MetaFilter posts tagged with PrimeMinister

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir, world's first lesbian prime minister

Morrigan — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 18:45:58 -0800

Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir became today Iceland's, and the world's, first openly lesbian prime minister.

The greatest histories are always written in the toughest times

saucysault — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:43:55 -0800

Je ne comprends pas anglais, Former Canadian PM Jean Chrétien forgets his second language as he and former NDP leader Ed Broadbent use their elder statesmen status to discuss bringing down the six week old Conservative government in Canada after the promised economic stimulus turned into cutting travel expenses, cancelling pay equity and the right to strike for federal workers, and changing the party funding law in favour of the ruling Conservatives under PM Stephen Harper. The opposition still vow to topple the government even though the funding change appears to have been dropped. But the largest opposition party is effectively leaderless and they need the Bloc Quebecois support. Could the next Prime Minister of Canada be Gilles Duceppe?

Old Parliament House

netbros — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:18:19 -0800

Billy Hughes at War ― As Australia’s prime minister for most of the First World War, he steered the nation through the horrors of the war and the debates of the peace settlement. You can enter the conscription debate and examine political cartoons from the era. Billy Hughes provided Australia an independent voice on the world stage. When reading Leon Uris' novel Redemption years ago, I was appalled to learn what the ANZAC forces endured at Gallipoli during WWI. Not being Australian, I was not familiar with the Billy Hughes chapter of history until I happened upon this site. I was particularly taken by the nice design. Learning more about World War I in the process was a bonus.

Australian Federal Election 2007 on November 24

Effigy2000 — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 19:48:36 -0800

And we're off! Prime Minister John Howard has set the date for the Australian Federal election as November 24th, meaning we're up for a long six-week campaign. With Kevin Rudd leading the PM by between 16 to 18 points (depending on who you read) in recent opinion polls, this election seems the most likely to provide a change of Government since Howard was first elected 11 years ago. Antony Green's usual excellent election guide is up and running here, along with an excellent calculator which shows which seats are up for grabs dependent on a 2 party preferred swing. You might also want to check out the Vote-O-Matic, a fun but entirely disposable quiz which aims to help you decide who you'll vote for. Metafilter's international readers unfamiliar with the Australian political scene will likely be scratching their heads when trying to figure out just what the hell is going on over here, but this page offers a useful guide as a starting point. It can be handy to read over whether you're from outside Australia or a true blue Aussie yourself. Some other excellent Australian election resources include; Links to some of the contenders web pages; Australian Labor Party (plus the Kevin07 website). Liberal Party The Nationals Greens Australian Democrats Pauline Hanson's United Australia Party And here's some links to some excellent blogs which will no doubt continue to annoy the mainstream media throughout the campaign. Oz Politics Poll Bludger Possum Comitatus The Road to Surfdom Larvatus Prodeo Tim Dunlop's Blogocracy Mind you, the following two blogs are by mainstream media pundits, and right wing columnists Piers Ackerman and Andrew Bolt. Piers Ackerman's Blog Andrew Bolt's blog. And finally, Google's election guide, seen previously on Metafilter. The next six weeks are going to be long, grueling and if the experts are to be believed, incredibly negative. Strap yourselves in, folks. It's going to be one hell of a ride.

Virtual tour of 10 Downing Street

goodnewsfortheinsane — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 05:32:57 -0800

Sadly, you will never be important enough to be invited to 10 Downing Street. So take a virtual tour instead.

"Number one, Mr. Speaker"

TimeTravelSpeed — Tue, 05 Dec 2006 17:48:32 -0800

Prime Minister's Questions is a weekly televised convention in the UK started in the 1950s during which Members of Parliament get a chance to hold their leader accountable for his or her actions. Sick of boring political meetings? "PMQ" is fast-paced, hip, heated, eloquent, insulting, and sometimes hilarious. In fact, the inherant humor of it is has been well explored.

But brits aren't the only ones; "Question Time", as it's called generically, has been adapted in other countries as well. Yet the show often shocks Americans since the concept of weekly unscripted access to leaders without giving days of question prep-time seems like a fantasy. Of course, maybe the alternative (0:41) is much worse.

Canadian PM has hunger for human flesh.

patr1ck — Wed, 03 May 2006 12:22:28 -0800

Canadian PM Stephen Harper eats babies. Or at least that's what many Toronto commuters read on their commutes Thursday, Friday, and Monday (they decided to leave the news up over the weekend). Another case for real news becoming more like The Onion?

Canada's Next Prime Minister

Chuckles — Sun, 09 Apr 2006 16:53:04 -0800

On December 3rd, 2006 Canada's next Prime Minister will be decided by a few thousand delegates at the Liberal party convention in Montreal (join for ~$10). Don't believe me? In the last 110 years of Liberal party history only one leader has failed to become Prime Minister. No fewer than sixteen candidates met in Edmonton last week. On the surface the candidates are making nice.

Ignatieff: "None of us, none of us are going to run against each other. All of us are running against Stephen Harper's vision of Canada."

It is even said that Bob Rae and Ignatieff are life long close friends. That didn't stop the Ignatieff campaign co-chair.

David Peterson: "[Rae's] got some terrible burdens to overcome. One is his record and one is his loyalty."

Emphasis mine, and <more inside>

" You cannot name a Canadian prime minister who has done as many significant things as I did, because there are none"

loquax — Mon, 12 Sep 2005 17:31:24 -0800

As author Peter C. Newman writes in an explosive new book: "He bugs us still." : The Secret Mulroney Tapes: Unguarded Confessions of a Prime Minister is due for release this fall, and it's safe to say that it will likely be the most intimate and personal behind the scenes look at what a Canadian Prime Minister is actually thinking. That's because it's based on alleged secret tapings of private conversations between Brian Mulroney and Peter Newman, the man enlisted to write Mulroney's biography. Oh, and it's really juicy (for Canadian politics junkies at least). On Trudeau:"He didn't want anybody to succeed where he had failed. Trudeau's contribution was not to build Canada but to destroy it, and I had to come in and save it. Three times I've achieved unanimity. In 16 years, he couldn't do it once, the 'great statesman.'"

New Zealand Champion dead

Samuel Farrow — Sun, 14 Aug 2005 18:00:29 -0800

Former New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange died over the weekend. His loss will impact our country considerably – he championed our anti-nuclear policy which led to the end of Anzus and a falling out with the US that continues to this day, he spoke at the Oxford Union defending our stance on nuclear weapons and power and he was Prime Minister presiding over the far reaching economic reform that has arguably led to the economic prosperity Kiwi’s are enjoying right now. He was a man larger than life, funny, friendly and caring and his passing is being felt all over Godzone.

Allawi shot inmates in cold blood, say witnesses

waterfrog — Fri, 16 Jul 2004 06:47:08 -0800

Allawi shot inmates in cold blood, say witnesses. Iyad Allawi, the new Prime Minister of Iraq, pulled a pistol and executed as many as six suspected insurgents at a Baghdad police station, just days before Washington handed control of the country to his interim government, according to two people who allege they witnessed the killings.

intrerim P.M

dreeed — Fri, 28 May 2004 21:40:02 -0800

IRC nominates one of their own to be interim P.M. U.S. supports this even though only one-tenth of one percent of Iraqis believe they should be making this choice, according to CPA poll.

Clinton believes Iraq had weapons of mass destruction: Portugal PM

Postroad — Fri, 09 Jan 2004 10:41:14 -0800

Clinton believes Iraq had weapons of mass destruction: Portugal PM Ok. The Dems and the GOP. But what did Ralph Nader say about WMD?

Statesman or Skatesman

feelinglistless — Fri, 15 Aug 2003 13:38:21 -0800

Statesman or Skatesman "Last Christmas my Dad and me had a big argument. He'd found a picture of Enoch Powell on a pogo stick and claimed that politicians weren't as interesting as that any more ... " Jason Whiley disagreed and wrote to as many politicians as he could asking them if they'd ever used similar transport, such as skateboards, gokarts, BMX bikes and Space Hoppers. Over Eighty responded including "three Prime Ministers, five Chancellors, six Foreign Secretaries, four Home Secretaries, and three Speakers of the House of Commons. " [via B3ta]

Tony Blair: The Case for War

hama7 — Mon, 17 Feb 2003 01:56:39 -0800

"But if the threat cannot be removed peacefully, please let us not fall for the delusion that it can be safely ignored." Speech by Prime Minister Tony Blair at Labour's local government, women's and youth conferences, SECC, Glasgow.

trismegisto — Sun, 16 Jun 2002 06:46:15 -0800

i can't believe country leaders keep doing very stupid things what do you think of the attitude of silvio berlusconi, italy's ultra right prime minister? i don't give a damn about his decision, but he (and also other silly country leaders: bush, fox, blair, etc.) should try to prevent this going public! there's also an incredible fact about poverty… and you thought aids was a problem?!

also… are really so desperate the communists (a.k.a. left wing)? it's a shame they did this!

dagny — Fri, 22 Mar 2002 03:39:02 -0800

"What nonsense I have just come out with," Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar admitted after delivering a 25-minute speech -- unaware that his microphone was still turned on. Oops.

tomcosgrave — Tue, 20 Mar 2001 08:07:35 -0800

Haughey in hospital after collapse
Former Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Haughey, and sharer of the surname of this sites founder, collapsed at his home yesterday. Haughey is now infamous for his dishonest dealings while in power in the 1970's and 1980's and the various tribunals instigated as a result have taken their toll.

aurelian — Tue, 08 Aug 2000 09:34:09 -0800

In the UK, it seems marrying the wrong guy strips you of political expression. Cherie Blair, Tony Blair's wife, apparently had the nerve -- the nerve! -- to write an article about her professional field, which is employment law. Jeez, next thing you know, she'll be asking for UK citizenship, or the vote, or something.