Issue #19

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ISSUE #19 - Tuesday, 28th October 2008

• Kevin Connolly, BBC News
  "Last stand for outgunned McCain"
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/us_elections_2008/7694857.stm
  
  DJR's gist: There is one week left of campaigning before election day in the US, and things are not looking good for John McCain. Barack Obama has more money, more grass-roots activists, a lead in the polls and a running mate who is both vaguely competent and not an emblem of everything that is wrong with the US. This could, should, and hopefully will be the beginning of the end.
  
  See also: John Batchelor, The Daily Beast - "Whose Heads Will Roll on Nov. 5?"

• Dominique Moïsi, European Voice
  "Blue Europe, Red Asia"
  http://www.europeanvoice.com/article/blue-europe,-red-asia/62758.aspx
  
  DJR's gist: An extremely thought-provoking piece by Moïse suggests that while Europe is literally desperate for an Obama victory, the powers-that-be in Asia may actually support McCain - albeit for wildly conflicting reasons. Japan, for example, support a hard-lined US to counter the power of China - a philosophy seemingly embodied by McCain. However, China want also want the status quo - the Republican administration has coincided with an increased view of China as a positive counter to the US, and they naturally worry that Obama will create a tide of positive US sentiment which, by extension, represents negative China sentiment. India, for what it's worth, has probably enjoyed the US' capitulation in terms of economic and political clout and international integrity and would like a few more years of the same to consolidate its position.
  
  However, Moïse is purely analysing the views of the elites of Asia. If the common man was voting, it's fairly safe to assume that the world would be a tidal wave of blue.

• Anne Applebaum, The Daily Telegraph
  " US election: Whoever wins, the Democrats will rule "
  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/10/28/do2802.xml
  
  DJR's gist: It looks like Barack Obama will win the Presidency. But even if US voters are somehow spooked into not voting for the only credible option, it is looking increasingly likely that they will still take the opportunity to give the Republican Party the kicking of their lives. And crucially, if the Democrats manage to get hold of over 60% of the seats in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, then it really doesn't matter who's in the White House - the power will be with Congress. Checks and balances...

• Finlo Rohrer, BBC Magazine
  "Is James Bond loathsome?"
  http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7694801.stm
  
  DJR's gist: Quantum of Solace, the latest instalment in the multi-million pound James Bond 007 franchise, has its world premiere in Leicester Square on Thursday. And with its release is an opportunity to ask the question - is James Bond cool? Or is he representative or everything that's wrong. Obviously the answer is the former. But it's quite interesting to read the rants of feminists and killjoys.

• The Times
  "Alex Ferguson: why I don't pray - and other Manchester United secrets"
  http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/manchester_united/article5026752.ece
  
  DJR's gist: An interview, leave alone an exclusive one, is a rarity when the interviewee is Sir Alex Ferguson. But picking his mind provides some great insights into the thinking of Britain's most successful manager. Particularly on the brilliance of Eric Cantona, and the uselessness of Peter Kenyon.

• Nicholas Cecil, Evening Standard
  "Crossrail's £500 million green stop at the Wharf"
  http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23578690-details/Crossrail%27s+500+million+green+stop+at+the+Wharf/article.do
  
  DJR's gist: Lord Foster and Partners have revealed their plans for the new "Isle of Dogs" station that will connect the new £16bn Crossrail scheme to Canary Wharf and the thousands of financial employees working there. The plan involves a giant "green" bubble - an enclosed area of parkland combined with shops and restaurants, with the station itself accessed underground. Looks whacky... perfectly in tune with the area.