Tuesday November 5th 2008 British time was a day when the electorate in the United Stated decided who was to be the next President of the United States but the President elect does not take up office until January some two months later. This is extraordinary and created a period of international uncertainty, especially as there is to be a major change in the political policies.
This enables enemies and those jockeying for position in international politics to test or challenge the position and role of the USA in a way they would not do so once the new Government has been established as in office
On November 5th The head of state in Russia delivered an address to the entire Russian Parliament and others, mainly men in a large hall, during which he announced that in retaliation provocative threats by the USA to re-station nuclear missiles in Europe facing Russia they would re-station nuclear missiles facing the US.
In Britain the less scope for opportunistic threats and actions because the system is geared up to instant change, if change is necessary, and the civil service has constantly updated information available on the management structure and personnel of each government department, its functions and on any current legislation, policy issues and all political matters under consideration. Therefore if a Minister resigns a new Minister can be briefed and provided information instantly. If there is a General election then the manifestoes of the each party are analysed and information prepared on any legislation and policy issues which involve action and timetabling. The process of change will take less than a week and usually just a couple of days and unlike in the United States a General Election can be called in the UK at any time within the five year maximum period in which a Parliament sits.
In Britain the election is held on one day with the results counted on the same day and over the following. As soon as one Party has a clear majority of seats in the House of Commons then the head of that Party goes to see the head of state and is asked to form a government. The Prime Minister who is usually the existing Political Party leader, unless the individual has been defeated in the election to the House of Commons, then selects those members of the Parliament to form the Cabinet and other Ministerial posts within the government and in turn the Minister appoints their Parliament private secretaries, other members of the Parliament to assist them.
The whole process take place over two or three days and the leaders of all the political parties who could win the election or be asked to help form a government if no one party has overall control will have drawn up their list of colleagues to hold government positions, in including bringing into government through the House of Lords people from outside the political party if consider desirable. The Prime Minister can change his government at any time he wishes or arising from resignations or death in office and he can go to the head of state to call an general election at any time during the maximum five year term. This usually involves over 100 members of the political Party forming the government and is the method of ensuring that the policies supported by the electorate can be implemented in the broadest terms.
However it is important to appreciate that implementing election policies and piloting legislation are only one part of the role of governments, the day to day work involves decision taking which can be sitting at a desk or holding meetings, or making visits. I studied the British Constitution, the Parliamentary and Judicial system first after I left school and attended evening classes for an examination to be eligible to move from being a general division clerk in local government to a Clerical Division level of functions This was similar to moving from being a private in the army to becoming an corporal/sergeant. While it was possible to be appointed without the qualification/priority went to those had gained the qualification. I discovered that the subjects covered were also part of the syllabus for British Constitution at Advanced level General Certificate of Education so I sat the examination and passed. Then over 1962/1963 when I switched study from Politics and Economics to Public and Social Administration I was required to cover the same ground but at higher level and I have maintained my interest in the actual workings of government and local and national level as well as what is stated to be the situation in principle, during my years in the Administrative, Professional and Technical officer grades of local government, commencing in the Principal officer grades over a period of seven years 1964-1970 and then as a Chief office for close on two decades. Outside ofd outside of the Parliament. the Political parties and the Political commentators, researchers and analysts I am one of a comparatively few people who follow what happens in parliament and politics on a daily basis.
It was also interesting yesterday the extent of carefully planned and staged events around the world to mark the historic development of someone from mixed race and mixed national identity becoming the leader of the United States and the great economic and military power alongside the rapidly growing China
In the Japanese city of Obama where locals dressed up in Hawaiian outfits to celebrate the victory of an African American to the office of President of the United states and the world's media also gathered in a village in Kenya where the paternal grandmother of the President elect still lives and expressed excitement at what her grandson had become, The Kenyan Government announced the day would become a national holiday. A few moment ago I listened to a joint programme between Five Live the BBC national news and sport station and a Chicago Commercial talk station where listeners across the pond expressed their reactions, hopes and fears.
During the day I listened to the British Prime Minister's Question Time and the Conservation Opposition leader reminded the Prime Minister of his words that this was not a time for the apprentice and Gordon reminded that he had also added it was a serious man was needed for serious times. The Opposition Shadow Ministerial Team looked uncomfortable as their hopes of an across the Atlantic alliance between conservative parties ended. Around the world leaders tried to draw attention back to their nations, and themselves, while expressing a range of welcomes as a different world order is in the making with the USA potentially back as the pace maker thus threatening the way other nations have positioned themselves during the past eight years of 9/11 and the Iraq War and its aftermath.
British BBC, SKY and ITV all went to the African village, to Chicago, Selima, the Florida White House and New York, and on relays spoke to former civil rights participants and leaders and to afro Americans who had made it, and various interests representing the political classes, the media and Joe six pack, Joe the plumber, and just plain Joe and Josephine.
The interviews were reassuring, but only in the sense of emphasing the nature of the task, the difficulty of meeting expectations during the first term and the problems which now faced the Republican Party.
Gerard Depardieu is one of France's great actors and in 36 Quai des Ordevres he plays a ruthless ambitious police detective prepared to destroy a rival police officer when given the opportunity to become the next CID chief in Paris. Although the special task force unit is called 36 the address in the film title is that used in the Inspector Cluzot films with Herbert Lom and Peter Sellers. The film is allegedly based on a true situation and regardless of this, I found the film exceptionally emotional on what already had been a moving day.
Daniel Auteuil plays the other detective in charge of he special squad and the film's hero noir. He uses unorthodox methods but his motives are to achieve results rather than from personal gain. Both men and their teams are told that promotion will depend on who captures and convicts a group of ruthless thieves who raid security vans killing several guards in the process. Daniel is given the opportunity to catch those involved if he agrees to cover up the murder of a criminal who sent another to prison and who is on a pre release weekend. Knowing that he is risking his career Daniel decides to accept the deal on the basis of catching the security vehicle thieves but the arrest goes wrong when his rival refuses to cooperate and attempts to capture the villains and claim the glory. As a consequence the capture goes wrong, and a colleague and friend of Daniel is killed and a police woman is taken hostage but survives jumping out of a moving vehicle. These two events precipitate what happens in the rest of the story.
Daniel and the other officers involved in the failed capture bid (although one or more robbers are killed and girl is captured and convicted, the two main criminals involved escape) blame Gerard D for the death and attempt to press a complaint against his actions, doing so against the strong advice of the retiring chief who wants to avoid trouble of any kind before he leaves. It is fair to say that even in democracies there is a tendency for the police and military to cover up the actions of their officers, for good and bad reasons.
The film opens as two men steal the road sign for the famous address to given to colleague with their signatures who is departing to run a night club in the South. During the farewell party and present presentation a mice appears and the officers use their guns causing damaged which has to be paid for and gives the force a bad name. Coinciding with this excessive and dangerous behaviour, a women bar manageress/owner is beaten up and raped by criminals and the woman and her partner friends of Daniel reveal who the men involved were and the special squad delays with the man involved in tough justice fashion. It is at this point a prostitute witness to murder of the crime boss recognises Daniel when she is being taken to the police station for soliciting, and she and her boss alert the under investigation Depardieu of what happened in exchange for being given a caution rather than a prosecution. Daniel is arrested and sent to prison for ten years for covering up information on the murder regardless of the rule about protecting informants and that the information nearly le to the capture of men involved in he murder of innocent employee and stealing vast sums of money. Worse is to follow because Gerard Depardieu gets away with the discipline inquiry as the evidence of Daniel is discounted and Gerard has been made the CID Chief. This enables Depardieu to ensure that the truth of his rise to power is kept secret
At this point I have said nothing to justify why I found the film very moving or why or proved such a success in France when it was released. We have a portrait of police behaving outside the law in their professional duties and private lives. It may reflect the real world but is behaviour which cannot and should not be officially condoned
Daniel is married and had a daughter around ten year I would guess, and they are presented as a close and loving family, with Daniel protecting them from the realities and dangers of his work. When he goes to prison one shares in the loss he, his wife and the child feels at the prolonged separation. The arrest and imprisonment of the detective is given media attention and this leads the informant who murdered the crime boss to contacting Daniel's wife and seeking a meeting to help her husband. Daniel has warned this might happen and not get involved but out of love for him she does. The call is monitored by Depardieu who arranged the wife to be followed and then attempts to capture the man while she gives the man a lift rather than waiting. They force the car off the road and in the subsequent crash both are killed and in order to avoid awkward questions Depardieu.
The wife and their daughter are among the innocent victims together with the families of security vehicles guards and members of the police force who are killed in the course of following orders and doing their duty. It is this aspect which upset me greatly.
I watched two episodes of Sherlock Homes over the previous two days. One the Norwood Builder I had seen before and remembered the plot, but watched to confirm the accuracy of my memory. The other was new and while it was evident to me and I suspect everyone who and what was involved, I failed to guess why.
Goodnight Sweetheart is a sensitive and interesting time travels in which a married young man is able to travel back and forth from the present day to wartime Britain where he establishes a second home with a bar maid, eventually marrying and having a child. He bring back items from the forties into the present creating a successful business as people become more interested in memorabilia from the period. He also becomes a song writer/composer in the forties using post period material and during the course of this befriends Noel Coward and other celebrities of the day. It is therefore make belief fantasy science fiction but beautifully and sensitively scripted and acted and always engages
This enables enemies and those jockeying for position in international politics to test or challenge the position and role of the USA in a way they would not do so once the new Government has been established as in office
On November 5th The head of state in Russia delivered an address to the entire Russian Parliament and others, mainly men in a large hall, during which he announced that in retaliation provocative threats by the USA to re-station nuclear missiles in Europe facing Russia they would re-station nuclear missiles facing the US.
In Britain the less scope for opportunistic threats and actions because the system is geared up to instant change, if change is necessary, and the civil service has constantly updated information available on the management structure and personnel of each government department, its functions and on any current legislation, policy issues and all political matters under consideration. Therefore if a Minister resigns a new Minister can be briefed and provided information instantly. If there is a General election then the manifestoes of the each party are analysed and information prepared on any legislation and policy issues which involve action and timetabling. The process of change will take less than a week and usually just a couple of days and unlike in the United States a General Election can be called in the UK at any time within the five year maximum period in which a Parliament sits.
In Britain the election is held on one day with the results counted on the same day and over the following. As soon as one Party has a clear majority of seats in the House of Commons then the head of that Party goes to see the head of state and is asked to form a government. The Prime Minister who is usually the existing Political Party leader, unless the individual has been defeated in the election to the House of Commons, then selects those members of the Parliament to form the Cabinet and other Ministerial posts within the government and in turn the Minister appoints their Parliament private secretaries, other members of the Parliament to assist them.
The whole process take place over two or three days and the leaders of all the political parties who could win the election or be asked to help form a government if no one party has overall control will have drawn up their list of colleagues to hold government positions, in including bringing into government through the House of Lords people from outside the political party if consider desirable. The Prime Minister can change his government at any time he wishes or arising from resignations or death in office and he can go to the head of state to call an general election at any time during the maximum five year term. This usually involves over 100 members of the political Party forming the government and is the method of ensuring that the policies supported by the electorate can be implemented in the broadest terms.
However it is important to appreciate that implementing election policies and piloting legislation are only one part of the role of governments, the day to day work involves decision taking which can be sitting at a desk or holding meetings, or making visits. I studied the British Constitution, the Parliamentary and Judicial system first after I left school and attended evening classes for an examination to be eligible to move from being a general division clerk in local government to a Clerical Division level of functions This was similar to moving from being a private in the army to becoming an corporal/sergeant. While it was possible to be appointed without the qualification/priority went to those had gained the qualification. I discovered that the subjects covered were also part of the syllabus for British Constitution at Advanced level General Certificate of Education so I sat the examination and passed. Then over 1962/1963 when I switched study from Politics and Economics to Public and Social Administration I was required to cover the same ground but at higher level and I have maintained my interest in the actual workings of government and local and national level as well as what is stated to be the situation in principle, during my years in the Administrative, Professional and Technical officer grades of local government, commencing in the Principal officer grades over a period of seven years 1964-1970 and then as a Chief office for close on two decades. Outside ofd outside of the Parliament. the Political parties and the Political commentators, researchers and analysts I am one of a comparatively few people who follow what happens in parliament and politics on a daily basis.
It was also interesting yesterday the extent of carefully planned and staged events around the world to mark the historic development of someone from mixed race and mixed national identity becoming the leader of the United States and the great economic and military power alongside the rapidly growing China
In the Japanese city of Obama where locals dressed up in Hawaiian outfits to celebrate the victory of an African American to the office of President of the United states and the world's media also gathered in a village in Kenya where the paternal grandmother of the President elect still lives and expressed excitement at what her grandson had become, The Kenyan Government announced the day would become a national holiday. A few moment ago I listened to a joint programme between Five Live the BBC national news and sport station and a Chicago Commercial talk station where listeners across the pond expressed their reactions, hopes and fears.
During the day I listened to the British Prime Minister's Question Time and the Conservation Opposition leader reminded the Prime Minister of his words that this was not a time for the apprentice and Gordon reminded that he had also added it was a serious man was needed for serious times. The Opposition Shadow Ministerial Team looked uncomfortable as their hopes of an across the Atlantic alliance between conservative parties ended. Around the world leaders tried to draw attention back to their nations, and themselves, while expressing a range of welcomes as a different world order is in the making with the USA potentially back as the pace maker thus threatening the way other nations have positioned themselves during the past eight years of 9/11 and the Iraq War and its aftermath.
British BBC, SKY and ITV all went to the African village, to Chicago, Selima, the Florida White House and New York, and on relays spoke to former civil rights participants and leaders and to afro Americans who had made it, and various interests representing the political classes, the media and Joe six pack, Joe the plumber, and just plain Joe and Josephine.
The interviews were reassuring, but only in the sense of emphasing the nature of the task, the difficulty of meeting expectations during the first term and the problems which now faced the Republican Party.
Gerard Depardieu is one of France's great actors and in 36 Quai des Ordevres he plays a ruthless ambitious police detective prepared to destroy a rival police officer when given the opportunity to become the next CID chief in Paris. Although the special task force unit is called 36 the address in the film title is that used in the Inspector Cluzot films with Herbert Lom and Peter Sellers. The film is allegedly based on a true situation and regardless of this, I found the film exceptionally emotional on what already had been a moving day.
Daniel Auteuil plays the other detective in charge of he special squad and the film's hero noir. He uses unorthodox methods but his motives are to achieve results rather than from personal gain. Both men and their teams are told that promotion will depend on who captures and convicts a group of ruthless thieves who raid security vans killing several guards in the process. Daniel is given the opportunity to catch those involved if he agrees to cover up the murder of a criminal who sent another to prison and who is on a pre release weekend. Knowing that he is risking his career Daniel decides to accept the deal on the basis of catching the security vehicle thieves but the arrest goes wrong when his rival refuses to cooperate and attempts to capture the villains and claim the glory. As a consequence the capture goes wrong, and a colleague and friend of Daniel is killed and a police woman is taken hostage but survives jumping out of a moving vehicle. These two events precipitate what happens in the rest of the story.
Daniel and the other officers involved in the failed capture bid (although one or more robbers are killed and girl is captured and convicted, the two main criminals involved escape) blame Gerard D for the death and attempt to press a complaint against his actions, doing so against the strong advice of the retiring chief who wants to avoid trouble of any kind before he leaves. It is fair to say that even in democracies there is a tendency for the police and military to cover up the actions of their officers, for good and bad reasons.
The film opens as two men steal the road sign for the famous address to given to colleague with their signatures who is departing to run a night club in the South. During the farewell party and present presentation a mice appears and the officers use their guns causing damaged which has to be paid for and gives the force a bad name. Coinciding with this excessive and dangerous behaviour, a women bar manageress/owner is beaten up and raped by criminals and the woman and her partner friends of Daniel reveal who the men involved were and the special squad delays with the man involved in tough justice fashion. It is at this point a prostitute witness to murder of the crime boss recognises Daniel when she is being taken to the police station for soliciting, and she and her boss alert the under investigation Depardieu of what happened in exchange for being given a caution rather than a prosecution. Daniel is arrested and sent to prison for ten years for covering up information on the murder regardless of the rule about protecting informants and that the information nearly le to the capture of men involved in he murder of innocent employee and stealing vast sums of money. Worse is to follow because Gerard Depardieu gets away with the discipline inquiry as the evidence of Daniel is discounted and Gerard has been made the CID Chief. This enables Depardieu to ensure that the truth of his rise to power is kept secret
At this point I have said nothing to justify why I found the film very moving or why or proved such a success in France when it was released. We have a portrait of police behaving outside the law in their professional duties and private lives. It may reflect the real world but is behaviour which cannot and should not be officially condoned
Daniel is married and had a daughter around ten year I would guess, and they are presented as a close and loving family, with Daniel protecting them from the realities and dangers of his work. When he goes to prison one shares in the loss he, his wife and the child feels at the prolonged separation. The arrest and imprisonment of the detective is given media attention and this leads the informant who murdered the crime boss to contacting Daniel's wife and seeking a meeting to help her husband. Daniel has warned this might happen and not get involved but out of love for him she does. The call is monitored by Depardieu who arranged the wife to be followed and then attempts to capture the man while she gives the man a lift rather than waiting. They force the car off the road and in the subsequent crash both are killed and in order to avoid awkward questions Depardieu.
The wife and their daughter are among the innocent victims together with the families of security vehicles guards and members of the police force who are killed in the course of following orders and doing their duty. It is this aspect which upset me greatly.
I watched two episodes of Sherlock Homes over the previous two days. One the Norwood Builder I had seen before and remembered the plot, but watched to confirm the accuracy of my memory. The other was new and while it was evident to me and I suspect everyone who and what was involved, I failed to guess why.
Goodnight Sweetheart is a sensitive and interesting time travels in which a married young man is able to travel back and forth from the present day to wartime Britain where he establishes a second home with a bar maid, eventually marrying and having a child. He bring back items from the forties into the present creating a successful business as people become more interested in memorabilia from the period. He also becomes a song writer/composer in the forties using post period material and during the course of this befriends Noel Coward and other celebrities of the day. It is therefore make belief fantasy science fiction but beautifully and sensitively scripted and acted and always engages
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