I’ve been trying to avoid the endless US election coverage this year. I know a presidential election in the most powerful country in the world *is* important, but wait a minute… the past few months of coverage haven’t even been about the presidential election. It’s all been about the primaries, and now the conventions. Why do we need to know all that in the UK? Just tell us who’s running for election, and we’ll believe you, okay?
Still, there is one consolation. We get the regular comedy experience of Hillary Clinton’s special approach to public speaking. Her halting, contrived tone makes me wonder how she ever became a successful politician. Mind you, maybe this is what Democrat voters like… the audience reaction to her convention speech the other day reminded me of the bouncing, squealing South Park residents when Kathy Lee Gifford came to town.
I’m here tonight
as a
proud mother
[rapturous applause]
as
a
proud Democrat
[rapturous applause]
as a proud
senator
from
New York
[rapturous applause]
a
proud
A
meri
can
[rapturous applause]
I mean, just… what? At that point, I wouldn’t be clapping and cheering. I’d be asleep, or stabbing myself in the neck with my own Democrat convention complementary pen. I’m sure she’s a very able politician, and she’s done wonders for the position of women in US politics, but it’s not exactly Great Political Speeches of the 21st Century, is it? Anyway, she continued…
Whether
you voted
for me
or you voted
for
Barack,
the time
is
now
Etc, and you can hear the whole tortuous episode in the BBC’s Today Programme archive (assuming it doesn’t disappear after a week).
Adrian – sorry mate you clearly don’t get it … the dem…o … crats are speaking s l o w l y so that republicans looking in can get the message more easily
oooo errr – I jus got po-litt-ical … need to sleep it off!