Casting the net – 14.11.07
I have a busy morning today, so your links are brief and apologetic, rather like the career of a Home Secretary.
Tarantino: feminist?
The F-Word – Is Tarantino really feminist?: “[The female cast] are shot in an extremely sexualised, objectifying way, do a lap dance, talk crap – Death Proof’s dialogue has been criticised in almost every review I’ve read, even positive ones, for its lack of realism and the fact that the women seem to speak with the voice of Tarantino. And the majority are killed horribly.”
More on Cameron’s rape proposals
Obsolete – No easy answers, but Cameron tries anyway: “You don’t need to be taught that no means no, it ought be already more than clear, especially at the age at which secondary sex education takes place. “Ignorance” has never been an excuse.”
The Yorksher Yob – David Cameron’s speech about rape: C- must try harder: “Some people seem to think that it’s OK to blame someone else for their consciously chosen actions. I consciously chose to rape this woman, but it’s OK, because she was wearing a short skirt; this is the root of the problem, right here.”
Blatant self-promotion
tygerland.net – Why the fight for equality is lost in America: “Once the voice of the angry street, a social movement demanding that the world listens to the plight of black America, Rap has become a vehicle for the degradation of woman, the promotion of violence, and a brand of aggressive marketing where even the rappers themselves have their own line in clothing.”
Elsewhere
Philobiblon – Britblog Roundup No 143 (The minimalist edition)
Westminster Wisdom – The Salon
Demos blog – ‘Power to the people’ – but how..?
Chelmsford Chatter – Tories not green or pro local power
Freemania – Homeopathy: there’s nothing in it
The Very Fluffy Diary of Millennium Dome, Elephant – Day 2506: Mr Balloon Gets Tough on Crime – he employs a Criminal
Robin Lustig – Gordon Brown goes global
Casting the net – 13.11.07
If you would like your blog or site to be considered as source material for future reviews, drop me an email at aaronh [at] liberalconspiracy [dot] org with the relevant url. I can then enter it into my RSS reader and monitor it for suitable content to be included. Likewise, if you have a specific article/post you feel deserves a little more traffic, get in touch.
Today’s nuggets have been harvested by out-of-work elves. Very cheap indeed, what with Santa outsourcing production to the Far-East.
Cameron: urges tougher rape laws
It was a big news day for the shiny-faced Tory leader, as he called for tougher laws on rape, demanding: “widespread cultural change.” Jess McCabe’s reaction appeared here on LC. Jess welcomes the initial proposals, but argues that they fall short of a comprehensive solution. She also asks why Labour has allowed the Tories to steal a march on what should be a touchstone issue for the left? Jender at Feminist Philosophers is delighted to see the Tory leader use the phrase “moral collapse”, with regard to men who do not understand the concept of consent. And the Curvature complains that Conservatism and Feminism are oxymoronic, surely?
And the men? Well Bob Piper agrees with Cameron.
Aitkin to advise Tories on prison reform
While the reaction from some Labour MPs has been scathing, the left-leaning bloggers are less partizan. Kerron Cross argues that he “can’t think of many people better to advise on prison reform than an ex-convict who has seen the system from the inside.” And Dave Osler asks, “And who better to look into the urgent need for prison reform than an old lag like Aitken?” Tory blog, Bel is thinking, wonders “if Tom Watson [MP] would be making these comments if a non-Tory ex-offender had been appointed instead.”
An email from a Pakistani lawyer?
Micropakistan is a blog that attempts to focus on the real Pakistan. They have reproduced what is apparently an email from Dr. Parvez Hassan, a lawyer who was arrested by the Pakistani security forces on November 5 (Teeth Maestro also carries the text). The email gives account of his arrest and the night he and other lawyers, “slept on the hard dirty floor in our court dresses without access to any cover of blankets in the cool and mosquito-infested night.” (pssst. I’m a little bit wary of linking to an uncorroborated email, so I’ll leave you to decide whether it’s genuine.)
Elsewhere
Liberal Democrat Voice – Anyone know what the Tory party’s policy on Europe is today?
Philobiblon – Life versus work – a question of balance
A blog from the back room – Fully Loaded and on Autopilot
Pickled Politics – Doing the terrorists’ work for them
Stumbling and Mumbling – Realistic policies
And these [missed yesterday], from Sunday:
The Yorkshire Ranter – Stockwell Report: A Response
politicalhackuk – Polishing off the family silver
Expect to see these links become Tory policy before the day is out.
Casting the net – 12.11.07
After Friday’s controversy, today’s review comes to you live from an undisclosed location deep within the Tora Bora mountains.
Backlash is free
Denis MacShane, Labour MP for Rotherham, could still teach me a thing or two about causing a ruckus, though. On Sunday he created a firestorm on CiF when he had the temerity to cry, “Blair isn’t to blame for Islamist terror.” Such recklessness!
Lib Dems ignored?
Liberal Conspiracy has attracted a great deal of attention across the blogosphere in its first week. However, not all responses have been entirely positive: Lib Dem blogger, Chris K, criticises the blog’s arrogant exclusion of the “Liberal Democrat agenda”. Fair or unfair?
Remembering.
Dave Hill, like many bloggers, marked Remembrance Sunday with a simple Poppy image. Meanwhile The Periodic Englishman chooses history, tackling two “central myths” of WW1.
LabourHome’s “grayee” attended a Remembrance Sunday service in West Ham.
Elsewhere…
Omar’s Blog: TUC young members’ housing inquiry and GMB London youth conference
Quaequam Blog!/James Graham: Gender Balance and Euro Selections – setting some facts straight
PoliticalBetting: The Tories move back to 43% with ICM
Peter Kenyon: What are Gordon’s plans for Labour Party renewal?
Political Penguin: Now where have I seen that policy before?
Reasons to be Impossible: Cameron f__ks it (re. Dave C’s co-op new evangelism)
Obsolete: How I stopped worrying about the Muslims…
Oh, and not forgetting controversy corner, how about this one from truthdig?
Casting the net – 09.11.07
Today’s links come courtesy of some very, very strong black coffee.
Dillow: Against equality of opportunity
Chris Dillow’s article here on Liberal Conspiracy sparked debate across the left, with Demos weighing in, pointing out the complexity of inequality with regard to the education levels of parents.
Dillow’s piece also created a wider debate on the nature of our new site, with Lib Dem Voice contesting the use of the word “Liberal” in our title. Are we Liberal, or are we Left? This writer prickles at being described as one of the, “terribly nice left of centre middle class moderates.” I’m not nearly that nice.
No doubt Dillow has a lot to answer for, as “The Diary of Chris K”, another Lib Dem blog, is inspired to mull over whether the Liberal Democrats are indeed a leftwing or rightwing political party. A thoroughly Orange Book take on the current flux within the country’s third party.
Tory Co-Ops… Shome mishtake, shurely?
News that David Cameron has claimed that Cooperatives and Conservatism go together like salt & pepper, has prompted a reaction from another Lib Dem site, Jock’s Place. A very worthy read.
More reaction
OurKingdom has another reaction to a Liberal Conspiracy article, by OK’s editor, Anthony Barnett. Barnett highlights three core issues (”the national question, the EU, migration and identity”), and argues that: -
We need to bring these together as Sunny eloquently sets out. But – and here it really is a but – these arguments need to be addressed to everyone, not just the left. Questions of democracy are now being debated with some urgency and spirit on the right. There is now a Tory campaign for electoral reform, to take just one example, with respect to what is perhaps the most blatant injustice in the British political system. This impinges on the defining question: what kind of state do you want? It is how you answer this which leads on to what kind of government you want. A state that clings to its imperial roots and forms, that exercises royal executive power behind the screen of ‘parliamentary sovereignty’, that looks into the mirror of the mass media and declares that ‘we’ need ’strong government’ (see Cameron playing this riff against Brown), can such an instrument deliver and sustain progress politics?
Let the debate begin!
And there’s more…
Rhetorically Speaking has filed an excellent dismissal of a rather predictable, “political correctness gaawwwn mad” piece from Philip Davies MP, over at The Cornerstone Group’s blog. The Daily (Maybe) puts its weight behind those calling for Sir Ian Blair’s resignation, but argues it’s on grounds beyond the shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes: “Any misplaced attempt to keep on a “progressive” commissioner will only serve to ensure that hopes of holding the police force to some sort of account will be that much further away.”
Elsewhere. Justin needs your help (re. Google ranks & Iraqi asylum seekers).
As with all areas on Liberal Conspiracy, it’s your interaction that will be crucial to ensuring that we’re on the ball, and that we don’t allow any brilliant commentary to slip through the net. So, if you have written or come across interesting and insightful content, feel free to drop me an email at aaronh[at]liberalconspiracy[dot]org or leave a comment on the daily net-review thread.
Casting the net – 08.11.07
Each day – Monday to Friday – I’ll be posting a quick review of the highlights from the blogosphere and other media. Basically, this will be an open thread where readers will be pointed towards the very best comment and analysis on the web.
As with all areas on Liberal Conspiracy, it’s your interaction that will be crucial to ensuring that we’re on the ball, and that we don’t allow any brilliant commentary to slip through the net. So, if you have written or come across interesting and insightful content, feel free to drop me an email at aaronh[at]liberalconspiracy[dot]org or leave a comment on the daily net-review thread.
Pakistan
The Guardian reports that three politicians and a union activist have been charged with treason in Pakistan. The BBC also runs with news that 700 members from Benazir Bhutto’s political party are being held by the authorities, as President Musharraf’s crackdown continues. Over on Comment is Free, Ali Eteraz claims that the west has learned nothing from its dalliance with the Shah of Iran, supporting yet another hated and insecure leader. Robert Fox, meanwhile, explains how the violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Pakistan are now directly linked, and highlights the importance of keeping Pakistan’s nuclear weapons out of Taliban hands.
Shiraz Socialist also has “notes from the underground”, quoting and linking to the blog of Farooq Tariq’s (Gen. Secretary of Labour Party of Pakistan (LLP).
Hari on Gaza
Johann Hari goes down a well-trodden road in today’s Independent, giving a heartfelt defence of the people of Gaza, as they struggle to survive under increasing Israeli pressure. Hari, in a move that’s bound to attract even more controversy, links the story of a female suicide bomber with that of an IDF attack on a bus carrying nursery children.
Bush: Iraqi’s should be crying, “I love freedom”
Everyone’s favourite world leader reacts to questions on Iraq, arguing that the situation isn’t a “quagmire.” Via. Think Progress.
Cross about funding
Kerron Cross (who is looking more and more like Jesus Christ Superstar every day) is angry at Tory MP David Amess, who has been claiming that Lord Ashcroft’s millions are no different to Labour’s reliance on Union contributions. Kerron, somewhat unsurprisingly, claims otherwise.
Cohen attacks again
Columnist Nick Cohen accuses liberal writers of group-think. Again.
Another Linford Top Ten
List are always interesting (honest). Paul Linford gives his The Top 10 Political Turning Points.
Report: Trends in avoidable mortality
The Civitas blog celebrates improvements, but that there is still a long, long way to go.
Paul rakes in online millions
Dizzy reports that libertarian presidential hopeful, Republican Ron Paul, pulled in $4m in just one day’s online campaigning.
The “Blog Wars” continue
Conservative blogger Ellee Seymour is the latest to attract Tim Ireland’s ire. Another stalemate at the UN Security Council is preventing a peace keeping force from being despatched to Guildford.
You can read articles through the front page, via Twitter or rss feeds.
» How bad is the feline obesity crisis?
» Why don’t MPs pay back tuition fees instead of increasing ours?
» Obama is right to slam BP – and why capitalists should too
» Why does Phillip Blond see civic cohesion as a security issue?
» So what if the Labour candidates went to Oxbridge?
» Last night’s Labour hustings: will it get interesting or turn to torture?
» It’s now down to Ken to win London for Labour
» The Labour people need
» Blog Nation: what would you like to see discussed?
» The Labour leadership’s token contender.. and it’s not Diane Abbott
» In defence of these fraternal nominations
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