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Obama impersonator from Philly featured in French ad campaign

Tuesday, January 20 2009 By Matt | 10 comments

In this video, produced by the Conseil Représentatif des Associations Noires, a man who looks remarkably like the new US president is filmed jogging in Paris. He is stopped by French police in the video and asked for his papers. The point the video tries to make is that the French police use racial profiling; it is less effective, though, than it could be, since the Obama look-alike actually claims to the police that he is the US president.

The police in the video are actors, and Michael Lamar, in my opinion, doesn't really look like Obama, but the point the CRAN makes is backed up by research they conducted last year: minorities in France are stopped by the police twice as much as everyone else.

Press release from the CRAN

Obama wins North Carolina

Friday, November 7 2008 By Matt

The votes have been counted: Barack Obama has won the state of North Carolina. This is quite significant - the first time the state has voted for a Democratic president in over thirty years.

And as talk begins of who Obama's cabinet appointees will be, those interested can visit the President-elect's website, change.gov. Among the topics on the detailed Agenda page of the site are promises to make changes on everything from Foreign Policy to the Arts. It's quite a long list and it should be interesting to see its evolution. At the top of the page, a countdown: "74 days until inauguration." From what I've been hearing, he's not the only one counting down the days.

Obama references Lincoln, channels Kennedy in acceptance speech

Wednesday, November 5 2008 By Matt | 10 comments

A beautiful acceptance speech and a great way to end the night.

Gore Vidal on the BBC; Obama winning North Carolina ?

By Matt | 19 comments

Gore Vidal is on the BBC. He just called the Republican Party a "Mayan sect." And berated his interviewer. I don't really know how to describe what just happened. But it was certainly interesting.

And if Obama is really winning North Carolina.. this is quite a significant turning point and a big surprise. Even John Edwards, who is from North Carolina, couldn't pull it off in 2004.

McCain concession speech

By Matt | one comment

McCain just gave a brilliant, gracious concession speech. Mixed applause and boos in the audience. Very clear that if this McCain had been running for president, he would have stood a much greater chance at winning.

538 calls it for Obama.

By Matt | 6 comments

Reports from Boston of celebratory parties in the street.

Here in Dublin, watching the BBC online.

fivethirtyeight.com has called the race for Obama.

Ohio called as well?

By Matt

It appears that CNN has called Ohio for Obama. I don't see how McCain could possibly win now if this is the case. They are projecting it with 16% of precincts reporting. In other news, we are now watching on CNN.com, and I haven't seen The Situation Room. Is it broken ? Or do they just not show it on the internet ? I'm waiting for another hologram report.

"Security" patrols stationed at polling places in Philly

By Matt | 8 comments

This is the news from Philadelphia : Pennsylvania was recently projected by MSNBC as going to Obama. In the meantime, this video is posted on Youtube, of so called "security" patrols at a polling station. Disconcerting.

As predicted a slow start to the night

By Matt

But picking up a bit. The press continued to take photos of the crowd in Cafe en Seine and we left a few minutes ago. It was getting a bit too crowded and it was going to close at some point. It looks like it's going to be a very late night indeed. There are reports of voters in Philadelphia who select on the ballot Obama, then select the straight Democratic ticket button, only to see their vote for Obama then erased. Will report back in periodically with more news but I think most of Dublin is going to bed soon.

Via HOLOGRAM!

By Matt

"CNN's Jessica Yellin reporting via hologram"

VIA HOLOGRAM !

Comments in the room: "What's up with the halo?" +Various Star Wars comments

Coolest election night toy ever. CNN has upstaged all of the other networks at this point. By far the most interesting thing to have happened so far tonight.

Cheers as CNN calls Vermont

By Matt

Cheers again here as CNN calls Vermont for Obama, with zero percent of precincts reporting. Audible boos as CNN called Kentucky for McCain. No surprises except for the fact that CNN seems like they will be rather quick to call races - one would tend to hope that the networks would have learned from 2000, yet I fear that they will feel too much of a pressure to call the elections too early.

Indiana and Kentucky

By Matt

Cheers and applause in the room as the Indiana results start to come in for Obama.

CNN reporting voter trouble

By Matt

CNN is receiving reports voter trouble in Norfolk, Virginia - 4 to 7 hour waits at the polls. Earlier they were showing voters in line for the 3 hour wait in Orlando. Meanwhile it feels like we'll be looking at an 8 hour wait to know the final results.

Waiting..

By Matt

Nothing is happening that is new - in the words of my fellow drinker Walter, "It's full of Americans, there's Obama balloons and posters everywhere, CNN is on saying nothing because there is nothing to report and is filling its time with McCain Obama dance offs and action figures probably made in China. God bless mainstream journalism. Also there's a guy who looks a bit like Joe The Plumber here in an Obama Tshirt". I agree. The bar is doing steady business.

Full house

Tuesday, November 4 2008 By Matt | one comment

It's 10 PM and things are heating up at Cafe en Seine if not yet on CNN. There is not a free seat in the house, and I can understand why the organizers had to turn more than 50 people away. The discussion here is on the record turnout expected in all of the states, and how the voting system was never designed for this many people. Local television crews, radio crews, and newspaper reporters and photographers are all here to cover the event.

The evening begins

By Matt | 3 comments

9:15 PM This posh Dublin nightclub has been transformed into Obama Ireland Headquarters. The organization behind this party was superb - more than 250 people are expected and the room is filled with red white and blue balloons. A very classy affair. On CNN earlier they were showing the Paris election party (sponsored by Moet Hennessy and.. CNN), but at what I heard was 80 euros per person, I believe that this Democrats Abroad party in Dublin is much more.. democratic.

Right now people are coming in by groups and pairs and the place is filling up. People are mingling before actual results start to come in after the first polls close.

I haven't heard of any voting problems in the states so far, but that doesn't mean there haven't been any.

CNN is playing with their magic map and awaiting the first exit polls.

More to come shortly -

Calm before the storm

By Matt | one comment

It's coming up on 8PM and we've arrived at Cafe en Seine. An entire half of this very popular bar/nightclub has been reserved for the Democrats Abroad, but it's mostly empty now. I have secured a table with a prime view of a large TV where CNN is on. This is the first time I've watched CNN in many months and there seem to be some new features. I don't know how I would have watched the election without their giant television wall.

I have a glass of Guinness and am going to have - what else - a steak and cheese sandwich before the party gets started here. Fivethirtyeight.com is projecting an Obama landslide. We'll see what happens...

Liveblogging the U.S. Election results from Dublin

By Matt | 3 comments

Hello everyone, tonight I will be joining the Democrats Abroad in Dublin, Ireland to watch the U.S. Election results. We will be at Café en Seine starting at 9pm local time (so 4pm US time), and I will be updating this blog with the latest events as they come in, as seen from over here. I will also be posting a selection of commentary and news from other parts of the world. So please, come by regularly tonight and join the discussion by posting in the comments. It's going to be quite a show. See you here in a few hours !