ME and Ophelia

POLITICAL BLOGS
More British MPs need to *get* blogging

Soon the news will be hotting up on the handover of Iraq. I'm collecting a new cross section of political blogs to get a balanced view of events, especially during the run up to America's presidential election in November. Tips on informative political blogs would be gratefully received.

I'm looking too for answers to elementary questions on American politics. For example: What happens if Kerry gets ill or run over by a bus, who'd take his place? Could Hilary Clinton suddenly join in the race against Bush for the White House? Seems the Americans have only two main political parties: the Democrats and Republicans. Is Kerry's party the equivalent of our Labour Party - and Bush the equivalent of our Conservative Party? Which party do liberals (and those who are anti Bush and against the war on terror) in America support - the Democrats or Republicans?

Here in England we have three main political parties plus several smaller ones. Labour Party (left). Conservative Party (right). Liberal Party (center). And smaller parties representing the views of minority groups such as the Greens, Independents, etc. Our current Prime Minister Tony Blair leads the Labour Party (referred as Socialists or Socialism - ex leader Neil Kinnock). Ex Prime Minister Baroness Margaret Thatcher was leader of the Conservative Party (also referred to as Tory or Tories) - current leader is Michael Howard. Lord Paddy Ashdown is former leader of the Liberals - current leader is Charles Kennedy.

Lately some members of the Labour Party (and a few bloggers I know of) are actively pushing for a change of leadership within their own party. Seems they're working at pulling down our democratically elected Prime Minister by openly discrediting him and backing Chancellor Gordon Brown (edited insert: Deputy Prime Minister is John Prescott) - or some other politician who hasn't much chance of being elected as Prime Minister.

If Tony Blair is pushed out by the Labour Party that he brought to power - after it was totally unelectable for 18 years - the Party will not get my vote. I'll just abstain from voting. I've no confidence in old fashioned Labour thinking as it can't seem to progress or move with the times. Gordon Brown doesn't seem to have Tony Blair's amazing energy, people skills and ability to calmly juggle and hold it all together with vision while under pressure. Bearing in mind too that we get two brilliant minds for the price of one: Cherie Blair is super intelligent, maybe even more so than her husband.

Seems that Labour has no other credible leader who'd be accepted as Prime Minister by the majority of voters in the UK. Same goes for the Conservatives and Liberals. From what I've read, only a minority of bloggers (but most of the media) appear to be fixated with the war in Iraq - and yet on the doorsteps of British voters, the war is hardly an issue. British voters, and the majority of personal blogs I visit, seem more concerned over what's happening closer to home and in their own back yards.

Of course, no one is indispensable. But I do hope Tony Blair serves at least another term as Prime Minister. If he wants to that is. I can't imagine why he (or anyone) would want to lead the Labour Party. Seems a pretty troublesome and thankless task. Especially since the criticism comes from those who are not competent to do the job.

It'd be good to see more British Members of Parliament (MPs) starting personal journals and really getting into blogging.