Wimpole

As the Lounge appears to be degenerating into discussions on female bum size and dick size...can I change tack. I randomly ended up in the Plough last night (Sat) and saw Keef's band Bare Groove. I have never met or spoken to Keef before but they totally....rocked....Man. I havent ever seen 50 people jumping up and down /dancing/ going crazy in an East Dulwich pub for...well ever. Splendid stuff. Tight. Lots of fit women dancing. A real Les Paul. And a brass section too. Keef, I'm more of a strat man myself. But I well and truely tip my hat to you sir.

And economically I'm not sure its poor republican stewardship. It is simply where we are in the global economic cycle. Brown was happy to let the press see him as a great and prudent chancellor when the economy was booming. But it's how you cope in a downturn that sorts out the men from the boys.... I will stick my neck out and say America would still be where it is now if it had had a democratic government for the last term. The sub prime lenders would not have been curbed by either. The only difference in real economic terms would be foreign policy and spending in Iraq.

Absolutely Gerry. I'm guessing that, like me, the Americans you know are in the small % of the population who have been adventurous enough to get a passport and travel to Europe. And who therefore have more of a global perspective on things. Or they are urbanised americans in the great cities of NY, Chicago or LA. Its Middle America which you have to worry about. The millions of us citizens living in small towns with a mall and a small town outlook. I had to travel to Kansas and Dallas for business quiet a few times and the general political attitudes were, by liberal UK standards, quite shocking. I'd love to see Obama win. But my money is on McCain (at 5/2!).

Put simply, democrat voters dont have a lot of choice. I think its the voters sitting on the fence that will swing it to the republicans. Also there is a great difference between polls at this point and the election itself. Its when the chips are down that you'll see the real voting. I'd really like to be proven wrong but dont think I will be!

Forgive me but I think you can distill this to a very base level. John McCain will be the next president of the united states. Personally I would like a democrat. But the reality is: Is America ready for a female president? NO. Is America ready for a black president? NO. In both cases it likes to think it is thinking about it but when push comes to shove....America will vote safe. So that rules out the democrats. And McCain is a cert for the Republicans. And fits the square jawed American ideal. Odds on McCain are 5/2 at Ladbrokes. There will never be an easier way to double your money!

Perhaps they could turn it into ED's first GAY BAR. No need to change the colour. Just get the patterned wall paper up and a few candles!