What better way to start the week than by tuning in to the “Today” programme on BBC Radio 4? (Well, I can think of plenty actually but let’s just go with this for a few minutes) Between 6.30am and 7am I steeled myself and listened to the “news” from the State Broadcaster.
For openers we had an item on how the Conservatives were “exploiting” the financial woes that afflict poor Labour. Interesting choice of word that, “exploiting”. “Highlighting” might have been another less judgemental word that could have used I suppose? This item went on to discuss Gordon Brown’s disastrous personal ratings in opinion polls over the weekend but caveated these with the insistence that these polls may not be accurate. (The BBC, of course, regularly uses other opinion polls which are treated as Holy Writ when it suits them but hey, let’s not upset Labour too much)
Next up we had someone from the Howard League for Penal Reform (aka the abolition of prisons) on to whine about the amount of self-harm prisoners carried out on themselves. This. she pointed out, was not really connected to overcrowding in prison (A favoured BBC theme mind you) but to the fact that they were in jail in the first place. At no point was it suggested to this advocate for the abolition of justice that had they not committed crime these alleged self-harmersy would NOT have been in prison in the first place. Also is it not better they harm themselves than their victims? This was a public platform afforded to the Howard League of extreme leftists without ANY counter balance, disgraceful.
Then we had the topic of the meeting of those Southern African States concerning Zimbabwe. The line taken here was that whilst the “Crisis? What Crisis?” line had been put out by this august body of wise elders perhaps secretly they had been discussing a plan to establish a government of national unity? Sure. The BBC seems very reluctant to say anything bad about the catastrophic failure of Mbeke to stand up against Mugabe.
Then we moved on to, yip, climate change. Seems that it is getting warmer in Northern UK climes and this is causing all kinds of shifts of the animal population. Just one more little bit of green advocacy afforded to those geo-climate experts at…erm….The National Trust.
The triumph of the Maoists in Nepal received the BBC seal of approval, though the BBC reporter did seem a little surprised to see that the Maoist leader had images of Stalin and Mao on his wall. Nostalgia?
There were a few other items but after 30 minutes of this, I tuned out!
I notice that although it carried a report on the fraudulent ‘research’ carried in the Lonely Planet series, the Today programme failed to mention that the imprint is now owned by . . . the BBC. I would have thought that the BBC should have a ‘due disclosure’ practice, in which they identify the interests of the organisation and, where necessary, the journalists involved in a particular story. A short ‘Lonely Planet is owned by the BBC’ at the end of the story would have sufficed.
What is really dispiriting is that the Conservatives themselves don’t appear to be bothered about what goes out on the BBC. No indigation, no outrage, nothing.
A lot of the “comments” on the BBC editors’ blog and others seem to originate within the BBC firewall. They should of course tell us this – a simple “BBC staff” after the poster’s name would do the trick.
Bob – I think that David Cameron has actually based a lot of his policies on what he thinks will go down well in the BBC canteen. He’s running scared.
BBC R4 announcer prefaces last nights program on climate change thus:
“as China faces an enviromental catastrophe of epic proportions……………”
Does it really?
Perhaps it would be better not to add to it by sending thousands to cover the Olympics then my dear Beeboids.
getting warmer in Northern UK climes
Does this apply this year? The grass has not yet needed mowing in my Yorkshire garden. Daffodils still bloom in the local park.
The beeb just seems to be revolving ever smaller circles…they know gordo is going soon and the still unreformed British public still refuse to toe the party line.
“though the BBC reporter did seem a little surprised to see that the Maoist leader had images of Stalin and Mao on his wall. Nostalgia?”
I’ll take bets you’ll find the same posters on the office walls of BBCnistas at White City right now. Probably next to the Ernie Guevera shrine.
I heard the self harm in prisons item as well. It did seem as though the presenter was simply reading out a Howard league (I wonder who funds them ?) report. However no questions were asked such as what was the definition of self harm ? Had the rules recently changed that meant self harmers might get early release or an easier time inside ?
“though the BBC reporter did seem a little surprised to see that the Maoist leader had images of Stalin and Mao on his wall.”
What posters did the prat think a Maoist terrorist might have? Milton Friedman? What a tosser.
fraudulent ‘research’ carried in the Lonely Planet series
The Times includes Lonely Planet, which sells six million guidebooks a year, hit back today, saying that Kohnstamm only “wrote about the country’s history”
No research required, then, (for LP/BBC) just trot out the lefty agenda.
BBC World showed Dateline London yesterday. As ever the British contribution was from the left wing perspective. Polly Toynbee was given free rein to talk utter socialist shite. And the BBC insist that they are not biased!!
This website is great for those who want to compare the BBC output with Orwells 1984 “Newspeak”
I can always imagine the BBC spouting the crap about the “chocolate allowance” going UP from 30 to 25 grams per week (yes up)
http://www.newspeakdictionary.com/
The bollocks the BBC spout about it getting “warmer” goes of course against all science, when we know that the planet has NOT warmed for the last 10 years. However, the BBC never let the facts get in the way of a good lie do they?
“Polly Toynbee was given free rein to talk utter socialist shite”
Oh that had me laughing -brilliant!
She really does talk a load of old bollocks doesnt she?
Imagine your worst nightmare. Being stuck in a lift with the following
Polly Toynbee
Yasmin Alabi Brown
Hazel Blears
Harriet Harpie
thats a stunning list – however,please add these:-
chakrabati
Ken Livingstone [he once sat opposite me on a train to brighton,i called him a terrorist appeasing twat]
Peter Hain
Neil Kinnock
Tony Benn
Don’t forget Bob Crow.
“I can always imagine the BBC spouting the crap about the “chocolate allowance” going UP from 30 to 25 grams per week (yes up)”
Close,but it will be a carbon allowance.Go over that and you will be Soylent Green.
Following downmarket from Toady, the radio 2 5 o/c news was a minor classic. ” nasty tories picking on the Dear Leader, so we will now broadcast in full his daily summary of how economic Traktor Produktion figures are much better than they seem. Followed by the most salacious human interest story available, about dead teenage girls.’
I was thinking about women only (I do that a lot- usually women I’d LIKE to be stuck in a lift with)
However to add to my horror list
Clare Short
Baroness Billingham (she’s HUGE and a McLiebour Pier)
Margaret Hodge
Most female BBC types
Anyone else noticed that when a McLiebour minister comes on the BBC they are usually allowed to spout shite without being interupted?
Hugh Edwards on BBC News 24 had Angela Eagle on (who the f**k is she?)
She just spouted utter bollocks and Edwards let her get away with it. It was like a 5 minute McLiebour party political party broadcast.
When a Lib Dem or Tory is on, they are often lucky to get a single sentance out before being cut across.
Clare Short
Horrendous!
What about this legend:-
Spangles kapklinskey.
polly tonybee [again]
Harriet harman-dromey
Bliar witch [singing when im 64 anyone?]
Oh god, yes I forgot about Shariah Booth-Bliar.
Could you imagine what it would be like if any of them started feeling horny? Oh god no!!!!! MERCY PLEASE!!!!!!
On the subject of the BBC who here actually think the BBC is losing influence anyway?
In the USA the internet had had a massive impact on the election process (for good and bad). Webistes like moveon.org, the dailykos and others seem to be able to generate stories that have the mainstream media (both broadcast and print) responding to.
I’m not so sure at the next general election the BBC will be able to twist things for McLiebour in the way it has done in the past.
All I do hope is if the Tories win the next election, they finally have the balls to finish off the BBC once and for all.
This Jo Abbess woman who vets Harrabin for emerging truth sounds pretty awful too. Natural Beeboid talent
However to add to my horror list
Clare Short
Baroness Billingham (she’s HUGE and a McLiebour Pier)
Margaret Hodge
Most female BBC types
Martin | 14.04.08 – 5:24 pm |
Showing my age here: add Bessie Braddock, former Labour MP for Liverpool Exchange. Most famous for her exchange with Winston Churchill in parliament.
Sir, you are drunk.
And you Madam are ugly, but in the morning I will be sober.
Nicky Campbell on Radio 5 this morning was aghast that 300 or so (I think) business leaders and associates were meeting in Kabul, Afghanistan for a business conference. Only he wasn’t gobsmacked at the location. ‘Why so many?’ he shrieked at the reporter.
My thoughts and feelings exactly Mr Campbell, but more in relation to the number of employees the BBC are sending to the Beijing Olympics at our expense!!! 457 in case you haven’t heard.
Barabara Plett can be added to the ‘stuck in a lift list’. Imagine having to listen to her sobbing as she told you how wonderful old Yasser was. Of course, if the BBC was serious about impartiality she’d have been sacked by now.
Barbara also? Good call – wouldnt she be better just crying in the desert though?
meggoman: Yes and Campbell is one of those going.
Pete: Oh god yes, Barbara Plett. Who is that other annoying bint? Her name is something like Doulise or lees or something. And you can add Orla Geering or whever her name is.
I tell you what, it would be a big lift (especially with Baroness Billingham)
For those that don’t know what she looks like
http://www.dodonline.co.uk/photos/26986.jpg
Diane Abbott
Ken Livingstone [he once sat opposite me on a train to brighton,i called him a terrorist appeasing twat]
You’re my new intertubes hero. What ever did he say to that?
Diane Abbott. God she’s another heffer. What is it about McLiebour women? Can’t they keep them off the cream cakes or something?
One more for your lift Martin- Gwyneth Dunwoody
NuLab babes went into politics because that is the only way they could get a shag.
How could you people be so ungallant as to leave Jacqui Smith off the list? I know she keeps off the streets in the public good but give the girl a chance.
Horror list:
Orla Guerin –
“They came in their hundreds, to reclaim what was rightfully theirs……….zzzzzzzzzz”
“Sharia Blair” – oooh that hit the spot. £250,000 a year for being a QC worrying about the right to wear a Muslim headscarf to school. No wonder our kids take wrong turn, wanting to become a “‘uman rights lawyer” Never was so much hard-earned tax pissed away on the self-serving drivel of the esteemed legal profession. Rigged by the Lord Chancellor crony. “Because we’re worth it”
Jackie Spliff always looked like she was a bit of a goer actually. Although she’s seen better days.
One more for my lift would have to be Mandelson. Not a woman, but he is a Queen.
Oh and this is th other BBC harriden I was thinking of.
Lyse Doucet.
http://www.nato.int/pictures/2007/070423a/b070423u.jpg
At least Fox News has some decent eye candy
Sir, you are drunk.
And you Madam are ugly, but in the morning I will be sober.
TPO | 14.04.08 – 6:14 pm | #
TPO the exchange continued:
Sir, if you were my husband I would poison your drink.
Madam, if you were my wife I would drink it.
🙂 They don’t make them like they used to. PMQ is so dreary these days, I blame the dreary incumbent of No 10.
Political correctness is to blame, Sarah Jane. Everyone is too scared to open their mouths in case they might offend a member of a ‘challenged’ group and have their pants sued off them and become instantly unemployable
and untouchable.
If you are a handicapped black lesbian Muslim who has been turned down for a job as a football coach, you’ve got it made.
The BBC will trumpet your cause from the rooftops and an army of human rights lawyers will be offering you free representation.
Who would I least like to be stuck in a lift with?
Alan Johnston
Jeremy Bowen
Orla Guerin
Barbara Plett
Mark Byford
Sarah Jane | 14.04.08 – 9:48 pm |
Almost right.
The second exchange was between Churchill and Nancy Astor.
Always happy to correct the BBC 😉
BBC news on Radio Five branded Berlosconi a “right-wing businessman” tonight, two of the worst insults a Beeboid can throw at a man.
Fair enough, I hear you cry – he is a businessman and he is “right-wing”. I agree – I want to hear and see the BBC describe Castro as a Communist Dictator, Che Guevera as a terrorist, Chavez as a left-wing demagogue. Of course, I won’t.
Today.
Should terrorism (or ‘militancy’) be encouraged.
By being rewarded.
Jimmy Carter thinks so because he wants Israel to talk to Hamas.
The BBC is in no doubt. Israel should talk to Hamas. In Jeremy Bowen’s item on Today, each and every separate component supported this view. First, John Ging, an avid apologist for Hamas who believes sanctions are causing radicalisation in Gaza. He wants open borders too. Must Talk to Hamas!
Israel’s position was (mis)represented by Education minister Yuli Tamir who seemed to agree because “What we did so far hasn’t worked.”
Then intrepid Bowen went to meet heavily guarded and protected Hamas ‘political leader’ Khaled Mashaal – all the way to Damascus where the poor chap was holed up. Tea and biscuits were proffered hospitably, after which he quite reasonably threatened that if the ‘siege’ wasn’t ended the world could not imagine what terrible repercussions there will be. Furthermore, he demanded the right “to defend ourselves” (against what?)
I have to say, unkindly, that some Arabic sounds like someone being strangled. Unfortunately this was not so in this case.
Then, the obligatory child atrocity; we learned of an eleven year old boy who has been shot by the Israelis.
All this led to one plea. That the violence would end by talking to Hamas and accepting Hamas’s generous concession of an offer of a ceasefire, (honourable, they promise faithfully, cross heart and hope to die, for a period of ten years.) On the condition that Israel agrees to all their demands.
Something did not enter the head of the BBC’s chief Middle east Editor, or was he too polite to mention it?
All this could far more easily be brought about by one simple thing.
Hamas could top firing rockets into Sderot and Recognise Israel.
The BBC thinks we should encourage terrorism (militancy) and reward Hamas for firing thousands of rockets into Israel.
Re: lifts
To me Polly Toynbee and Melanie Phillips are two sides of the same ugly stick. Hideous, unthinking kneejerk halfarsed opinions attached to a badly dressed least favourite auntie. So I wouldn’t like either of them.
However, I once had the misfortune to listen to a corporate ‘inspirational’ talk by Martin Bell, and whilst I was generally engrossed in a game of hangman I heard enough to conclude that he is the most tedious, self satisfied, condescending bore on the face of the planet. So him as well.
David – you switched off before the priceless item from Anne Owers – our dear Inspector of HM Prisons. According to Anne the horrible prison services are driving Muslim inmates to Islamism. Because they are treated with ‘suspicion’ and feel ‘alienated’ they are forced into becoming extremists, according to Ms. Owers. Of course this terrible inversion of the truth was given absolute credibility (no challenging comments like perhaps it’s because of Islamism they are treated with suspicion). Nope – Anne’s words were treated as gospel.
Hazel Blears was once referred to in the House of Commons by a fellow Labour MP as “Blears the Bike”.
She’s a keen motorcyclist apparently.
Mark Byford
Bryan | 14.04.08 – 10:33 pm | #
You and 27,999 others 😉 Actually 27,998 I can think of one person who likes him.
From a programme-making perspective Brown is just dull, and refuses to engage during interviews. Given recent opinion polls I think the British public can see this.
At the Beeb his nickname is The Dementor (from Harry Potter) (some of you will have seen that via Iain Dale).
TPO well corrected. It would have been better if it was continuation of the exchange though. Always happy to rewrite history.
Anne Owers Is a public-service tosser. Her diagnosis (how much does she earn?) was that Belmarsh screws “lacked the necessary training” to deal with the conflicting demands of not offending wanna-be mass murderer muslim sensibilities. What “training” exactly would that be Anne? No diagnosis from the BBC report, just uncritical repetition of weak-as-dishwater jobsworth filling in time before claiming index-linked final salary pension.
The BBC thinks we should encourage terrorism (militancy) and reward Hamas for firing thousands of rockets into Israel.
Sue | 15.04.08 – 12:35 pm
The BBC evidently sees Hamas as noble freedom fighters courageously battling the Israelis. To the BBC, Hamas is the authentic voice of the poor oppressed Palestinians. Hamas terrorism? The BBC got around that inconvenient little fact by excising the ‘T’ word from the English language. Makes it that much easier now to regard Hamas as ordinary people with the same moral compass as anyone else.
Abbas, on the other hand, has distinctly fallen out of favour. He is now the Uncle Tom, the sell-out willing to negotiate with the Israelis while his brothers languish in Gaza with the Israelis tightening the siege.
That’s the BBC. When it comes to a choice between the less radical or more radical terrorists, the BBC will always choose the more radical. It’s the default position.