主播大秀

The Nobel Peace prize is a joke. They always give it to some left wing idiot.

Sir, Why rubbish Al Gore? He put it on page one unlike the scientific fraternity who are consumed with jealousy if anyone puts their head over the parapet so it's 'slag off big Al' How infantile. Good on you, Al. Sincerely, Steve

It may have been a bad week for Brown, but the rest of us have 10 bad years of Brown! So Gordon I wish you many more bad ones!

As for the Cartoons -
1 - Muslims do NOT constitute a Race!
2 - Islamophobia is not a valid description, as every Infidel has every justification to fear of Islam!

We hear nothing of the attempted destruction of a Buddha carving being attacked in Pakistan, do we?

Now what?

On the issue of Brown and spin:-

If Brown signs the EU Reform Treaty next week will this not be a
surreptitious way of circumventing parliamentary objection to rule from Europe? It may well require a Bill through the Houses, but couldn't that be done through Statutory Instrument?

If so, might the EU really turn out to be, as Anatoly Golitsin warned in "New Lies for Old" back in the 1980s, effectively a EUSSR (with Russia and the CIS having played possum *very* well over the last couple of decades in order not frighten our horses whilst these Eurocommunists did their reform bit)? Note that suddenly, despite the Reform Treaty being the Constitution in all but name, France and Spain are on now allegedly on board.

I fear, as the European Scrutiny Committee expressed in their report which came out in 10th and which they expressed forcefully on 2nd Oct (the Chairman is more measured in the interview with 'Today' linked below), that the 'red lines' will not stop the European Court from legislating (despite Brown's assurances) and it will force UK compliance in the future. I fear all the talk of 'red lines' or protocols has just been to keep the details off the electorate's radar. What's the betting that first the UK anti-union legislation will be challenged under Title IV of the Fundamental Charter, followed by a challenges under Titles I, II and III (Dignity, Equality etc)? New Labour will then have the excuse to create even more crippling equalities legislation and do so with the backing of the Reform Treaty, effectively rendering parliamentary scrutiny/opposition impotent.

/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_treaty_20071009.ram
/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_israel_20071010.ram

Incidentally, is it mere coincidence that two of our recent Ministers for Europe (Denis MacShane and Jim Murphy) are very active in support of Jewish/Israeli issues? Fair enough, Murphy's constituency has the 6th largest Jewish community in the UK, but the Jewish population is still a minority even there, and in the UK it's under half a percent of the population. Even so, the issues he promotes are not local issues are they?

Murphy took ~21,000 of the vote, with over a 70% turnout. Depending on how the area is classed, it has between 50-80% of Scotland's Jewish community:

One source says it's dwindled from a one time high of 16,000 in the 80s to 6-8,000 today.

Surely Scottish Jews have interests other than The Holocaust, and yet this features twice on Murphy's website (once via a book promotion, and again in the context of a school trip). Or is this really a way of plugging the Fundamental Charter of Human Rights and the EU Reform Treaty, and if so, is this not likely to work to the advantage of some so-called 'minority' groups at the expense of others?

This is a dangerous game, and it's one which many don't see for what it may in fact be, as it's affirmative action for an already privileged minority group via 'paradoxical intention', and one which actively campaigns against Muslims as terrorists. This can only work if the minority group stays small *and* it has an IQ advantage (in this case mainly a verbal/feminised one) I suggest, as that's the only way to be both a minority and get expression through the media etc.

Once you have that, you can effectively colonise and rule. It's been done before. It's how the British Empire was built - i.e. through deploying a small, tightly knit, privileged, power elite, with better verbal than spatial skills. That was alway a female profile, but in the past, women had to leave when they got married. The ruling system was in fact, an elite of relatively feminised males.

There, perhaps, is an explanation for the over-representation *and* resentment, especially from Muslims who are wary of female spin.

The key issue here is really one of proportionality and 'transparency'. I confess to a little paranoia given what the European Scrutiny Committee said on 2nd October, as there *is* something afoot which ministers would appear to prefer to keep hidden, at least, until their negotiations are complete (but by then of course it will be a done deal).

/blogs/newsnight/2007/10/friday_5_october_2007.html

On the issue of Brown and spin:-

If Brown signs the EU Reform Treaty next week will this not be a
surreptitious way of circumventing parliamentary objection to rule from Europe? It may well require a Bill through the Houses, but couldn't that be done through Statutory Instrument?

If so, might the EU really turn out to be, as Anatoly Golitsin warned in "New Lies for Old" back in the 1980s, a EUSSR (with Russia and the CIS having played possum *very* well over the last couple of decades in order not frighten our horses whilst these Eurocommunists did their reform bit)? Note that suddenly, despite the Reform Treaty being the Constitution in all but name, France and Spain are on now allegedly both now on board, but not through referendums. Much for power *from* the people. It's all talk/spin.

I fear, as the European Scrutiny Committee expressed in their report which came out in 10th and which they expressed forcefully on 2nd Oct (the Chairman is more measured in the interview with 'Today' linked below), that the 'red lines' will not stop the European Court from legislating (despite Brown's assurances) and it will force UK compliance in the future. I fear all the talk of 'red lines' or protocols has just been to keep the details off the electorate's radar. What's the betting that first the UK anti-union legislation will be challenged under Title IV of the Fundamental Charter, followed by a challenges under Titles I, II and III (Dignity, Equality etc)? New Labour will then have the excuse to create even more crippling equalities legislation and do so with the backing of the Reform Treaty, effectively rendering parliamentary scrutiny/opposition impotent.

/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_treaty_20071009.ram
/radio4/today/listenagain/ram/today5_israel_20071010.ram

Incidentally, is it mere coincidence that two of our recent Ministers for Europe (Denis MacShane and Jim Murphy) are very active in support of Jewish/Israeli issues? Fair enough, Murphy's constituency has the 6th largest Jewish community in the UK, but the Jewish population is still a minority even there, and in the UK it's under half a percent of the population. Even so, the issues he promotes are not local issues are they?

Murphy took ~21,000 of the vote, with over a 70% turnout. Depending on how the area is classed, it has between 50-80% of Scotland's Jewish community:

One source says it's dwindled from a one time high of 16,000 in the 80s to 6-8,000 today.

Surely Scottish Jews have interests other than The Holocaust, and yet this features twice on Murphy's website (once via a book promotion, and again in the context of a school trip). Or is this really a way of plugging the Fundamental Charter of Human Rights and the EU Reform Treaty, and if so, is this not likely to work to the advantage of some so-called 'minority' groups at the expense of others?

This is a dangerous game, and it's one which many don't see for what it may in fact be, as it's affirmative action for an already privileged minority group via 'paradoxical intention', and one which actively campaigns against Muslims as terrorists. This can only work if the minority group stays small *and* it has an IQ advantage (in this case mainly a verbal/feminised one) I suggest, as that's the only way to be both a minority and get expression through the media etc.

Once you have that, you can effectively colonise and rule. It's been done before. It's how the British Empire was built - i.e. through deploying a small, tightly knit, privileged, power elite, with better verbal than spatial skills. That was alway a female profile, but in the past, women had to leave when they got married. The ruling system was in fact, an elite of relatively feminised males.

There, perhaps, is an explanation for the over-representation *and* resentment, especially from Muslims who are wary of female spin.

The key issue here is really one of proportionality and 'transparency'. I confess to a little paranoia given what the European Scrutiny Committee said on 2nd October, as there *is* something afoot which ministers would appear to prefer to keep hidden, at least, until their negotiations are complete (but by then of course it will be a done deal).

/blogs/newsnight/2007/10/friday_5_october_2007.html

Murray wrote:

The Nobel Peace prize is a joke. They always give it to some left wing idiot.

If the Nobel prize is a joke, pray what is the punch line? And when was the last time a right wing idiot deserved one?

I see Adrienne your computer or server is playing up. Join the club with multiple or failed postings. I thought I had read it somewhere before-Ground Hog postings?
As to what you write, The Euro Trough is a marvellous playground for the lawyers, many of which are MP's so we had better get use to it red lines or not. Even if we had a referendum and the vote was "no", (most unlikely as the question would be loaded),we would be still no better off and still "in".

I thought Polly Toynbee (this month's O.B.N. (Private Eye) and The Times bloke made some excellent points to get Brown out of his own mess by having another re-think, but him doing that is as likely as asking Blair to come back and take over. Now there is a real professional spinner? Why put up with second best?

I see Adrienne your computer or server is playing up. Join the club with multiple or failed postings. I thought I had read it somewhere before-Ground Hog postings?
As to what you write, The Euro Trough is a marvellous playground for the lawyers, many of which are MP's so we had better get use to it red lines or not. Even if we had a referendum and the vote was "no", (most unlikely as the question would be loaded),we would be still no better off and still "in".

I thought Polly Toynbee (this month's O.B.N. (Private Eye) and The Times bloke made some excellent points to get Brown out of his own mess by having another re-think, but him doing that is as likely as asking Blair to come back and take over. Now there is a real professional spinner? Why put up with second best?

I see Adrienne your computer or server is playing up. Join the club with multiple or failed postings. I thought I had read it somewhere before-Ground Hog postings?
As to what you write, The Euro Trough is a marvellous playground for the lawyers, many of which are MP's so we had better get use to it red lines or not. Even if we had a referendum and the vote was "no", (most unlikely as the question would be loaded),we would be still no better off and still "in".

I thought Polly Toynbee (this month's O.B.N. (Private Eye) and The Times bloke made some excellent points to get Brown out of his own mess by having another re-think, but him doing that is as likely as asking Blair to come back and take over. Now there is a real professional spinner? Why put up with second best?

I see Adrienne your computer or server is playing up. Join the club with multiple or failed postings. I thought I had read it somewhere before-Ground Hog postings?
As to what you write, The Euro Trough is a marvellous playground for the lawyers, many of which are MP's so we had better get use to it red lines or not. Even if we had a referendum and the vote was "no", (most unlikely as the question would be loaded),we would be still no better off and still "in".

I thought Polly Toynbee (this month's O.B.N. (Private Eye) and The Times bloke made some excellent points to get Brown out of his own mess by having another re-think, but him doing that is as likely as asking Blair to come back and take over. Now there is a real professional spinner? Why put up with second best?

CARTOONS ROW.

In my view, this was the bravest, most brilliant report 'Newsnight' has ever done.

Not only did the programme show the Mohammed cartoons in close-up (so people know exactly what's involved), but the talented and brave Danish journalist, Karsten Kjeer, went into the lion's den, in places like Iran.

This report from 'Newsnight' allowed me to feel what it must be like to be a Dane under death threats from the most fanatical of the world's Muslims.

You do realise, don't you 'Newsnight', there this programme was politically incorrect?
Wow, it feels good.

I'm looking forward to the extended version of the programme, under the 'Storyville' banner, next Monday evening at 11.20pm on 主播大秀 2.

CARTOONS ROW.

In my view, this was the bravest, most brilliant report 'Newsnight' has ever done.

Not only did the programme show the Mohammed cartoons in close-up (so people know exactly what's involved), but the talented and brave Danish journalist, Karsten Kjeer, went into the lion's den, in places like Iran.

This report from 'Newsnight' allowed me to feel what it must be like to be a Dane under death threats from the most fanatical of the world's Muslims.

You do realise, don't you 'Newsnight', that this programme was politically incorrect?
Wow, it feels good.

I'm looking forward to the extended version of the programme, under the 'Storyville' banner, next Monday evening at 11.20pm on 主播大秀 2.

Lord Butler, Secretary of the Cabinet from 1988-97 is on public record as saying in 1999:

"We do have a system in which very great power is given to people if they have a large Parliamentary majority as well... The deal is that you give people very considerable power for five years, then they can be thrown out. And, in the meantime, if things get bad enough THERE ARE WAYS of getting rid of them. That is the deal of our constitution".

On the other hand, Lord Armstrong, Secretary of the Cabinet 1979-87 is on record, again in 1999, as talking about our having a "Platonic system" i.e. Cabinet Government not Presidential or Chief Executive Government, with Ministers having explicit collective responsibility for that Government's policies and actions.

He goes on to say that "virtually no powers are formally vested in the office of Prime Minister and those formal powers the Prime Minister does have are powers of PATRONAGE AND NOT OF POLICY - his own strength lies essentially in being the Chairman of the Cabinet"

Regarding Lord Butler鈥檚 observations one might ask 鈥� WHO decides when 鈥渢hings have got bad enough鈥� and furthermore, WHO triggers the decision to bring into play the 鈥渨ays of getting rid of them鈥�?

The catalogue of abuse of power, first by Blair and followed without a break by Brown, amounts to nothing less than blatant, undiluted infamy.

It is tempting to refer at length to the diversionary tactics now being scattered about with great urgency by Milliband & Co, in order to enable Brown to achieve his ultimate goal - appending his signature to the Nation鈥檚 death warrant 鈥� or to give it its proper name, the European Constitutional Reform Treaty. But that will shortly become a blog topic to top all blog topics 鈥� one hopes!

In response to Mike from Northumberland, and to anyone else who might be so tempted - please stop using the facile line "Islam is not a race" to justify unacceptable bigotry. There is nothing uniquely wrong with racism. What is wrong with racism is it's tendency to victimise. Nothing else is wrong with it. Victimisation is precisely what we are seeing in regard to Muslims.
Islamophobia, I agree is an unworthy replacement. I would suggest gullible as a better word of denouncement for those who yack on about the "Islamic menace". Not everying in the pro-Israel press (including newsnight) is true, and critical thinking beyond it, should be as prized a virtue in a free society as freedom of speech.
Read less Hitchens - think more.

Newsnight, j'accuse! Liz MacKean's presentation of the Brown/Blair Spin poll was itself a blatant spin, in that it put a construction on the figures which they cannot bear. Here they were again:
20% think Brown spins less;
61% think there's no difference;
and JUST 15% think Brown spins more.
However, Liz reversed them, ending "JUST 20% think Brown spins less".
I await Monday's on-air apology.

Newsnight, j'accuse! Liz MacKean's presentation of the Brown/Blair Spin poll was itself a blatant spin, in that it put a construction on the figures which they cannot bear. Here they were again:
20% think Brown spins less;
61% think there's no difference;
and JUST 15% think Brown spins more.
However, Liz reversed them, ending "JUST 20% think Brown spins less".
I await Monday's on-air apology.

the best newsnight in a while, very interesting report from liz mackean on gordon browns tax plans. Also jeremy on friday? this doesn't happen often!

then the review was probably one of the stronger programmes i have seen. kirsty did not allow shouting matches - well hardly. i think that now review only has three guests, that it is alot better, as the panellists get a longer amount of time to speak. great exclusive, unseen footage of bob dylan!

according to radio times, kwame kwai-armah is presenting review in two weeks on the 26th, is this really. he has never presented before

It's grossly obscene that a rich, comfortable and powerful man and a panel of bureaucrats living safely in the US get the Nobel Peace Prize at the same time as monks are dying for freedom in Burma. Although having said that, what good has awarding it to Aung San Suu Kyi back in 1991 done for peace in that country. It might have stood for something once, but not now.

Just read on 主播大秀 Politics page that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Andy Burnham has proposed tax breaks for married couples. Could you invite him onto the show and arrange the interviewer to be Stephanie Flanders? It would be interesting, to say the least, her line of questioning/tone toward a Nu Labor minister and compare her attitude to a few weeks ago, when she suggested to Cameron how discriminatery HIS proposals were. I thank-you in advance, Chris

Murray (Posting 2.) is very na茂ve, if he (?) thinks that Doris Lessing is a "left-wing idiot".

She went through many phases: Communist, anti-apartheid activist, feminist. But she's got her head screwed on the right way.

Read what she says about her past at:

Especially towards the end, about feminism.

And I personally am grateful to her as one of the very few British reviewers (in the not-all-that-leftie Spectator on 28th June 2003) of a very anti-Communist book which I translated: "Treading Air" by the Estonian Jaan Kross. Remember that Estonia was overrun as a result of Stalin (Commie) and Hitler (Nazi) making the cosy Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. See:

Some people do actually mature in life...

Just read on 主播大秀 Politics page that the Chief Secretary to the Treasury, Andy Burnham has proposed tax breaks for married couples. Could you invite him onto the show and arrange the interviewer to be Stephanie Flanders? It would be interesting, to say the least, her line of questioning/tone toward a Nu Labor minister and compere her attitude to a few weeks ago, when she suggested to Cameron how discriminatery HIS proposals were. I thank-you in advance, Chris

#19.
Have you heard the story of the scorpian and the frog?
Well you will have about as much chance as persuading Mike AKA Maurice or the son of Maurice to alter his biggoted views as you would of the Scorpian not biting.
If it is not the Islamic people he is pulling apart it is homosexuals.
He/they like the Scorpian just cannot help themselves that is his/their nature.
However it was a good try but it is like spitting in the wind...useless excercise.
Even his/their skin is too thick to shame.

CARTOONS ROW

Karsten Kjaers has just given a masterclass in journalism, though not in objectivity. But objectivity be damned - a man who knows he is right is entitled to a touch of rhetoric. There is the rub (and the irony). More intelligent reporting like this, please.

Karsten Kjaers pretty good report got me thinking: is it time Newsnight did a special report exploring the incidence, scope and effects of self-censorship?