Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Open Thread beginning Weds., 16 June 2010
(I reserve the right to delete incendiary, offensive or off-the-wall comments.)
¶ What did you think of President Obama's speech last night?
Do you have any reaction to yesterday's report on the shootings in Londonderry on Bloody Sunday, 30 January 1972, and Prime Minister Cameron's apology on behalf of the British government?
Will the Los Angeles Lakers or the Boston Celtics win the National Basketball Association (NBA) championship in the final game of their seven-game series tomorrow night in Los Angeles? Any thoughts on the World Cup?
Any other news or thoughts?
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Final result of 2010 British General Election comes in
20,167 ( 52.9% ) Conservative — Anne McIntosh
_8,886 ( 23.3% ) Liberal Democratic — Howard Keal
_5,169 ( 13.6% ) Labour — Jonathan Roberts
_2,502 ( _6.6% ) UK Independence — Toby Horton
_1,418 ( _3.7% ) Liberal — John Clark
38,142 ( 50.03% ) Turnout
And the consequent standing of the parties in Parliiament:
365 Government benches (Cons.-Lib. Dem. coalition)
280 Opposition
__5 Sinn Féin (Irish Republicans who refuse to take their seats)
_85 Government majority over all others (simple majority: 323-322)
Coalition:
307 Conservative
_57 Liberal Democratic
__1 Alliance Party of Northern Ireland; votes with Lib Dems
Opposition benches:
258 Labour (official Opposition)
__8 Democratic Unionist (Northern Ireland)
__6 Scottish National Party
__3 Plaid Cymru (Welsh nationalist)
__3 Social Democratic & Labour Party (NI); vote with Labour
__1 Independent Unionist (NI)
__1 Green
Saturday, May 22, 2010
More British Election Statistics since 1945
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Some British Election Statistics since 1945
Monday, May 10, 2010
Philippine Presidential Election
Monday, May 3, 2010
Can the government handle a string of disasters?
Many images of President Obama and Secretary Napolitano running around the country like a fire brigade. More aspects of the unwieldy Homeland Security Department than most of us remember even existed. The President beginning to resemble President Bush, making speech after speech from different places with firm jaw, steely eyes and steady voice promising resolve. But is it enough?
Can the Federal government, the states and local governments handle all this? Or is this adding up to "Obama's Katrina"? Could Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Mitt Romney, John McCain or George W. Bush have done any better? Are the cabinet secretaries, mayors and governors doing their jobs?
What do you think?