baldysblog.co.uk

Archive for May, 2009

I have often remarked before that on of the biggest problems with discussing the EU is that both the language and basic assumptions are totally wrong: Anti-EU = Little Englander. Pro-EU = Federalist. Now whilst at the extremes on both sides such projections would be true, it certainly isn’t for the majority of either persuasion.

Unfortunately (or Not), for both the EU and Gordon Brown, in the UK at least, the failure to hold a Referendum on the Lisbon Treaty, the identical twin of the EU Constitution, will prove lethal in the end because inevitably it will have to be done. In fact the later it is left, the more certain it is that the UK will leave the EU because there really does need to be a proper public debate and a decision via a Referendum.

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There was a very good editorial in Friday’s Independent that set out to call for some balance and fairness in how individual MPs are dealt with and a good quote from that: “Yet there is a broader context to this scandal that ought to be recognised. Although Ms Moran and Ms Kirkbride – and many other MPs – have acted foolishly the hysterical tone in which this debate is being conducted has become unhealthy for our democracy.”

Worth a read, URL as follows:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-crimes-punishment-and-responding-to-public-anger-1692508.html

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As this boring “MPs Expenses” saga goes through its death rattle, every idiot and their Mother is trotting out their pet ideas which are motivated by either personal interest or just plain ignorance, in the latter case the National Tooth Fairy would do them just as well, Boogie Woogie have a sixpence Click Clack !

If you are Nick Clegg and a Libdem, the fact that the Liberals lost their “Radical Party Crown” to the Labour Party a hundred years ago and haven’t managed to reclaim it back from them because of the Liberals own lack of imagination and drive, clearly needs Proportional Representation to make up for their past failures under our “first past the post system” – “Change the system to suit us and our total lack of competence is their cry…” Enchanting and I think not !

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Today’s best newspaper article was undoubtedly in the Times and written by Daniel Finkelstein with the headline: “MPs? Well, I can’t trust anyone. Not even you”. For a touch of sanity and common sense in these benighted days, I highly recommend it:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/daniel_finkelstein/article6367828.ece

In practical terms all the substance of the expenses row is now behind us, certainly some more MPs will step down at the next election, some will be deselected and perhaps a handful might face a criminal prosecution but in all honesty there is the growing feeling that the Circus has left town and moved on to the topic of “Constitutional changes to produce better government”.

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A week ago I photographed a family of Canadian Geese in one of the ponds on the flood plain of the River Brue. Goslings like ducklings are very vulnerable and it was quite noticeable just how protective the parents were. Although we have a lot of Canadian Geese around here, they nest elsewhere and normally are found on the lakes in the Apex Park which is beside the River Brue.

This morning riding home I spotted them actually on the River and the parents still had all three, just a little bit bigger and fluffier. Of course I couldn’t get too close and didn’t have a long enough lens but never the less, it was good to see them again.

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The Telegraph Witch Hunt continues into its third week and gradually as is inevitable, the start of a backlash and quite right too, the DT has over-egged this pudding and is in danger of undoing any good it contributed to.

Arch Bishop Rowan Williams has come out and said enough is surely enough and naturally his words and meanings are being misrepresented, the Independent has joined in and today the Telegraph is writing self justifying and rather pompous editorials.

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Whilst we can all be grateful for the fallout from the Telegraph’s expose on MPs expenses which has shaken the general public out of their normal torpor, it is not yet clear where this may end or where it will take us to in terms of meaningful Constitutional Reforms but something else is certain…

I keep banging on about the economy and the need for there to be a General Election sooner rather than later and my views seem to have been backed up today by Edmund Conway writing in the Telegraph, this is where it is really at…

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Parliament will have to elect a new Speaker in late June and given the mood of the moment with all the “Expenses Allegations” – a trial by media if ever there was, MPs are very reluctant, even Ladbrokes don’t have a clue, their odds are on a par with a Grand National, no come to think of, not even as clear as that.

I would nominate Ann Widedecombe as the new Speaker but only on an interim basis. The ‘interim’ has nothing to do with her qualities, I suspect that in the event she may well give the “Blessed Boothroyd” a run for her money !

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The total vindication of getting rid of Speaker Martin was his stupidity over the leaked expenses details which the Telegraph published. A smarter man confronted with that would if only as a “spoiling tactic” and to financially punish the DT for the money they paid out, immediately released all the information himself into the public domain, he must have had it to hand.

So whilst Martin was a fool, I have had for some time now a nagging doubt concerning the Telegraph itself and the way it has been drip feeding all this stuff on a daily basis. This came to a head through a “blog friend” (someone you cordially exchange ideas with over the web) and he was hopping mad over a blatant abuse by the DT.

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As politics is a bit boring currently, I thought a picture entry might be more fun and I like these images which in a couple of cases, via a bit of careful work in the “digital darkroom”, could become very special. The other day I came across my friend the Heron again, he is such a magnificent bird. I suppose if I had more time to sit and wait as the Heron does, plus had a faster and therefore ludicrously expensive telephoto lens, I might be able to do better but I like this sequence although it was a case of a “quick grab”.

Herons are “cool creatures” and don’t panic whereas the majority of the wading birds and Egrets, are highly nervous and take to the wing at the slightest disturbance.

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