New York III

I'm afraid I have been struggling to think of things to write about since the flurry of election-relating activity. It feels like the political equivalent of the breaks in national football tournaments for international matches: journalists still have to fill column inches, but no one really has anything to say.

I spoke too soon about right wing journalists going easy on Obama though - I think that must have lasted about two days, tops. They are going at him all guns blazing now. A couple of headlines to illustrate:

"The death of an American idea: under President Obama just under half the population will be on the dole"

"The worst case scenario: the economic consequences of hope and change" (dirty words that they are)

On the other hand, there seems to be surprisingly little serious internal critique of the Republican party, or proper consideration of why the party lost. In most cases Obama is portrayed as having won because of a combination of the economy, unfair outspending of McCain and the celebrity factor. Very few suggest that it was McCain who lost the election.

The premise seems to be that Obama is an aberration - had he not been around voters would have done the "right thing" (since all these authors assume voters are naturally conservative and will only vote Democrat under exceptional circumstances - which may have some truth in it). There is some predictable internal bitchiness, much aimed at Palin, but little in the way of useful analysis which could point the party in a better direction in order to win in 2012. Left leaning papers can hardly hide their glee at this, hoping the Republicans will lurch to the right and write themselves off for at least Obama's two potential terms.

One partial exception is this article from the National Review, which produces a long list of all the Republicans who have deviated from the path of small government and free market economics, and calls for their heads in order to return the party to its true Regan-ite roots. I'm not convinced this kind of "purification" would be enough to win against the hope and enthusiasm Obama has inspired. But it might well trigger the aforementioned lurch to the right.

I ❤ Chicago

Let me count the reasons.

Great public transport, tons of cyclists, crisp autumnal weather, neighbourhoods with local high streets and (at least) one great pub that shows the football... hmm - maybe because it's just like London?

Am treating today as my birthday instead as it was so perfect: to start with, the museum was actually open today. Then Arsenal won 4-2. Then the sun came out, and I found a pair of woolly cream coloured tights. And I listened to Sufjan Stevens and danced home.

To top it all, we are about to go to a bluegrass gig!

Joy.