How much longer for Blair?

[Platypus]

IF I were his advisor, either late in this spring after some kind of major victory or late next spring.

If things, including the weather, are good when youstep down you're looked upon more favourably, at least in the short term. It also makes the new leader look beter, and for that reason Blair will step down in January '07

[Platypus]

...also what Kohl tried to do to/ did to Schäuble, what Teufel tried to do to Oettinger, what Adenauer tried to do to Erhard... it seems like that's something that does not tend to work, but that's always very tempting to those in government. Probably just because it provides them with a good excuse for staying in office.

Howard and Costello...although I think that is, in part, because howard wants Abbott instead.

Coincidentally, Howard won in an 'earthquake' too, in 1996; and he's never been more powerful. Scary.