Liturgygeek is not

the only Gordon Brown fan in the U.S.

Backbencher of the Week

Cries of socialism echo through the halls of Congress a lot these days, but only one member of Congress identifies as a socialist.  Senator Bernie Sanders(I-VT) is the only self identified socialist in Congress and he is this week's Backbencher of the Week.

Health care reform is the big congressional issue for the summer.  Even though chances are good that health care bill that includes a public option will pass, the idea of a single payer health care system have been absent from the debate.  Senator Sanders is single-handedly trying to keep the possibility of a single payer system alive.  He is the only sponsor S. 703 which is the Senate's single payer bill.  Ezra Klein interviewed Senator Sanders about his efforts to achieve universal health coverage for all Americans.  Sanders talks about his efforts to get his bill a hearing to create a pilot program for single payer care.

For fighting to make health available and affordable for all Americans, we proud to award Senator Bernie Sanders this week's Backbencher of the Week.

Yes, That's the General Idea

From Steve Benen I learned about this article detailing Republican's frustration that President Obama announced his desire that health care reform should include a public option.  Apparently Republican senators believe a public option would kill off any possibility of a bipartisan health bill.

The Senate can pass a health care bill without a single Republican vote.  In fact, Democrats can afford to have some of their own members vote against health reform.  The big rub is on whether to include a strong "public option" as part of the bill.  A public option would allow people to have the option of buying health insurance directly from the government.  The fewer Republican votes then the stronger the public option.

Bi-partisanship is a means to an end and not an end itself.  The end is a health care bill that provides affordable health care for all Americans.  A public option is a major component of that goal and Democrats have enough vote to get some form of public option passed.  President Obama's letter made it more likely that the public option will be a strong one.  There is no need for the Democrats to weaken a bill to gain GOP votes that are not needed just to satisfy the false demand of bipartisanship.  Sacrificing the idea of a bipartisan bill to achieve a bill with a strong public option is a price that should be easily and willingly paid.

On the Bloody Morning Afterwards

The local election results were every bit as bad for Labour as people expected.  Labour lost 273 of the seats it was defending, lost control of 4 local counsels, and came in third in vote share behind the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.  Interestingly, the Tories' share of the vote dropped from the last time these seats were contested and if these results hold through the general election then the Conservatives will have a smaller majority in Parliament then expected.  However, I imagine that many of those who voted for the right wing third parties will vote for the Tories in a general election.

The Prime Minister announced a reshuffle of his cabinet but it did not go like he wanted.  Allistar Darling remains as Chancellor and Alan Johnson moves over to become the Home Secretary.  Lord Mandelson who takes over an enlarged business portfolio.  Brown was unable to place his closest ally Ed Balls in as Chancellor and Balls remained as minister for Children, Schools, and Families.  Caroline Flint, the Minister for Europe, left the Cabinet yesterday and on her way out charged sexism and said female ministers are treated "like windrow dressing.  Six ministers left yesterday, and 4 have left during the previous week.  The new Labour cabinet will have 4 women and 5 members of the House of Lords; an unusually low number of women and an unusually high number of peers for a Labour government.

The reshuffle appears to have temporarily strengthened Brown.  However, by not being able to place Balls in as Chancellor, the Prime Minister demonstrated that he has the ability to hold power but not exercise it.  Brown also quieted down some of the Cabinet threats against him by putting potential successor Alan Johnson in as Home Secretary.  Most of Brown's opponents are now disaffected former ministers and rebel backbenchers.  It does not appear that they have enough power to force Brown to leave immediately.

All of that could change on Sunday when the results from the European Parliamentary election are announced.

To Be a Mayor in England in the Spring

London mayor Boris Johnson(who bares a striking resemblance to one of my seminary roommates) had a photo-op yesterday to encourage people to volunteer in their community.  While helping volunteers pick up liter around the River Pool, Mayor Johnson stumbled and fell into the river.

In other mayoral news, Hatlepool mayor Stuart Drummond is standing for his third term.  Mr Drummond, who used wear a monkey costume to support the local soccer team, is now considered to be a successful mayor and Hatlepool one of the strongest local governments.

Who knew that rivers and monkey costumes were such a major part of a UK mayor's life.

Big Day in the UK

Today, all across the UK, voters are going to the polls to select their local councillors and members of the UK delegation to the European Parliament.  Labour is expected to take a drubbing; most polls place them third and there are some out there that predict Labour could fall as far fourth in the balloting.  On the right, the UK Independence and the British National Party are expected to do well, and from the left they Greens are expected to poll well.

However, the elections hold more significance than just the composition of local councils.  By tomorrow afternoon we may know if Gordon Brown can continue as Prime Minister until the next general election.  Brown had hoped to use the election results as something of a springboard for restarting his government in preparation for the run-up to the General Election.

Events have foiled Brown's plans.  The Cabinet is in chaos and ministers are resigning.  Two prominent female ministers, Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Communities Minister Hazel Blears resigned this week; Blears in rather spectacular fashin.  Chancellor of the Exchequer Alsistar Darling is also rumored to be leaving the cabinet after the election.  Backbench rebels are circulating plans online for a coup against the Prime Minister.  All of this leads to speculation about Brown's future.  Some even wonder if he will be around come Monday.  

What will happen is that after the election results are finalized on Friday Afternoon, the scale of Labour's defeat is clear, Brown will try to reshuffle his cabinet.  If Brown is unable to place his controversial ally Ed Balls in as Chancellor then the Cabinet will fall apart and I think the rebels will be able to gain enough support to force Brown out in favor of Health Secretary Alan Johnson.  I believe this will force an election no later than early autumn

The Labour government is on electoral hospice.  The only question is if Labour can hang on for another year.  Even if Brown hangs on, I can't see this government being able to hang on for another year.  I get the feeling new government will be in place before the year is out.

Please, Just Shut Up

Over at his CrunchyCon blog Rod Drehr says: "It cannot be true, however much some pro-choicers want it to be, that pro-lifers are obliged to shut up and go away because one violent kook killed an abortion doctor."

Mr Drehr, first of all, the was not the work of "one violent kook."  Dr. Tiller's murder was the culmination of almost two decade worth of violence and intimidation directed towards Dr. Tiller and his medical practice.  The violence directed towards Dr. Miller is not an isolated incident.  Among the other acts of domestic terrorism committed by anti-choice zealots are the murders of two doctors and a clinic escort in Pensacola, Florida, the murders of two clinic workers in Brookline, Massachusetts, and the bombings perpetrated by Eric Robert Rudolph.

Mr Drehr, you and your anti-choice allies, need to be quiet for a while because you have not figured out a way to passionately advocate for your position without providing inspiration and cover to domestic terrorists.  Until you can figure how to advocate with inspiring domestic terrorists then you need to be quiet.