Harman wins by playing the system better

I said:

I hope for Johnson, but think Harman has a strong chance, and she made a blatent play for Cruddas's second prefs near the end,

And after the results are called, we see that:

Electoral college results

Candidate	1st round	2nd round	3rd round	4th round	5th round
Hilary Benn	16.40%	18.22%	22.33%
Hazel Blears	11.77%
Jon Cruddas	19.39%	20.39%	23.89%	30.06%
Peter Hain	15.32%	16.42%
Harriet Harman	18.93%	21.23%	25.88%	33.58%	50.43%	ELECTED
Alan Johnson	18.16%	23.74%	27.90%	36.35%	49.56%

Her blatant grab for his support worked like a charm. Cruddas won the first round, but barely picked up any second preferences, Johnson was picking up more until close to the end, when Harman then jumped ahead with Jon's votes. Interesting times it seems. Lots of people on the Labour blogs bitching about the voting system, one even said it was "stalinist". To me it remains the best way of determining a result acceptable to all, allows for multiple candidates rather than requiring a stitch up before the actual vote and is invaluable in a close contest, as this undoubtedly was. It also shows that Harman knew to play for second and third preferences a lot more than others, apparently internal canvassing wasn't asking for preferences at wll--and the media constantly referring to it as a "complicated" system was really annoying me throughout.

But most important aspect: Blears last place on barely 11% of the vote. Labour members renew my faith in humanity a little with that one, word has it there was a massive cheer when her elimination was announced.

Loads of politics posts in a row. Time for some frivolity methinks...

Now, is this the post of a caring boyfriend?

I said:

Loads of politics posts in a row. Time for some frivolity methinks...

The problem being that I've had a bit of a 'meh' day and can't summon the inclination to be frivolous; folder full of fun links but can't be arsed to sort them. Had a quick drink with nadriel earlier but even that and the walk there & back wasn't working. Then, to top it all, Jennie posted an entry entitled Woe!:

I have teh pain. I have never had appendicitis, but this is what I would imagine appendicitis to feel like, and it's in the right place... [info]ginasketch, however, assures me that I am not, in fact, dying of appendicitis, so if I DO die you can all blame her. Stupid hurty innards. :(

Which naturaly got me all worried in a caring boyfriend kinda way, and got many people to comment with various medical suggestions. Then she commented to tell me to check the edit...

( cut to save the blushes )

Laugh? I surely did. Darlin? Love you, you seem to be able to cheer me up in many different ways.

I'm in a good mood again now. Not a good enough mood to figure out whether I loved or hated Doctor Who, but still, the meh funk has gone...