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

JFK Inauguration Speech

47 years ago today, President Kennedy was assassinated. His Inauguration speech was one of the great speeches of the Twentieth Century. Ted Sorensen played a key role in assisting President Kennedy in writing this inspirational oration, sadly he passed away on October 31st this year. In tribute to both of these great men, I share with you this video.

Modern Political Oratory

Yesterday's post was on the JFK Inauguration Speech. One of the key contributors to that speech was Ted Sorensen (whose book 'Counselor' was one of my favourite reads last year) has commented upon modern political oratory -



As we prepare for tomorrow's inauguration - a few words from Obama. This was taken by a fellow attender at the Manassas Rally (viewing the speech from a different position to me - http://washminster.blogspot.com/2008/11/manassas-rally.html)