About Lee: Former students' union president and intermitent blogger since the turn of the century, who's aim is to promote objective thinking and a break from partisan politics when discussing the issues of the day. Wed 19th Mar 2008
Obviously I need to step carefully with this post given that the parents of Madeline McCann find plenty of time in their search of their missing daughter to sue the pants off of anyone that can help fund their mortgage repayments, but I'm surprised at myself for not having yet made a posting about this couple. The reason for the posting is news that a set of papers are giving the McCann's over £500,000 in a libel settlement and apologising to them for what they've reported.
Now I would usually be the first to say that firstly the tabloids deserve all that they get on this sort of issue and that secondly it serves them right for being speculative rumour mills rather than reporters of the news. However, I have to wonder what exactly it is they are apologising for?
Wed 27th Feb 2008
Have you seen this woman? She is wanted in connection with the instigation of a wave of terror sweeping over this nation. If you have seen her then you may be thankful for your very life, and if you do see her in the future authorities are urging you to hide and pretend you're a dead carcass simply lying on the street so that you are of no interest to her fanatical plotting.
Tue 19th Feb 2008
It is often in the name of cultural integrity as well as social stability and national security that democratic reforms based on human rights are resisted by authoritarian governments. - Aung San Suu Kyi
Or, indeed, that reforms ignoring civil liberties and running contrary to the path we've been taking as a nation are so readily pondered by authoritarian governments. I do wonder how many more times I'll have to keep writing about the illiberal nature of the Home Office led by Jacqui Smith, it almost seems fantastical just how much one person can contemplate and implement in such a short time span. Today we are adding to the ever increasing list of authoritarian practice with the logical extension of where she is going with the current clampdown on under age drinking, as well as subtly not-quite-announcing plans for a what I can only satirically describe as a thought crime unit. (Heads up to Dizzy for that)
Top 5:
Latest Comments:
Extra-minty Taste in... Phorm your own opinion
Lee Griffin in... What have the Express papers got to..
Gavin Whenman in... What have the Express papers got to..
Lee Griffin in... Tories to tax alcopops to help fund..
margin4error in... Tories to tax alcopops to help fund..
Lee Griffin in... Phorm your own opinion
Calendar:
| « April 2008 | ||||||
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | |
| 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 |
| 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 |
| 28 | 29 | 30 | ||||
Search:
Latest Politalks:
So what the hell is going on, Labour are slumping in the polls and yet those most naturally in their shadow able to take their place (the Lib Dems) are failing to capitalise in the polls. And even though the Tories are enjoying high times so much they must think it's the 80's all over again (in more ways than one) they have failed to deliver one serious or credible attack against the government that would show them to be the true heir's to the throne. So to speak. Anyway, on with this weeks Politalks. NSFW as usual, transcript can be found if you go through to read more!
(Wed 30th Apr 2008) SUBSCRIBE
Transcript and full size video
Categories:
Bloggers (17)
Post (152)
--Comedy (1)
----Satire (4)
------Politalks (10)
--Countries (0)
----Australia (1)
----China (2)
----Counties/Towns (0)
------Bristol (3)
------Cornwall (1)
----Darfur (3)
----EU (12)
----Middle East (4)
----USA (16)
--Critical response (15)
--Culture (1)
--Deaths (2)
--Demographics (0)
----Children (4)
------Boys (0)
------Girls (0)
------Yobs (4)
----Farmers (3)
----Pensioners (1)
--Disgusting traits (1)
----Apathy (2)
----Authoritarianism (13)
----Avoiding questions (8)
----Boring (1)
----Clandestine (6)
----Discrimination (5)
----Flip flopping (5)
----Forced worship (2)
----Hidden agenda (8)
----Hypocrisy (13)
----Immaturity (1)
----Moronic (8)
----NIMBYism (1)
----Petulance (3)
----Prejudice (5)
----Selfishness (7)
----Vigilantism (2)
----Vile (3)
----Xenophobia (2)
--False Priorities (3)
--Film (1)
--Gaming (4)
--Internet (4)
----P2P (3)
--Language (2)
--Lists (2)
--Long time coming (4)
--Music (2)
--Oddball (8)
--Organisations (0)
----BBC (10)
----BBFC (1)
----Charity (1)
----Councils (3)
------Bristol Council (4)
----Dentists (2)
----FSA (1)
----ITV (1)
----Media (20)
------Daily Mail (0)
------Grieving Widows (1)
------Guardian (0)
------Telegraph (0)
------The Sun (0)
------Times (0)
----NHS (7)
----National Lottery (1)
----Northern Rock (5)
----Police (5)
----Transport (7)
------First Bus (1)
--Other traits (0)
----Best practice (1)
----Common sense (1)
----Cool (0)
----Fairness (3)
----Honesty (3)
--Politics (116)
----Crime issues (7)
------Justice (2)
------Law (11)
------Prohibition (6)
------Sex Offenders (1)
----Economic issues (7)
------Benefits (4)
------Budget (3)
------Fuel Poverty (2)
------Housing (4)
------Inflation (3)
------Minimum Wage (1)
------Money (28)
------Nationalisation (2)
------Privatisation (1)
------Rich/Poor divide (4)
------Salaries (4)
------Taxes (13)
------Unemployment (3)
----Education issues (9)
------Schools (6)
--------National Curriculum (2)
------Students (2)
--------Student Loans (2)
------University (4)
----Elections (23)
------Electoral reform (6)
------US Primaries 2008 (0)
----Ethical issues (0)
------Abortion (2)
------Age restrictions (4)
------Animal cruelty (4)
------Animal testing (1)
------Capital punishment (2)
------DNA (1)
------Deportation (1)
------Detention without charge (2)
------ID Cards (3)
------Organ donation (4)
------Prostitution (2)
------Surveillance (2)
--------CCTV (1)
------Terrorism (7)
----Foreign issues (1)
------Military (2)
------Trafficking (1)
------War (1)
----Global issues (3)
------Climate change (9)
------Environment (4)
----Local issues (1)
----Parliament (6)
------Bills (3)
--------Changing clocks (3)
------MPs (0)
--------Alistair Darling (2)
--------Bill Rammell (2)
--------Caroline Flint (1)
--------David Cameron (10)
--------Derek Conway (2)
--------Gordon Brown (18)
--------Hazel Blears (1)
--------Jack Straw (1)
--------Jacqui Smith (9)
--------Maggie Thatcher (1)
--------Nick Clegg (12)
--------Vince Cable (3)
------PMQs (13)
----Personal issues (4)
------Age (1)
------Health issues (6)
--------Alcohol (8)
--------Food (10)
----------Fast Food (1)
------Patriotism (1)
------Sex (5)
----Political Parties (0)
------Coalition (0)
------Democrats (10)
------Labour (30)
------Lib Dem (20)
------Republicans (5)
------Tory (20)
----Political vernacular (0)
------Balanced and Sustainable (1)
------Change (3)
------Crisis (1)
------Gimmick (2)
------Propaganda (4)
------Targets (5)
------Waste (2)
----Race issues (2)
------Immigration (4)
----Scandal (3)
------Political donations (3)
----Strikes (0)
----UK Constitution (1)
--Protests (5)
--Public engagement (4)
----Polls (4)
----Referendum (2)
--Public figures (0)
----Barack Obama (10)
----Celebrity (2)
----Heath Ledger (1)
----Hillary Clinton (10)
----John Edwards (3)
----John McCain (0)
--Religion (8)
----Christianity (1)
----God squad (7)
----Hinduism (0)
----Islam (0)
--Sport (3)
----Olympics 2008 (3)
----Olympics 2012 (1)
--Statistics (9)
--Worrying trends (7)
Reviews (10)
Share (30)
ebuzz (1)