Rambling Thoughts On U.K. Election Day

A General Erection is underway in the U.K. today.

Today is also Tony Blair's birthday, so what strange gifts will the fates bring him, as he enjoys his retirement? Having created an electable Labour Party which has governed the U.K. since 1997, Blair's New Labour will probably lose its majority under Prime Minister Gordon "bigoted woman" Brown.

Not that Blair may care what becomes of his gloomy, ugly ex-pal Brown. That strange principle of promotion-of-the-worst is hard at work for Blair. After fucking up the already-fucked-up Middle East with George W. Bush, Blair is of course now a European Union Peace Envoy to the Middle East.

What has any of this to do with Muhammed Ali (above)? Not much at all, but you, my loyal four readers, should know that Ali is an Irishman:

The boxing legend and three-time world heavyweight champion became the first man to be given the freedom of Ennis, County Clare, for 600 years. Ali visited the town, in the west of Ireland, to pay homage at the home of his Irish great-grandfather, Abe Grady.

I think many people would agree with me that politicians and political leaders are today about as likely to act selflessly and honorably as a banker on Wall Street. If you seek the power and freedom that money affords, then political power can be like having your own Automated Teller Machine (note that I said "can be" and not "is").

However, Ali reminds you that great people and people of greatness are still all around us. They are just so rarely in politics. To the winners and losers in today's election: remember, there's more to life than power. If you lose, remember, there's more to life than power.