We Brits are given to looking down on the Yanks as 'Johnny-Come-Latelies' and their elections as a load of vulgar razzmatazz followed by more of the same.

But this time we clearly got it wrong - well at least with regard to the razzmatazz though we still have to see how the 'more of the same' bit goes.

That poor idiot, Neil Kinnock, allowed himself to be sukkered into and American style stump meeting, with flashing lights and a warm up group, and promptly lost the election. He was widely seen as harbouring 'presidential' ambitions and the old royalist nonsense surfaced yet again.

It was all far too vulgar for us Brits

We like to think that we wouldn't like marching bands in the streets of Huddersfield, or cheerleaders waving their pompoms to attract our attention to a Gordon Brown fest, but when Obama brought his road show to London, hundreds and thousands came to see him and cheered like they have cheered no Brit except the Queen whose got the world’s oldest and biggest living road show.

There isn't a politician is this sceptred isle who could do that!

So what's wrong with a system that appeals to millions, makes them politically active, brings boneheads like Palin to the fore and then demolished their boneheadedness.

Is our political rhetoric to stay at the bland 'Persil washes Whitest' level as out leaders seek to avoid making mistakes instead of creating policies, hope and excitement?

Our greatest leaders, Elizabeth I (I know I have the body of a weak and feeble woman) and Churchill (I have nothing to offer but blood toil tears and sweat') said what they meant and meant what they said and enrolled our enthusiasm.

Not for them mere acceptance of the status quo.