He married late in life, his first baby died when she was ten days old and his infant son suffers with cystic fibrosis.

I know nothing about his politics or proposed policies but doubt they'll be any/much different from Blair's.

His wife seems nicer than Cherie, which is not difficult.

Well he just said this:

"I believe they [in Iraq] are fighting for the security of this country in the wider world against people who would destroy our way of life."

...so I already dislike him.

He now faces the worst British floods in recent memory, and it's STILL RAINING. This could turn into a real problem for his first few days in office.

He could hardly turn around, after ten years of being Chancellor in Blair's government, and say, "Well yes, Iraq was all a bit of a mistake really. Sorry 'bout that," without looking quite spectacularly opportunistic.

He could hardly turn around, after ten years of being Chancellor in Blair's government, and say, "Well yes, Iraq was all a bit of a mistake really. Sorry 'bout that," without looking quite spectacularly opportunistic.

I know, I know... but when he says things with that sort of conviction, it really sounds like he has swallowed ALL of the Kool-Aid.

Well, Bush will let us know soon if he's good enough people to invite to the ranch.

According to Newsnight, his first action in Downing Street was to rescind the power of political advisers (Jonathan Powell and Alistair Campbell under Blair) to give orders to civil servants. This is unequivocally a Good Thing.