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Posts Tagged ‘Politics’

I have written about my memories and personal ties to this particular date before and will later summarize them again because they are all rather odd in the sense that I can not recall any other day in my life which has ever been connected in the same way to such a significant “news event” via so many different ‘threads’.

However, 10 years is a significant anniversary and as good a time as any to reflect on the impact of those days one of which I experienced, as so many others do on my recent holiday in the USA. Having to check in for your flight very early, US Customs/Immigration, never a barrel of laughs, as surly as ever. But also there are the political dimensions not all of which have led to bad outcomes, some indeed may well be very beneficial in the medium term.

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Obviously with the recent riots, one can expect an awful lot of chair squirming and finger pointing as people try to avoid any blame. Although I can ridicule politicians as easily as the next person, I was delighted with both David Cameron and Ed Miliband albeit for different reasons.

Cameron for avoiding that all too familiar “We will hold a Public Enquiry” so much beloved of all Governments caught out by unexpected events and wanting to kick things into the long grass plus for Miliband him accepting that some degree of blame is attached to the Labour years in Office for the attitudes that seem to have taken root so, well done to both of them.

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Over the weekend in The Independent, they obviously had a crisis of confidence in the whole “EU Project” which is hilarious, being British always requires the necessity of being at least mildly sceptical, even of those things of which you might approve. In the case of the EU, it has not been anything of which any person of right mind would give unqualified support to. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-europes-crisis-of-legitimacy-2332710.html

What made it all rather funnier was an article from the one time Minister for Europe, Denis MacShane who fitted the job in between the various ups and downs of his personal life. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/denis-macshane-slash-and-burn-less-brussels-better-europe-2332659.html

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Although at this time of the year with people away on their holidays, UK journalism like the TV schedules of endless repeats and nonsense, are never at their best but I was quite amused by an editorial in the Independent today on Afghanistan: http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-giving-ground-to-the-taliban-2329612.html

It is difficult from reading this article to get a grip on what the “Writer’s view” actually is, that we should stay or go ? It is particularly funny coming from a newspaper which whilst not as arrogant as the Guardian, most times is as left wing and drippy as it.

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Inevitably and as is the way of all ill considered media stories “It is a tale Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, Signifying nothing. ” starts to inevitably fade away, the newspapers and politicians who fancied that there was blood in the water and tried to be seen as “leading the charge”, have become strangely quiet. Rather like sulky children, try to change their emphasis without apologising for their previous stupidity. This Editorial from the Independent is a prime example:

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-the-dangers-of-ranging-too-widely-2318297.html

To start with and instead of the “hacking” being a News International only phenomena, it appears that many other newspapers have “been at it too” which rather changes the game completely from the “Get Murdoch” and “Get Cameron” to the “Oh dear we have shot ourselves in the foot…” reality as if the symbiotic relationships between the Media, Politicians and Celebrities was ever newsworthy.

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I would not claim to be the greatest intellectual and “deep thinker” on this planet and therefore have no view that says that my opinions are inevitably correct because for sure, they won’t always be so. But that said, is it only me that sees that all the current hoopla over the “Phonegate Scandal” in the media as total tosh, what planet are these people on ?

That the “poorer parts” of the Media that are losing money which means everyone apart from News International and the BBC want to “Have a go at Murdoch” is obvious but what I find totally bemusing is why the constant attempts to entangle and mire David Cameron in a “story” and series of events that happened some years before he even entered Downing Street. I will start with a “The Story So Far…”

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Having been away from the UK for the best part of a month and although I did browse the news from “back home” over the web, I don’t think that I felt that much engaged any more than I did with the Tracy Anthony trial taking place in the US whilst I was there. However since my return a week ago, you soon get involved even though as with myself, I haven’t turned the TV on even.

Does this give me extra objectivity in looking at the News International/News of the World Scandal ? I don’t know but I do find it a curious spectacle that speaks all too loudly of “Tears before bedtime” all round…

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I have just spent almost 4 weeks away from home visiting my 86 year old Uncle who lives in Washington State on the West Coast of the USA. Because his most convenient airport is Portland just across the Columbia River, it means using a connecting flight from Heathrow and that all adds up to a long day going both ways.

But that said, I had a great time and some interesting ideas came out of it all which I will continue to explore and bring to fruition over the next few months but there is one realisation that I thought I might nail down right now…

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We have a scandal involving the now, former Managing Director of the international Monitory Fund Dominique Strauss Khan being accused of the rape of a Chamber Maid in an upmarket New York hotel. For a whole number of reasons, it really is a quite extraordinary tale that at this stage of events, raises far more questions than it provides answers.

There are a couple of very well written articles in the Economist on this which are worth reading: http://www.economist.com/node/18712833 and http://www.economist.com/node/18712515

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In its own way, it is quite amusing that the ‘junior leader’ of the Coalition Government is attracting far more column inches in the Press than David Cameron himself but, one suspects that following the Local Election and Referendum results, journalists hope they smell ‘blood in the water’. I feel that providing Clegg and his Party keep their wits about them, they will come through fine.

One of the key things he must avoid is the “Do Something” approach and in a interesting article today in the Independent Mary Ann Sieghart focuses in on Clegg’s desire to “Reform the Lords” which she strongly advises him against doing, a view I certainly agree with. http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/mary-ann-sieghart/mary-ann-sieghart-if-it-aint-broken-nick-dont-try-to-fix-it-2284679.html

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