Channel 9 (Australia) to take US election coverage

Apparently Channel 9 will be covering the US election from 11am (EDST) Wednesday November 5. I am not sure whether they will be taking the feed from one of their affiliates (ABC or NBC) or if it will be their own panel. Whatever their forum, it will be biased in favour of the Messiah, of course. If it gets too tendentious I will mute the coverage and just watch the electoral college ticker.

At this stage I don't know if other Aussie free-to-air channels are taking the US election, although I would imagine SBS will, seeing as they took all the debates live.

UPDATE

I can confirm that from 11am on 5 November, Channel 9 will be covering the US elections.

I just saw Nine's news with their US reporter Robert Penfold reporting (from an Obama rally - naturally) and yet again dismissing McCain's chances of winning because of another "bad" poll. One poll. As I have said numerous times on this blog, polls are meaningless, except the one on election day.

While such biased reporting continues to burn my onion, I refuse to let my confidence in a McCain/Palin victory be assuaged or diminished by the bleatings of this country's left wing, guilt-ridden media.

We should be thankful for pro-life Gov Sarah Palin

This extract is the last paragraph of an article published in the San Francisco Chronicle, by Marjorie Dannenfelser - president of a nationwide network of pro-life Americans dedicated to advancing pro-life women in the political process, and co-founder of Team Sarah, a national grassroots effort in support of Sarah Palin's vice presidential candidacy.

The whole article is superb, but this paragraph is an excellent summary:

In the next few days, the women of America may have to work hard to hear Palin's voice. They will have to strain to focus on ignoring the media filter and intense anger and exclusionary politics of some on the left; persevere before it is too late. Palin's leadership brings with it great heart and profound respect for life and the ingenuity of every individual. She brings a fresh perspective that America needs.

Obama in his own words - thanks to Foxnews.com

The impact he will have on the world should, God forbid, he get elected, would be too chilling to contemplate.

US Electoral Votes '08 - Fearless Prediction

What's a US election without a bit of fun with the electoral college, huh?!

I mentioned on an earlier post that I would blog my prediction as to the outcome of the US elections. I am doing so now, a little earlier than I had planned, but, seeing as voting has already commenced, I might as well put my money where my mouth is.

I am having trouble uploading the image of my completed red and blue map of the USA, so I will give you the states' names, together with the number of electoral college votes for that state.

As previously mentioned, my predictions are not based on any polls, but on gut instinct from thousands of articles and blogs viewed in the past couple of months, and past voting patterns.

I believe strongly that in this election a far greater number of states are "in play" than polling would have us believe, which is why a couple of states that I predict will be in the red column will surprise a few people.

So, without further ado, here are The Hutch's fearless predictions for each camp, starting with the Blue corner:

Democrat states won (prediction):
Hawaii 4
Oregon 7
California 55
Minnesota 10
Iowa 7
Wisconsin 10
Illinois 21
Michigan 17
Pennsylvania 21
New York 31
Vermont 3
Massachusetts 12
Connecticut 7
Rhode Island 4
New Jersey 15
District of Columbia 3
Delaware 3
Maryland 10
for a total electoral college of 240.


And, in the Red corner
Republican states won (prediction):
Alaska 3
Washington 11
Idaho 4
Nevada 4
Arizona 10
Utah 5
Montana 3
Wyoming 3
Colorado 9
New Mexico 5
North Dakota 3
South Dakota 3
Nebraska 5
Kansas 6
Oklahoma 7
Texas 34
Missouri 11
Arkansas 6
Louisiana 9
Mississippi 6
Alabama 9
Georgia 15
Florida 27
South Carolina 8
North Carolina 15
Tennessee 11
Kentucky 8
Indiana 11
Ohio 20
West Virginia 5
Virginia 13
New Hampshire 4
Maine 4
for a total electoral college of 298.

So, my final prediction is Republican 298, Democrat 240.

Don't say you weren't told, now!

The Hutch endorses John McCain

It will come as no surprise to readers of The Hutch that this blog endorses John McCain to become the 44th President of the United States of America.

What groundswell of support there is for Senator Barack Obama to become the next President, appears to be based on three main tenets: 1) he is a fresh face; 2) he is charismatic; and 3) he is not George Bush. Correct though these points may be, they are by no means sufficient reason to entrust Senator Obama with the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Indeed, should the American people appreciate these aforementioned attributes to such an extent that they are unable to see beyond them come the first Tuesday in November, then I truly fear for the future of that great country, and the consequences for the rest of the world. America, it is not too late to wake up!

Now, more than ever, the United States needs a President with a proven track record; an experienced and gutsy politician; a leader who will prove a master-mentor to his second-in-command.

John McCain is a safe pair of hands - a steady, knowledgable rock in these times of economic uncertainty. Oh, sure, I have no doubt he and Gov Palin will shake up the establishment where it's needed. I know Washington won't be looking forward to that, but I certainly am.

Elections are serious business. Contrary to what cynics might think, elections are not popularity contests. They are not American Idol for politicians. This is not the time for the most powerful country in the world to choose as its leader someone with zero executive experience - a populist politician, yet whose resume is thinner than rice paper.

Senator Obama's extreme left-wing, anti-capitalist, Marxist ideologies will, if supported by Congress, do incalculable harm to the USA, let alone the rest of the world.

Senator Obama wants to spread the wealth around. Yet the only way to spread the wealth around is to employ people - not what Senator Obama's tax policy will achieve, indeed, under the best traditions of socialism, rather than stimulating job growth, Obama's is a tax and spend welfare scheme. A scheme that will have the 30 to 40 percent of Americans who pay no tax rubbing their hands together while wondering where to put their second Plasma TV.

John McCain is a man of substance and ability. His opponent is a man of unproven potential. John McCain is a man of principle and courage. His opponent is a man of questionable associations, both in the US and abroad.

Senator John McCain is the man for the times. Governor Sarah Palin will one day be the future.

From this great south island nation, this humble blogger respectfully implores his friends 'across the pond' to endorse John McCain on November 4.

The United States of America, and rest of the free world, are not ready for the type of presidency Barack Hussein Obama would bring; and may it always be ever thus.

NSW By-election results

I managed to pick the result of three out of four by-elections. Which ain't bad. Lakemba and Cabramatta will be held by Labor but with swings against it of 12 and 23% respectively. Ryde has a new member - a Liberal - the first time in 20 years a Liberal has won a seat off the Labor party in NSW.

Unfortunately, I underestimated how un-politically savvy the voters of Port Macquarie are, where they exercised their democratic right and voted in an Independent. That result could have been mitigated if the NSW Liberals had the balls to pre-select a candidate, instead of cow-towing to the National Party - a party who are fast becoming irrelevant, both statewide and nationally.

With the exception of local government, where they can actually do some good by putting party politics to one side, I have absolutely no time for Independents and their obscurantist agendas.

ACT Election result

The pundits seem to think that the outcome of the ACT election held yesterday will be 7 Labor members, 7 Liberal and 3 Greens (compared to the old Assembly of 9 Labor, 6 Liberals, 1 Green and 1 Independent). I personally think that scenario is too neat, and, in the final wash-up, is more likely to be either one fewer Green plus one Independent, or one fewer Liberal and one extra Green. In other words, 7,7,2,1 or 7,6,4. Much will depend, of course, on the distribution of preferences as to who gets the final couple of spots.

UPDATE

Sunday 26 October, 2008

The final result of the ACT election is 7 Labor, 6 Liberal and 4 Greens, vindicating my thoughts that 7,7,3 was too glib a prediction. The leaders of the ALP and the Liberals parties are still in talks with the Greens as to which of the major parties will (with The Greens' support) form government.

I had the misfortune of listening to Jon Stanhope's election night speech on the radio. Stanhope's pitiful attempt at self-mockery during his speech in relation to what he thinks is his so-called "perceived arrogance" by some voters, achieved nothing; except to confirm to me, and I suspect many others, that, on this issue, what he thinks some voters perceive and what actually is, are one and the same.

John Howard once famously said "Canberrans live like Double Bay, but vote like Cessnock." As evidenced by the outcome yesterday, Howard was spot on - again.

The fact that the ALP in Canberra received a swing against them of more than 9 percent is encouraging. That most of this vote spillage went to The Greens, is not.

I think Zed Seselja is a shining light in the ACT Liberal Party, and I have no doubt he will be Chief Minister one day. That the Liberals couldn't garner more votes is no fault of his.

The ALP produced some of the most inaccurate, vicious, carping and bilious advertisements during this campaign that I have ever heard. The Liberals were totally outspent in this regard. Where they could not respond in volume, the Liberals should have made up for in content. Specifically, marketing themselves better, and attacking the ALP more strategically, especially in relation to Stanhope's arrogance (real, not perceived), lack of community consultation, school and medical centre closures, to name a mere few.

Whilst Canberrans have registered a protest vote against the most left-wing government and Labor leader in the country, instead of using their protest vote wisely to vote for a fresh, vibrant alternative in the Liberals, they voted for The Greens - a loopy outfit - no doubt disciples of Al Gore and his Marxist-environmental cult. Will these over-educated, guilt-ridden, eco-fascist voters ever see the light? Is there any hope for the world?

Meanwhile however, if you are an aspiring Labor politician, there is no easier place in the country to get elected to government than in the ACT.

They say you get the government you deserve. Election after election, Canberrans prove that adage, beautifully.