You Brits are a Pessimistic Bunch

[Rankelson]

We are a pessimistic Nation

But this makes success

Ever so sublime



INVENT A WORLD SERIES THAT ONLY YOU PARTICIPATE IN



Nice 12's

 

[SWeAT hOg]

For a pessimistic bunch, they're giving Mitt Romney a good paddling for being a downer. Even the Conservative Prime Minister and mayor of London are pissed off at him. BBC reports his trip to England is a dismal failure, notwithstanding his 'preferred' Anglo-Saxon 'heritage'

BBC News US & Canada
27 July 2012 Last updated at 13:08 ET
Mark Mardell, North America editor Article written by Mark Mardell North America editor


Will Mitt Romney's London woes hurt him at home?

Team Romney has long made it clear that the travelling pool - the journalists and camera people who record and monitor their every step - will not be allowed to follow them to the opening ceremony itself.

"No traveller or pool coverage available", reads the note. For that they must be glad. Otherwise they might have to cover their heads in blankets.

They will have had a glum breakfast. Last night's campaign fund-raising dinner, where each guest had to pay $25,000 (£16,000) a head, might have choked them. Their security physically stopped the cameras getting shots of anti-Mormon protesters, but nothing could block the barrage of negative coverage.

The London leg of Mitt Romney's much-vaunted foreign trip could hardly have gone worse.

It has even spawned its own Twitter hashtag: #romneyshambles.

Is there such a thing as being not an honoured guest, but a dishonoured one?

If so, Mr Romney is one. The prime minister has dismissed his 2002 Olympic triumph as being "in the middle of nowhere"; a UK minister told Newsnight he would have no chance of carrying the Olympic torch after his remarks, and Mayor Boris Johnson simply mocked him.

The British newspapers are vicious this morning. "Romney slur causes stir - wannabe president in Games insult," says the Sun.

"Who invited party pooper Romney?" asks the Daily Mail, above a headline listing the "gaffes of muddled Mitt".

The Times is, if anything, even more savage. "'Nowhere man' Romney loses his way with gaffe about the Games" is their headline.
'Mr Leader'

You can argue all this is rather unfair. Let's look at those other alleged "gaffes".

Calling Ed Miliband "Mr Leader" is odd, but less so to American ears. However, a call to a protocol officer in the US embassy would have prevented it.

Talking about the "backside of Downing Street" had me sniggering, but most Americans would be unaware of the gentle slang for what they, but not we, would call their "fanny".

Revealing that he had been given a briefing by the head of MI6 may be against British practice but is hardly giving the game away to terrorists - a country where the secret service wear jackets marked "secret service" is rather more open about these things.

As for the major offence, Mitt Romney was merely raising the same doubts behind the stories that have dominated both the BBC news and newspaper headlines for weeks.

The Sun did not accuse the Mail of a slur, nor the Mail say the Sun was a party-pooper for raising legitimate questions about London's readiness to run the Games.
'In tatters'

Romney's pitch at home is that he is a businessman not a politician. It is rather disingenuous given that he was an elected governor from 2003 to 2007 and has been campaigning to be president ever since then.

But his most fervent supporters might argue that he was giving a blunt, truthful assessment of London's readiness rather than indulging diplomatic double-talk.

If he had said that the Games would go without a hitch that would have been foolhardy.

And one of his big arguments is that Obama is too worried about offending foreigners. He's certainly demonstrated that he doesn't care about that.

That's the case for the defence. But no-one said life, or the media, is fair.

Mr Romney's message for viewers back home - that he connects with the leaders of America's allies and can be trusted with its interests abroad - lies in tatters.

He's offended the British government. The British press have decided he is a knave and a fool. Opponents at home have gleefully leapt on his woes.

The Democrats even rushed out this advert (which happens to feature a couple of seconds of your correspondent).

All he needs now is for his wife's horse to win gold, and be heavily featured in all the TV pictures back home. It is competing in the dressage competition, the one where the prancing animals perform a difficult, elegant ballet.

It is safe to say that dressage does not have the same place in the heart of the American blue-collar worker as Nascar racing or baseball.

Pinning Mitt to a refined and elitist sport might be even more damaging than his unique twist on the special relationship.
Mark Mardell, North America editor Article written by Mark Mardell Mark Mardell North America editor

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Mitt Romney's Olympic mishap

24 hours ago

Mitt Romney's undiplomatic Olympic remark obscures the larger story - he's lost the thread of his own campaign narrative.

Read full article
BBC

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[kmk108]

Once again

The Canadians have an opportunity to take the World Series

 

[Sinmastah]

Humour delivery for a Mr Sinmastah!

Anyone here called Sinmastah?

This joke is getting stale.

Ain't a joke. Everyone bitches about the world series, there's your answer. The MLB is clearly the best league in baseball.

 

[battra]

When another country can step up and rival the Champs in the MLB, we will talk. The best league after the MLB is the Japanese league, and their all stars barely hang with the AAA team (The league that has their best players promoted to the MLB).

Signed,

Ichiro.

Hideki Mastui

Sasaki

Hasegawa

Taguchi

etc.

I'd bet $100 on the Yoimuri Giants beating the St. Louis Cardinals in a true world series last year...or whomever the Japanese champs where.

(Please note where I live.)

 

[Dave1968]

I guess its because we're all too honest and don't bullsh*t like alot of your nation does;

'Hey, gerd to see ya, we must doo launch!", never gonna happen.

"How is y-oarrrr day?", you really don't care and oh, never ask a British person, you'll get a pessimistic reply about a daily ailment or some hard done story.


"Hey, yeah I think I heard of that way back...", you have no recollection because you just made it up.

I like americans and find you a happy bunch. Your fun to watch and be with. The world outside the US doesn't exist for some. Its all good.

I think we are pessimistic. The weather, the people, the price of things, the monarch we pay, the politicians who publicly rip the tax payer off, the red tape they create...oh god I was so happy and so looking forward to the Olympics..

Im so p*ssed now man.

Have a nice day!!

 

[kmk108]

'Hey, gerd to see ya, we must doo launch!", never gonna happen.

"How is y-oarrrr day?", you really don't care and oh, never ask a British person, you'll get a pessimistic reply about a daily ailment or some hard done story.

That has to be one of the worst attempts at an "American" accent as I've seen

 

[Sinmastah]

Signed,

Ichiro.

Hideki Mastui

Sasaki

Hasegawa

Taguchi

etc.

I'd bet $100 on the Yoimuri Giants beating the St. Louis Cardinals in a true world series last year...or whomever the Japanese champs where.

(Please note where I live.)

You named one fantastic player. Hedeki was pretty good. I'm not saying japanese players suck, but only a few break through. For every great player you can name that makes it in the MLB, I can name ten MLB athletes who starts in the MLB.

I'd love to see the Japanese champs get roasted against the 2011 champ cards. It's pretty much fact. Look at Tsuyoshi Nishioka. He was the best player in the Japanese League. Went to the MLB, and did absolutely nothing. Every once in a while, a rare occurrence will happen, and a player will make it, but most likely not.

 

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

The article may represent the typical Brit; but it doesnt't represent this one. One very proud and optimistic Londoner here!

I love so many things about London; it's rich history, the clubs and pubs, the variety of people that inhabit the area (an estimated 300 different languages are spoken), it's penchant for producing cutting edge work in the sciences and arts, but most of all the atmosphere and being arguably one of the best places in the world to study music

Matt

 

[Dave1968]

That has to be one of the worst attempts at an "American" accent as I've seen

It gets better in person..

I spoke with a guy when i was last there who went through the whole accent thing, west to east coast, mid-west and deep south..hilarious. I treasure that moment. Genuine belly laughter.

 

[kmk108]

Complete derailment, but I would love to see a tournament between the best clubs in the world in baseball. The problem is, while the game is developing in other countries, the money is in America. All of the best players will gravitate towards the MLB. It's not like football (soccer) where there's multiple good leagues.

 

[Cloverdale Road]

"Hanging on in quiet desperation is the English way."

 

[teame1]

Baseball is and always will be a minority sport.
Glad it isn't in the Olympics anymore. Although based on the Olympics which was the only true international tournament to go off of, it seems Cuba are best.

Medalists

Games Gold Silver Bronze
1992 Barcelona Cuba Chinese Taipei Japan
1996 Atlanta Cuba Japan United States
2000 Sydney United States Cuba South Korea
2004 Athens Cuba Australia Japan
2008 Beijing South Korea Cuba United States

 

[PraXis]

Forget Olympic baseball. Synchronized swimming is where it's at!

 

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

Just had a sneak look at the alleged leaked music play list; there are selections ranging from Paul Mc Cartney, Muse, Queen, The Jam, Zeppelin, Sex Pistols, Eric Clapton, to Elgar, Handel and even The Suga Babes and loads of other great Brit bands/artist too!

Jimmy Page played Whole Lotta Love with pop singer Leona Lewis (when Britain won the bid several years back), I hope we see him involved tonight!


Matt

 

[Rankelson]

I am starting to get excited

about the Olympics

A Small nation who Governed 3/5ths

of the Globe,

Maybe ,just maybe

The Phoenix is rising

 

[colchar]

When another country can step up and rival the Champs in the MLB

First of all, Toronto has won it twice. Second, while the best pro players are playing in MLB there are national teams that could easily win it, such as the Dominicans.

 

[Cpt Matt Sparrow]

My sister in law just texted and said James Bond may light the couldron!!' (presumably the current Bond, Daniel Craig)...

But the thought of former Bond Connery punning..."Good evening; I jusht thought I'd come here to shee an old flame" would be great too

Matt

 

[Fardwark]

My sister in law just texted and said James Bond may light the couldron!!' (presumably the current Bond, Daniel Craig)...

But the thought of former Bond Connery punning..."Good evening; I jusht thought I'd come here to shee an old flame" would be great too

Matt

Could be persssshuaded to do it. The nightsssh sssshtill young.

 

[colchar]

You obviously ain't been to East London.

I lived in Bethnal Fvcking Green for six months!