American dreams

Interesting speculation from Tom Harris MP on the next US Presidential election. Not the one in November... the one in November 2012.

What is interesting is that his speculation is based on the prospect of a John McCain win in November - which he says on no less than 3 occasions. Isn't there a thing where if you say something 3 times it will happen...?

Anyway, the point of his post - in case you haven't read it or can't be bothered following the link - is that John McCain will be 76 in 2012 and may decide that one term as President is enough. Since no party has - as yet - denied their sitting Vice President the opportunity to run for President. So that would mean - theoretically - that Sarah Palin would be the Republican nominee for President in 2012, if McCain decided not to run again.

Now, following Tom Harris' logic, if McCain wins - and thereby, Obama does not - the 'perceived wisdom' would suggest that Obama has had his chance, and that Hillary Clinton would be the frontrunner for the Democratic nomination. That would be mean, theoretically, that 2012's Presidential contest could be between two women - Sarah Palin as Republican candidate and Hillary Clinton as Democratic candidate.

Which, contrary to the popular view - or indeed, the slightly warped view - might mean that a John McCain victory in November may lead to a more progressive America - with the guarantee of a female President in 2012.

Anyone buying this? No... oh well.

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American Pie

Heading back Stateside, a few stories on the Presidential race today:

• Hurricane Gustav has touched land in Louisiana and New Orleans looks set to be hit hard again. Both presidential candidates have offered support, with John McCain on the ground today helping volunteers while Barack Obama has offered to open up his list of donors to help fund the recovery effort.

• The 17-year-old daughter of Sarah Palin - the Republican VP candidate, see below - is expecting a child. Apparently the family have offered their "love and support" to her and her "future husband" and John McCain knew of the situation prior to offering her the VP slot.

• The BBC's coverage of the US election has, in my view, been biased from start to finish. Was speaking to a friend today who thought that John McCain had been nominated unopposed as Republican candidate - because the BBC had been so focused on Obama v Clinton, they'd missed what was happening in the Republican race. It hasn't got any better recently, with Justin Webb, the BBC US correspondent, giving over no fewer than 7 blog pieces to discuss the Democratic convention and 5 in anticipation of Obama's VP announcement and a scant sentence in discussion of McCain's choice of Sarah Palin. Biased in an election that won't affect their funding - a smart move from Auntie Beeb(!)

• Finally (in case you can't find it on the BBC website) the Republican conference takes place in St Paul, Minnesota this week - incidentally, an airport which I have visited. John McCain is expected to make his acceptance speech on Thursday.

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A long way to go

I was about to blog about the excellent behaviour of fans at yesterday's Old Firm match which I had the (mis)fortune and (dis)pleasure to attend. That is, until I saw this article on the BBC website, regarding an attack on Celtic coach Neil Lennon. The piece doesn't make clear whether this was a sectarian attack or merely GBH (which is bad enough) but alludes to this in the final paragraph.

Both Celtic and Rangers have made great strides against bigotry in recent years and, on the basis of yesterday's 90 minutes (at any rate) both they and former First Minister Jack McConnell deserve a lot of credit for the work done on this front. Sectarian songs were very much in the minority - with Celtic fans taunting their Rangers counterparts when the arrangements for Champions League tickets were announced which Rangers fans enjoyed their teams performance.

Certainly lots still to be done, but it does look like things are moving in the right direction - unlike Celtic's midfield, which, on the basis of yesterday's performance, is now clearly coached by Neil Lennon.

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Monty got a raw deal...

A picture of someone other than Sarah Palin...

Away from politics (shock horror) and I'm sorry to see that Nick Faldo has left Colin Montgomerie out of Europe's Ryder Cup team. Monty's absence for the first time since 1989 leaves the team without a Scottish representative - the first time that has happened since 1937 I think.

It is well known that Faldo doesn't really get on with Monty all that well and that may have played a large part in his decision to drop his from the team - although Monty himself says that he wouldn't have picked himself given his less than tremendous recent form.

It won't be the same without him. Sad times...

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