Anyone else catch Postie Johnson being interviewed by Naughtie this morning on the topic of those Downing Street smears? For me, the crux of this interview – which sums up the BBC approach – is that Johnson was blatantly allowed to get away with suggesting that Gordon Brown could not be held responsible for everything that people who surround him get up to. Naughtie eventually DID bring up the substantive point that McBride was not exactly some anonymous low-ranking individual but rather a senior and trusted Brown strategist but even then, he let Johnson walk away from the clear infererence. Gordon Brown has taken the well know Trumanism and inverted it “The Buck never stops here” and the BBC plays along with this ludicrous charade. Can you imagine the difference in tenacity and tone from the BBC had we a Conservative Prime Minister presiding over such a sleaze culture?
Thank you
There is no way McBride wrote that email on his own back. He had instructions to smear the Tories from Brown and others top Labour ministers. It will all come out very soon as they break ranks after one speaks out. I wonder how the BBC will handle the story.
“That Gordon Brown letter in full”
http://davidjonesblog.com/2009/04/13/that-gordon-brown-letter-in-full/
As I retire for the night, I am minded of how, after the events of the day, nay, weekend (most sadly missed by the majority of our national broadcasting commentariat currently on school hols), there are a few odd notions that bear pondering.
For instance how, after a decade or more of ‘rule’, we again find ourselves confronted by a leadership that only now seems to have noticed yet another honking great system abuse, and only then when it sank its fangs into its ample rump, and in turn only responded when brought to its attention by the ‘tittle tattle’ of the blogosphere as opposed the the comfortable, sweet nothings of an MSM who seem incapable of seeing the room much less the elephant filling it.
And then to conspire together to put it all to bed, to move on serenely, leaving some again free to look for new rocks to ram with a ship of… in a state that seems to have more leaks than a Welsh rugby crowd… by the simple, genius expedient of writing an insincere, half ar*ed letter for publication as if that will really make it all go away.
Bless.
*… had written… in felt tip! Too much info?
For a private note, on present evidence I guess we might yet expect a graphologist to show the strength of character on display from this master of pen…er… felttipmastership. I think there are still spinners at work. Just really rubbish ones, as opposed to totally morally bankrupt ones. So the whole ‘Oh, who let these guys in, and what do they do?’ shtick seems pretty silly already on even casual analysis. Getting all noble and decisive only when caught is wearing thin. As is trotting out the press release to trumpet a backside cover as an ‘initiative’.
A wee John Hancock to a two word note on headed No 10 paper would do me fine. And might actually give this country a chance at a future.
Just had a look on the Beeb website..You’d think this story had never happened. Did it? Am I dreaming?
The BBC might have quickly complied with warnings to keep Tom Watson out of this, but the Sun editorial today has a bit more bottle.
McBride is gone. If Mr Brown is sincere about cleaning up politics he will take the next step.
And sack the equally poisonous Tom Watson, whose position as Cabinet Office minister is a stain on the Prime Minister’s judgment and his government’s credibility.
Naughtie is one of the worst examples of BBC bias. He is completely unfit to work for a BBC worthy of its Charter.
“Can you imagine the difference in tenacity and tone from the BBC had we a Conservative Prime Minister presiding over such a sleaze culture?
”
Can’t you just.