The Unelected Prime Minister

...departs office, still unelected, a permanent asterisk in the history books.

Text of his resignation announcement here.

His fate was sealed, not by the financial meltdown and its aftermath, but by agreeing to assume the role of Prime Minister without earning the privilege via the electoral process.

It was only a matter of time, and it could only end in tears. At least, the UK is a civilized country, where power passes from one hand to another with one person's resignation, and another's visit to speak with the Queen. Most times and places, transitions are bloody and tumultuous.

If some good thing can be salvaged from this heartbreak, perhaps it will be the object lesson that power must be 'derived from the consent of the governed', lest it be unavoidably viewed as illegitimately gained and exercised.

And, From The UK Election Campaign, Just For Laughs('Cuz We All Need To Laugh)

Strangers In The Night, a brilliant little spoof by Gerald Warner at The Telegraph.

It's reminiscent of the work of the late, great Art Buchwald, who kept us laughing at the political idiocy of the '60s and '70s.

Well done, well done!

A Quick Note To Our Friends In Great Britain

Best wishes go with you.

OS has no voice or opinion in the choices facing you, but be assured, come what may, you and yours have millions of friends here.

Even if the People In Charge here are not among them.

Best wishes.

To Quote Austin Powers...'Yeah, Baby, Yeah'!

Dan Hannan wisely chose to refrain from Shakespeare tonight. Gordon Brown doesn't deserve to have good words like that wasted on his sorry self.

Hannan instead called upon Dr. Suess.

How very appropriate. Even Gordon Brown and his followers can understand the good Doctor.