James Lawless - A View from the Tracks » UK Politics

In death there’s hope..

James — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 11:28:32 +0000

First of all RIP Ted Kennedy. His was an epic life all the more wonderous for the shadow of those around him. A contrast of sorts, a frequent communicant who championed the liberal agenda, a Kennedy who never became president, a legislator beyond excellence. Fabled by his famous older brothers he carved his own destiny and now casts a long shadow of his own over US and indeed world affairs.

Whilst the particular era perhaps ended long ago, there was still a tragic finality in reading that Senator Kennedy’s remains were being flown to Arlington national cemetary after the Boston service, to be laid beside his brothers Jack and Bobby Kennedy in the family plot. Three brothers now all in the ground.

Edward Kennedy did have one shot at the presidency of course, in 1980 when he was beaten for the Democratic nomination, in what he knew then must be his last attempt, he made a poignant post ballot speech, for a man who saw the hopes slip from his grasp only a few hours before but raised himself for the hopes of many and delivered a historic concession “the dream will never die”..

On a slightly brighter note, and am sure the man himself would grant a wry smile, I noted in a side column how the hopefuls are already gathering to contest the now vacant senate seat left behind. Of course with a full slate of legislative progress to be made and at times stormy assembly, that extra Democrat seat cannot be left idle for long. Not that the aspirants will mind an accelerated progression process.

There’s a story told about the late Labour leader John Smith. His own funeral of course was the scene of fevered plotting with the celebrated Blair / Brown feud at full peak of which he would have wholeheartedly approved. On hearing of a bereavement in the ranks, after making the appropriate noises and a suitable solemnity to the relatives, he would turn to his confidantes and allow a sparkle in the eye and a rub of the hands as his thoughts darted to the by-election ahead and the selections to be made with his famous phrase .. ”Where there’s death there’s hope” …

Cameron enters chat room

James — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 18:01:14 +0000

Too many twits

James — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 22:07:04 +0000

Or something like that was how David Cameron put it. Now normally I wouldn’t have much time for a Tory but he is the young energetic leader of a party which was out of power for over a decade after a decade prior of being in power until the people got so sick of them they turfed them out for the alternative. And now after a rebuild (and time for people to finally get sick of the new crowd) looks like they’re back in vogue again. I like Labour (old and new) a lot and whilst I was never particularly a Blairite, I was certainly a Brownite and an avowed fan of the new generation such as the mellifluos Milliband, some of which I’ve discussed here before. But all politics is cyclical and whilst we wait out the turnabout Cameron is living proof that there’s hope for us all.

Anyway I’ve digressed but my original message was to say whilst I haven’t been posting (blog wise) a lot lately, I’ve been busy over on twitter which to be honest is a whole lot easier than writing a full article. So for anyone interested you’ll find me over here in between blog posts…

PS Our former leader (Bertie Ahern TD) begins his News of the World column tomorrow, and whatever about apple tarts, the man knows his sport. Might even pick up a copy as my usual business post is sadly lacking in the green field department..