Cameron’s Quarterly
There has been a great deal of suspicion in the blogosphere regarding the political integrity of Total Politics, the new venture run by several former 18 Doughty Street operatives, and Politics Home, the hideous spawn of Stephan Shakespeare (the original financial progenitor of 18DS – yes, it’s all a bit incestuous). Both titles have taken measures to buttress themselves against these predictable criticisms, by creating cross-party advisory boards as a check against bias. It’s easy to understand why a nascent political publication or website would be concerned about appearing to favour one political party and take steps to provide evidence of its fairness. But what about an existing publication, especially one that hasn’t historically been particularly political?
The worries I have are in regard to Condé Nast’s GQ, which is edited by one Dylan Jones. In 2006 GQ featured David Cameron on its front cover, a rather surprising departure from the disrobed Hollywood sirens who usually adorn it. There is nothing necessarily wrong in the leader of the Conservatives starring on a magazine cover, I guess, but as a subscriber to GQ (a valentine’s day present), I have noticed the distinguishable stench of political bias throughout the magazine of late. continue reading… »
Critical, not terminal
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Anthony Painter – Thinks Hillary should manage her climb-down carefully, for the benefit of Obama and the Democratic Party. Interesting position, and one which lends itself nicely to the idea, floated by Mike Smithson, that Obama may pay-off Clinton’s campaign debts.
David Brooks – Arguing that the Tories’ greater emphasis on society may prove to be the road to salvation for a struggling Republican Party.
BBC Magazine – A Surrey based company is this month to launch the National Staff Dismissal Register, a business service that will monitor employee dismissals and allow prospective employers to check against the register for alleged accusations – proven or not… Several major employers have signed up.
Remembering the Ability in Disability – Kudos to the BBC, which now offers subtitles on 100% of its programming.
Dave Cole – Boris, by banning alcohol on the tube, has not only indulged in the worse sort of un-enforcable gesture politics, he has proven himself a hypocrite. continue reading… »
High-Times
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
westmonster – From that most industrious governmental department, The Office for Placating the Daily Mail, comes Labour’s latest muddled U-Turn: smoking pot is again a heinous and terrible crime, which may result in 14 years in a PlayStation-adorned redbrick gulag.
Obsolete – Unsurprisingly, septicisle is similarly unimpressed with the drug’s reclassification.
Love and Garbage – It seems that those high flying Labour egg-heads, weren’t the bee’s knees after all.
tygerland – Where I convey my exasperation at being forced to watch Hillary flush more of her fading credibility down the toilet.
Karl Rove – Bush’s former chief strategist observes the race and concludes it’s over for Hillary. He also agrees with me, that McCain is the best candidate to beat Obama.
Political Betting – Suggests that with Hillary’s debts rocketing, Obama may simply pay her off.
UPDATE: Missed this, Robin Lustig makes a prediction. Brave man!
Alix Mortimer – At tea-time with Clegg, Alix finds that Cameron really is a vacuous “PR tosser”.
20 Weeks
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments. Just a short – and late – one today, I’ve been out in the sun with the kids and the camera. 
)
rhetorically speaking.. – Fisking Nadine Dorries’ “twenty reasons for twenty weeks”
EarthPal – A take on the abortion issue that isn’t distorted by politics.
NHS Blog Doctor – Dr. Crippin takes a professional position, and decides that 20-weeks (with provisions for extenuating circumstances) would probably be a good idea.
OurKingdom – Fighting money-grabbing councils is easy when you press-gang David Cameron in the butchers.
Anthony Painter – Writing for Labour Outlook, Painter asks: “What can Labour learn from the Democratic primaries?”
Finally… Are the Republicans really waging a “war on science?” Michael Gerson argues not, but Crooked Timber’s John Quiggin takes him to task.
If you’re still looking for something to read, Justin has an eclectic basket of links he has picked for you.
Whipless Guernsey
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Jock Coats – A beautifully written personal narrative of Jock’s recent candidacy in Oxford. Some interesting political ideas, too.
Spy Blog – A reports has legitimised fears that CCTV cameras aren’t the great panacea for street crime. So exactly why are we the most watched nation on Earth?
Cassilis – Liam Murray’s debut blogosphere review showcases an eclectic choice of stories and a soothing and informed delivery.
Ann Black – Over at Labour Outlook, Ann asks: What’s next for Labour?
The Daily (Maybe) – “The real anti-fascist work is in creating social solidarity. To repair a society where we have communities with no sense of community. To present a positive alternative and to, put simply, make people happier.”
John Angliss – Also over at t’ (Maybe), a guest post discusses the politics of Guernsey, where there are no political parties, and therefore, no whips! continue reading… »
Rice Pudding
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Tim Worstall – South-East Asia’s rice-producing countries are considering creating an Opec-style cartel to control prices. Demand = Power.
Earthpal – On a similar note, EP is outraged at the international agribusinesses that are making gargantuan profits from rocketing food prices.
EU Referendum – Don’t blame growing demand in China and India for the food crisis, blame Biofuel and the CAP.
minority report – If Boris is serious about crime, he needs to tackle “anti-social behaviour and marginal crimes”. There are no big fixes, only little ones.
John Band – The first test for Boris will be whether he sacks Ken’s successful appointments, such as transport commissioner Peter Hendy and London Underground MD Tim O’Toole. Will BoJo resort to petty partisanship?
Question That – Ken was constantly berated by the Standard, but who’ll keep Boris in check? Also, say hello to Boris Watch.
The Poor Mouth – Jams reports on the battle for the right to call oneself a Lesbian from Lesbos.
Indigo Jo Blogs – Mad Mel has penned another slavishly pro-Isreal piece in The Spectator. IJB finds almost all her points infuriating.
Sleeping through the apocalypse
Like Nathaniel, I decided – in a haze of apathy and disillusionment – that bed was infinitely preferable to watching a bunch of smug Tories sweep the board. There are obviously numerous live-blogging posts I could link to, but they only work in real-time (although Unity’s thread is very funny and worth a gander – as usual, music is kindly provided). Obviously the fall-out will continue over the weekend, so I’ll bring you the best on Monday.
Peter Kenyon – Asks if Gordon Brown is ready for the hard work it will take to get Labour fighting fit again?
Demos Greenhouse – Has Cameron really changed his (or the Tories’) spots? The fight-back begins.
Louise Baldock – Small Victories matter to those who worked hard.
Jo’s Jottings – A Lib Dem’r enjoys some schadenfreude at Labour’s expense.
Matt Davies – Points out that it wasn’t all good news for the Tories.
Philobiblon – Big news in Norwich, where for the first-time, the Greens have become the official party of opposition!
continue reading… »
The calm before the storm
Political Betting – YouGov is alone in predicting a Tory victory by a wide margin. Other pollsters predict a much tighter race. Still, the money is being stacked next to Boris’ name.
Obsolete – Gordon lacks courage. Even the courage to admit when he’s wrong.
e8voice – Results today will force Labour into a period of self-reflection. (Also: Barack slays Obi-Wan Kenobi Rev. Jeremiah Wright. [video] Sunny’s commentary on Obama/Wright, is worthy of mention too.)
Unspeak – The government is about to make the possession of images depicting consensual S&M a crime. Not really my bag, but you know, live and let live. More at Question That.
Millennium Dome, Elephant – Demands that you exercise your democratic right (as long as you vote Lib Dem, of course).
Bishop Hill – Thinking that this particular critic of GM food is off his rocker. (my personal POV – not that you asked – is that we’ve been manipulating plants for a millennia and I don’t see what choice we have, other than the enforced culling of humanity. Now there’s an idea…)
Don’t you care about equality, Boris?
Fawcett Society – The equality campaigners interview tomorrow’s Mayoral hopefuls. The candidates are invited to brief voters on how they intend to tackle equality. Interestingly, only BoJo has failed to respond to the Society’s invitation…
John’s Labour Blog – On the last-minute work to overturn Boris’ growing lead in the polls.
Douglas Alexander MP – Discusses international development over at Labour Outlook.
Obsolete – Bemoans the vacuousness of the contemporary political memoir, and has a pop at Lord Levy.
EarthPal – The tabloids have been caught misleading their readers on climate change. Say it ain’t so!
Thomas L. Friedman – McCain and Clinton double-tag-team America with an energy bill. Anyone surprised it’s a crock of shit?
Remembering the Ability in Disability – The authorities have an obligation to disAbled children: the give them a chance to succeed.
Crooked Timber – Seriously, how can OPEC and the WTO coexist?
A Lanson Boy – Why are Labour in such a rush to call the Crewe and Nantwich by-election?
Is Labour about to get a kicking?
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
The Guardian – Predicting big losses for Labour on Thursday.
David Aaronovitch – On how Brown’s “supporters” have left him high and dry. Aaronovitch also attacks his former employers at The Guardian.
Chicken Yoghurt – Justin has some fun with a meme (BTW, our Justin’s in a foul mood today).
Anton Vowl – Thinking The Daily Hate makes blogging far too easy.
Bob Piper – On being a hotel lobby revolutionary.
e8voive – Asks “Why is Obama not doing worse?”
Rachel from north London – Reminds us to wary of The War on Terror, and those who “fight it”, on our behalf.
This week’s Britblog roundup can be read over at Amused Cynicism.
War nerds and Green Mayors
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Bruce Anderson – Brown may be taking a battering, but Cameron’s still got some convincing to do.
Blood & Treasure – Jamie K interviews “War Nerd”.
The Daily (Maybe) – Making the case for Sian Berry as London Mayor: the leftist choice.
Bishop Hill – Why on earth do so-called Liberals back the European Union? Do they even remember anymore?
Clairwil – Is not convinced that CCTV monitoring will do much to improve her locale.
Paul Krugman – Beware the media’s accepted wisdom: on tax, Bush and McCain are two peas from the same pod.
Sunny Hundal – Our Ed just can’t get his head around why the media is suggesting Obama’s in trouble?
No swearing pls, we’re British
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
The Goldern Strawberry – Scandal in Helsinki? Surely not! (You’d think those Northern Europeans would be a bit less judgmental).
Shiraz Socialist – Methinks this polemic from Andrew Coates will prove quite controversial. An intricate dissection of the left and religion.
Question That – With May 1st around the corner, Ian’s running out of time and needs to make a decision: Ken or Boris?? C’mon man!
The Yorksher Gob – With a second choice vote up yer sleeve, there really isn’t any excuse for not voting for who the hell you like, however unlikely it is they’ll get the keys to City Hall.
John Harris – Are we swearing just a bit too much?
Earthpal – Those teachers are on strike. AGAIN. This mum’s just a bit pissed.
Tim Worstall – Ah, some refreshing sanity on the aviation pollution debate.
God and those whiney bloggers
Welcome to Casting the net. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
The Samovar – If people really believe in God, why don’t they act like they do? Maybe it’s because they don’t really.
Axe Grinder – Poor Mr. GuF and Mr. Dale have been bitching about MSM hacks nabbing their stories. Awwww, de-dums.
The World After Bush – Depressingly, Sunder considers which historical presidential loser Obama resembles the most.
Robert Novak – The pre-eminant conservative political commentator pokes Obama in the eye, claiming his “God ‘n Guns” speech was proof he’s an elitist and out of touch with blue-collar America.
Labour Outlook – A new Labour-centric blog/site has hit teh interwebs. Labour supporters are invited to contribute articles to its open “Reading Desk” section. Exclusive MP articles are also featured.
Cassilis – With his Think Tank roundup.
westmonster – On Phil Hale’s dark, pensive portrait of Tony Blair. Personally, I think the painting is brilliant.
Oh, and before I go, go watch this (audio necessary). Really funny. (What do you mean it’s not political? Ok, then, what about this?)
Flag pins and put-downs
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Arianna Huffington – On how the Republican revolution has totally changed political coverage on TV. Forget policy, it’s all about flag pins.
Freemania – If this post doesn’t make you giggle (and maybe sigh, just a little), you’re probably one of those people who confiscate children’s toys for fun.
Through The Scary Door – Exactly what is a Passive Revolution?
Alex Parsons – For all the proclamations of a new politics, Obama’s army of netizens are a pretty nasty and duplicitous bunch.
El Reg – Another government logo looks a bit… well, er… wanky.
Hugo Rifkind – With his top ten political put-downs.
Now is the time for shameless self promotion
I’m looking for more *liberal* blogs for my RSS reader, to help me with my daily blog review.
If you’re interested in having your content featured here on LC, drop me a line with your your URL at aaronh[at]liberalconspiracy[dot]org, and I promise to try and get your gender right.
Defending the indefensible
Northern Rock proved that “irresponsible” lending is dangerous game for banks to play. If a bank has too many debtors who are over-extended, then it leaves itself wide open to punishment if suddenly the economic climate cools. In America, where mortgages are traded between banks and investors like coffee beans, bad debts have created a financial crisis on a gargantuan scale, with the entire US economy peering over the precipice of a long and painful recession. It’s now very easy for all and sundry to point at the banks and crow that their chickens have finally come home to roost. Everyone, it seems, is desperate to see the first banker throw himself 34-floors to his splatterriffic death.
But is this fair, and is this a progressive position to take?
continue reading… »
Pah! It’s only water…
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Rachel North – Discussing Amnesty’s hard-hitting video campaign, which exposes all those cuddly CIA interrogation techniques.
Hopi Sen – Tries her (ooops) his hand at knocking out a Downing St. memo. She may have done this before…
Crooked Timber – Henry takes a contrarian position on academic freedom.
The Daily (Maybe) – Has ‘ol Jimmy Carter made a historic breakthrough in talks with Hamas?
The Yorksher Gob – Oh dear, Radio 4 would do well not upset the rabid Dr. Who-loving hoards again.
Indigo Jo Blogs – Boris’ history on race relations doesn’t hold up well under scrutiny. Essential reading.
The Inquirer - Foreign security agencies have access to UK traffic cameras. Anyone here seen the Bourne Ultimatum? Scary Mary.
The StopBoris Melody
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Stop Boris – Campaign video (more stop BoJo vids here and here).
Anton Vowl – Is thinking the Express has gone too far.
A Very Public Sociologist – Dispatches from the doorstep in muti-cultural Britain.
Antonia Bance – Is outraged at heterosexuals who want civil partnerships to avoid tax.
Shiraz Socialist – Jim comments on Powell’s “Rivers of Blood” speech and Britain today.
mediocracy – For film buffs: a review of Michael Haneke’s Caché. The 2005 film, which is out on DVD, deals with “Frenchness” and the unhealed wounds of French brutality in Algeria.
Mr. Eugenides hosts this week’s Britblog Review, the grandaddy of these net review type thingies.
Casting the net – Quick Links
Demos – Michael Harvey assess Brown’s fawning statements on US television, and asks what do they mean?
Dennis Perrin – It’s now safe to say that Christopher Hitchens is barking mad. via.
Robert Rouse – Obama didn’t shine in Wednesday’s debate.
Sunny Hundal – Our Ed explains why he’ll give his second vote to Ken.
Not a full review today. Been up half the night, so you’ll just have to do with a few links. Normal service will be resumed Monday.
Why not share your own recommendations below?
(go on, you know you want to)
Casting the net – Jabba’s back
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Gail Collins – There was more blood on the carpet at Wednesday’s Democratic presidential debate.
Bloggerheads – It’s all change at Tim’s gaff. Have your say.
Obsolete – On a recent trip to London, septicisle is surprised by the viciousness of London’s Mayoral run off.
The Poor Mouth – The rotund and perspiring Alisher Usmanov is back with his gang of lawyers. This time the target is South African blogger Pickled Bushman.
Unspeak – When does “deferred” actually mean “charges dropped”? When Bush’s Justice Dept. is investigating his corporate buddies. I wish they were handling my student loans.
DisAbility – Dave Heeley ran seven marathons in seven cities in seven days. Oh, and he’s blind.
Shiraz Socialist – What if there were a Musical Olympics? (no, don’t even go there Disney)
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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