Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Dave Davis - defender of the free, Scunnering a speciality!
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
Lady Scotland vs Bozo Bojo .. . .
- I gather Chameleon and his "Cheap at any Price" Shadow Ministers are calling on Baroness Scotland
- to walk . . or be sacked.
- Now it was David Chameleon himself who asked fellow Bullingdon Boris Johnson to stand in the "Open Primary" London Conservatives used to select the celebrity to become their candidate in the PR stunt London's third mayoral election became.
- He has the greatest faith in Bojo. Bojo has had to sack 3 Deputy Mayors for various reasons: suspected racist blethering, very big fiddle of expenses with the plod banging on the door AND . . .
- Appx day 2 of Bojo's mayoralcy he took Ray Lewis on. No checks, no pack drill squire . . . When the press & etc found that he had lied about being a magistrate & etc and was suspected of financial shennanigans WHO WALKED?
- Bojo still Bozo i/c my city . . . . .
- Looking to recruit a Deputy Mayor to restore Red Ken would be wise . . .
- Those conservative commentators who feared Bojo's example would put people off voting for "call me Dave" will likely be proved right in time.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
al-Megrahi - Straw says look at the evidence
Jack Straw refuses to give an opinion on the release of al-Megrahi a report in the Guardian says today because he has not seen the evidence, a factor I stressed when the Prime Minister was being criticised recently. Notable that John Prescott has supported Gordon Brown (for a change):
Straw's former ministerial colleague John Prescott said he did "not have any objection" to the decision to release Megrahi, and rallied to Brown's defence over his refusal to express an opinion on the matter.
Clowns like Clegg and Chameleon don't need the full evidence to shoot from their hips - they are tawdry propagandists, desperate not to lose public support, uninterested in right and wrong.
Straw:
"I said in a letter to Alex Salmond that the prisoner would have a right to make written representations which, for sure, is true," Straw said.
His advice to Salmond is being used by the Scottish Labour party to criticise the release of Megrahi.
Straw declined to offer an opinion on the merits of the decision on two grounds, saying he had not seen the evidence and it would be wrong for a UK minister to interfere in a Scottish decision.
"I cannot offer you a view about that decision because I have not seen the evidence," he said. I know from long experience you have to look at the evidence.
"As the Prime Minister said yesterday, this is a decision for the Scottish executive.
"Look, it is for Scots to decide their own processes. Their legal system has been different for ever. It has not just been different since 1999. It has been different since the Act of Union in 1707."
The Scots Nats have no right to cavil at the advice offered, but MacAskill used part of his statement when announcing his decision to the world to attack HMG for NOT advising him re the conditions of the trial and imprisonment of al-Megrahi.
As Straw makes clear the Scottish Executive have independence in the matter.
In days to come few but those whose mental incapacity would not have obtained mercy from GW Bush when as Texas Governor he refused mercy to the simple minded on death row will deny that the decision was correct and correctly taken.
Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Lockerbie case: When mercy is messy
"Goodness knows the world could use more mercy. It is a virtue that wins few plaudits in the press or politics, so there was something heartening about hearingScotland's justice secretary, Kenny MacAskill, explain his decision to release Abdelbaset al-Megrahi purely in terms of compassion. The terminally ill man convicted of the 1988 Lockerbie bombing, Mr MacAskill explained to the Holyrood parliament, may have shown Scotland no mercy, but that did not free Scotland of its obligation to show some mercy to him. On the face of it this was a brave and civilising argument, and yet the seeming purity of the appeal could not dispel the feeling that something was not quite right about the decision that had been made."
It may be said that I am biased for personal reasons, but the converse is true.
In the '80s the husband of one of the leading execs of Guardian Online lost an internal, local Labour Party election to me. The lady was most upset and very angry for no terribly good reason, because I had been successful in in a similar role which her husband had not. She then took up a job at the Guardian, where she has prospered, writes avowedly feminist articles from time to time and plays a large role in running "Comment is Free."
It should also be noted that the Guardian's "moderators" who claim it is necessary to pre moderate my posts there are essentially self selecting. Small wonder that the Dully Teles and extreme left wingers also, who loathe any defence of HMG, have signed up, and exercise power there, tendentiously.
There is too much rotten in guardian.co.uk
Monday, 24 August 2009
al-Megrahi's statement. Contrast with Lt Calley
Here is the full text of Mr Megrahi's statement, taken from the BBC News website:
I am obviously very relieved to be leaving my prison cell at last and returning to Libya, my homeland.
I would like to first of all take the opportunity to extend my gratitude to the many people of Scotland, and elsewhere, who have sent me their good wishes.
I bear no ill will to the people of Scotland; indeed, it is one of my regrets that I have been unable to experience any meaningful aspect of Scottish life, or to see your country.
To the staff in HM Prison Greenock, and before that at HM Prison Barlinnie, I wish to express thanks for the kindness that they were able to show me.
For those who assisted in my medical and nursing care; who tried to make my time here as comfortable as possible, I am of course grateful.
My legal team has worked tirelessly on my behalf; I wish to thank Advocates Margaret Scott QC, Jamie Gilchrist QC, Shelagh McCall and Martin Richardson together with the team at Taylor & Kelly, for all of their gallant efforts in my bid to clear my name.
I know they share, in no small measure, my disappointment about the abandonment of my appeal.
Many people, including the relatives of those who died in, and over, Lockerbie, are, I know, upset that my appeal has come to an end; that nothing more can be done about the circumstances surrounding the Lockerbie bombing.
I share their frustration. I had most to gain and nothing to lose about the whole truth coming out - until my diagnosis of cancer.
To those victims' relatives who can bear to hear me say this: they continue to have my sincere sympathy for the unimaginable loss that they have suffered.
To those who bear me ill will, I do not return that to you.
And, lastly, I must turn to my conviction and imprisonment.
To be incarcerated in a far off land, completely alien to my way of life and culture has been not only been a shock but also a most profound dislocation for me personally and for my whole family.
I have had many burdens to overcome during my incarceration.
I had to sit through a trial which I had been persuaded to attend on the basis that it would have been scrupulously fair.
In my second, most recent, appeal I disputed such a description.
I had to endure a verdict being issued at the conclusion of that trial which is now characterised by my lawyers, and the Scottish Criminal Cases Review Commission, as unreasonable.
To me, and to other right thinking people back at home in Libya, and in the international community, it is nothing short of a disgrace.
As a result of my surrender, and that judgment of the Court, I had to spend over 10 years in prison.
I cannot find words in my language or yours that give proper expression to the desolation I have felt. This horrible ordeal is not ended by my return to Libya.
It may never end for me until I die. Perhaps the only liberation for me will be death.
And I say in the clearest possible terms, which I hope every person in every land will hear: all of this I have had to endure for something that I did not do.
The remaining days of my life are being lived under the shadow of the wrongness of my conviction.
I have been faced with an appalling choice: to risk dying in prison in the hope that my name is cleared posthumously or to return home still carrying the weight of the guilty verdict, which will never now be lifted.
The choice which I made is a matter of sorrow, disappointment and anger, which I fear I will never overcome.
I say goodbye to Scotland and shall not return. My time here has been very unhappy and I do not leave a piece of myself. But to the country's people I offer my gratitude and best wishes.
Clegg's clumsy clogs - carthorse opposition & commentary.
Tories Progressive plans for NHS Cuts
As I have repeatedly suggested it is the contradictions over Health policy and much else which makes Cameron's Party losers.
Sunday, 23 August 2009
My Lai apology.
In view of the controversy over al-Megrahi's conviction, and release on compassionate grounds this comes as a welcome surprise:
The Independent reports today.
America: No Mercy?
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Cameron, Chameleon, Little Lord Haw-Haw, Traitor, TWIT.
Monday, 17 August 2009
We think you ought to go, Boris . . .
The Guardinid tells us:
Hopes by Boris Johnson that Barack Obama's new ambassador in London would pay almost £3.5m in unpaid congestion charges and fines run up by the previous administration were dashed today as the new regime confirmed it has no intention of settling the bill.
A spokesperson for the mayor of London said that Johnson, who is on holiday, was disappointed that the US embassy was choosing to "continue to ignore" its responsibility to Londoners by paying the £8 daily charge incurred by those driving within the city's congestion charge zone, as well as fines built up for non-payment.
Sunday, 16 August 2009
Afghanistan - 200 Britons Dead.
Britain has now lost 200 service people in Afghanistan. That is 200 tragedies too many.
Soviet personnel strengths and casualties
Between December 25, 1979 and February 15, 1989, a total of 620,000 soldiers served with the forces in Afghanistan (though there were only 80,000-104,000 serving at one time): 525,000 in the Army, 90,000 with border troops and other KGB sub-units, 5,000 in independent formations of MVD Internal Troops, and police forces. A further 21,000 personnel were with the Soviet troop contingent over the same period doing various white collar and blue collar jobs.
The total irrecoverable personnel losses of the Soviet Armed Forces, frontier, and internal security troops came to 14,453. Soviet Army formations, units, and HQ elements lost 13,833, KGB sub-units lost 572, MVD formations lost 28, and other ministries and departments lost 20 men. During this period 417 servicemen were missing in action or taken prisoner; 119 of these were later freed, of whom 97 returned to the USSR and 22 went to other countries.
There were 469,685 sick and wounded, of whom 53,753 or 11.44 percent, were wounded, injured, or sustained concussion and 415,932 (88.56 percent) fell sick. A high proportion of casualties were those who fell ill. This was because of local climatic and sanitary conditions, which were such that acute infections spread rapidly among the troops. There were 115,308 cases of infectious hepatitis, 31,080 of typhoid fever, and 140,665 of other diseases. Of the 11,654 who were discharged from the army after being wounded, maimed, or contracting serious diseases, 92 percent, or 10,751 men, were left disabled.[65]
After the war ended, the Soviet Union published figures of dead Soviet soldiers: the total was 13,836 men, on average, and 1,537 men a year. According to updated figures, the Soviet army lost 14,427, the KGB lost 576, with 28 people dead and missing.[66]
Saturday, 15 August 2009
NHS - Cameron and Hannan, the tinker and the destroyer.
Hannan is very popular amongst the neo-cons in the USA as was made clear by the Daily Telegraph blogs which ran after his success d'estime on You Tube a while back. More than half the comments in his favour were from americans howling because their candidate had been beaten by a black democrat.
Hannan is not so foolish as to take the costs of his visit from US Drugs Companies and the like, surely, when he has so many other possible sources of funding? And, despite not claiming all the Euro-gravy he could, is a well off and independent politician, who defied the authority of the group the Tories belonged to in the previous Euro-Parliament.
The real stories are that Cameron cannot cope with these disciplinary situations:
http://quietzapple-musing.blogspot.com/
and Tories want to tinker with or destroy the NHS. Hannan is a destroyer, Cameron claims to be a tinker.
There are a fair few in both camps, and they would not work together in harness. A Tory Government would be an unmitigated disaster.
Friday, 14 August 2009
Cameron "Rebukes" eccentric Hannan?
David Cameron, Super Snob - fish or Chameleon?
Poor, p poor Chameleon was defending the NHS impromptu on News 24 this morning . . . .
The poor fish was so overcome he said, among other attempts to suggest that we are all treated equally by the NHS:
"the NHS doesn’t ask whether we are male or female . . ."
Well perhaps they do, BUT they don't ask which school we went to, or whether we joined any restaurant smashing club like Oxford Uni's Bullingdon - eh?
Daniel Hannan, with his runcible coracle (a-politics as usual . . )
What a hoot!
Chameleon bid for plutocratic cabinet.
A senior Conservative source said Cameron's plans had come to light in discussions after the leader indicated that shadow cabinet ministers would have to give up their second jobs in January in advance of the general election says the Graunidid
F - u - u - u - u nnny . . .
Last time it was mentioned it was by December . . .
Is Wm Hague digging his walking boots in?
"Val de ri, Val de ra
Val de ri, Val de ra, Va de ri
Val de ra ha ha ha ha ha . . . "
Cuts in Ministerial pay mean Chameleon will be able to replace the departing hoi poloi with some more richer style buddies and toadies, touch of Old Eton restored . . .
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Johnson B, a Cameron government might be incompetent too . . .
Whooopsidaisy!
Saturday, 8 August 2009
Labour 44% or Conservative 42%?
The following is not always well received by those who troll against HM Government and the Labour Party:
The only serious caution for David Cameron comes with a question that forces voters to choose between Labour or the Conservatives: "44 per cent would still prefer a Labour government and 42 per cent a Conservative one. This is despite 72 per cent dissatisfaction with Labour."
wrote Tim Montgomerie on ConsHome in June 2009
This Polly Toynbee blog was terminated for comments very early, Guardian tories at work I expect:
Here is the good news: more people than ever say they are happy with their area – satisfaction at 80% is up five points on 2006. Ratings on antisocial behaviour are improving quickly, with 12% fewer worrying about drug users and teenagers hanging around, though anxiety about street drunkenness stays high. Police and local authorities have targeted antisocial behaviour and new youth services are finding better things for teenagers to do. Concern about rubbish and litter in the streets has dropped 6 points to 39%.
The NHS has never had such high ratings, with GPs scoring 77%. Worry about education is at its lowest in 25 years. Worry about crime has fallen from a peak two years ago, and only 3% mention taxation as a problem. Not surprisingly, the economy dominates anxiety.
UKIP beat the Tories in enough Council Areas in the Euro-elections to be able to claim to pose a threat to them in quite a lot of seats, especially Torbay, and Totnes:
While the recession and job losses are still big worries Chameleon needs a regular 40% and a lead of 15%, just as I was saying on the Dully Tele two years ago, and he needs it for 6 months to bring me worries for my country's future.
Friday, 7 August 2009
Google Ads victimise Labour Blogger . . .
It is quite true that the big battalions get the most appropriate ads . . . .
Midge Bites in Scotland?
Protective clothing, safe effective repellents, plus midge traps
Nicholas Owen
TV News Presenter & Speaker Awards & Conference Host
Become a Lord or Lady
Genuinely change your Legal Title Passport, Driving Licence, Bank etc