The week begins, and so a new open thread … enjoy … And as the Mandelathon continues, just remember that I’m sadder than all of you, I’ve shed more tears than all of you, so therefore I’m better than all of you. “Mandela touched everyone who met him.” So did Jimmy Savile…
“She is an enemy of apartheid……We have much to thank her for.” Guido has linked to the letter Mrs Thatcher sent to P.W Botha setting out her vision for ending Apartheid. My rebuttal of the case for sanctions rested on two main premises: that sanctions do not work, indeed are likely to be counter-productive and damaging to those they are intended to help: and that it … Continue reading
Cutbacks at the BBC…they’re even repeating the News now…… Ed Balls had a bad performance during the Autumn Statement showdown this year but isn’t this BBC ‘Ed Ball’s’ story from last year’s Autumn Statement?: Ed Balls explains hesitant Autumn Statement response Last year he blamed his bad performance on his stutter…perhaps the BBC didn’t have the heart to ask him what the cause was this year and … Continue reading
If you’ve had occasion to read any of the Labour websites recently you will have noticed that Labour, behind the scenes, is in turmoil. The most damaging revelation perhaps that the backstabbing u-turner, Ed Miliband, isn’t trusted by many in the Labour Party. Falkirk and his craven surrender to the Unions and his knowledge and worse, his approval, of their vote rigging activities were hidden from view by the … Continue reading
Poverty (relative of course) is almost at a record low. Living standards have been declining since 2003…not since 2010. Fewer working adults were in poverty in 2011/12 than in 2008/09 under Labour. Child poverty is lowest for 25 years. Pensioner poverty at lowest in decades. Funny…none of those are the attention grabbing headline message from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the BBC. The BBC of course … Continue reading
Paul Mason, gone but not forgotten….just why did the BBC employ this man as a senior political editor? What was it about his juvenile politics that so enriched our lives, that enlightened and educated us about the world? Paul Mason, lover of anarchists, Occupy and Communism….and the Internet. Perfect for the BBC with its studied neutrality on all subjects. Just a shame Mason let his personal views … Continue reading
Warning…contains graphic photographs At an International Council meeting in Canterbury, UK, Amnesty International debates and rejects the proposal to recognize as prisoners of conscience people who use or advocate the use of force in opposing oppressive regimes. This means people like Nelson Mandela are not recognized as prisoners of conscience. Amused to hear Nelson Mandela put into the same category as Nick Griffin this morning (08:58) … Continue reading
December 7, 1941: a day that will live in infamy. And completely ignored by the BBC’s US & Canada page. Not even a quick, here’s one we made earlier, news brief on it? Can’t Mardell or Katty tweet something? I realize the BBC journalists and editors are too busy sitting shiva for their secular saint to bother sending someone to notice that the President has made an official “Presidential Proclamation” … Continue reading
Pounce has spotted this: Simon Amstell apologises for Mandela comment on Radio 1 What did he have to apologise for? The comedian suggested there was racial segregation between Radio 1 and sister station BBC Radio 1Xtra. He said: “Mandela would not approve of the situation at the BBC.” His comments came during a link on the show. Amstell said: “What is going on? We’re next to 1Xtra, it’s … Continue reading
Nelson Mandela has died…but don’t worry…he has apparently been reincarnated as Gordon Brown. That was certainly the impression I got when Brown turned up on Victoria Derbyshire’s show (10:20) telling us how grateful he was to Nelson Mandela for helping him to save the world. Incredible how the BBC can unearth the shy and retiring Gordon Brown when it wants to….it seems remarkably reluctant to seek him … Continue reading
