high turnout year, …

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Posted in LDVUSA and News | Also tagged | 20 Comments
Stephen Tall

CommentIsLinked@LDV: Bridget Fox – ‘Barack Obama lit up my bonfire night’

By Stephen Tall | Sat 8th November 2008 - 11:22 am

Lib Dem Voice has mentioned before the distinct lack of liberal commentary in the mainstream media; but we do of course have many Lib Dems who contribute with varying degrees of regularity to national newspapers and magazines. Whenever these appear, LDV is delighted to link to them: simply drop us a line at [email protected].

The latest blog of Bridget Fox, Lib Dem PPC for Islington South and Finsbury, is now live over at The Guardian’s website, discussing the drama of the US presidential election, and Lib Dem Islington council’s moves to create more affordable family housing. Read it in …

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Posted in LibLink | Also tagged | Leave a comment
Paul Elgood

Our Man In Chicago: Paul Elgood reports back on that election night

By Paul Elgood | Thu 6th November 2008 - 8:22 pm

Lib Dem councillor Paul Elgood was one of the 125,000 people celebrating Barack Obama’s election victory in Grant Park, Chicago, on the night of 4th November. Here’s his eyewitness report…

Chicago: Nov 4th 2008

It seems as if the whole world has come to Chicago. Planes full of the world’s press have descended on the city and were met by perhaps half a million party-goers hoping to celebrate the election results.

Barack Obama voted first thing this morning, having finished a final whirlwind tour of key states. He voted at dawn to make the point to his supporters to vote as early …

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Posted in LDVUSA and Op-eds | Leave a comment
Alix Mortimer

PMQs: Nick tackles Gordon on Obama’s tax cutting policy

By Alix Mortimer | Wed 5th November 2008 - 4:39 pm

Both opposition leaders were able to make play with Obama’s victory at PMQs today. David Cameron compared his “novice” status to that of Obama, and Nick Clegg asked why the Prime Minister – who had minutes earlier compared his own government’s priorities to Obama’s – did not adopt Obama’s policies on cutting tax for lower and middle income earners.

Clegg has an increasingly clear record as the Cato of British politics on the subject of tax cuts. It has been a regular topic for him at PMQs all year, often associated with fuel poverty or food

…

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Posted in News and PMQs | Also tagged , and | 15 Comments
The Voice

Clegg welcomes Obama’s election

By The Voice | Wed 5th November 2008 - 9:22 am

The Guardian reports the welcomes from all three main party leaders to the morning’s news that Barack Obama is the President-elect of the USA:

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, was more open at his delight in a Democrat victory. “British voters may not have been able to vote in this election, but its outcome is vital to our future,” he said. “Climate change, the global economy, and threats to our collective security now demand a radical new approach by Barack Obama, leaving the Bush era firmly behind.”

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