http://ask-mark.com/ravings Fri, 25 Jul 2008 02:17:56 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I have discussed the electoral trials and tribulations of Gordon Brown and the Labour Party since May. In addition to financial problems and historic lows in opinion polling, Labour has lost local elections around the country, the race for Mayor of London, and a relatively safe seat in a by-election. ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/07/24/more-than-another-kick-in-the-pants-for-gordon-brown Sorry, got distracted there. I'm watching (and have just paused) Pride & Prejudice, starring Her Wondrous Beauty, the vivacious and spectacular Keira Knightley, whose eyes and smile make...ahem, um, right. As the initial heart racing on seeing my princess began to subside, I was confronted with Rosamund Pike, who is ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/07/22/pride-whatsit DuPage County State's Attorney Joe Birkett is not one of my favorite people. In fact, I will be tempted to vote in the Republican primary in 2010 just to vote against his bid for governor (I won't, but I'll be tempted). This douchy statement about donations from defense attorneys with ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/07/21/i-really-dont-like-this-guy In the same week that saw them reach an all time low in the polls at 25%, UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown's Labour Party has suffered its fourth humiliating election defeat in a month, according to the Guardian. First were the twin defeats in local council elections and the London ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/06/27/labour-takes-another-hit I wrote a Legal Jargon page a while back about thinking like a lawyer where I admitted that I do not know what it means to do that. "Thinking like a lawyer" is one of those things you are told that you will learn in law school, and many people ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/06/25/compartmentalizing When Shadow Home Secretary David Davis resigned from Parliament, he triggered a by-election (special election) in which he is running to argue against the loss of civil liberties under Labour. The Liberal Democrats agree with him, so are not running a candidate against him. Labour is not running a candidate ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/06/20/thats-just-awesome The following represents my thinking on this day as to whom each candidate should/will pick as his running mate: McCain Ken Blackwell (OH) - Blackwell is a former secretary of state and is black. He could help win the important battleground state of Ohio. Perhaps more importantly, being black could make him ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/06/18/shortlist People have talked the strength and weaknesses of a so-called "Dream Ticket" to death, but there is one thing I have not heard said which could be called a strength or weakness, depending on one's perspective. Every Republican ticket has had a Bush or a Dole on it since 1976. ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/06/18/dynasties As my friends can attest to, I often dance alone with no music. Actually, there is music; it's in my head. Among the songs up there is the Schoolhouse Rock! song "No More Kings" about the American Revolution. For most patriots, overthrowing monarchy was just as important as throwing off ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/06/18/no-more-kings The man who I believe is most responsible for making the labels "red state" and blue state" a part of the national consciousness died today. Tim Russert was NBC News Washington bureau chief for more than 20 years and host of Meet the Press for 17, and was responsible for ... http://ask-mark.com/ravings/2008/06/13/tim-russert-requiem-eterna-dona-ei