The Make or Break Election

Scotland impervious to Cameron's charm

3 hours 19 mins ago

 Victoria Bryan

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As the Conservatives battle for the 100-plus seats needed for a parliamentary majority, Scotland, still angered by Margaret Thatcher's rule, will be doing little to help their cause.Skip related content

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The recent surge in popularity of the Liberal Democrats makes it much harder for the Conservatives to win crucial marginal seats and in Scotland they face added competition from the Scottish National Party.

The SNP, which is campaigning for independence from England, has even said that a much feared "balanced" or hung parliament, to which opinion polls are increasingly pointing, would offer a great opportunity for Scotland.

"The thought causes panic in the Labour andTory ranks. But it is a development that is welcome here in Scotland and one which we embrace enthusiastically," Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond said.

One Scottish voter in the oil city of Aberdeen said she thought a hung parliament could be a useful tool.

"I think anything that challenges the government is more likely to keep it honest," said Beth Gillard, who also believes more power should be given to the Scottish parliament.

While Scotland has its own government based in Edinburgh, including powers over health,education and tourism, it also sends 59 Members of Parliament to sit in Westminster.

In the last vote in 2005, the Conservatives won just one seat, with the poll dominated by Labour and Liberal Democrat voters.

This time around they are hoping for 11 MPs but the majority of the marginal seats are also being contested by the Liberal Democrats, who are already well represented across the country.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told BBC Radio Scotland on Monday that the choice for Scottish voters was between his party and Labour. Labour has 39 MPs north of the border, against 12 Liberal Democrats and seven for the SNP.

"The Conservatives are as irrelevant north of the border as the SNP is not really in the game south of the border," he said.

                                              From the President of Plaid Cymru

Dear friend,

You know that our ideal as a party is freedom and independence for our nation. You will know that, at heart, this is what spurs us on to fight for the cause. What better blow for the British parties and their London masters than seeing the election of the largest ever number of Plaid Cymru Members of Parliament? Imagine the shock to the British establishment. We have 7 days left to distribute a million leaflets, to phone thousands of supporters and to persuade the biggest ever number of Welsh people that we are a party that can make a difference for Wales.

Two rallies will be held during the last week of the campaign to boost campaigning activity across the nation – one in the north and one in the South – on Monday, May 3^rd (the Bank Holiday) where a number of party stars will be present. We hope that we can replicate the successful rally held in Aberystwyth on Saturday - it’d be great if you could be there!

Ynys Môn: Biwmaris in the White Lion Pub Square (opposite the Castle) at11.00am

Llanelli: Llanelli – on the green in front of the Town Hall at 10.30 am

For Wales

 

 Dafydd Iwan

             

Dr.Eurfyl to Replace Asghar in the Assembly

Wales will have to fight for EVERY penny after the election - irrespective of which party wins- Labour, Liberal or Conservatives- they are going to 'slash' spending.

The Nations needs a champion to take on the Treasury and 'bring home the bacon' for our hospitals & Schools in Wales.

It does not matter which party you support - we must have people of the calibre of the 'Good Doctor' batting for Wales .

It's simple - that treacherous Mohammed Asghar should not be in the National Assembly of... (read more)



Ieuan Wyn Jones said:

"They talk only about the small tip of that iceberg - the cuts they are prepared to argue amongst themselves on.  While all of them agree about the huge cuts they would all implement, but are not prepared to talk about.

Tonight's Leaders' Debate and its Consequences

Tonight's Leaders' Debates will be the ultimate decider in this election, yet why anybody should vote for the Labour Party beats me. Talk about the global recession which started in America and affects every country in the world, in different ways,  does not disguise the fact that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown threw fiscal prudence to the winds and embarked on an extravagant spending spree under the impression that boom and bust was eradicated, led the country into an illegal and unwinnable war in Iraq and opened wide the floodgates of unchecked immigration, and established an expensive and unsustainable bureaucratic superstructure which instituted directives and regulations and a surveillance culture leading to a climate of fear and government control.

The two major parties are not indistinguishable although their policies with regard to dealing with the deficit are not dissimilar. The advent of a third force in British politics, the phenomenal rise of the Liberal Democrats in the popularity polls, has meant that a runaway victory by the Conservatives is no longer tenable and indications are that the result of the election will show a hung parliament with the Tories as the largest party. They will no doubt form an alliance, or at least an understanding, with the Lib Dems. It is unrealistic that the Lib Dems would associate themselves with a party which has presided over the destruction of society and the British way of life over the past 13 years, and which has led indirectly to the enormous debt which will take the first part of the present century to redeem.

The incident of yesterday and the confrontation between the prime minister and one of his long-time supporters, highlights the anguish and concern of the public and the dismissive attitude of the government. The importance of this incident should not be underestimated. It could make a huge difference to the outcome of the election. It exposes the fact that the government is out of touch with the feelings and concerns of the public  and has utterly failed to gauge its mood. In contrast, the Lib Dems have captured the psychological territory which Labour under Tony Blair once owned and will inevitably make a big impact on the composition of the new parliament. Along with the smaller yet vocal representation of Plaid Cymru, the SNP, the Greens, UKIP and the Independents they will help to make the changes which are fundamentally required.

Watch the polls change following the Debate and then see whether this has any relevance!

A Disingenuous Dissembler No Less

Truth will out - you can always find it HERE

A Social Future for all People of Wales

Eurfyl ap Gwilym Flays Jeremy Paxman on Welsh Economy

Eurfyl ap Gwilym is Plaid Cymru's senior economist and knows what he is talking about. In this interview he gives Paxman a taste of his own medicine.

They'd Rather You Didn't Know!

All three main British Unionist parties are doing their utmost to avoid mentioning "cuts" and "tax increases". They don't want to alienate the voters. Yet that is what is bound to happen. It is unavoidable. Alex Salmond wants "more nats, less cuts". A laudable aspiration, but what the public will get after the election is savage cuts and higher taxes for all, either in the form of income tax or V.A.T. increases. What is fairly certain is that there will be an increase in V.A.T. and cuts in all public services, along with "efficiency savings". Depending on which party is elected there may also be a rise in national insurance and a cut in some benefits, especially for the higher earners.
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will see a cut in their funding. These measures will cut the deficit but will not alter the fact of the national debt, which will take much of the present century to pay off. Apart from that the interest on the national debt has to be serviced. The age of austerity has indeed arrived. Have no illusions, and remember - if the truth is to be told you will find it here.

Concerning an English Parliament

The English Democratic Party seeks to establish an English Parliament. Nothing wrong with that! The English should also have their own nation state.
What is disturbing, however, is that the English Democrats wish to retain the Union, and furthermore they would like to snatch Monmouthshire from Wales.
Here's three million Welsh citizens who would say a resounding NO to that proposal!

Click here, and read this: http://www.voteenglish.org/
then ask Robin Tilbrook to abandon this absurd claim to Welsh territory.....

Repeating an Earlier Prediction for the Election

This prediction was made on April 14th just before the first televised debate. I make a slight amendment* to it. Here and here you will find evidence to support this view.

The Election

The Conservative Party will win with a small working majority of seats, and will govern with the support of the Lib Dems*.

The Liberal Democrats will do better than everyone expects or polls suggest.

Smaller parties - the SNP, Plaid Cymru, the Greens, UKIP will do well.

Large numbers of the electorate, almost 50%,  will not cast their vote.

The fact is that the majority of people are disillusioned with all politicians and in particular those of the major parties, therefore they will abstain from voting or will cast a protest vote, benefiting independents and smaller parties.

There will be change but not major change. Whether Britain will have a fairer society remains to be seen.

Take a Chance on Plaid.......

.....and Make a Difference for Wales!

Guy Behind the Political Scenes - the Spin Room

WATCH ALEX SALMOND IN THE SCOTLAND DEBATE - SKY TV SUNDAY at 10:30 a.m.

“With independence we will be able to deliver a more successful Scotland, with greater prosperity for the people of our nation, building an economy that serves the needs of Scotland’s communities.

“With independence, we can remove the obscenity of nuclear weapons from Scotland’s shores, make our own decisions about illegal wars and represent ourselves at the top table in Europe.

“With independence, voters will have much greater say and greater control over their politicians as all the decisions about Scotland are taken in Scotland, closer to home and closer to constituents. That would make a real change to the Westminster system that has seen Scotland’s voters let down too often by London parties.

 “The fundamental appeal of independence is that it offers a different vision for our nation’s future."

Nicola Sturgeon

Now for the Scotland Debate - Sky TV, Sunday

Salmond happy with Sky TV debate appearance

heraldscotland staff

9 Apr 2010

First Minister Alex Salmond said today he was “delighted” to be taking part in a live television clash with other top Scottish politicians.

The SNP leader will go head to head with senior figures from Labour, the Tories and the Liberal Democrats in Sky TV’s Scottish election debate.

He said that as the debate was being broadcast across the UK, it would allow viewers everywhere to “hear a real alternative to the phoney war of the London parties”.

The 90-minute long debate is to take place in Edinburgh on Sunday April 25 at 10:30 a.am...

Mr Salmond confirmed he would take part in the political clash as he visited Sky`s call centre in Livingston, West Lothian, as part of the General Election campaign.

The Nationalists also announced that Westminster leader Angus Robertson will represent them in the Scottish election debates hosted by the BBC and STV.

Details of who the SNP is putting forward for the clashes comes in the wake of Nationalist fury over the decision not to include them in the three main UK leaders’ debates being broadcast in the run-up to the May 6 polling day.

Mr Salmond last month blasted the BBC’s failure to feature the SNP in its main UK debate, saying it was “totally and utterly extraordinary” that a public service broadcaster would exclude the party of government in Scotland.

Earlier this month Mr Salmond and Plaid Cymru leader Ieuan Wyn Jones wrote to the BBC Trust requesting face-to-face talks to appeal against the decision to exclude them.

Today, the First Minister said that Sky had been “the most accommodating of all the broadcasters”, adding that they had “shown themselves willing to engage with the SNP from the start”.

But he added: “That is in stark contrast to the attitude of the other main broadcasters, who have colluded in a carve-up with the London parties to shut Scotland and Wales out of the leaders’ debates.”

Mr Salmond went on: “Sky’s Scottish debate - unlike those of the other networks - is being broadcast across the whole of the UK and, as such, has been given a proper billing, allowing viewers everywhere to hear a real alternative to the phoney war of the London parties.

“I’m delighted to be taking part in Sky’s Scottish election debate, where I will be taking the SNP’s message offering voters an alternative to the cuts agenda of the Tories and Labour.”


Brown Caught in the Act


Challenged on Labour's scaremongering tactics in relation to concessionary travel for pensioners Brown said "I have not authorised any leaflets".

His own leaflet in Fife states he will fight against "cuts to concessionary travel".

SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson said:

"Brown has been caught red handed in this debate.  He claimed he did not authorise the misleading and scaremongering leaflets yet there is one going out in his own constituency.

"If he can't be trusted on his own leaflets then what can he be trusted on?

Topics Tonight's Debate May not Cover

”The SNP has presented a series of view points that will be missing from tonight’s debate as a result of the closed shop debate.

"Viewers will not hear:

• opposition to the renewal of the UK’s nuclear weapons system and the continued spending of billions every year on maintaining Trident nuclear weapons.
• The party of Government responsible for passing the world’s strongest climate change legislation - praised internationally - with a 42% carbon emission reduction target by 2050 – stronger than the UK’s target and that has a partnership with the Maldives, one of the nation’s most at threat from Climate Change.
• The role an independent Scotland could play in Europe and the world.
• The views of the SNP as the party which led opposition to the illegal invasion of Iraq, including leading the Parliamentary debate which forced the Labour government to concede an eventual inquiry – the Chilcott inquiry.
• A party committed to meeting the 0.7% GDP for international development target and that in Government has doubled our own aid commitments including support for Malawi through Scotland’s partnership with that country.

What Democracy Means to You

1. Theme 1 | Fair, Free and Honest ElectionsElections are the basis of any democracy. It is essential that people are able to vote without their vote being stolen, that their vote counts, and that the election cannot be bought by wealthy individuals or groups.
2. Theme 2 | Rights, Freedoms and a Written ConstitutionThe UK government has too much unchecked power, inherited from our feudal past. We need to catch up with the rest of the world by adopting a written constitution designed to limit what governments can do in our name. Too often, governments are free to casually compromise our fundamental rights and freedoms. We need stronger safeguards and to entrench the right to redress.
3. Theme 3 | Stronger Parliament and Accountable GovernmentOur parliament is effectively under the control of government whips. Too many decisions are taken out of parliament's hands entirely, to be taken by government ministers and quangos. This has lead to too little scrutiny, bad laws and the emergence of a political class more interested in patronage than accountability.
4. Theme 4 | Bringing Power Closer to the PeoplePower is far too centralised in the UK. We need a radical shift in the balance of power in favour of local government and the people. We need to find new ways of engaging people at both a local and national level in between elections as well as on election day.
5. Theme 5 | A Culture of Informed Political Interest and ResponsibilityDemocracy is ultimately about people, not institutions. Without the informed participation of the people, reforms can only ever have a limited effect. We need to provide people with the tools to engage with politics and a culture where everyone sees that they have a place in the political process.

http://www.votefordemocracy.org.uk

How to Wipe Smaller Parties off the Electoral Map

Give them no debate time on UK national television.....


By all accounts the Scottish and Welsh debates were a poor attempt at engaging the electorate.

A Scenario that the Public Desire

From the point of view of the mass of the British public the scenario that they would most like, in the view of "Independent Cymru",  is the following:

The Conservatives as the largest party in a balanced (hung) parliament with the Liberal-Democrats as the second largest party in the number of votes polled. This situation would also suit the SNP, Plaid Cymru, UKIP and the Greens.

Speech by the First Minister of Scotland

"For 23 years, I have been a Member of a Parliament dominated by a cosy Westminster arrangement among the London parties.

"All three want to waste billions on obscene nuclear weapons - stored here in Scotland - as they slash Scotland's budget, putting at risk Scottish jobs and our cherished public services.

"All three London parties have played starring roles in the scandals which have totally discredited the Westminster parliament. From dodgy donors to duck houses and cash for access to cash for peerages, the UK parties are implicated.

"And all three are denying the people of Scotland a say over their own constitutional future - despite backing referendums for just about everything else.

"People are raging against the tired, grubby Westminster machine, but Scotland doesn't have to be a cog in that machine. A vote for the SNP can change the system and make it work for the people of Scotland, not against them.

"Westminster has failed us and that is why we need a fresh start - a new approach that will allow us to make the most of the opportunities that exist in such abundance for our nation.

"In the past few days the prospect of a balanced parliament has come to dominate the political agenda. Labour and Tory are now in a state of panic. They fear this outcome because they fear the people.

"This weeked, David Cameron looked close to hysteria as he realised his chances of a Tory majority was slipping away.

"For the old and tired parties, a balanced parliament is a difficult.
For Scotland, it is an opportunity.

"The success of the Scottish Parliament demonstrated that a balanced parliament can achieve far more than unbalanced one party rule at Westminster.

"On polling day it is the people not the politicians who have the power and at this election the people can give real power to Scotland by voting SNP. A vote for the SNP here, and Plaid Cymru in Wales, is what will help create the balanced parliament - and what will open the door for big wins for the people of Scotland in that parliament.

"The opportunities for Scotland are not with a vote for the London parties - Tweedledee, Tweedledum or for that matter the Tweedledems - they are with the local and national SNP champions who will always put Scotland first.

"The people want an alternative to the cosy London consensus. In Scotland, the way to achieve this is with the SNP and in Wales with Plaid Cymru.

"The London parties think they can keep the SNP off the television
debates, but they cannot keep us out of the election. From our activists at grassroots level to our high profile media appearances, we will make this an election about what Scottish votes can achieve.

"Working in a Celtic Alliance with Plaid Cymru, we can secure a better deal for Scotland and Wales.

"For too long Scotland has been short changed by the London parties. But with a balanced parliament the issues that matter most to the people here will come centre stage. The tide of this election is now moving towards Scotland. Scotland can be the real winner of this election with the SNP."


Alex Salmond

Plaid's Manifesto - 7 Promises

Plaid Cymru is making seven promises to the people of Wales.


1. Protecting the Welsh Budget
We will protect the money the government spends on health, education and care.


2. Plaid’s Living Pension
We will give our pensioners more money to spend on food and heating.


3. Caring for our troops
We want our soldiers to come home safely from Afghanistan, and we want them to be looked after properly when they arrive back in Wales.


4. Helping Welsh businesses
We will lend small businesses money to help them develop new ideas, to get bigger, and to create sustainable jobs in all parts of Wales.


5. An environmental action plan
We will help Wales face up to the challenge of the climate crisis with plans to improve railways, our food systems, and our energy use.


6. Proper powers to make a difference
Plaid wants the new Westminster government to agree to a referendum so that our National Assembly make much more of a difference to everybody’s lives.


7. Tackling the deficit and tackling irresponsible banks
We will protect the people who need our help by asking very rich people to pay a little bit extra . We will reform banks, and we will stop Government spending on nuclear weapons

Trident Nuclear Missiles are for Annihilation not Recovery

Machine politicians mislead on Trident

Home » News

2010-04-17

SNP Westminster Leader Angus Robertson has hit out at the Liberal Democrats after their defence spokesman Nick Harvey claimed on this morning's BBC Radio 4's Today programme that the replacement Trident nuclear missile system had "already been paid for" and suggesting it wouldn't cost anything over "the next 20 years".

In fact, maintaining the current Trident fleet would cost £2.5 billion per year for the next 20 years - a total of £50bn.

Commenting, Mr Robertson said:

"The Liberal Democrat stance on Trident simply isn't credible and dishonest. This latest gaffe by their defence spokesman only draws attention to their dissembling over this policy. They will still waste billions on the current Trident system and are not championing the use of this money on frontline services.

"The Lib Dems are just like the other London machine politicians. Any spending on Trident is money diverted from vital services such as health and education. Maintaining the Trident system is morally repugnant and economically indefensible.

"The people of Scotland don't want it and the Scottish Parliament has voted against it. In the next Westminster Parliament, only SNP MPs will champion the views of our communities and fight to get Trident out of Scottish waters.

"Only a vote for the SNP at this forthcoming election is a vote against nuclear weapons."

Note:

Speaking on this morning's Today Program, Mr Harvey said:

"The existent Trident detterent is there, it's paid for, it's going to work for the next twenty years."

More News from Scotland's Activists

Scotland Speaks

Tonight’s leaders debates (sic) is the latest line in efforts to distort the electoral process reducing the imagined choice at the UK General Election. ITV1 will broadcast the show from 8.30 pm in Manchester. Sky and BBC One will host debates on successive Thursdays.

Bella Caledonia and others are combining to create a Twitter protest against this attack on democracy by big media. To take part just Twitter your protest using #leadersdebates and #scotlandspeaks.

1. This is a deliberately false representation of the options available to people in Scotland and Wales. This is a media manipulation presented as ‘putting the politicians on the spot’ but which has actually been the result of months of careful negotiations from Tory & Labour spin-doctors.

2. This is a narrowing of the political choices to just three white men with virtually identical policies.

3. This excludes the leaders of Scotland and Wales, the vision of the Greens and others.

4. An English based UK debate critically confuses issues about what matters are devolved and what are retained at a Westminster level. The ‘domestic issues’ which will be debated tonight – things like health, education and policing – are all controlled in Scotland by Holyrood.

5. This flawed and biased format must not be allowed to become the accepted norm for distorting political coverage.

6. This institutionalised media bias is a continutation of the failing Westminister democracy; corrupt, unaccountable, and lacking in transparency.

7. Alex Salmond was the only LEADER of a major political party NOT to be investigated under the expenses scandal.

8.This part of a wider media affect of trivialising and narrowing democracy to a celebrity politics of presidential image-making. Views that are outwith the Unionist model or beyond a certain cultural norm are treated with contempt. There are examples elsewhere (ie Canada) where a more complicated political structure can get better representation.

9. Each debate will have a different protest. Go to: http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/homepage/ to complain directly to the BBC. Why should we be forced to pay for a service that excludes us?

10. To protest we suggest writing in English, Gaelic and Welsh or other minoritised or minority languages on Twitter using #tvdebates and #scotlandspeaks.

No TV without representation.

For more coverage on these issue see: Media Democracy - Lesley Riddoch here - and for those issues you WON’T be hearing about tonight, Joan McAlpine here.

You can see the SNP’s rebuttal against this discrimation at these times:

BBC Scotland at 6.55 pm

STV at 6.25 pm

Channel 4 at 7.55 pm


A Hung Parliament

A Hung Parliament does not mean that the current Members of Parliament (or the most despicable and corruptible members) will be invited to attend at a public execution at Tyburn (more's the pity).

Note to Nick Clegg:


The People do not want a new generation of nuclear weapons just as they  neither want Trident.

A Formidable Adversary for "Westminster Stooges"

(From Munguin's Republic Blog)


Alex Salmond, who is always polite and respectful to everyone does the business and does it nicely...

Thanks Dubbieside. This is one I wouldn’t have wanted to miss.
Posted by tris at 7:08 PM
Labels: Alex Salmond, Alex Salmond Jon Sopel BBC Campaign Special general election 2010 UK Westminster Scotland Scottish Parliament devolution Scottish independence, Mathew Parris
17 comments:

Munguin said...
Always a pleasure, and we can now see the real reason the London lot don't want Alex on the stage with them. It wouldn't be a debate at all, it would be like cruelty to dumb animals. Alex would have made all three look like the pompous half wits they are.

April 15, 2010 7:29 PM
tris said...
Can't add anything to that Munguin. Ain't he just someone you can look up to, be proud of instead of the greedy self serving rubbish we are used to in London?

April 15, 2010 7:35 PM
Dubbieside said...
Tris

As I said on KBW blog,

Thats the reason why Alex Salmond is excluded from the "leaders debates.

None of the three stooges could compete with him.

This video deserves a wider audience.

Thank you for giving this a wider audience. Now does anyone know how to get this on Blether with Brian?

April 15, 2010 8:32 PM
tris said...
Pleasure Dubbieside. Yep Alex is Prime/First/Premier Minister quality, the rest are not.

April 15, 2010 8:43 PM
naldo said...
Teeheehee....when he's good, he's pretty damn good, eh?

Still no convinced Eck and his party ars as left wing as i'd want them though. Come independence, i want real wealth redistribution and i cannae see the SNP deliverin that.

April 15, 2010 9:06 PM
tris said...
Naldo: Take it a step at a time.

After independence we will elect the governmnet the people of Scotland want.

April 15, 2010 9:17 PM
Allan said...
Excellent interview with the First Minister and as always he comes out on top. Easily the most formidable political opponent in the UK.

Notes on Political Debates

Last night's Debate was very revealing. Nick Clegg won the popular vote hand down.
People are disenchanted with both main British parties, Labour and Conservative.
They want real change, not more of the same. Smaller parties will do well in this election.


Wales debate on Sunday evening: 10.30 pm


The UK Leaders Debates are ignoring Scotland by excluding the SNP and Plaid Cymru from the Debates. The debates will focus on devolved issues which Westminster has no say in.

You tweet - Scotland Roars!!!

Each time you tweet - include hashtags: #ScotlandSpeaks and #LeadersDebate

Follow: www.twitter.com/ScotlandSpeaks

One For All

There IS only ONE party for Wales!

A Land Fair For All

While walking down the street one day a "Member of Parliament" is tragically hit by a truck and dies.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the  entrance.

'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter.

'Before you settle in,  it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'

'No problem, just let me in,' says the man.

'Well, I'd like to, but I  have orders from higher up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says the MP.

'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'

And with  that, St. Peter  escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down  to hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green  golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it  are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with  him.

Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had  while getting rich at the expense of the people.

They play a  friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and  champagne.

Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises....

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit heaven.'

So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group  of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing.  They have a good time and, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by  and St. Peter returns.

'Well, then, you've spent a day in hell and  another in heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

The MP reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it  before, I mean heaven has been delightful, but  I think I would be better off  in hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down,  down, down to hell.

Now the doors of  the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with  waste and garbage.

He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his  shoulder. ' I don't understand,'  stammers the MP.

'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.

What happened? 


"Yesterday we were campaigning" said the Devil.
"Today you voted!"


Q.  Why aren't there any Puerto Ricans on Star Trek ? 
A.     Because they're not going to work in the future either. 
Q.   Why doesn't Mexico have an Olympic team? 
A.      Because all the Mexicans who can run, jump or swim are already in the United States