The western world this week has been in election mode. For the UK it was on the whole local elections and Mayoral ones. The voters who turned out to vote sent a message to Westminster that the current Coalition government are not acting with the people in mind. Both parties of the Coalition, that is the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats, suffered heavy losses. As expected the Lib Dems came off worse. Having thrown their hand in with the Tories they have lost most of their popularity. Their ranking in the UK now stands at an all time low.
The fact that Tory Mayor Boris Johnson was once again elected as London Mayor offered PM Cameron some solace. Cameron jumped on this as a victory but in reality it was a victory for eccentric, tousle haired Boris. It should be remembered that he won not the Tory Party. That said the Tories did not fair too badly in some parts of London.
Once again voter apathy won the day as around 60 plus percent of voters stayed away from the polls. This shows the lack of confidence in our politicians and the system right now. Would more vote in a General Election? Probably but maybe not enough to call the result truly democratic.
Yesterday President Obama hit the campaign trail with his first rally in Ohio. The President admitted that there is work to be done. The GOP with their protracted and at times foolish nominee election have been making headlines all year. Although sometimes this has been for the wrong reasons it is still welcome publicity.
Mr Obama also knows that the US is in a mess right now. Whether it would have been any different under a GOP administration is debatable. There would still have been big losers and big winners. It will be a difficult choice for the US people and hopefully they will make the appropriate choice. It should not be forgotten that at times Obama's hands have been virtually tied as Republicans in government have blocked proposals and legislation.
Today May 6, 2012 the Greek and French people will decide who will to be their leader. Will France opt for more of the same from Nicolas Sarkozy? Right now it would seem that they will not. Francois Hollande a Socialist candidate appears to be the front runner.When it comes to the crunch though the people may opt for the Right, that is Sarkozy.
Greece looks set to have another Coalition government although this time the main players could be different. The current coalition of the Pasok and NDP have left many Greeks disillusioned and severely out of pocket. Voter apathy could hit the Greek polls too as many people feel there is little point in voting when Europe dictates their legislation. This however could lead to Kammenos, who wants an exit from the EU, to gain ground.
Results will be reported as and when they are announced. Europe is in for an even more testing time and it is important for the people that each government looks after their own countrymen and women. Sleaze and corruption only damage people's opinions of politicians further.
The UK has its Bank Holiday tomorrow, May 7, 2012, and yet more rain is expected. With flood alerts still in operation in some parts of the country the situation remains dire and silly. We are still officially suffering a drought although many crops are ruined under a mountain of water. This will affect the price of groceries and add to inflation concerns.
Yesterday Chelsea won the FA Cup beating Liverpool 2-1. Stadiums across the capital, London, are gearing up for the Olympics. Security checks and preparations continue. These include the possibility of some residents having surface to air missiles stationed on the roof of their property. Understandably this has caused outrage.
The UK lost two of its soldiers in Afdghanistan as the week drew to a close. The MoD website statement announcing their deaths reads:
"It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Corporal Andrew Steven Roberts and Private Ratu Manasa Silibaravi, both of 23 Pioneer Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, were killed in Afghanistan on Friday 4 May 2012.
Corporal Roberts and Private Silibaravi were attached to 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Battlegroup, serving as part of Combined Force Burma, when they were killed in an indirect fire attack on Forward Operating Base Ouellette, in the northern part of Nahr-e Saraj district.
Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the deaths of Corporal Andrew Roberts and Private Ratu Silibaravi, two soldiers who were respected by their colleagues as much for their personalities as for their professionalism and commitment to duty. "They have given their lives defending the UK’s national security in a campaign vital to preventing terrorism from succeeding and spreading; their sacrifice will not be forgotten. My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the two families, as well as friends and colleagues left behind."
RIP
Till next week, keep your chin up,ttfn
Tags: TWTWTW, that was the week, that was, election, French election, Greek election, UK coalition, Boris Johnson, Chelsea beat Liverpool
The fact that Tory Mayor Boris Johnson was once again elected as London Mayor offered PM Cameron some solace. Cameron jumped on this as a victory but in reality it was a victory for eccentric, tousle haired Boris. It should be remembered that he won not the Tory Party. That said the Tories did not fair too badly in some parts of London.
Once again voter apathy won the day as around 60 plus percent of voters stayed away from the polls. This shows the lack of confidence in our politicians and the system right now. Would more vote in a General Election? Probably but maybe not enough to call the result truly democratic.
Yesterday President Obama hit the campaign trail with his first rally in Ohio. The President admitted that there is work to be done. The GOP with their protracted and at times foolish nominee election have been making headlines all year. Although sometimes this has been for the wrong reasons it is still welcome publicity.
Mr Obama also knows that the US is in a mess right now. Whether it would have been any different under a GOP administration is debatable. There would still have been big losers and big winners. It will be a difficult choice for the US people and hopefully they will make the appropriate choice. It should not be forgotten that at times Obama's hands have been virtually tied as Republicans in government have blocked proposals and legislation.
Today May 6, 2012 the Greek and French people will decide who will to be their leader. Will France opt for more of the same from Nicolas Sarkozy? Right now it would seem that they will not. Francois Hollande a Socialist candidate appears to be the front runner.When it comes to the crunch though the people may opt for the Right, that is Sarkozy.
Greece looks set to have another Coalition government although this time the main players could be different. The current coalition of the Pasok and NDP have left many Greeks disillusioned and severely out of pocket. Voter apathy could hit the Greek polls too as many people feel there is little point in voting when Europe dictates their legislation. This however could lead to Kammenos, who wants an exit from the EU, to gain ground.
Results will be reported as and when they are announced. Europe is in for an even more testing time and it is important for the people that each government looks after their own countrymen and women. Sleaze and corruption only damage people's opinions of politicians further.
The UK has its Bank Holiday tomorrow, May 7, 2012, and yet more rain is expected. With flood alerts still in operation in some parts of the country the situation remains dire and silly. We are still officially suffering a drought although many crops are ruined under a mountain of water. This will affect the price of groceries and add to inflation concerns.
Yesterday Chelsea won the FA Cup beating Liverpool 2-1. Stadiums across the capital, London, are gearing up for the Olympics. Security checks and preparations continue. These include the possibility of some residents having surface to air missiles stationed on the roof of their property. Understandably this has caused outrage.
The UK lost two of its soldiers in Afdghanistan as the week drew to a close. The MoD website statement announcing their deaths reads:
"It is with sadness that the Ministry of Defence must confirm that Corporal Andrew Steven Roberts and Private Ratu Manasa Silibaravi, both of 23 Pioneer Regiment, The Royal Logistic Corps, were killed in Afghanistan on Friday 4 May 2012.
Corporal Roberts and Private Silibaravi were attached to 1st Battalion The Royal Welsh Battlegroup, serving as part of Combined Force Burma, when they were killed in an indirect fire attack on Forward Operating Base Ouellette, in the northern part of Nahr-e Saraj district.
Secretary of State for Defence, Philip Hammond, said: "It was with great sadness that I learned of the deaths of Corporal Andrew Roberts and Private Ratu Silibaravi, two soldiers who were respected by their colleagues as much for their personalities as for their professionalism and commitment to duty. "They have given their lives defending the UK’s national security in a campaign vital to preventing terrorism from succeeding and spreading; their sacrifice will not be forgotten. My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the two families, as well as friends and colleagues left behind."
RIP
Till next week, keep your chin up,ttfn
Tags: TWTWTW, that was the week, that was, election, French election, Greek election, UK coalition, Boris Johnson, Chelsea beat Liverpool
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