Politicy stuff

[selenay]

I like the British system of elections. Not only does it only take a couple of months as opposed to a couple of years, but there's a quick change when the government is voted out. The Americans have this period between election and swearing in that confuses me greatly. Exactly which president is in charge during the interregnum? Which one decides to go to war if the country is attacked during that time? Ditto for the new elected Senate/House?

Here we like to be quick about it. In '97, Blair was opening the front door of No. 10 while Major was sneaking out of the back door. None of this interregnum stuff. The election is called in favour of a new government, the new Prime Minister goes to the Queen to accept it and he's into the new house in time for tea. Same applies to the new MPs. Somehow it seems much safer and less confusing.



This thought was brought to you by the S2 West Wing episode The Lame Duck Congress, the letter P and the number 4.

Comments

[selenay]

I didn't know about the nicknames

Private Eye's nicknames make it very difficult to take some politicians seriously. Although the universal name for one of the candidates during the Major/Thatcher swap was even better. Still can't look at him without thinking of Mr. Spock...

[paranoidangel]

Still can't look at him without thinking of Mr. Spock...

I remember that one. Of course, once someone pointed it out it was blindingly obvious. And still funny.