Another Fine Mess

It's all pretty complicated, but suffice it to say that the Prime Minster of Great Britain has got himself, to use an Americanism, up s**t's creek without a paddle.

It would take more space than we have here to explain what going on (not that I even fully understand what's going on). Apparently there are Blair holdovers in the cabinet either plotting to oust Gordon Brown (or not, depending on whom you believe), polls calling him the worst PM in 60 years (and that includes John Major!), a missive from Tony Blair lambasting Brownie's performance ...

It's amazing that just a year ago, Brown was getting excellent notices on his handling those dreadful floods last summer and the bus and train terror attacks -- but it just goes to show you, on either side of the Atlantic, it's the economy, stupid. Labour have to start listening to all of the fancy campaign experts they import from Washington.

In an interesting sidebar: it looks like the David Miliband is set to take over Labour, but there is a chance that one Harriet Harman could take over as well (both are seen in the beginning of the clip below). With Tsipi Livni possibly taking over Kadima in Israel and with Hillary Clinton coming so close to success here, there could have been a estrogen trifecta. Then again, if it wasn't for the tragedy in Pakistan, there may have been a female PM there too.

Back in Westminster: When was the moment the applecart tipped over? This session (see below) of Parliament, held at the end of 2007, could have been that very moment. Everyone loves Questions for the Prime Minister ... If you listen carefully, can you hear something cracking, just before Brownie answers that second question from the Tory leader, David Cameron?

Sir Robert?! Flippin' hell!

I'm trying to keep to only one posting a day, but I just heard that as of Wednesday, Foreign Office have stripped Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe of his title, honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.

Robert Mugabe was a knight until just two days ago?

If that's the case, our beloved Lord Foppington should be honorary heir apparent!

I realize it's not hard to be a better example of nobility than a brutal dictator, but I have to believe His Lordship would start a whole new wave of Cool Britannia. How can we draft him?

IN RELATED NEWS: The England and Wales Cricket Board have decided to cancel a planed tour of Zimbabwe's team though the UK.

His Lordship

My friend Monica is engaged to one of the keenest Anglophiles I have ever met (which is saying something). He even popped the question at the top of the London Eye (aka the Millennial Wheel).

Needless to say, this bloke and I hit it off straight away.

One of the most intersting things about Brian (and something I just learned) is that he has created a whole alter ego called His Most Noble Lordship, Frederick George Arthur Wyatt Foppington, 36th Baron of Pilton and Didcot and the 14th Earl Foppington. Lord Foppington's website is lordfoppington.org. To quote Monica and Brian's personal website: "Is Brian merely masquerading as His Lordship or is His Lordship merely masquerading as Brian?"

This got me thinking about nobility. I'm not sure I have a firm opinion about the peerage system, the House of Lords, and all the titles and so forth. If I were actually British, I think I might be a republican (small "r" please), and definitely would vote Labour.

Still, I was super-pleased when Russel T Davies (who revived Doctor Who and has turned it into the current franchise) won his OBE, and of course when Macca became a knight of the realm. So maybe I do have a soft spot for the all this stuff too.

Great Scot: James McAvoy (The Last King of Scotland) is appearing in a huge Hollywood leading role ... too bad he had to adopt an American accent, but the film looks like a great ride. Wanted opens June 27.

The first political post

I see Gordon Brown went to Saudi Arabia to ask them to produce more oil. I believe it was last week that he asked the public not to horde fuel in anticipation of even higher prices.

As you may know, petrol is headed toward 1 and half quid per liter. That's £5.50 for a gallon of petrol/£6.20 for diesel in the UK. That's 10 bucks a gallon. They've always paid more, but this is ridiculous. It would be over $150 to fill up a normal-sized car there ... never mind a lorry.

I've been fearing that this gas crisis here in the US is an elaborate set-up for an October surprise. Right before the election, the price will dip to $3.50 a gallon and the brilliant American electorate will say, "Hey, the Republicans really do know how to run things."

But watching this problem makes me wonder. Is Labour still so close to the American administration. In spite of a cozier atmosphere at the last visit, Brown obviously considers Bush a wanker. The "special relationship" is in tact, but it's probably never been in worse shape.

So who's pulling the strings? According to the Saudis, this is isn't a supply problem. Are the Republicans powerful enough to cause a global panic and the fix it? We'll just have to see what happens in the fall.

On a related topic, today's joke: "Inflation has reached a 16-year high, as indeed has Amy Winehouse. I was talking about her hair." -- Sandi Toksvig.

** photo "borrowed" from silversprite.com.