Maybe when you read this: The nation’s females were lambasted when asked which country had the ugliest women in an international poll. Votes poured in, with people from around the globe eager to point out how overweight, unladylike, and generally foul British women are. Major complaints centred around how many are ‘rude’, ‘drink pints of beer like men’ and ‘end up drunk in the gutter’. The UK’s (not so) fairer sex were also accused of unashamedly breaking wind and belching in public, of letting their fat hang out, were smothered in ‘bad tattoos’ and committed crimes against...
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"You got the Belgians running Europe?"
Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s memoir is on sale today, alongside a lengthy profile/preview of the book in the Washington Post. Based on the tidbits from the profile, I may just have to snag A Journey: My Political Life (What an original and totally interesting title!). The Post piece mostly centers on the backstabbingly close relationship Blair had with his successor Gordon Brown. There’s this little tidbit regarding how Blair felt about Presidents Clinton and Bush, both of whom with which he shared close relationships. Blair first visited with George W. Bush at Camp David in...
Continue reading..."There is no doubt, there is nothing equivocal, there are no ambiguities. What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong."
British Prime Minister David Cameron today apologized in Parliament for the events of Bloody Sunday, after Lord Saville’s inquiry was finally completed and released. From the Guardian: The prime minister told a sombre Commons: “The conclusions of this report are absolutely clear. There is no doubt, there is nothing equivocal, there are no ambiguities. What happened on Bloody Sunday was both unjustified and unjustifiable. It was wrong.” “Some members of our armed forces acted wrongly. The Government is ultimately responsible for the conduct of our armed forces and for that, on behalf of the Government – and indeed...
Continue reading...Wait, people can vote in a monarchy?
So, I’ll be out for the next several hours, but will leave thoughts later. Exit polls seem to indicate a drop in Lib-Dem seats. I don’t buy this, uniform swings, postal votes, etc… They may not be getting the gains many hoped for, but I can’t believe they’re not gonna pick up a few. Anyway, you should be following 538’s liveblog and listening to BBC Radio 4. Or just pick up a paper tomorrow. Either way.
Continue reading...What happens tomorrow and Friday
Tomorrow, Britons will go to their polling locations and elect a new House of Commons. This much is certain. What happens next is anybody’s guess. Currently, there is no parliament, but as required by law, there is still a Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. And, until the votes are tallied, and the “winner” is summoned to the palace, Brown will remain the No10. As according to convention, Brown, as the P.M., will be the first asked by the Queen to form a government. It is widely expected that Labour will do terribly tomorrow, and that the Tories will...
Continue reading..."Sweating like Vegas Elvis on a squash court" or Liveblogging the Brits part 2.
In the last week, Nick Clegg, of the Liberal Democrats, went from leader of the third party to the leader of the tied for first (for the first time in 104 years!!!) party, to being unfairly demonized by the Daily Mail party. Shock. Any, in about two minutes Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Nick Clegg slug it out over foreign policy. Perhaps there will be a tea break in about half and hour. We’re just not quite sure. 3:00- Brown starts it out. Nothing to write, nothing. 3:02- Cameron wants to help families. Great foreign policy talking...
Continue reading...Well, this is something.
Not to harp on British politics, but it is indeed historic for Britain and holds many important implications for America when the Liberal Democrats top a poll for the first time in 104 years. (Caveat- The Lib-Dems are an 80’s merger of the Liberal Party and the Social Democratic Party, nonetheless….) The idea behind the Lib-Dems is one that has reached its place in history at an important moment. I’ve said to people for some time that Barack Obama’s politics, when translating American politics and policy in British politics and policy, fall well within the realm of...
Continue reading...Liveblogging the first ever British debate (except for, basically, every week in Parliament)
3.35- Clegg opens. Fairness, greedy bankers, etc…Also, the background looks like a children’s show set from the 1980’s. The Early 1980’s. 3.36- Brown and Cameron spoke. Yawn. 3.38- This seems like a Senatorial debate in the States. NO CHEF’S FROM OUTSIDE THE EU!!!!, Really Gordon? Really? That is where you go, the food makers? Have you tried finding good Mexican food in Britain? It’s impossible, because of THE LACK OF FUCKING IMMIGRATION FROM OUTSIDE THE EU. 3.48- Cameron just talked about robbers burning down a house. Yikes. 4.31- Totally stopped watching. 4.32- Clegg doesn’t like bureaucrats. Really...
Continue reading...No hung parliament here
With the 6 May election coming up in the U.K., there have been a great many predictions of the outcome, and most of them entail either an outright Tory win, or, more likely, a hung parliament. Of course, the obvious next prediction to make, at least by those who are paid to predict outcomes, is how the hung parliament will be structured, and, most importantly, which side will the Liberal Democrats, the perpetual third party who have not enjoyed any power since World War II, will join. It’s pretty much accepted that, given a hung parliament, whichever...
Continue reading...Walking around the Garden of Eden moaning about the lack of mobile reception
While PM Gordon Brown has yet to officially call a general election in Britain, it is widely assumed that it will happen 56 days from today when the English local elections are scheduled. For two years, the consensus has been that a Tory victory is inevitable. After the failed experiment that was the Iraq War, a faltering economy and a falling pound, fortunes have slightly turned for Labour in the run-up to the Gordon Brown’s first contest as leader. While even now few think Labour will garner enough seats to maintain an outright electoral majority, there is...
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