Speculation, Fact and Fiction

Well, I am inordinately relieved that reality has delivered what one might call The West Wing scenario, rather than the terrifying possibility of Commander-in-Chief being played out by Sarah Palin.

I may have overdosed on US election stuff lately. Over the weekend, I watched the HBO film Recount - which left me musing on that sage advice by someone or other, never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence. Florida 2000? Whoo boy, I believe the expression goes.

I also watched Jon Snow's very measured documentary on Obama and McCain - The Choice. Which left me with considerably more respect for John McCain than I'd had to that point. An opinion further strengthened by his concession speech. No less convinced he wasn't at all the right man to be president, mind you. And the unpleasant reactions of what I believe are called the Republican Base (and base does seem to be the apt adjective) made me so very glad they're nowhere near seeing one of their own in power.

And then I watched all four parts of Simon Schama's The American Future - A History. Well worth watching should you get the opportunity, and reminding me that politics in the US is far more nuanced than Red/Blue maps might suggest.

So, in a pleasantly optimistic mood after hearing BBC snippets from President Elect Obama's speech, time to do some work!