Like you say, Ian, you folks over there should feel proud to have an overwhelming left-leaning majority. I sure as hell wish we were so fortunate. The U.S. right wing, even in political defeat, are a dangerous bunch who are able to skew the agenda of the left.

It's a sobering fact that Obama's win can be largely attributed to the fact that Bush and company were such utter fuckups. Unfortunately, he's proving the old stereotype about Democrats... he's caving to right wing pressure, he's not forceful enough in giving the people who elected him the change they seek, and he's far too accommodating to the very same forces that are right back to their old slimy Wall Street tricks that broke the economy.

A retaking of the Federal government by the right wing in the next round of elections is almost certain under these depressing conditions.

So yes, be very glad your BNP is a marginalized lot. It could be a whole lot worse.