The American Civil War

[APOLOGIES FOR SOUND QUALITY - I'm working on solving the problem for future videos]

It's impossible to understand the USA - including the current political culture - without recognising the importance of the Civil War which both split the nation during 1861 and 1865; and built the country we now know. You'll find a very interesting article on the signifance of the war at http://www.lewrockwell.com/woods/woods31.html.

As one recent writer put it - "The Civil War has never receded into the remote past in American life. The most momentous conflict in American history, it had a revolutionary social and political impact that continues to be felt today. The political firestorms of the 1980s and 1990s over the appropriateness of the Confederate battle flag flying over statehouses in Georgia, Mississippi, and South Carolina, for instance, demonstrate how deeply meaningful Civil War symbols remain in American politics, especially racial politics. "

Useful resources on the civil war include

http://www.history.com/minisites/civilwar/
http://americancivilwar.com/
http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/modsbook27.html

The Week Ahead

Monday is a Bank Holiday in the United Kingdom - and politicians have a further day to reflect on the significance of the local elections. In the United States two further primaries will be held on Tuesday. Last week the Leader of the House of Representatives, Steny Hoyer, made it clear that the House would face a busy timetable in May.

House of Representatives:http://democraticleader.house.gov/docUploads/14WeeklyLeader05_05_08.pdf?CFID=13924048&CFTOKEN=38577085

Senate:http://www.senate.gov/pagelayout/legislative/d_three_sections_with_teasers/calendars.htm

Westminster:http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmwib/wb080503/03.05.2008.pdf[House of Commons p11-14][House of Lords p15-18]

Making Sense of the Results

Some - but certainly not all (the London Mayoral race; local elections in Rugby and Bassetlaw - will see their votes counted during today) - of the local election results are now in. By common agreement these have been bad for Labour. As I write, Labour has lost 163 councillors, wheras the Tories have gained 146. In terms of Councils changing hands Labour has lost 6 while the Tories have gained 8. Some observers have claimed it has been Labour's worst defeat since the 1960s.

Gordon Brown is reported to have admitted that the results have been 'bad' and disappointing'. But what is the real significance?

National feelings do influence local election results - much more so than in a larger, and federal, country like the United States. Some excellent councillors were blown away - not because voters disapproved of their work, but as I heard so many times on the doorstep - "it's nothing personal - but I want to make it clear to Gordon Brown that I'm not happy..."

Is the result terminal? No - just look at election results in the 1980s and early 1990s for the Tories - they were decimated in local elections - only to come back and win at a General Election.

The significance of the elections are that they show voters are unhappy at the moment - how Gordon Brown and the Labour Party respond is the question to ask.

While we await the results....

The BBC reports - "Millions of voters have been heading to the polls in local elections across England and Wales. About 4,000 seats on 159 councils are up for grabs, along with the London mayoralty and London Assembly.

Polls opened at 0700 BST and close at 2200 BST. There has been a mix of sunshine and showers in most areas. Results are expected overnight for more than 100 councils, but voters in Wales, some parts of England and in London must wait until later on Friday."

Once the results have come in, I'll write something on the blog [and it helps being five hours behind - results that appear in the middle of the night in the UK, come out at a more decent hour in Washington DC.

As well as conducting research on whips in Congress, the reason for my visit, I have done some relaxing reading. I picked up from the Senate giftshop a copy of Anthony S Pitch's "The Burning of Washington: The British Invasion of 1814." - an interesting read, but I was a little surprised at his comment in the preface "Perhaps the story is not well known because it is a painful reminder of a humiliating episode." - it should be well known, every time I have toured the Capitol I am reminded by guides how the wicked British burned down Congress on 24th August 1814!

Washminster is Back!

Thanks for returning to Washminster - which returns after a break of a few weeks. Over the coming days this blog will introduce new features to enhance your enjoyment of the site.



May promises to be an interesting month. Today voters are going to the polls in England and Wales. Ken Livingstone faces the first credible challenge as Mayor of London - and the polls suggest there may be a major upset. Boris Johnson, MP for Henley (in Oxfordshire); former Editor of the Spectator; and a frequent guest and host of "Have I Got News For You" [http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/haveigotnewsforyou/] - is tipped by some to win - an outcome regarded as unthinkable just a few months ago.

Voting also takes place for some district councils across England and local (as opposed to National Assembly)elections are being held in Wales.

I have a particular interest in elections in Rugby [http://www.rugby.gov.uk/site/scripts/documents_info.php?categoryID=524&documentID=1049] where I live. As a prospective candidate in the East Midlands, I'll be watching the results in Derby City [http://www.derby.gov.uk/CouncilGovernmentDemocracy/Elections/Notice+of+Election.htm], Amber Valley [http://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/services/governmentpoliticsandpublicadministration/democracyandelections/], Bassetlaw [http://www.bassetlaw.gov.uk/], Lincoln City [http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/menu_map_level_3.asp?sec_id=4160], and Daventry [http://www.daventrydc.gov.uk/news/daventry-district-prepares-for-the-polls/].

The UK, despite some devolution, remains a centralised state - and many voters will cast their ballots, not on local issues, but to reflect their current attitudes toward the national government.

What message will the voters send to Gordon Brown? - and what will the repercussions be?

In the United States the closely fought battle for the Democratic Party nomination continues. The next primaries will be held on Tuesday in Indiana and North Carolina.

The next few days will be interested (if not uncomfortable for some!).

Welcome back to Washminster - and follow the events as they unfold.