I've put the champagne on ice - GIVE ME AN EXCUSE TO OPEN IT!

[Pert_UK]

Come on guys, get out there and take back your country today!

I love the USA and have been deeply saddened by the direction that your country has been taken in over the last 4 years. In the last 2 years I've met Americans around the world who were too embarrassed to admit where they were from, and the whole of the Western world shares their shame.

Bush has dragged America down from its position of respected world leader to that of a dangerous laughing stock and he's spat in the face of opportunities to unite common opinion and change the world for the better.

Recently I've begun to think of the US as a fantastic friend who has ended up married to an arrogant, self-centred wanker - you still love them but you don't want to spend much time with them. Well now's your chance for divorce from this petty, insane little man.

Get out there and grab this opportunity to make America great again and turn around the destruction that Bush has wrought on the environment, the economy and the world.

I love you guys, so give me a goddamn reason to open that bottle of champagne - I'm sure I won't be the only person celebrating when Kerry comes in for you!

[Technowitch]

1. Just wait until the polls close tomorrow

You'll have your reasons. We're doing our best to take our country back from these scoundrels, thieves, and corrupt bastards.

I know it'll be late, your time... but alas, we're a big country and the west coast is pretty far from your time zone.

[alittlelark]

2. I'm from CA, and out in NM for poll watching.

I spent 2 hours standing on the street w/a KERRY sign. 10-1 honks and cheers to boos and fingers.

Kerry is taking NM, and the rest of the (sane) country. Pop that bottle.

[Bluebear]

3. We love you too Pert!

Did you read that Blair sent an envoy over to kiss and make nice to John Kerry "just in case"? What's the feeling over there, is he through too?

[Pert_UK]

4. Hard to tell whethe Blair's through......

I was absolutely disgusted by the way Blair went straight from being Clinton's best friend to Bush's sex toy...I couldn't believe it and I think it opened the eyes of a lot of UK voters regarding exactly how removed from "real" Labour Blair has become.

We have a different problem to you guys - in the UK the "good guys" are in power, but they're behaving like the bad guys....The main opposition (Conservatives) are a hopelessly disorganised bunch of weird geriatrics and the UK Independence Party are, quite literally, insane.

I've always voted for the Liberal Democrats but in my heart of hearts I know that a) they're not going to win the general election and b) I'm not 100% convinced that they would actually be able to run the country if they did.

Blair sucks balls, but I'm hoping he'll leave soon and Labour will revert back to a bit of honesty and integrity. He's said he'll stay on for another 4 years though. Labour are actually doing very well for the UK economy and not bad on public services and crime etc. The only real objection to them is Blair's abject twattery and the culture of "spin" over genuine content.

[Bluebear]

5. Maybe Labour will elect a new PM?

Is there like a vote of no confidence in your system? Just hearing about Blair's fundamentalist faith and his ideas on the rapture etc. makes me nervous for that side of the pond too!

(Oh and crack open that champagne at will, although I think it's looking damn good for Kerry. All the momentum is behind him. This is not to say that Bush and company won't try ANHTHING to get in the way of an accurate vote IMHO!)

[Pert_UK]

6. Scary....

I've never heard of Blair's "fundamentalist faith and his ideas on the rapture etc" although I did know that he was religious. Do you have any more info?

We do have votes of no confidence, but Blair still has the backing of the vast majority of Labour MPs and he's said he'll stay on until the election after next (i.e. one more term). Things would have to go very badly for Labour before Blair would be under genuine pressure to step down.

Gordon Brown is NOT happy about this, and neither are many other Brits......

[Bluebear]

8. I had heard he and Bush shared a lot of religious fervor

So I shouldn't spout off, but that's the impression I had. When he delayed a vote on gay marriage to appease Ian Paisley it kind of confirmed him at least kowtowing to the born-again set.

Anyhow, I thank you for the good wishes and hope we meet again tomorrow night with good news!

[Pert_UK]

11. I'm still not with you......

Don't remember Paisley having any input into the gay marriage debate, but I've been out of the country for a while....But Paisley certainly isn't a "born again" chap, just an insane old weirdo who's been strongly Protestant (in his mind at least) for ever.

Blair has been quite gay friendly since he came to power......Look at Peter Mandelson for God's sake....

I look forward to celebrating with you guys when the good news comes in.

[Spider Jerusalem]

13. Blair is a soulless neo-Thatcherite swine...

"new Labour" seems a lot like the Tories of 20 years ago, at least to this US observer. I see a lot of talk about Gordon Brown as a possible replacement should Blair step down. Although that doesn't look terribly likely at this point. Personally I'm rather surprised that he's not faced a vote of no confidence yet.

[Pert_UK]

14. No he isn't he's.....errrr.....shit....he actually is.

As previously mentioned, aside from the hypocrisy and moral bankruptcy in Government, the UK is actually doing quite well at the moment. This partially explains why he hasn't been told to go and fuck himself right in the ear.

[Seabiscuit]

7. Who needs an excuse to open a good bottle of champagne?

After all, it's French, you know! And the French were right in March, 2003, and have been right ever since (and ever before). :evilgrin:

Make sure it's a good French bottle to avoid a hangover. The cheap American sparkling wine imitation can give you one hell of a throbbing headache the next morning. Try some Veuve Cliquot or Roederer, or at the very least, Mumm's.

[Pert_UK]

9. The day I take wine advice from an American......

:evilgrin:

I joke! I joke! It's very good for morale!!!

It's actually a bottle of rosé Champagne that a friend bought me for my birthday a few weeks ago. Not a "brand name" vineyard, but should be very nice nonetheless.

I spent all of last year living in in Australia and toured most of the wine regions there. Some of the sparkling Aussie white is magnificent - especially when it's been made methode champagnoise (i.e. exactly the same as Champagne, only not grown and produced in that region). Try Seppelt's if you get a chance.

Also, if you get the chance try sparkling Shiraz - yep, fizzy red wine. Absolutely gorgeous when served chilled!

[Seabiscuit]

10. I like the products of the Australian vineyards very much.

Just tasted a vine Australian Merlot last week.

I'm a bit biased having lived in France for five years, and now living in California.

[Pert_UK]

12. This case arrived for me yesterday.....

http://www.virginwines.com/product/prod_case_details.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=1170517&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=1175153&aff=virgin&bmUID=1099388072859

Looking forward to working my way through it with the g/f....

Lucky you to live in France for a while! I get to visit from time to time - I'm snowboading in Les Deux Alpes for New Year but there aren't many vineyards up there!

[Seabiscuit]

15. I know - I skied Chamonix and Val D'Isere

The vineyard excursions are another story entirely. Make that many other stories...:)

[Pert_UK]

16. Tres bien, mon ami......

I haven't been skiing for years - last time was Tignes about 4 years ago, which was a hoot.

I went to Paris for the first time a couple of months ago too - I was working, but luckily had loads of free time and an expense account!

Enter foie gras, stage left....

P.

[Donkeyboy75]

17. Will you be up late with me

following the results? Going to be a loooooong day tomorrow.

:toast:

[Pert_UK]

18. It was a long bloody day today, but that's another story....

I think I'll go to bed and get up early to follow things.....Can't put myself through the pain!

Nice boxer, by the way!

:toast:

P.

[Donkeyboy75]

21. I went to bed at 9, got up at 12:30.

Will get more sleep when things are decided...

Thanks about the boxer. You have one?

[OldEurope]

19. That´s easy:

When Kerry is winnig... ok
If Bush is stealing: you´re desperate.

[VolcanoJen]

20. I've got M&C White Star waiting on ice... not popping until 11:00!

:D :D :D