Can the Brits Swing Ohio?

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by chegitz guevara
Why are rightwingers so rude?

Since when are you a rightwinger?

[Sprayber]

I want some foreinger telling me how to vote about as much as I want a telemarketer to call during dinner to tell me about an amazing new floor cleaner.

[Zulu Elephant]

Speaking as a Guardian reader, I saw the campaign and thought it was a bad idea - If someone wrote to me and told me how to vote (whether I was already voting that way or not) I'd be pretty pissed off.

but also..."REMEMBER THE WAR OF 1812?"
I didn't think we started that one?...and didnt we win? or at least tie? (genuine question, not an attempt to piss people off)

[chequita guevara]

Originally posted by Zulu Elephant
but also..."REMEMBER THE WAR OF 1812?"
I didn't think we started that one?...and didnt we win? or at least tie? (genuine question, not an attempt to piss people off)

We started it, and we like to think we won. Considering we didn't end up being reconquered by the most powerful country in the world, that's not an invalid claim.

[Whoha]

Mary Poppins is apparently trying:

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041019/D85QG8S80.html

"DEFIANCE, Ohio (AP) - Elections officials knew something was wrong when they got voter registration cards for Mary Poppins..."

[Arrian]

War of 1812 - we got pissed off with the British navy pressing crews off of our ships, which IMO was a valid Casus Belli. I'd call the war itself a draw or a very slight win for the Brits, but considering the disparity in power at the time, not a bad showing for the USA. Our major victory actually took place after the peace treaty was signed, though.

-Arrian

[child of Thor]

Originally posted by Sprayber
I want some foreinger telling me how to vote about as much as I want a telemarketer to call during dinner to tell me about an amazing new floor cleaner.

hmm.....I thought America was full of 'foreingers', and it(the USA)was a chance for the world to come together under one flag and lead us to a better future, free from all the old world hatred and wars.........

[Sprayber]

Originally posted by child of Thor


hmm.....I thought America was full of 'foreingers', and it(the USA)was a chance for the world to come together under one flag and lead us to a better future, free from all the old world hatred and wars.........

Someone that comes to the US and becomes a citizen is no longer a foreigner.

[the_ceebs]

But in 1812 we were .somewhat preoccupied .

Ciudad Rodrigo - Badajoz - the Sixth Coalition - Salamanca - Garcia Hernandez - France invades Russia - Borodino - the disastrous French retreat - US-Anglo war of 1812 - Prussia declares war on France - Vitoria - Austria joins France's enemies - Leipzig

[Arrian]

As you were during the revolutionary war. Kinda like we are today, should some uppity minor power **** with us right now. We'd have a heckuva time finding the troops to smack them down.

You did manage to burn down D.C. That had to sting a bit.

-Arrian

[child of Thor]

@ Sprayber

fair enough, but as a nation you are the embodiment of the whole world - a very new and positive concept for freedom from oppression and tyranny.
Now you just got to live up to it and then we will all love you

And as for the article - ok the stunt by the gaurdian was a poor one, but the rest of the article strikes a reasonably true note i would say, atleast if i take a selection of what people talk about in reference to the USA in general. You are in danger of becoming very isolated in terms of the world. You might not care, but there is a very definate anti-american vibe going around these days

[Arrian]

It's a vicious cycle, unfortunately. I'm an educated, open-minded American who knows more about history, geography and international relations that most of my countrymen. I'm a moderate here in New England, which means I'm relatively liberal w/respect to the country at large. And yet given the shrill complaining from the rest of the world, even I get fed up at times. And I generally AGREE WITH YOU!!

Few things are more irritating than outsiders telling you what to do. Surely anyone can see that?

-Arrian

[Immortal Wombat]

Public information. Hmm. Spam vote canvassing from abroad. It justs gets stupider.

Few things are more irritating than outsiders telling you what to do. Surely anyone can see that?

I think this wasn't the intention. It was just to give an alternative prospective on matters. I agree it shouldn't influence the voters, I realise that most of the people receiving letters won't give a crap what their correspondent thinks, and I understand that foreign affairs are only a part of the differences between Bush and Kerry - but I don't think having a letter sent explaining the view from abroad is necessarily meddling or telling you what to do. That said, no doubt a number of unthinking Brits did write overly whiny/preachy letters which would be taken badly, quite rightly.

[Arrian]

I understand the intention, but that doesn't matter. What matters is how it will be received. And IMO the reaction will be primarily negative (fooking foreigners telling ME how to vote! **** them!!).

It's just as much about the mindset of the "average Ohioan" (whatever that is) as the preachiness of the Brits writing to them.

-Arrian

[Snowflake]

I can certainly imagine the arrogant Brits writting arrogant letters that pissed the arrogant Americans off. Perhaps the Guardians really should ask its reader write arrogant letters to support Bush and who knows the backfire may just be enough to swing the state to Kerry.