Gwyneth Dunwoody's example

Gwyneth Dunwoody, longest serving female MP, born 12 Dec 1930, died 17 April 2008, was for me a very fine model for an elected representative: very independent-minded; a vigorous questioner and keen thinker; strong opponent of waffle and self-importance; a straight-talker; challenger of authority; active and outspoken; champion of UK parliamentary democracy; loyal to her party roots; highly respected by all parties and a very wide range of MPs; great specialist knowledge and experience on key issues, especially public transport.

See also the following from: the Independent ; the BBC ; the Guardian.

On that great democrat (!) Robert Mugabe

Enjoyed this poem on that great democrat (!) Robert Mugabe today’s local paper:

MUGABE'S FINAL WORD ON ZIMBABWE VOTE

18 April 2008, Bristol Evening Post


Now look, we don't like these numbers!
I think you must count them again,
Zimbabwe will not have such blunders,
Now go back and count them again.

Don’t talk about hyper-inflation,
Leave all the inflation to me,
If you want to avoid aggravation
Make sure that your vote is for me.

I'm giving the land to my cronies,
I'm taking away their past pain,
My opponents are all fakes and phonies,
They have driven me insane.

The problems are not of my making,
The British created the frame,
My enemies' boots are all quaking,
I'm dictating the rules of the game.

Now go back and recount the numbers
I don't want to tell you again,
Zimbabwe will not have these blunders!
I will not repeat this again!!

By Trevor Carter, (the Bard of Windmill Hill), Bristol.