Welcome Back

I hope you had a good Christmas break. Washminster returns to close off a fascinating year in both British and American politics - and to look forward to 2011.

The Elections of 2010 have far reaching implications for both the UK and US. Major constitutional changes are being pushed through at breakneck speed in Britain. The 112th Congress will be very differenf from the ones that preceded it. It will be a year of interesting developments.m Washminster will be following them!

Looking back to 2010 we have lost some great people.

Lord (Richard) Acton
Robert Byrd
Elizabeth Edwards
Michael Foot
Alexander Haig
Brian Hanrahan
Richard Holbrooke
Anthony Howard
Lord (Andrew) McIntosh
Jimmy Reid
Dan Rostenkowski
Andrew Roth
Sir Cyril Smith
Stephen Solarz
Ted Stevens
Ted Sorensen
Alan Watkins
Charlie Wilson
Howard Zinn

138 years of service, ended in a year

In the last year, three of the Senate's longest-ever serving Senators have died. On 25th August last year Senator Ted Kennedy, who had served 46 years 9 months and 19 days - the 4th longest serving Senator in US history, passed away. On June 28th the record breaker of them all, Senator Robert Byrd, died after 51 years, 5 months, 26 days in office. This week the longest serving Republican senator in history [Strom Thurmond was a Democrat for the first 9 yrs 1 month & 21 days - serving only the 3rd longest period as a Republican Senator] , Senator Ted Stevens ( 40 years, 10 days) was killed in a plane crash.

 
 

Top 5 Daily Show Ted Stevens Moments

The following has given my daughter Sarah and I an enjoyable half hour. We particularly liked the pieces where he explains the internet.

http://blog.indecision2008.com/2008/07/30/top-5-daily-show-ted-stevens-moments/