Ouch!

On more than one occasion I have had occasion to question the abilities and/or motivations of our major commentariat.

Thanks to a person with a spectacular memory and awesome filing system, I think I know why...

Brown shows he can forgive and forget

Specifically:

GoldenAxe
Oct 03 08, 1:23pm

Oh, and who said:

"who can now doubt that the macho spin-machine created by Campbell and Mandelson has been horrifically damaging for Labour and for the reputation of politics generally?

and this

But like so much that Mandelson gets involved with, you don't feel you are getting the facts straight. For once, the Tories have it right: the word "slippery" seems highly appropriate for this arch plotter.

Hello Jackie!

Superb. In an age of commentary and opinion elevated way beyond rational value, it is nice to see a simple dish of facts served cold and hard.

One hopes that, with pieces like this being added to the body of work on the CV, others in the family will be there to cover the mortgage... and banner. Oh.

The owners and brand guardians of the paper must be so proud.

Newsnight - Reshuffle Questions

Why does the expression 'A few Jokers short of a deck' spring to mind in this context?

While, to be fair, the same holds true elsewhere. Why is it that, with 30M able-bodied adults to choose from in the UK, we seem to be subjected to the same, limited selection, from the same stagnant pool time after time.

Looking at the punditry being cranked out on this, especially, Oh, Lord, Mr. Mandelson, I am struck by the disconnect between 'in-Village' and the real world, with talk already of 'giving chances,' 'has grudging respect of peers,' etc.

No matter how you try to intellectualise it all, the possible brainpower of aspirant leaders is not much good if no one fancies following them. Tricky finding the calibre required of course, as I am minded of the notion that the right person for the job would not be in their right mind to apply, much less accept it, these days.

I have a vision of a plucky khaki crew on the Western political front. At the head our Dear Leader crying 'Charge... I am the one to sort this out!' as... if... when he emerges from the bunker to stick his head over the parapet, reluctantly followed by a few who really have no choice not to and are all out of options. With a few chatterati cheerleaders back in a chateau a wee bit further behind the lines, penning some more cheering them on.

Meanwhile the rest of us in the trench are just hunkering down, hoping we can hang on until there's a vote.

Gaurdian - 'Masterstroke, or desperation?'

Ooooo, tricky one. Let me see, based on past strokes of the master...

Gaurdian - Mandelson is back where he belongs

I know I am not a skilled, well paid spinmeister, but I have to say headlining a piece '...back where he belongs.' in any context these days, but especially a political one, a labour political one at that, and with a character whose past is so 'colourful', seems a well interesting choice.

Guardain - O brother, here art thou

Gaurdian - This 1997 tribute band is out of tune with our times -

Speaking as you do, of a 'Government of All the Talents'.

The Minister for Dark Arts arrives and... coincidentally, time for a GOAT sacrifice or two.

The Party must be soooo proud.

Must be fun being a headhunter for high office types these days.

'Must be capable of swallowing pride, kissing ass, principles and career goodbye... for the cause, you understand'.

That'll get the quality guys in.

ps: 'The Bootleg Soclialists?'

You hum 'em, I'll play 'em.

Telegraph - Peter Mandelson 3: The Return of the King

Times - The Cabinet reshuffle: supergroup, or a sad tribute act?

Those who can, do. Those who can't get hired to report/comment on the other half

Will Sarah Palin or Joe Biden screw up tonight?

It seems rather surprising to me that, in a nation of a few hundred million, half of whom (as here) are in the media commentariat, 'they' couldn't crank up a moderator who had a slim chance of being seen as balanced and objective.

ps: What a sorry testimony to the state of, well, everything really, is that one the highest offices in one of the most significant countries on the planet is, or at least deemed to be about who of two candidates 'screws up the least'. I sit here deeply reassured as to the future of my kids.

Is it just me?

Should never say that, but is our swelling media commentariat getting just a tad silly as it seeks to justify its, er, role...

Which political figures did David Cameron mention in his speech?
Should we read anything into the fact that those in top jobs like Dominic Grieve and Caroline Spelman failed to get a mention from their leader?

I'd say not.

And some people need to get out more.

As if their jobs depended on it.

As Churchill once said: 'As I forgot to mention them in the last speech, I'd also like to thank the army, navy, coastguard, land girls and those plucky arms factor workers, etc, without whom, of course, as well, ever in the field...'

Meanwhile, back at another post:

Tory conference: media irritation

Anything that 'irritates' what passes for our current 'professional' media, its denizens and their over-inflated sense of worth gets my vote.

Well, nudges me in that direction, anyway. Keep up the good work.

Cameronspeak

The perils of meddling

Dear Limey assholes

Just for the archive, having been reminded myself by others, I attach here a link to the fallout that can ensue from some going a bit far (in this case literally) in letting others know how they think they should vote.

Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but they way such views are now being imposed (such as 'Operation Clark County') by an elite, on those deemed in need of re-educating on the correct path can often achieve a result quite the opposite to that intended.

Democracy inaction

Guardian - The clunking fightback

Just watched yet another Labour Minister on BBC trying to go with the 'it was bad with the Tories' (um, 12 years ago - not much listening and/or learning in this period, apparently) defence, and what is important is that the guy who IS our PM WAS the 'best Chancellor ever'. Which is about as reassuring, even if true, as being told the Captain of our sinking ship used to be a really good purser.

Good luck with that. I think zero has been learned, and the wrong folk are being listened to.

ps: as a person guided by the power of argument rather than tribal allegiance, might we ever see any mention of other players in the political firmament?

I know it serves the Conservatives well to sit back and bask in the sidelines whilst the incumbent and its media groupies engage in a cannibalistic dogfight, but am unsure if it serves the country's interests well.

And as a 'leading' media organ with a respected reputation (if with well known leanings. Fair enough, there are others who err in other directions) I'd rather hope that having won the election for Bush with overt, obnoxious, partisan meddling, a little less official support should be given to frankly out-of-touch paid commentators who seem perilously close to telling the electorate that they should not be trusted with the vote if they cannot deliver the 'correct' result.

I truly concern myself with the attitude of the liberal elite 'commentariat'. The Guardian or Indy may be dismissed by the actual size of the readership, but their influence is out of proportion due to who they think they are... and represent. However, such as the BBC is another matter.

I do not believe they are playing a double game by giving such prominence to such as Polly T, Jasmin AB or MPs such as Diane Abbott, but it is funny just how badly these outings have gone down and/or served the agenda intended.

Even just on logic. Whilst the Conservatives and Boris have everything to lose now they are tasked to deliver more than words, it is daft to try and raise the spectre of slick salesmanship as a wholly bad thing. We are all, in one way or another, salesfolk. Except, it seems, certain career pols, who do not deem good products combined with clear communication of them as necessary or of value. Speaking of career pols, it is a bit rich for those who never touched a real job in their lives bang on about inexperience running things... for the social benefit of people in real jobs (with unsubsidised housing, waitlists for dental, car and TV tax fees from their own pockets. 'Feel our pain' indeed. What an ass). And in any case, a great leader does not have time to do detail; they hire the best folk around them who can be trusted to handle it, and communicate between the leader and those below (or sideways, in the case of those whom they serve) effectively.

Guardian - All Gordon can do is fight on - and hope his luck turns - As Tina Turner once asked... 'What's luck go to do with it?" Try a little less fighting and a little more getting on with doing stuff that makes sense (as opposeed to this). It's a country that is supposed to be run, not a media popularity contest. I don't have to like my leaders, but I do need to respect them.