tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.comments2023-09-28T08:44:10.623+01:00The Sound of GunfireBernard Salmonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16756716991445396009noreply@blogger.comBlogger521125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-48115914551722262912009-10-13T03:00:44.924+01:002009-10-13T03:00:44.924+01:00Also interesting to see how they would square this...Also interesting to see how they would square this with their anti-Nato position. "We'll tolerate the English but they wouldn't be allowed to indulge in any of that NATO activity whilst their here." Can't really see that working.<br /><br />In reality, I think that Robertson is doing a bit of flag-flying for what is a practical solution to a problem. The continuing British government would still find it desirable post-Partition to have a military presence in a northern sector just as the Nats would want the protection this gave without paying for it. The solution is exactly this kind of arrangement benefiting all but, frankly, there's more to it than simply 'outsourcing the defence function' that approach implies.Stephen Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-15636633999575140802009-10-08T17:23:01.550+01:002009-10-08T17:23:01.550+01:00Bloody great!
I thought Cameron's effort was ...Bloody great!<br /><br />I thought Cameron's effort was even more formulaic, by the way.Frank Littlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447989626809704972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-26974064596706226552009-09-30T07:44:26.530+01:002009-09-30T07:44:26.530+01:00I'm a bit worried about the amount of time you...I'm a bit worried about the amount of time you spent on that one Bernard but it was worth the effort!<br /><br />On a more serious note, did you note the cheer the AV proposal got yesterday from the Labour rank and file? Not sure if it was a genuine desire for PR or the just the joyful relief of a drowning man seeing a lifeboat atop a tidal wave.Stephen Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-11041461793980012232009-09-29T10:16:24.693+01:002009-09-29T10:16:24.693+01:00Well, it might have been a god speech if he said a...Well, it might have been a god speech if he said a bit more about how to halt closures of post offices. Throwing yet more money at the problem won't make it go away!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-87847878497492176932009-09-15T14:45:00.910+01:002009-09-15T14:45:00.910+01:00Great fun - I chuckled throughout - but Mrs Rozenb...Great fun - I chuckled throughout - but Mrs Rozenberg raises a serious question: why should we be patriotic? What are the England, Scotland, Wales and UK which we should defend, possibly at the cost of our lives?Frank Littlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447989626809704972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-75369691953364087182009-09-15T11:10:52.368+01:002009-09-15T11:10:52.368+01:00Agreed, but does anyone really hold to the traditi...Agreed, but does anyone really hold to the traditional views of Richard I and Richard III these days? That is, if anyone is aware of their existence enough to hold any view? How many English schoolkids could at least name them and have some idea of where they fit in historically?<br /><br />The best lessons that can be learnt here is how there are often several ways of looking at things, there isn't always an absolute answer, but people pick the views they like, and the powerful can do so in order to dominate the agenda. <br /><br />The ability to be able to see and discuss competing viewpoints really is valuable, so if history could be taught that way rather than just as "facts", it would be great. Plus the ability to spot hidden agendas - great, too.<br /><br />As you say, the enclosures really are a crucial part if English history, we all should be aware of what happened there. Why are the Scottish clearances so well known and the English equivalent not? The English Reformation is fascinating, but is it possible to teach it in a way that reveals also the politics behind it? Clever kids could be got to read Cobbett's "History of the Protestant Reformation", an amazing piece of polemic, but in a critical fashion seeing how it reflected also what the politics of Cobbett's time.Matthew Huntbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18255872047710686115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-67242009256608317802009-09-15T10:25:21.813+01:002009-09-15T10:25:21.813+01:00Well, you could have rioting in public places that...Well, you could have rioting in public places that aren't highways I suppose. But I guess 'rioting in that small passage that runs between Midmills Road and Broadstone Park' or 'rioting on the bit of grass outside New Century House' don't sound as gripping really.<br /><br />And let's not forget the <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7003100.stm" rel="nofollow">Cleggster's small scale non-street rioting</a> either!Stephen Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-68303763712227606782009-09-14T23:13:06.762+01:002009-09-14T23:13:06.762+01:00By the way, although I used the phrase myself, I&#...By the way, although I used the phrase myself, I've never understood that expression 'riots in the streets'. Where else would you have a riot? You don't exactly get people saying: "I'm going to stay at home and start a riot. I'm going to lob a Molotov cocktail at the cat, break all my windows, loot my home and smash up my car."Bernard Salmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16756716991445396009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-49654786083224387542009-09-14T22:06:50.722+01:002009-09-14T22:06:50.722+01:00awww heck...if you have to explain a joke,it's...awww heck...if you have to explain a joke,it's a pretty good indication that the joke isn't worth explaining... <br /><br />That said, the second and third links that got messed up in my first post were:<br /><br />http://oliverkamm.typepad.com/blog/2003/12/charles_kennedy_1.html<br /><br />and<br /><br />http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_Liberal_Democrats#Recent_history<br /><br /><br /><br />I'll get me coat.Stephen Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-79105018591241731422009-09-14T17:55:51.226+01:002009-09-14T17:55:51.226+01:00It is reassuring that in a world of disruption and...It is reassuring that in a world of disruption and change that you know where you stand with the Liberal Democrats. <br /><br />They would never <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1195993/VINCE-CABLE-Our-test-courage-cut-public-sector-pensions.html" rel="nofollow">pander to the right wing (Boo! Hiss!) press</a>. <br /><br />And in their innate decency in opposing the criminal US right wing (Boo! Hiss!), they associated with <a href="%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow">upright moderates who were at one with their liberal views</a>.<br /><br />I, for one, also sleep easier, knowing that they would never, ever support the <a href="%E2%80%9D" rel="nofollow">party</a> that would supports the right wing (Boo! Hiss!) Republican (Booooooo!!!) bandits and that panders to the rights (etc!) base instincts on matters of race.<br /><br />But on a more serious note, I would have thought that, as a Lefty (Hurrah!) you would have supported Barber in everything bar his choice of party.Stephen Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-3948289408750167722009-09-09T23:37:12.804+01:002009-09-09T23:37:12.804+01:00"I don't see what new evidence could have..."I don't see what new evidence could have appeared in the last couple of months which Straw would not have been aware of when he made his original decision."<br /><br />Apparently it was the fact that he was recently told by the family that they had met a man who admitted to them that he had committed the murder. I can't believe they hadn't thought to mention it till recently!Hywelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16094171587140185827noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-44135840963867672292009-09-09T11:48:45.410+01:002009-09-09T11:48:45.410+01:00Yes, I think the call for an advertising ban is mi...Yes, I think the call for an advertising ban is missing the point.<br /><br />The real problem seems to be that there is a strong attitude in this country which sees alcohol primarily as a drug, and which sees making heavy use of this drug to the point of becoming incapacitated as the natural way to enjoy oneself or to respond to any emotional strain, positive or negative. <br /><br />This is an attitude I find difficult to understand, as I like the taste of alcohol but find nothing pleasurable at all in its drug effects. Am I alone in this? I do feel so sometimes. Young people in particular who I speak to about this often find my view really weird - to them alcohol is a nasty tasting stuff, and you have to get over the taste to enjoy the effects. <br /><br />Well, each to their own, but I do wonder at the extent to which this is socially conditioned. Do people enjoy getting drunk or do they do so because they feel that is what is expected of them? We might note the attitude I mention is almost non-existent in other countries. In the wine-drinking countries of southern Europe, getting drunk is not seen as enjoyable, and wine is seen primarily as a food accompaniment. I don't think this is down to different biologies.<br /><br />How to combat this, particularly within a liberal perspective, is a big problem. I mean combatting anything where people seem forced by convention or fashion to act in some way. Banning it, or forcing artificial restrictions seems all wrong. This argument applies also to the photo-shopped fashion models which are bring discussed at LibDem conference.Matthew Huntbachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18255872047710686115noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-64307579910779489012009-09-09T09:53:30.676+01:002009-09-09T09:53:30.676+01:00For a ban to happen, EU directives would need to b...For a ban to happen, EU directives would need to be changed (see the case of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol_advertising#Sweden" rel="nofollow">Sweden</a> in this regard).<br /><br />I think the BMA might find their proposals a bit of a hard sell to the French and Germans for some reason.Stephen Bnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-1982289912085526762009-09-04T20:59:21.855+01:002009-09-04T20:59:21.855+01:00Amen to that.Amen to that.Frank Littlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12447989626809704972noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-4468920379449418952009-09-01T23:30:03.784+01:002009-09-01T23:30:03.784+01:00And whoever did the anonymous comment, I totally a...And whoever did the anonymous comment, I totally agree with you and well said.JaneWatkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08447234015122932992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-24901919508930563372009-09-01T21:08:01.248+01:002009-09-01T21:08:01.248+01:00No it just shows how he is part of reason people d...No it just shows how he is part of reason people don't vote. Even if isn't main one he is part of why people don't always take us seriously. He makes me question my membership, as it is a reflection of the leaderships unwillingness to do anything too. Yes there are clowns in the other parties but they are pulled up when they step out of line. Boris Johnson is a good example. They also don't write degrading non political articles in shabby newspapes either.JaneWatkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08447234015122932992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-965045019227534372009-09-01T21:00:10.128+01:002009-09-01T21:00:10.128+01:00Lembit's seat is most certainly in danger, tp ...Lembit's seat is most certainly in danger, tp the extent that the Welsh party wanted to replace him. They didn't get their way, mainly because one of the grandees stepped forward to protect him.<br />Kirsty Wiliams can't satand Lembit, partly because of the very blatant sexism he constantly displays. Unsurprising, when you look at his choice of women. Frankly, I don't see how anyone can take a politician who dates a cheeky Girl seriously, especially when he tried to tout the other one in parliament. And this recent "relationship" with a so called galmour girl, has been proved to be a sham. The man is an embarrassing fool who is addicted to publicity and has zero respect for women. By his own admission, he regards Jordan as a role-model for women. His attitude is ghastly and is just one fo the reasons why I'd like him out of the party. For the life of me, I can't understand why Nick Clegg and the party hierarchy put up with it. He's probably responsible for causing more damage than anyone ever has.<br />His opponent in Mid Wales is a well regarded local farmer, who does lots of work for charity and only lost his Assembly seat because of the silly list system in Wales. He was much liked in Cardiff Bay. Increasingly, even thos who've been life-long LDs are saying they will vote for him as long as Lembit stands. In fact, Lembit Opik is the only Liberal who could possibly lose that Montgomeryshire seat. Locally, he is regarded as a car crash and is referred to as Grope-it Opik.<br />His seat is widely regarded to be in danger. Even the BBC in Wales have decided to place an OB unit there on election night. Those who think otherwise should check the odds.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-27483517048467702692009-09-01T20:40:11.847+01:002009-09-01T20:40:11.847+01:00If that's the case, it sounds to me more like ...If that's the case, it sounds to me more like a post-rationalisation of a decision they've already made about not supporting the party, if they're allowing a relatively minor figure like Lembit to affect their decision about who to vote for. And I could easily point out that other parties contain similar figures to Lembit who aren't exactly known for being serious figures.Bernard Salmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16756716991445396009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-44520714199719040222009-09-01T20:26:21.670+01:002009-09-01T20:26:21.670+01:00How can I choose to take offence? I wouldn't c...How can I choose to take offence? I wouldn't choose that, as it isn't the nicest feeling. And no, I have not overacted to this. This is something I feel strongly about. How can writing about women in that way be liberal? I really don't see that. I think this isn't going to annoy you as much as it does me, as you don't have to deal with the every day degradation that women have to suffer. I don't appreciate someone who is supposed to be representing our party writing like that and in that type of newspaper. He is not a serious politician, he is just in the party for the media attention. But I am afraid it is the wrong type of attention. Swinging voters I have talked to about this agree with me that they can't take the Lib Dems seriously with him in the party, it's just a fact.JaneWatkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08447234015122932992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-3702104265648030632009-09-01T20:15:31.118+01:002009-09-01T20:15:31.118+01:00Well, if you choose to take offence where none is ...Well, if you choose to take offence where none is intended, that is up to you. But I wonder whether it indicates that you're prone to over-reacting to things, as I think you're doing with your belief that Lembit should be chucked out the party.<br />As to your comments about Lembit's core beliefs, I think any rational assessment of what he believes would conclude that he is within the liberal mainstream on most issues, if not all. You are entitled to disagree, but I don't see that any other description would be more appropriate.Bernard Salmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16756716991445396009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-67086662778792330852009-09-01T19:48:28.432+01:002009-09-01T19:48:28.432+01:00I found your comment of me being a thought police...I found your comment of me being a thought police deeply offensive. There is having a debate, and then there is representing my views and what i believe wrongly. <br /><br />Why would it? His attitudes are so against what our core beliefs are, why should he attempt to represent them as an MP? I would find it hard to vote for the Lib Dems if i was in his constituency, as he doesn't to me represent what a Lib Dem MP should stand for.JaneWatkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08447234015122932992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-32034419592550672752009-09-01T14:58:01.277+01:002009-09-01T14:58:01.277+01:00You can take my comments any way you want, but the...You can take my comments any way you want, but they certainly weren't intended as 'a big diss'. I believe in robust debate and I tend to believe those I debate with are capable of handling that. <br />As to your comments about challenging sexism, I think I made clear in my posting that I don't particularly approve of Lembit's attitudes, but I think chucking him out of the party would be a vast over-reaction.Bernard Salmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16756716991445396009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-61449926516261641652009-09-01T14:26:47.078+01:002009-09-01T14:26:47.078+01:00Well from your comments such as the thought police...Well from your comments such as the thought police i took it as a big diss at me, and who i am and what i believe. It made me feel as though i could not say what i believe without being seen as controlling. By the party line I am referring to how i feel as though i cannot speak out against an MP without being seen as a traitor. Well i believe sexist remarks by any politican should be pulled up on. I remember recently a member of the Conservatives was pulled up for saying that he only hired women who were attractive. Have we really pulled up Opik for writing this rubbish? No we haven't. And that is deeply damaging to our parties stance on being tough in terms of helping promote equality. I joined this party as i thought they looked the best to help tackle women and men equality issues, but it is seemingly looking as though i was wrong.<br /><br />Also, i remind you of your comments around changing cultural attitudes towards women. Surely, Opik writing these types of articles being a prominent member of our party who is supposed to represent what we beleive, is something you would say is not helping our cutural attitudes in changing? Or are we supposed to just sit back and let the magical dust change our culture?JaneWatkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08447234015122932992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-56824772814358376202009-09-01T14:06:43.166+01:002009-09-01T14:06:43.166+01:00Calm down, Jane - I never said (nor thought) that ...Calm down, Jane - I never said (nor thought) that you are an evil person, nor have I suggested that you are not entitled to air your views. And who mentioned anything about just toeing a party line? I also don't think I have displayed any particular attitude towards you. <br />All I have done is asked you to consider the logical consequences of where your belief would take us a party if every sexist comment or joke were met with threats of expulsion. I accept you think Lembit is in an entirely different league, but I think you're wrong on that.Bernard Salmonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16756716991445396009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-346310154784158602.post-21698632190279715782009-09-01T13:39:55.893+01:002009-09-01T13:39:55.893+01:00There is making the one off sexist joke, but then ...There is making the one off sexist joke, but then there is repeatedly writing in a degrading newspaper like that talking about women in degrading ways. Making out i am some evil person just for saying how much i disagree with this is wrong. I am sorry if you see me as some kind of police person, but i am just standing up for what i believe in. After all, what is politics if you have to just toe to the party line. I am fed up of the type of disrespect this party shows towards women, and your attitude towards me now is just part of that. It seems so pointless even voicing my concerns when I am beaten down like the way you have just done. <br /><br />He is a representative! not just a member. That shows i am not a thought police. I am questioning the conduct of a representative, and so if i do not like what he says i can bloody well say i dont.JaneWatkinsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08447234015122932992noreply@blogger.com