Damian Green's arrest triggers a constitutional crisis
I first learned about the arrest via a special e-mail from the BBC. Maybe they were as appalled as many, but seemed only to mention the arrest rather than any background. Hence I do not anticipate as prompt a sharing of info as the actual situation gets explained subsequently.
Damian Green arrested, Conservative spokesman says
History repeating?
Gaurdian - Worth a look
Anti-terror police arrest opposition MP - and the only comment from the Guardianistas is to point to what other people have said?
Well, to be fair, we are in an era of guilt even by association, so just being on the wrong blog (even defending a view) is probably enough to have Hazel's Blogstapo alerted by the Draperjugend.
Originating one is now probably enough for the midnight knock on the door. It's night, and the knives are long.
Gaurdian - Damien Green: arrested for doing his job
Well, we can be thankful some still thinking there is no danger in the police becoming politicised might now give pause.
Newsnight - The BBC has a few tricky choices to make now. And keeping schtum will be very much still be an active choice, much as it might be felt of as an out.
Signs are good that this may be discussed, though perhaps not as much as might happen in other circumstances, and I am still wondering about the overnight special email that merely said: 'Conservative MP arrested', with the following by way of clarification: 'Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green, MP for Ashford in Kent, has been arrested but not charged, says the Conservative Party.'
Not exactly how it's panning out in the cold hard light of day.
Often what is not mentioned (or who is invited to comment) can be as telling as what (or who) is.
Telegraph - Damian Green arrest 'like Mugabe's Zimbabwe'
Telegraph - Show trial for disgraced Comrade Green
You are right to insert the caveat in your initially-imagined description.
But when I see others elsewhere trying to intercept just such notions with pre-pared 'some will says and how dare they equates' one does have to wonder.
Frankly I hark back more to the mid 30's and one of our EU partners.
So as I have been stating for a wee while, I'll stick with Night of the Long Knives by way of historically repeating caution.
At least all media is not under state control. Yet. Though an awful lot have an awful lot of sympathisers with an awful lot to lose if they stray from the party line.
Newsnight - Mumbai - rumour and misinformation
Newsnight - one of the few remaining UK national political news outlets.
Now, what in the world could they decide needs their full attention...?
Yes... with a citywide bunfight - that might be a tad preoccupying - still going down, those awful 3rd world types haven't had the decency to put in place a proper hype & spin set-up so they can blame someone else for having to make stuff up rather than sitting back and waiting until the dust settles. No, 24/7 live news demands minute by minute content, no matter what, and who may get messed up... 'Tell us, are they pointing the gun at you? Our viewers are off to work soon and we need to know now or we'll lose ratings'
Speaking of spinning... closer to home nothing much... except...
Gordon Brown and his wife watch X Factor! And they have written to the losers!
Ah, gotta love those priorities in that bubble.
Telegraph - Damian Green: Whistle-blowers versus political activism
Cassius Writes - Ruth Turner, Damian Green and the Law which Mugabe would give his right arm for - via a link of a link, so I cannot testify to accuracy, but he does offer viable URLs and facts. More than we seem able to get from our national broadcaster.
Telegraph - Jacqui Smith under pressure over Damian Green arrest
Daily Mail - Police state Britain: Tory MP Damian Green's crime was to reveal truths Labour didn't want you to know
Newsnight -
I am usually more interested in what happens and how it gets reported, but a few things shared here have resonated..
I'm not sure what the fuss is.
Could make a nifty inscription.
On the web site have you thought about showing how many logins a poster has. It would help show those people trying to multiple post to create the impression of a crowd of devoted advocates of the Crackpot Tendency.
Though I am aware of claims that there are 'teams' now in place to seed key blogs with (mis)information, I suspect 'they' may be wise to this. Also my estimate of posters on this blog, regular, infrequent and new, would suggest this is hardly worth the effort. Might be interesting mind, I concede.
Just getting nervous these days of more and ways of tracking information and people.
But anything that assists those who are 'right', and 'know' it, deal with those who are 'wrong' (or are crackpots) may have an attraction.
Me, I tend to rely on the power of arguments, or not, along with such as the use of pejoratives, to get a feel for who is making sense, and in a persuasive, civilised manner.
Now, let's see how much more Newsnight has dealt with a what does seem a major national issue of some interest to many still.
The rights and wrongs may yet still have to come, but usually that happens through reporting and discussion.
The subsequent posts in this blog series would suggest a low interest editorially, for some reason, and I am sure President-elect Obama may be prevailed upon to join PM Gordon 'I think I may speak for the world even if a lot that happens here was done without my knowledge....' Brown with some further insights as to the whole X Factor situation.
Telegraph - Damian Green arrest shows how Labour is destroying our political system
...ing?
Telegraph - Damian Green arrest: Parliament, freedom of conscience and trojan horses...
Order-order - Then and Now - Another way of describing the multiplicity of standards under the current regime.
Times - Comment Central's leak dossier brings down another politician - (above - pix from one G. Brown's interview explaining how the public had a right to know about covertly-obtained info. Plus an older, wiser PM who seesm to know things we no longer need to) I know two wrongs do not make a right, but....
Just saw Kevin Maguire allude to some dodgy relationships on the BBC, but whilst potentially interesting and relevant it was no more for now than a nudge, nudge, wink, wink, so what heft should be accorded is dubious. But I don't think the BBC should allow proxy stooges on solo to say something as if fact, especially without counter opportunity or query by presenter.
Order-order - Those who would rule?
I have heard this government referred to as one 'Of All Talents' (GOATS). If her stuttering, defensive/belligerent performance was anything to go by I'd be hard pressed to feel comfort to be under the care of what more seemed a Rabbit Frozen in Headlights.
However, she did manage to make clear the origins of some accusations of Nanny State as part of the GOAT herd when on more comfortable grounds of banning everything in sight.
Telegraph - Hear, hear for Harriet Harman
Gaurdian - Ignorance is no defence. Smith failed in her first duty
Telegraph - Parliament's rare moment of clarity
Iain Dale - Leaked Email From Harman: No Tories or LibDems Invited
If they did a bit more running the country rather than falling over each other mis-'managing' their careers and Westminster Useful Village Idiot perceptions 'we' might be in a better situation. Not looking too likely though, is it?
Telegraph - Arrogant police chiefs despise democracy
Telegraph - Putting Gus on the guest list looked sus
Telegraph - Peter Mandelson's shameless intervention may backfire
Telegraph - Peter Mandelson raises the stakes on Damian Green arrest
The government, and BBC, often seem to make much of not commenting on ongoing events 'lest they prejudice the outcome'.
I'm a little intrigued as to how this may/will be deemed 'different' by both parties (or, in the case of the latter, perhaps a more favoured word would be 'unique') involved in bringing the news to us in ways we need to understand it 'better'.
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