We in Scotland find it hard to view the conferences of our chosen political party. BBC Parliament channel gives some of each conference, the parts they want to show.

We have problems in Scotland seeing our First Minister and what he wants to say to us on our televisions.

For days, we have BBC Parliament Channel show the American Democratic convention repeatedly. Every step of the way Barack Obama is shown as a perfect candidate for the American Presidency. Some of our newssheets are offering the same support.

I have questions

1. If we can view the American conferences in full why not our own
2. If we pay our fee for BBC why can we not have our own First Minister on our telly.
3. Why are we being bombarded with Barack Obama.
4 Why are we watching only the Democratic Conference and not others.


news.bbc.co.uk/

Oh, Lydia - how could you?

Barack Obama may well be the next President of the United States of America. Westminster would do anything to encourage our "special relationship" with the Whitehouse (not the USA, note the distinction) and so we must all listen and be informed.

Alex Salmond, on the other hand, is a serious weed up Westminster's rectum, and they'll be damned if they give the little bloody upstart any more air time than they absolutely have to. If he does get air time, he'll be asked plenty of questions and given not enough time to answer them (A'La Wark).

The media are happily following the"Preserve the Union" doctrine while promoting the UK/US bond: Yes, the US election is world news, but I doubt it's making such an impact on the the rest of the worlds media as it does here.

Mr. Cholmondley-Warner of the BBC says:-

Lydia Reid, know your place!!

The Republican Party Conference doesn't start until the 1st September, that is why we are only seeing Barack Obama, so from next week you will be able to see and hear nothing but John McCain.

Fair point about not seeing enough of the FM, would be good if we had a BBC Scotland Parliament channel, however I don't think it very likely.

It's not as convenient as watching on your telly, but you can watch proceedings at Holyrood online at

www.holyrood.tv/

They also have a video archive of First Minister's Questions.

I'm fed up with the wall to wall coverage of the US elections too. It's the typical London-centric attitude. The only place outside London which matters is the USA.

There's coverage of it in the Spanish media, but not quite so much as in the British/English media. In the past week however, the US election has been entirely overshadowed by the Madrid air crash.

Don't worry about being bombarded with Barack Obama. You'll be being bombarded with wossiface the Oven Chips guy next week. And then by both of them ad nauseum until November.

According to some reports, Labour will delay the Glenrothes by-election until the day after the US election so the bad news will be buried.

www.opendemocracy.net/blog/ourkingdom-th...s-long-in-glenrothes

we're being bombarded with US politics because New Labour has decreed that we are now the 51st State, that the BBC is its propaganda organ since they got rid of Greg Dyke, and that now politics is purely a spectator sport. You are allowed - in fact required - to watch but not take part. Only professional politicians may do that.

dws wrote:
Oh, Lydia - how could you?

Barack Obama may well be the next President of the United States of America. Westminster would do anything to encourage our "special relationship" with the Whitehouse (not the USA, note the distinction) and so we must all listen and be informed.

Alex Salmond, on the other hand, is a serious weed up Westminster's rectum, and they'll be damned if they give the little bloody upstart any more air time than they absolutely have to. If he does get air time, he'll be asked plenty of questions and given not enough time to answer them (A'La Wark).

The media are happily following the"Preserve the Union" doctrine while promoting the UK/US bond: Yes, the US election is world news, but I doubt it's making such an impact on the the rest of the worlds media as it does here.

Mr. Cholmondley-Warner of the BBC says:-

Lydia Reid, know your place!!





SHE BOWS AND TOUCHES HER FORELOCK SO SORRY SIR STICKS HER TONGUE OUT

Geeooo wrote:
The Republican Party Conference doesn't start until the 1st September, that is why we are only seeing Barack Obama, so from next week you will be able to see and hear nothing but John McCain.

Fair point about not seeing enough of the FM, would be good if we had a BBC Scotland Parliament channel, however I don't think it very likely.

I truly wish I took bets because considering how much the face and words of Barack Obama has been on our news over the last wee while i just do not believe we will see much of John McCain. So far I can't remember seeing his face. He has had more coverage than Hilary Clinton.

I believe it will be one of the first moves from Salmond after independence and quite right too we need a channel of our own.

The Scottish Parliament Channel often does not cover every committee live and does not give FMQ until hours sometimes a day later.

LYDIA REID wrote:
SHE BOWS AND TOUCHES HER FORELOCK SO SORRY SIR STICKS HER TONGUE OUT

That sort of attitude will not get you Douglas Fraser's job at the Herald, Lydia!!

dws wrote:
LYDIA REID wrote:
SHE BOWS AND TOUCHES HER FORELOCK SO SORRY SIR STICKS HER TONGUE OUT

That sort of attitude will not get you Douglas Fraser's job at the Herald, Lydia!!

Ha but it feels good

Well done to Obama yesterday for refusing to get caught up in the fact that McCain's running mate has a seventeen year old daughter who is pregnant. This was a leading item in US news most of the night along with damage done by the storms! One journalist stated if this "has been kept from us, what else do we not know about this woman's family?" Obama was then pursued for his view on the matter!

So right Claire

His answer was a persons family is a private matter I wish more politicians had his views and his respect.

LYDIA REID wrote:
So right Claire

His answer was a persons family is a private matter I wish more politicians had his views and his respect.But the media will not respect the young person, or the family in their attempts to deal with this tragic situation.
I understand the child will be allowed go to full term, which is something I applaud.

Yes, full marks to Mr Obama for not attempting to gain points here. I hope his integrity pays off for him.

I really think politicians of all countries and parties would do well to take a lesson from him on this subject.

Martin wrote:
Yes, full marks to Mr Obama for not attempting to gain points here. I hope his integrity pays off for him.

I really think politicians of all countries and parties would do well to take a lesson from him on this subject.

I agree; any move away from playground politics should be welcomed. Having said that perhaps Mr Obama is just smarter than your average bear, he'll know serious-minded voters aren't going to be interested in tabloid smears so in distancing himself from that aspect of the media he'll show himself in a good light.

Or maybe that's too cynical of me...

This show is funny and an island of sanity in the cesspit o media political coverage.