This is a message for the British Public. You are all utter bastards.
So there is to be an international summit to discuss the reform of international finance. Already comparisons are being made to the Bretton Woods Agreements. These are probably inaccurate. While anything could happen, as currently billed, the intention of the future summit is to address financial regulation, not trade or monetary policy. Nevertheless, it's a plausible excuse to assess the legacy of those agreements at the end of the war. The US was in a position of considerable financial strength after defeat of Germany and Japan. Europe was in ruins and needed capital to rebuild. The US offered this capital ...
Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama today, in full, is one of the most liberal and reasoned statements, and could have historical significance. It's therefore fitting that I turn the 300th posting on this blog over to him. LibDig This!
Let's cut to the chase; we are taking a battering in the polls. The latest ComRes one for the Independent on Sunday is reported on Liberal Democrat Voice. We have lost two points and on looking further we have lost two points to Labour which confirms to me the trend that our strategy of targeting Labour seats is being put in real danger by a bolstering of Labour's 'heartland' vote. The other big lesson from the poll is that our 'wholehearted support' for the government and it's bail-out package is looking less and less wise; 58% of those polled opposed ...
This week's Watford Observer states that the Chairman of Watford Conservative Association, Steve O'Brien, has refused to comment after former Conservative parliamentary candidate Ian Oakley received a suspended prison sentence having admitted 75 charges of harassment and criminal damage. I have commented before about the bizarre silence of Watford Conservatives over the whole Oakley affair. The most charitable, albeit unlikely, explanation was that they were waiting for the whole legal process to be complete. Now there can be no excuse. Just to be clear - there has been no official comment by Watford Conservatives on Oakley's arrest, resignation, conviction or ...
Just been watching the second programme in the series featuring Stephen Fry's trip round the USA. I agree with others that it is disappointing. Not bad, simply incredibly frustrating. The entire series is only going to be a few episodes and so some states, even the interesting ones, are being dismissed in just four or five minutes. The people, like last week's hunters in New Hampshire and this week's dancing gigolos in Florida are fun and deserve far more space to show themselves off. And just how rough did Mr Fry look today?
Although the Darlington page of the Big Vote website still does not show the local result, I can reveal to an impatient world that the duly elected winner of "I'm a Councillor, get me out of here", and Youth Champion for the coming year, is bookies' favourite Cllr Chris McEwan. Since Chris is also the Borough's Play Champion and portfolio holder for Children's Services he has rather cornered
Just as Christmas has become an elastic feast, stretching well beyond the traditional twelve days, so the Muslim festival of Eid tends to extend further than the three-day holiday at the end of Ramadan. Accordingly, many young Bengalis in Tower Hamlets are still out and about in their new Eid clothes and restaurants in and around Brick Lane are full [...]
Proof, though it's not really needed, that the Council's awful and expensive magazine, Haringey People, is allowed by Council officers to be used as a flagrant propaganda rag for the local Labour party. In a written question to last week's Full Council, my colleague John Oakes asked how many times, since the 2005 general election, our two local MPs had appeared in it. The unsurprising answer? David Lammy (Labour) - 8. Lynne Featherstone (Liberal Democrat) - 0. .As you may have seen, the magazine is also full of rather tendentious headlines next to pictures of Labour cabinet members, trumpeting their ...
Sometimes when you are highly questioning and intensely curious thoughts can quickly turn to suspicion and paranoia. Occasionally however, curiosity is a very good aspect to your personality and you can end up linking together all kinds of insignificant events to make a very clear hard case that someone is, indeed, Up To No Good. This comes in useful during election time when you are sizing up the Tory candidate. You thought he acted as if he could do whatever he wanted at the council/in the House of Commons, and in fact, he really is! Intuition is a highly useful ...
Daily events seem to have overtaken me a bit in the last few days and I finally have a few minutes to sit down and catch up with my blog. The excitement of the forthcoming election hasn't worn off - but the realisation of all that we need to accomplish over the next few weeks has definitely dawned! I can not stress enough how grateful I am to all the kind people who are offering their help. It's going to make all the difference. Today I've been out looking at the state of pavements in the Ward (how people are ...
They say that a week is a long time in politics, but with the use of the Internet and email I am almost certain that that time span is reducing very quickly. As part of Epping Forest Liberal Democrat's local campaign to find out how the current economic situation is affecting families in Epping Forest our parliamentary candidate Councillor Ann Haigh has launched a survey on the cost of living.
The biggest weekend shake-up of the US Presidential race is surely Gen. Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama. In addition to slamming McCain's performance on economic issues, and his choice of Sarah Palin, Powell attacked Republicans' Islamophobic attitudes in the campaign: Is there something wrong with some seven-year-old Muslim American kid believing he or she could [...]
In Colin Powell's endorsement of Obama, he mentioned how "the pictures on Al Jazeera" were doing harm to the view of America in the world. Well, I think this is what he meant:
{Colin Powell} In the USA today, former Secretary of State and General Colin Powell (Republican) has endorsed Senator Barack Obama (Democrat). This cross-party support is seen as good, indeed showing that a former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff supports him is great support for Obama to be the next Commander-in-Chief. Though I can't help wondering whether open cross-party support for Lembit Opik or Ros Scott would be so well appreciated. If Ken Clarke declared for Ros, or Frank Field for Lembit, would it sway opinions? move votes? Somehow I believe that on this side of the pond we ...
Before I went away I posted about a Shropshire Star story suggesting that The Liberal Democrats' unofficial campaign to stop Montgomeryshire MP Lembit Opik from becoming party president appears to have succeeded.While I was away (in Shropshire, as it happens) Liberal Democrat Voice reprinted a press release from Lembit's presidential campaign issued a press release that began:ÖPIK OFFERS 'POSITIVE CAMPAIGNING' IN RESPONSE TO 'CONSPIRACY'Lembit Öpik MP has hit out at the negative campaign allegedly being waged against him by asking the Liberal Democrat membership to 'change up a gear towards Government' by backing him for President.The Shropshire Star story, when ...
Climate Change Bill campaign victory Tearfund and the Stop Climate Chaos coalition today celebrated victory in their campaign to cut UK greenhouse gas emissions. Ed Miliband, the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, has announced that the UK will set a 2050 emissions reduction target of 80 per cent in the Climate Change Bill. Tearfund, along with the Stop Climate Chaos coalition, has been pushing for the target that had been set at 60 per cent to be increased to 80 per cent. Over the past two years, thousands of Tearfund supporters have prayed and lobbied and written ...
I noticed this picture in the Times a couple of weeks ago, of a group of baby orangutans at a rehabilitation centre in Nyaru Menteng, on the island of Borneo. The organisation that supports their work is Borneo Orangutan Survival International, a wonderful group who strive to save this most remarkable animal.Nearly five years ago, I went to Borneo to see orangutans in their natural environment
And Tina Fey...
Not original, I know. But, oh dear, oh dear...
This Autumn I attended my first Liberal Democrat conference. I enjoyed many a fringe meeting, attended a couple of training events and a fair few of the debates in the hall. The thoughtful nature of the debates, irrespective of outcomes, revealed the party to have a lot of talented people within it's ranks. However, being the curmudgeonly sort that I am, I have nagging doubts as to how vibrant and important conference is. 1) Can anyone tell me when the party leadership last 'lost' a vote at Conference ? That should happen at least occasionally at a democratic conference. The ...
I have long been a fan of Colin Powell. His eloquence and good judgment are obvious. This endorsement interview (below) really had me in raptures. The bit which particularly moved me is when Colin Powell described how he was moved by a photo essay which ended with a photo of a grieving mother at Arlington Cemetery by the grave of her son. The picture showed the crescent and star of the Islamic
Whilst John Dixon has reported on the unexpected 'excitement' of Saturday at the Liberal Youth conference, my role at the event today was somewhat different in tone. I was recently appointed as Returning Officer to Liberal Youth, and this was my first turn of duty. I wanted to impress, so I brought my own ballot box (yes, I know...) and, on arrival, I was presented with a package consisting of
I doubt whether this is a turning point in the US Presidential campaign, that appears to have been the appointment of Sarah Palin as John McCain's running mate. Once the conference bounce had settled down, that decision turned the polls in Obama's favour, a point not lost on Colin Powell, who cites it as a question mark over the Republican candidate's judgement. General Powell's endorsement of Barrack Obama is on the video below. My view is that Obama is in a winning position and that barring a disaster, will pull it off on Tuesday November 4th. However, others have a ...
I've just got back from a few days away, so no pretentious analysis tonight. Just another great song from the sixties. Enjoy a youthful Who miming in Hyde Park.
Yes it's true ! Darell Goodliffe (http://momentsofc.blogspot.com/) and myself should be pleased ! Sadly, it is the continuing Liberal Party (www.liberal.org.uk) that has decided to indentify itself as a 'party of the left' following it's Annual Assembley two weeks ago in Wolverhampton. Whilst the Liberals are 'officially' a party of the 'left', the Lib Dems are now a party of ...? Whilst there are many positions where I agree with the Liberal Party, their influence and reach amongst the electorate is limited to Exeter / parts of Devon, Liverpool and Worcestershire and not many places elsewhere. It is intriguing in ...
Liberal Democrats will be disappointed that they couldn't quite win the local council seat in the by-election in Dewsbury last week, especially as their candidate was a well respected former councillor for the ward, missing out as they did by just 108 votes Nevertheless there are a couple of positives to be taken out of [...]
Well I've got the motivation to write once more. In it's previous incarnation this blog twice featured in the ' Blogs of the Week' award of Lib Dem Voice and nestled comfortably twice in the Top 100 Lib Dem blogs. It's good to know that people read this blog (and often disagreed with me). Why did I stop ? In short, I was and remain ambivalent towards a Clegg-led Lib Dems. As someone, who like Sir Menzies Campbell, was happy to descibe my politics as centre-left, the drift to join the me-too centre-right consensus leaves me cold. Being the best ...
Sun 19th
18:56
Rupert Redesdale, our spokesperson in the Lords for the Environment and mass slaughter...
Some of you will remember red squirrels. Cute creatures, driven to the remotest corners of our land by the invading horde of bigger, meaner, disease-carrying grey squirrels. It's time for payback and the indigenous reds now have someone fighting their corner. That someone is Rupert Redesdale... The Observer today carries an article in its magazine section about the campaign to save the red
This is the photo taken yesterday of the award I got from the regional party for my email newsletter to constituents. Andrew Stunell MP presented it. The newsletter goes directly to about 1500 households but plenty more receive it as people tend to forward it to family and friends.
In 1991, the UK parliament passed the Dangerous Dogs Act. There had been a series of dreadful attacks on children, by dogs. The Government rushed the legislation through to protect the most vulnerable in society. In Britain, the legislation is often cited as an example of how not to make law. It is claimed that the Act was not thought out and was never going to work. Recently, Kenneth Clark argued that in fact it was good law but needed time to show it could work. Attacks by dogs on small children continue. When a disaster happens we all want ...
Sun 19th
18:49"They come over here, with their alien ways, winning our quizzes and taking home the prizes..."
I have, in the past, occasionally mentioned that I enjoy the odd quiz night. I've only been to one with Ros so far, in Bridgend, where my team gallantly triumphed over the locals (I'd been signed up by the visitors from Swansea). Last night saw us in Solihull, and Ros and I formed a team with Norman Davies, our Group Leader on Solihull Council, and John Windmill, his predecessor, both of them
John Scalzi has suggested, in the past and the spirit of balance, that one should post one negative thing about the candidate one is supporting, and one positive thing about the candidate one is not supporting. OK, so he was talking about the American presidential election, but I think (at the risk of being branded a mouthy blogger again) it can be applicable to the Lib Dem party presidency too... A Positive Thing About Chandila:Hot damn, he's gorgeous: A Positive Thing About Lembit:He has boundless enthusiasm for people, and has been helpful and kind to lots of people in the ...
{Bathwick Hill Tesco} Permission for the loading bay needed by Tesco has been granted by Cllr Gerrish (Con, Keynsham), the cabinet member responsible. Providing a loading bay was the final condition to be discharged of the planning permission granted in July last year by the government inspector. With this permission granted, the loading bay should be painted onto the road in the next few weeks, with Tesco able to open as soon as it is completed. However, the bay has been reduced in size following objections by locals. It is thought that a12m bay will be safer than the proposed ...
As you'd imagine, at this stage in the campaign, we've been dashing about. Saturday started with the South Central Regional Conference in Woodley, near Reading, and a chance to catch up with various people, and not just about the campaign. I was really pleased to chat to Paula Baker, who is now half way through a term as UK delegate to the EU Committee of the Regions - a role I had between 1998 and 2002. CoR was created in the late 1990s as a result of pressure from the Spanish and German regional governments who, enjoying a lot of ...
I have finished uploading the photos I took at Monday's Parliamentary Candidates Association reception at the. National Liberal Club. If you attended and you want copies of the photos, go to www.flickr.com/photos/libdems.---Sent via BlackBerry
In the latest US Presidential election polls, as featured on the BBC, Rasmussen has McCain on 46% with a margin of error of +/-2%. Ipsos has McCain on 39% with a margin of error of +/-3%. The sharper-eyed amongst you will notice there must be a mistake somewhere. Rasmussen is saying McCain is on at least 44% and Ipsos says he definitely doesn't have more than 42%. That 2% gap represents several million votes (as if the enture population of Greater Manchester had switched alliegance in one fell swoop) so it isn't a small thing. What's going on? The phrase ...
After an assertive campaign by Lib Dem Parish Councillor NJ Gooding (pictured top left) backed up by County Councillor Robin Hughes (pictured bottom left) and Test Valley Councillor Len Gates work has now commenced on the notorious Finkley puddle and strengthening the roadside verge at Finkly storage depot. Councillor Gooding kept the pressure on Hampshire Highways who for the last 2 years had spent just £6200 on Smannell Parish roads. When he felt that Tory led Hampshire highways were not taking his complaints seriously he enlisted the help of Smannell County Councillor, Robin Hughes. Speaking today Councillor Gooding, "I am ...
Regular readers of this blog will remember that eagle eyes Parish Councillor NJ Gooding spotted that Tory led Hampshire Highways had for years mis-spelt Smannell and St Mary Bourne on the sign on the Smannell Road. Red faces in the highways department apologised and promised back in the spring to put it right. It took them 7 months but we are pleased to announce that a new sign with the correct spelling now adorns Smannell Road. Job done!
If you like kittens then they'll love this Japanese home .
A supporter of McPain ticket has decided to make a painful song declaring his undying support of Sarah McSame. One of the 1000 reasons i'd want McPain to lose is so that I don't have to hear that whining horrible redneck American accent - i can't understand half of what this singer is saying! Watch it [...]
The link is to a story about a French bank losing about 600m Euros. This has to be a derivatives trade. It always surprises me how little understanding the senior management of some banks seem to have about the risk profile of derivatives. It is a bit like juggling with bombs. It is ok until you drop one.
First, for me this just about seals the deal for Obama. This allows Obama to allow surrogates to travel round OH criss-crossing into WV and IN while he concentrates in enlargening the battleground with FL, ND, NC, VA and MO. Colin Powell represents many high-minded Independents and `old-style Republicans` and will be a reassuring voice for [...]
After the wine tasting on Friday of course there's a great deal of tidying up of loose ends, and that became today's job. Accounts to update, spare bottles to put away, empties into the recycling box ready for Tuesday's collection. The collectors are going to think we've had a wonderful party! I can just about see the dining table now and the floor is almost clear, so the job must be nearly
The Herald in Scotland is reporting that George Osborne has indicated that a Tory government would give the Scottish Parliament the ability to set and raise its own taxes should they win power at the next election, although he does caution that the people should wait for the outcome of the Calman Commission. If true, this is an encouraging development, and one that increases the chances of forming a cross-party consensus on the future of the Scottish Parliament. To me, increasing the powers of the Scottish Parliament is the best answer to the Nationalist question. I'm a profound supporter of ...
The sound of the wind in the trees while pulling out flints from the ground. The colour of the leaves in the low autumn light. The solid promise of the bulbs planted now for next Spring.
Say hello to another Chyrp module, 'ReadTwitter'. Last week I added in the — JavaScript — code as made available by Twitter to download items from your feed and display them on your site. Thing is, I personally often have scripting locked out on security grounds and I'm sure others do too. Taking into account that Twitter's code also includes the personal replies I make to other people in addition to my own posts and I realised I needed to write some code that would do the retrieve and display code on my server. Hence ReadTwitter! It retrieves the feed, ...
There haven't been many good things about George W's almost 8 years in the White House, but his appointment of the wise and likeable Secretary of State was one of them. It was said at the time that Powell's dissatisfaction with the direction of the administration was the main reason that he left at the end of the first term. Powell has led men into battle. He has dealt with foreign leaders at the highest level. It is highly significant that he has today confirmed that he will be voting for Barack Obama. It strikes me that the Democrats have ...
General Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama is well worth watching. In it, although he makes plain his respect for both sides, he accuses McCain of adopting a different approach every day to the economic crisis and says that his selection of Sarah Palin as his vice-presidential running mate raises question over his judgement. In contrast, he says that Obama is ready to lead from day one, has been cool and steady under pressure and is more able to bring the country together. Powell is also very scornful of McCain's campaign tactics, particularly over the Bill Ayers (non-)issue. He also ...
Alison McInnes, LibDem MSP for North East Scotland, is visiting Dundee tomorrow. We are jointly visiting Radio Tay's studios to discuss with Bauer Radio, who own Radio Tay, our concerns about the recent changes to Tay FM evening programming, which removes local output. Later, from 1pm to 1.45pm, we are holding a joint surgery at the Paton's Lane Sheltered Lounge, for all residents in the area.
OK, I think we're close enough to November 4 to start making predictions about what will happen in the American elections. Barack Obama will win the presidential election. He will win all the states which Kerry won in 2004, plus Iowa, New Mexico, Colorado, Ohio, Nevada and Virginia, giving him a 310-228 win in the electoral college. McCain will just hold on in Florida, North Carolina, Missouri, West Virginia, Indiana and North Dakota. Obama will win the popular vote by six percentage points, 52-46, with 2 per cent for others. In the Senate, the Democrats will have a 58-42 advantage ...
I popped into the large M&S foodstore at Tolworth yesterday. The remodelling is now complete, although the official opening isn't until Wednesday. It looks good. The shop has always sold a limited selection of basic clothing, but I was intrigued to find that the new clothes section only sells the upmarket Autograph range. This seems a surprising move given the cutbacks we are all...
Are you serious? How do I love Sarah Palin? Let me count the ways... I love the excitement she brings to the base. I love how her rallies outdraw Barack Obama. And, for that matter, Joe Biden in his hometown. I love how she handles hecklers: "Bless your heart, sir, my son's in Iraq fighting for your right to protest." I love her politics. And this morning I especially love her hilarious appearance on Saturday Night Live, bopping along to an hysterical rap by nine months pregnant Amy Pohler (go Amy!) I don't really know what to add to that. ...
Netcast is up. There's all sorts of important stuff in there - hope of victory over Dorries and stuff - but my brain won't work for actual thinking. So I'm going to go back to sleep. G'night all. (link here)
I'm still seething after Cameron's speech on Friday. Coming in late, I won't rant on redundantly except to add a couple of points: 1) Sometimes soundbites can bite you on the bum. Gideon Osborne on the Today programme on Friday managed to claim that a) it was time to question how the "house caught fire" and b) that Labour "didn't fix the roof when the sun was shining." Now, I may not know much about housing, but I am unaware of how a lack of roof could cause a house to catch fire. This may sound a rather pedantic point, ...
There is little cheer for the nationalists in this Sunday's newspapers. In reporting the comments of Professor John Kay, "Scotland on Sunday" sort of sums up the general theme : 'An independent Scottish economy would be "awful" in the present financial climate, one of Alex Salmond's key economic advisers said last night. ... Kay, a member of the First Minister's Council of Economic Advisers, criticised the SNP's vision of an independent nation, saying he was not interested in "flag-waving, embassies and armies".' And Iain Macwhirter in the "Sunday Herald" (not exactly the SNP's greatest critic) says : 'Certainly, the Nationalist ...
Just finished delivering 400 copies of the cost of living survey in Blaydon constituency. I now need to get back home as my brother Andrew is due over soon to look at the allotment.We shall return this evening to collect the replies.---Sent via BlackBerry
Having claimed plenty of money from the British taxpayer, Conservative MP Derek Conway (he paid his sons with public funds while they were at university) is now on the payroll of the Iranian government. He's taken a job with state-funded Press TV, presenting an arts review programme from Ealing. From Pendennis in the Observer today
Exciting news for the ground-breaking Obama campaign that they have raised more than $150 million during September. Even more impressively they received donations from more than 632,000 new donors and nowhave more than 3.1 million donors altogether who have given an average of $86. This is very impressive on several fronts: It once again demonstrates that Obama is creating genuine mass enthusiasm across the US. It shows that it is possible to outraise the GOP's big donors and special interests by getting a large number of small donations. And finally it means that Obama is going to be able to ...
Can anyone recommend a good web host that provides decent php/mysql features, has good availability and is reasonably priced?
The Neath Port Talbot press release says that "this will be funded through various sources including insurance, grants and funds which were already earmarked for the initial project". It is to be hoped that the call on funds has not increased as a result of the mysterious fire which ripped through the part-completed building a year ago yesterday. If the earmarked funds are in a frozen Icelandic bank account, then the council should exercise patience while they are unblocked and not switch money from more deserving projects.
Yesterday was my first Liberal Youth conference, I didn't really know what to expect and frankly I went more in search of a break from Norwich, uni and stress than for the networking and training benefits I expected to receive from this short weekender exercise. Well I didn't quite get a break, in fact far from it, and although I made some good contacts, learned a lot and thoroughly enjoyed the day the last event of the evening quite ruined everything. Elaine Bagshaw, recent chair of Liberal Youth, was nearly sacked tonight by conference. Elaine Bagshaw with Cllr. Chris Ward, ...
According to The Sunday Times everybody who buys a mobile telephone will be forced to register their identity on a national database under government plans to extend massively the powers of state surveillance. They say that phone buyers will have to present a passport or other official form of identification at the point of purchase. This compulsory national register for the owners of all 72 million mobile phones in Britain would be part of a much bigger database to combat terrorism and crime. The reason is to monitor the owners of Britain's estimated 40 million prepaid mobile phones, which can ...
Commenting on the criticism of the MoD by the coroner in the inquest into the death of British solider Corporal Mark Wright in an Afghan minefield in 2006, Liberal Democrat Shadow Defence Secretary, Nick Harvey said: "The catalogue of failures recorded by the coroner is another shattering blow to the credibility of the MoD. "Coroner Andrew Walker is absolutely right to describe these shortages of basic equipment and helicopter support as shameful. "Lives are being lost because of the shortage of appropriate helicopter support in Afghanistan, yet the Government's plans for more helicopters are in confusion and disarray. "John Hutton ...
Today's Wales on Sunday brandishes figures from Shelter Cymru showing that a struggling homeowner faces eviction every 13 minutes because they cannot keep up with crippling mortgage repayments. They say that Wales is suffering disproportionately more than England: Homeowners are struggling so much that repossessions have rocketed to a 15-year high; Court actions have shot up by a staggering 200% in 12 months; Eight times more people are being booted out of their homes than last year in parts of the nation; and Wales is now the second least affordable place to live in the whole of the UK. The ...
Here's a series I always used to enjoy watching - pity there weren't more episodes made. The show is "Shoestring" starring Trevor Eve. After having a mental breakdown he has become a "private ear" for a local radio station..... This particular episode is called "Circle Of Uncertainty". And then there was the justly famous Hill Street Blues - I remember watching this in the house I shared
I am a huge fan of TV history programmes and most TV historians. There is some particularly good stuff on at the moment which I thought I would highlight. Simon Schama's 'The American Future: A History' has been brilliant so far. The first episode dealt with America's evolving relationship with its land and resources and how uneasy it is with the idea that these can limit its growth and power. I
This has to be nominated as one of the most grand, impressive houses of the locality - It's Old Conduit House on the corner of Lyndhurst Terrace and Lyndhurst Road. The house is festooned with features - some a shade OTT some more subtle - all feel old and established and a symbol of old victorian confidence and money and status. The old Conduit House was number 1 Lyndhurst Terrace and was originally called Bayford House. it was built along with the house next door in 1864 by Charles Buckeridge. Lyndhurst Terrace itself has changed name - first Rosslyn Park ...
Riddle Me This, Batman: If Regulation could have prevented the Credit Crunch, why didn't anyone in Politics propose any regulation that would have prevented it? Why didn't anyone say, "we need to do X now or Y will happen?" The answer is simple: No-one knew. The Banks didn't spot it. The Government didn't spot it. Vince Cable saw the danger signs but did not say, "Hey, this practice is bad, we must stop it." In fact, when Cable asked about the boom based on consumer debt, Brown told him to, in effect, piss off. If Banks are incapable of judging ...
Slate.com's Jacob Weisberg thinks so. I suspect Lib Dem Voice readers' answers will depend on how sympathetic they are to economic libertarianism.
A friend of several friends, and a sad loss to Doctor Who fandom. Thinking of his family tonight, and everyone who knew him better than me. * hugs to all *
So you're a whining television executive chatting with some Government idiot. Let's pick Andy Burnham, Minister for Mascara, for example. "Young Lady," you say to him, "We can't compete with the internet! They can say what they like... we can't! We have rules to follow... they don't! We have to make programmes in the 'public good', they don't. We have to pay millions upon millions to you for the privilage of staying in business.. they don't. We can't compete. The internet's killing us and we're being made to look like dinosaurs." "I agree," says the Minister. "It's outrageous. The Internet's ...
Surfing various American websites I realised that an Obama rally was about to be shown live which I am now watching. He is speaking to a massive crowd in Kansas City, Missouri, and, after a relaxed start about the local sports teams, he is now in full flow on health care and the economy. He has just been talking about health and his mother. I hadn't picked up that she had died of Ovarian Cancer at the age of 53, a year before my own Mum died of the same illness at the same age. I am struck by the ...
What will happen to our banking reforms? What will happen to our abilities to stop boom and bust? What will it say about America? It's a situation that we need as a party a provisional view on. This country will turn its back on the US if that happens - and we will need to address that mood. Any answers [...]
