** Who Benefits?** Gay, Female, Stones America ** Election By Numbers ** China ** Dorries ** Greek Riots **
1) DAVE AND ED FIGHT OVER OBAMA
President Obama's reelection is a good thing for David Cameron/Ed Miliband and a bad thing for Ed Miliband/David Cameron, depending on how you interpret the result. But what is clear is that both leaders must think the president's reelection is a success for their side. For the prime minister it shows that an incumbent can get reelected despite a troubled economy. For the Labour leader it means the man who has closer ideological links still runs the world.
Tories point to the fact Obama used the phrase "we're all in this together". While Labour types may notice he spokes of "one nation" America. Others may suggest that this was entirely coincidental. The Lib Dems meanwhile can lay claim to having a similar name. Tweeting yesterday: "Also, now that the election is over can Americans stop messaging us thinking we’re either amazing or evil liberal US Democrats?"
Also Mitt said really mean things about our Olympics. So...
Today's Memo is edited by Ned Simons as Mehdi is busy avoiding President Obama's drone strikes.
2) GAYER, MORE FEMALE AND STONED
America awoke on Wednesday morning to find it still had a Democratic president, but also that it was more female, a bit gayer and slightly more stoned than it had been when it went to bed. There are a record number of female senators, same-sex marriage has been legalised in four states, the nation has its first gay senator and in Colorado, legalising weed got 50,000 more votes than Obama.
3) BY NUMBERS
President Obama's victory was called by NBC News 12 minutes later than it was four years ago - the network called it at 11pm in 2008 and at 11:12pm in 2012. The amount of traffic The Huffington Post would have lost if Michelle Bachmann had lost her congressional seat - all of it. The US election by numbers.
4) RIOTS IN ATHENS
Greek MPs approved deep cuts in the country's latest round of austerity measures, deemed essential to the country's European Union membership, but riots raged on the streets of Athens as the package passed by just three votes.
Around 80,000 people demonstrated in fury outside the Greek parliament at the €13.5bn cutbacks, as 153 MPs out of the 300-seat parliament voted for the measures, and two of the ruling parties expelled MPs who had voted against the bill. Riot police used a water cannon and tear gas to disperse protesters, who screamed and hurled petrol bombs.
5) DORRIES
Nadine Dorries, the suspended Tory MP, has taken an unsubtle swipe at David Cameron on the eve of entering the jungle for the reality TV series 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' When quizzed on what behaviour she would not tolerate in the camp, Dorries pointedly remarked: "I do not like arrogant people who think they are born to rule."
It's getting to the stage now where it is only news when Dorries doesn't say something mean about the prime minister.
6) CHINA
Now that we have got the American election out of the way eyes turn to Beijing where the a once-in-a-decade power transfer is taking place. Hu Jintao will step down as president and Wen Jiabao will step down as premier. Unlike the US election, their successors are assured. They will be replaced by Xi Jinping and Li Keqiang.
BECAUSE YOU'VE READ THIS FAR...
Who said it? Donald Trump or a James Bond villan (QUIZ)
7) 'YOU EAT TOO MUCH'
The Daily Telegraph reports today that Labour MP Jack Dromey told his wife Harriet Harman, the deputy leader of the Labour Party, “you eat too much,” as she made her way to the buffet table at a US election party. How rude.
8) SEND FOR THE AUSSIE
Boris Johnson has told David Cameron to hire right-wing political strategist Lynton Crosby and give him a "free hand" to run the Conservatives' 2015 general election campaign. The Mayor of London insisted Crosby was "by no means as right wing" as many people thought and said the Tories should "break the piggy bank" to secure the services of the sought-after adviser. His comments came after he addressed the 1922 Committee of backbench Conservative MPs in the Commons.
QUOTE UNQUOTE
“Four more years.” - President Barack Obama on Twitter.
POLL WATCH
Barack Obama: Still the President
Mitt Romney: Still not the president
140 CHARACTERS OR LESS
@SirBobKerslake Sounds good Norman
@chhcalling Just seen tomorrow's Daily Star front page: http://twitpic.com/bb7c0s Thank heavens there was no "Bushtucker trial" on display.
900 WORDS OR MORE
In the Daily Telegraph Ben Brogan says: "The power of incumbency and social liberalism: what David Cameron has learned from Barack Obama"
In the Independent Matthew Norman writes: "In the aftermath Karl Rove, and the delusional wing of the Republican party, will be forced still deeper into their reality-defying bunker"
Got something you want to share? Please send any stories/tips/quotes/pix/plugs/gossip to Mehdi Hasan (mehdi.hasan@huffingtonpost.com) or Ned Simons (ned.simons@huffingtonpost.com). You can also follow us on Twitter: @mehdirhasan, @nedsimons and @huffpostukpol