154 Responses to OPEN THREAD

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  1. John Anderson says:
    June 6, 2012 at 1:10 am

    Another sign of the pathetic decline of the BBC – Radio 4 Extra has been re-running the 26 episodes of Vivat Rex – a history of the English Crown from Plantaganet times through to Henry VIII, told through plays by Shakespeare, Marlowe and their contemporaries. Produced by Martin Jenkins, narrated by Richard Burton, and including just about every well-known British actor or actress.

    A huge and mellifluous series – produced to mark the Silver Jubilee in 1977. Pure joy to listen to it all.
    A celebration of our history, our literature and our culture.

    What has Radio 4 produced this time round ? Not a lot, from what I can recall. So where does all that licence tax go ?

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    • johnyork says:
      June 6, 2012 at 1:39 am

      Radio 4 has recently produced quality programmes such as ………………………
      and ………………………

      Do you know John, you might have a point.
      As for the licence swindle – well, it would make a good 26 part NoVat BBC afternoon play.

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  2. John Anderson says:
    June 6, 2012 at 6:28 am

    As others here have said, there was an highly significant election in Wisconsin yesterday. The Democrats were trying to recall ie sack Governor Scott Walker, with the focus on his budget-improving reforms to the ability of public sector unions to leach the taxpayers. Many people have said that this would be a very big straw in the wind for the November Presidential election – Walker stood for financial prudence, balancing the budget even if it hurts. A loss for Walker was possible, given the Dem and trade union muscle on voter turnout.

    Walker won big – 7% or so on a very high turnout, in a state that returned Obama last time by a big margin. Wisconsin is now “in play” for November. Above all, it shows that people will support politicians who take an axe to public spending and the public-sector entitlement culture.

    All this will be a big fillip to Romney and to Repub fundraising, and a smack in the eye for Team Obama.

    BBC World Service said that Walker had had a narrow win. Rubbish !

    Waiting fora major report by Mardell on the Today programme – but I won’t hold my breath..

    Surprisingly for such a significant election, Mardell did not do the BBC website report. And a piece by Jonny Diamond spins the lie that the Republicans outspent the Democrats 7 to 1, and argues that we should not read too much into the result – the Team Obama / Axelrod talking point.

    ……………………….

    Also I don’t expect Mardell to be reporting on the several occasions now that Bill Clinton has cut the ground from under Team Obama. If the wheels start coming off the Obama campaign, BBC viewers and listeners will be the last to know.

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  3. Roland Deschain says:
    June 6, 2012 at 9:02 am

    Further to my comment yesterday, John Prescott was dragged kicking and screaming invited on speed dial into the Today studios to discuss the heinous matter of unpaid security staff being left under a bridge for two hours. It strikes me as just one big cockup but no, it’s obviously a matter of National Importance that requires Lord P’s megaphone diplomacy to complain about it and how it’s all the fault of the evil Tory government. I waited in vain for Evan to ask him if the Labour Party ever takes on unpaid staff.

    The poor woman brought on to counter Lord Megaphone was obviously left in a cold, urine-soaked telephone box as a penance judging by the quality of the line. Probably for two hours beforehand. No way was she going to be allowed to compete volume-wise.

    Guess who got both the first and last word.

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