Casting the net -The skinny edition
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section. A brief one today – as per the rest of the week.
Highlights
Advancing the sum total of human knowledge and endeavour! – Part of the reason I’m pro-choice is the fear that I don’t have one myself.
Forget biology, a child must be wanted.
Bernard Aris/LDV – Opinion: A liberal view from Holland
An interesting historical look at the links between Dutch and British liberal politics.
The Diary of Chris K – Teenage spirituality leads to mental health problems
Organised religion is healthy, kooky spiritualism and atheism isn’t. So says an Australian study.
Craig Murray – Mr Aaronovitch’s Problem
The latest media tiff is between former diplomat and writer Craig Murray, and Iraq War cheerleader and columnist David Aaronovitch.
Jonathan Freedland/CiF – The free-marketeers abhor the crutch of the state – until they start limping
£77bn is wiped off the city’s valuation, and suddenly they need the State’s help. But then, capitalism is inherently parasitic.
The Red Box/Times – The anti-obesity drive. In association with Kellogg’s, GlaxoSmithKline and SlimFast
The corporations that “help” with Westminster policy making. How nice and fluffy.
Iran Coverage – A Serious Political Blow to Ahmadinejad or an Election Maneuver?
Is Ahmadinejad losing his grip on power? (via)
Elsewhere
Hot Ginger and Dynamite – State of the Blogosphere Address
Freemania – The value of your investment may go all over the place as well as nowhere
D-Notice – ECtHR: Banning gay adoption is illegal
SpyBlog – Home Secretary promises Metal Detectors in some schools, but they are still not installed in every Prison
Stephen Tall/LDV – Official: UK voting system “open to fraud”
Neal Lawson/OurKingdom – Machines, markets and morals: the new politics of a democratic NHS
Neil Stockley – The politics of generations: baby boomers and after
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.
Casting the net – The Commando assault hovercraft and the *very* nasty Democratic debate
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section. A brief one today – as per the rest of the week.
Breaking News
The Asian markets have plunged “farther and faster” today, as the global financial crisis deepens.
Highlights
Programme your mind – Having your cake and eating it
Nutritional education should start in the classroom, so why are cookery classes such a joke? And no, this is not penned by Jamie Oliver (*spit*).
Mark Mardell’s Euroblog – Is there a European Islam?
Many argue Turkey is too Muslim for Europe. Mark is in Albania: a predominantly Muslim country, and very much a part of Eastern Europe.
Bloggerheads – Missile Bases in the Sky!
Tim is throwing a sulk because reality is no match for the futures promised in his ‘1962 Lion Book of War Adventures’. C’mon George W. Bush, where are our nuclear hovercrafts???
PoliticalBetting.Com – The sparks fly between Hillary and Barack [video & comment]
News from last night’s bitchfest. BTW. Just how self-rightous does Hilary look?
Tim Caswell/TMP – The Parties: Over?
The stats don’t lie: party politics is on its knees. Excellent article.
Elsewhere
Jon Craig/Boulton & Co. – Good Jokes, William, Shame About The Policy [with video]
Jonathan Bryant/OurKingdom – Primary Selection, MMCs, and the end of quangocracy
Hack/C4 – Rocky Horror [animation]
New Humanist Blog – Ban Islamist speakers to prevent spread of extremism, goverment urges universities
SpyBlog – Des Browne now admits to 3 stolen, unencrypted Ministry of Defence recruitment laptop computers
Remembering the Ability in Disability – Katie Thorpe is back… and her mother’s talking rubbish!
Omar’s Blog – Desperate attacks on Ken (and his buses)
Anders Hanson – Sheffield Tories claim Nick Clegg’s ‘first clanger’
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.
Casting the net – Rightwing revisionism, and the left fighting 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 section. Casting the net will brief this week (even if I get chance to post everyday), as I have a lot of work on.
Highlights
Paul Krugman/NYT – Debunking the Reagan Myth
Here in the UK we have to suffer the constant revisionism of Thatcher, framed by a gaggle of slavish rightwing hacks and bloggers. Likewise in the States, progressives have to tolerate a constant barrage of books and articles lionising Ronald Reagan; a President whose administration was so entrenched in corporatism, America’s mighty military machine and its secret services were mobilised at their behest. Krugman, angry at Barack Obama’s apparent acceptance of the Reagan Myth, unravels the newly established wisdom that the Average Joe prospered under the Hollywood president.
Tom Griffin – Smearing Livingstone: The latest episode from neocon TV
Griffin is suspicious of Martin Bright’s links with Dean Godson (of Policy Exchange) and of his recent attack on Red Ken. It’s conspiratorial, but interesting nonetheless.
Dave Osler – In defence of Socialist Action. Sort of.
Have you spotted today’s theme yet?
Alan Dershowitz/Huffington Post – Huckabee’s Confusion Over the Ten Commandments and the Constitution
Mike Huckabee thinks America’s godless constitution needs the bible and that the Ten Commandments have never been revised. Huck needs to go back to divinity school, so says Dershowitz.
Conor’s Commentary – Anatomy of a ‘gaffe’ in today’s press
Jacqui Smith’s uber-gaff is everywhere on the blogosphere, including here.
westmonster- Portrait artist selection process
Jonathon Yeo, Tim’s laddie and Tony Blair’s new portrait artist, thinks our former PM is enjoying the struggles of his successor.
Elsewhere
New Humanist Blog – Prince Charles fond of “proper fundamentalism”
Rumbold/Pickled Politics – British subject wants to change some British laws
Freemania – Thinking uncharitable thoughts
Rachel North – Spooks and being spooked
Chris Dillow – Our feudal economy
normblog – Fund for Burmese refugees and migrants
Wit & Wisdom – Improved Security Through The UN? It’s a long shot but it just might work.
Stuart King – The cost of food
Chris Paul – Guido Fawkes: Boris Johnson Pants Down Fixation
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.
Casting the net – Mainstream Friday
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section.
Highlights
Blogging4Merton – Heathrow Airport plane crash & expansion of airport
Unlike many international hubs, Heathrow’s “flightpath is directly over the city”, and yesterday’s accident highlights the dangers of expansion.
The Daily (Maybe) – Just Wars
Sandals and placards at the ready: Jim Jay’s coming over the top.
anticant’s arena – Does reason matter?
Religion’s war on science. And more.
Mowaffak al-Rubaie/WashPo – Federalism, Not Partition
Federalism is the only solution to the stalemate in Iraq – so says the country’s national security adviser.
Charles Laurence/The First Post – Obama is just another machine politician
Don’t believe the hype, he’s just another vacuous changeling. Oh, right… bugger.
Hugh Barnes/openDemocracy – Putin on freedom versus welfare
Democracy in Russia is in bad-shape. And it’s getting worse as Putin puts welfare ahead of political freedom (I can’t help but think most Russians agree with Putin, though).
Daniel Finkelstein/Times – Why I think McCain will win
Yeah, I know all the usual rightwing self-promoting blowhards will be linking to this, but it’s worthy all the same.
westmonster – From the postbag: the BNP
The hard-working hacks at westmonster have received an email plugging the BNP’s mayoral candidate: Richard Barnbrook. Something wrong with the SPAM filter?
Elsewhere
Norfolk Blogger – Is there an organisation that has achieved less and is more useless than the African Union?
Pickled Politics – Who Can Implement Change? Obama v Hillary
Dave Cole – Pascal’s wager and climate change
Jamie C’s Political Hotspot – The Cold War of the Mind
THE DIVINE DEMOCRAT – REALITY CHECK
Bloggerheads – My submission to the Home Office for the public consultation on SOCPA
Davos Newbies – The fierce urgency of now
New Humanist (Mag.) – Backward Christian soldiers
Special thanks to Robert Rouse for forwarding me the link to his excellent Blog World Report: an excellent international progressive blog aggregator.
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.
Casting the net – A trip down memory lane
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section. Today’s links are taking a trip down memory lane, so for your pleasure, we have provided musical accompaniment…
Flying in style
The Tories have enjoyed a great deal of political capital from the financial turmoil that has engulfed Number Ten. A boost in the polls, thanks to Brown’s election miscalculation and constant bad news for Labour, has saved David Cameron from the backbench knives that were being sharpened ahead of last summer’s Conservative Conference. However, many political observers had noted a reticence among the Tory front-bench to really turn the knife. One wondered if they themselves had skeletons in the cupboard…
From Yesterday’s Guardian:
The Electoral Commission has tonight confirmed it has received a complaint about 80 Conservative MPs. …the Tories may have failed to declare correctly cash given to them by “patrons clubs“ and other so-called “unincorporated associations“.
[...]
In a separate move, a complaint about the Conservative party allegedly under-reporting the value of flights taken by members of the shadow cabinet has also been lodged with the Electoral Commission.The Labour MP Ian Lucas asked the commission to investigate “the systematic undervaluing of flights donated to members of the shadow cabinet, including the Rt Hon David Cameron“.
Oh, how irregular? The jet belonged to one Lord Ashcroft, and Mr. Cameron is accused of using it during his leadership campaign. However, Slippery Dave declared it as first-class travel only; vastly undervaluing the fact that he had actually loaned a private jet (ah leadership campaigns – anyone else getting a sense of deja vu?)
Indeed, if we go waaaaay back in time to October 2007 – yes, I know, we were only kids – we find that a few blogs ran the story in some *fascinating* detail. Enjoy.
Ministry of Truth – Something whiffy this way comes
Political Penguin – Flying with Con Air
Tom Watson – Flying lion Ltd
westmonster – Con Air
Reactions to the more recent story have begun appearing on the radar:
The Willow Man – Conservative Leader and Vice Chairman Resign
*hint: this where you call me a party hack*
Elsewhere
Steven Pinker/NYT Mag. – The Moral Instinct [essay]
Jo Swinson MP – Campaign for Gender Balance Awards: best blog post?
Clairwil – Benefit Reform
Indigo Jo Blogs – Segregation and apartheid … in the UK?
tygerland.net – Could the cooling of the U.S. economy effect the developing world?
The Daily (Maybe) – What do you call the Third World?
Mark Mardell’s Euroblog – Rallying with the Serbian nationalists
Michael Boyle/CiF – A spectacular mess
Dave Hill’s Big Britain – Seethers’ Corner [photo]
Liberal Burblings – ePolitix verdict: Clegg beating Cameron at PMQs
Norfolk Blogger – Sometimes things happen to make me think unliberal thoughts
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.
Casting the net – Essence of Cleggism: what the…?
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section.
Highlights
Big Sticks and Small Carrots – Sweet Harmony
The government believes that public protest is a “vital part” of democracy. Just do it quietly over there in the corner. Thank you.
Mark Pack/LDV – Conservatives admit breaking the law over David Cameron’s free flight
Pedants corner: a law is a law.
John Pugh MP – Essence of Cleggism
Does “Essence of Cleggism” sound just plain daft to anyone else? It’s something like Classical Liberalism, apparently.
Stumbling and Mumbling – BBC bias
It’s not *that* bias, though.
The Very Fluffy Diary of Millennium Dome, Elephant – A Society Willing to Take Risks
Is pragmatic politics, and letting the other parties tie themselves up in partisan knots, the recipe for Lib Dem success?
Obsolete – From organ donation to the right to die.
[QUOTE] “I couldn’t care less what you do with my body when I’m dead – burn it, piss on it, extract my eyeballs and use them as marbles – it’s up to you.”
Skipper – Peter Hain Looks Like ‘Toast’
It’s over for Hain, so says Bill Jones.
Jonathan Levy/Boulton & Co. – Advantage Giuliani?
Are things actually going to plan for Uber-Hawk Rudy Giuliani?
Elsewhere
The Dissenter’s Voice – The future’s bright, the future’s Orange
Liberal Bureaucracy – Choice is a good thing. Isn’t it?
The Daily (Maybe) – Divide and rule: teachers vs cops
Question That – Coercing Corpses
New Humanist: Blog – Italian scientists protest against visit from Pope
PoliticalBetting.Com – Does Michigan take the wind out of McCain’s sails?
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.
Casting the net – Lovely braaaaaiiins
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section. Today’s links could care less what you do with them once they’re dead. Why? Because they’d be dead.
Organ Grinding
Watch out for Dizzy “Thinks” accusing Justin of writing an “intellectually vapid piece”. Apparently, Justin now refuses to come out of his room until Dizzy apologises.
Justin McKeating – Monkeys and the organ minder
Cassilis – After death there is no ‘you’…
Polly Toynbee/CiF – Living people matter. When you’re dead, you’re dead
Bob Piper – Mouth… organs
Libby Purves/Times – Whose body is it anyway?
Dizzy Thinks – Lots of nonsense on organ donations from Liberal Conspiracy and elsewhere
Iain Dale – Brown Wants to Nationalise Our Bodies
The Diary of Chris K – The Organ Grinder…
The Yorksher Gob – Organ Donation
Sim-O’s Random Thoughts – What to do with the offal?
Thomas Sutcliffe – Have a heart and sign up to organ donation
Tony’s Blog – Much offal
Vino S – In favour of an ‘opt-out’ system of organ donation
So, how about this: we let the Tories win this one, and the dead are burned and buried, complete with all their gooey bits. Oh, and more people die. What a result, eh?
Elsewhere
Though Cowards Flinch – The Role of the State
Seema Malhotra/Compass – Westminster’s democratic deficit shames political system
Jon Worth – British press and the EU: yesterday numberplates, today sausages
Mike Allen/Politico – Clinton, Obama seek truce on race row
Chicken Backup – The Profligate Peter Hain
Skipper – Peter Hain Looks Like ‘Toast’
DM Andy’s blog – It’s election day… in Barbados
yourfriendinthenorth – Ware did it all go wrong?
Westminster Wisdom – The Political Theory of Reservoir Dogs
Mike Rouse – News at Ten Returns
Dave Cole – Stop the War Coalition and Channel Four
Also, check out the New Statesman, which is running a series of pieces on “Life After Bush.”
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.
Casting the net – Forget the primaries, it’s the Faroe Islands that really matter
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section. Today’s links are flabbergasted that people still think Ringo Starr can sing.
Highlights
Spin Blog – Presumed Consent: Gordon Gets It Right
A Tory blogger goes against the party grain (including Saint Iain of Dale), welcoming government plans to change the donor system in favour of “presumed consent” (Hat-Tip: Lee Griffin).
The Golden Strawberry – I Will Jump Through That Hoop, Then I’ll Strangle You With The Red Tape…
Can we all agree that this is health and safety gaaawn maaaad?
Contrapuntal News – The Iraq War Resolution – Senator Clinton’s Refusal to Lead
Is Clinton a tool of the corporatocracy: just another bought off politician happy to vote with the establishment?
Head of Legal – Peter Hain: trouble with PPERA
The always authoritative HOL on Hain’s funding troubles.
Mark Pack/LDV – Why the Faroe Island elections matter
Obscure election that may have an impact on the UK.
Spy Blog – Independent on Sunday – Ministry of (In)Justice plans to VeriChip and release prisoners
The surveillance blog punchers some very bad science and rues the lack of technological savvy in Whitehall.
The Poor Mouth – NATO considered Italian coup
History: An American led coup d’etat in Europe? This ain’t Latin America, Mr. Kissinger.
Renaissance Virtues – On loyalty and tribalism
Loyalty in politics: vice or virtue?
Elsewhere
Fareed Zakaria/NEWSWEEK – The assassination of Benazir Bhutto has shaken the already troubled Pakistan
Jamie C’s Political Hotspot – Bobbies on the beat cut crime – well duh!
Fritz Stern/CiF – Imperial hubris: lessons for America
Mind The Gap – Time for a new sexual revolution?
Shiraz Socialist – The future’s green; the future’s nuclear
Rachel from north London – Inside a terrorism trial
Cassilis – Party funding – can it really be that difficult…?
Finally, Clairwil has this week’s Britblog Round Up. Enjoy.
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.
Casting the net – Odds ‘n sods ‘n podcasts
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section. Apologies for the lateness of today’s review.
Highlights
Sunder Katwala/CiF – The West Wing comes to Westminster
Cameron is slippery Mitt Romney, he’s no Barack Obama. Sunder has some fun with political comparisons.
Paul Krugman – The Comeback Continent
Europe is back. Ooooh-yeah!
Clive Soley/CiF – Crying betrayal
Soley attempts to debunk the claims that we’re less free under Labour. Hmmm.
Eric Lee – The invisible candidate
John Edwards is still very much in the race. Here’s how.
Jonathan Fryer – Boris, Brian and Ken Go Head to Head
Jonathon writes up the mayoral debate. Did BJ the Mayor Bear get under Red Ken’s skin?
Obsolete – Counting and recounting the bodies.
Has the invasion – and subsequent chaos – led to as many deaths as during Saddam’s rule?
Mat Bowles – Ron Paul is, and always has been, a bigot and a crank
Bowles writes up news of some rehashed mail-shots that The New Republic has published, which show Ron Paul in a very poor light. It should be noted that Dr. Paul has distanced himself from the documents and stated he had nothing to do with their publication.
Podcast Pluggage
Matt Wardman is experimenting with a daily round up podcast. These sort of things require a colossal amount of work, so please, if you’re a podcast listener, why not try it out and include any useful criticism in the comments of Matt’s link?
Other noteworthy podcasts include: Matthew Revell’s increasingly polished Wolverhampton Politics and the promising Realpolitik podcast, produced by bloggers Gavin Whenman & Richard Holloway.
Elsewhere
Tony Curzon Price/Ourkingdom – Nuclear option should be kept open
Paul Linford – Nuclear power – an apology
Earthpal – Coming to a town near you . . .
Renaissance Virtues – Shadows of Marx
Janestheone – blasphemy!
Peter Black AM – Haingate
Liberal Action – Poor Peter Hain – More Labour Sleaze
The Sound of Gunfire – Hain must go
(ps. there is very, very little coverage of the Hain story across the Labour blogosphere)
Parliamentary Questions – Breaking the fence
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.
Casting the net – Know thy enemy
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments section.
Highlights
Ann Coulter – John Vincent Coulter
I’m probably going to get stoned for linking to an Ann Coulter article, but I think this eulogy to her father gives deep insight into the psyche of the American right.
Tim Luckhurst/CiF – The rise of the clan chief
A devastating character assassination of the PM. Luckhurst even dismisses the chancellor’s supposed intellect. Ouch.
Cassilis – Real compassion demands welfare reform…
Cassilis calls for an end to idle partisan rhetoric: “a system that might ultimately see a very small number of people being denied any support at all is still a compassionate system”.
Hopi Sen – Dude, where’s my bandwagon?
Hopi chronicles the deeply tragic sight of David Cameron jumping on the Obama bandwagon.
James Graham – Nick Clegg: It’s beat up an activist day!
Clegg is aping Cameron (who aped Blair) by taking on his own party. Clegg, however, doesn’t have the mandate.
John Garnaut/SMH – China’s economic power needs the party
On China’s autocratic capitalism and its social democrat: economic historian Qin Hui. via.
Eric Lee – Which candidate should American unions support?
All three democratic frontrunners represent improvements for America’s workers, but who is best?
Elsewhere
Daily Kos – Enough with the “Diebold Hacked the NH Primary“ Lunacy
Mind the Gap – Solidarity and feminism – how far we’ve come in 40 years…
John’s Labour blog – Boris says Ken to blame for knife crime
Remembering the Ability in Disability – I thought he had a son with CP?
Jon Worth – Nuclear: annoy a few people a lot, rather than mildly inconveniencing the many
Westminster Wisdom – The Relevance of Rigour
Rupert Cornwell/Independent – Instead of the coronation of Barack Obama, we witnessed the triumph of democracy
Mark Mardell’s Euroblog – A Polish border tragedy
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.
Casting the net – Shock horror, it ain’t Obama!
On a day when America’s pollsters awoke with egg on their faces, and Nick Clegg faces the potential banana-skin that is PMQs, Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review, returns. I’ve been away for a while, so if you’ve read anything worth sharing over the holidays, please drop a link in the comments below.
Highlights
Jock’s Place – The real “Liberal Conspiracy“ starts here
Jock’s reclaiming the moniker, and he’s discussing a new Lib Dem project committed to developing radical economic policy.
Daniel Finkelstein/The Times – All change: the Right knows it’s wrong
Finally, the conservatives “get” The Third Way.
The Daily Maybe – Set-about the lay-abouts
While millionaires enjoy gaping loopholes in the tax system, Cameron decided that his party should concentrate on the long-term unemployed.
Also: Beau Bo D’Or has the obligatory image, Obsolete has related commentary and Norfolk Blogger doesn’t think Cameron’s proposals are all bad.
Politics for People – TV on standby is the new adultery
Individual solutions are not good enough. The collectivists go environmental.
Fair Deal Phil – Cameron flip-flops again to jump on Obama bandwagon…
An attempt to score political points, from some attempted political point scoring: how very meta!
Martin Tod – Post Office Closures – despite all the hard work, almost all closures to go ahead
Tod reports on a campaign to prevent rural Post Office closures in Hampshire. Not a roaring success.
[AUDIO]Fergal Keane/BBC Radio Four – Taking a Stand
Keane speaks to the director of Iraq’s National Library, Dr Saad Eskander, on why he returned to his turbulent country after exile in Britain (not sure how long the BBC will have this available). Via.
The Sound of Gunfire – Deja vu all over again?
It’s 1976 all over again. No, seriously.
Elsewhere
Oxford University Press Blog – Milton in 2008
Eric Lee – Why John Edwards is still in this race
Vino S – Thoughts on the New Hampshire primary result
Lynne Featherstone – New Hampshire score: polls 0, public 1
Mars Hill – Richard Littlejohn and His Vile Humour
Stephen Tall – What should Nick ask Gordon at PMQs?
PoliticalBetting.com – How will Clegg do first time out?
Luke Akehurst – Is private healthcare no longer taboo?
Liberal Burblings – Goodbye blasphemy
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.
Running mates
Running Mates are often seen as crucial to a nominee’s chances of winning a general election. George W. Bush, as we know, chose the vastly experienced Dick Cheney as his running mate in 2000, an appointment which has seen the hawkish, Nebraska-born former congressman from Wyoming, become arguably America’s most influential Vice President in history. Ironically, it was Cheney’s job to brief Bush on possible Veeps, only for Bush to surprise everyone by rejecting Cheney’s recommendations, and asking him to fill the ticket himself. How much influence strategist Karl Rove had on the decision is unclear.
Vice Presidential hopefuls have run on the same ticket as wannabe Presidents since 1804 (prior to this date, the losing candidate would assume the VP’s role). In early times the “Ticket Balance” was used to assuage the North/South divide. This changed after the Civil War, but nevertheless, nominees continue to use their choice of Running Mate to massage worries within the electorate.
Posters on this blog have already swooned over the possibility of an Obama-Edwards ticket, but if Obama has a weakness, it’s his perceived inexperience. Edwards offers little in this respect, beyond his own VP run alongside John Kerry in ‘04 (it should also be noted that Edwards’ head-to-head debate with Cheney was called in favour of the latter). I expect Obama to pick an older statesman, someone like Bill Richardson who has vast experience, both as an executive and in Washington (he would also be very handy in attracting the Spanish vote). Richardson, like Joe Biden, is also a foreign policy heavyweight, something the Democratic trio of stars will have to consider whichever gets the nomination.
Other possibilities not to be ignored are Gen. Wesley Clark, former Virginian governor Mark Warner, and the increasingly independent Mike Bloomberg (the incumbent NYC Mayor would come at an incredibly high price though).
Obama is a long way away from securing the nomination, so it’s worth considering who the other Democratic frontrunners would chose…
Bhutto assassinated
May I draw your attention to The Daily (Maybe), which has comprehensive coverage of the assassination of Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan who was killed today in a suicide bombing at a rally in Rawalpindi.
Casting the net – Bye, bye 2007
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. It’s Christmas Eve (so how about a smile, eh?).
Highlights
Paul Linford – My review of 2007
Paul’s annual review of the political world. Informed and insightful.
UK Poling Report – ComRes show 11 point Tory lead
The last poll of the year? (CON 41% (+1), LAB 30%(+3), LDEM 16% (-2))
Ben Rogers/CiF – Santa clues
If you believe in God, why not Santa?
Ministry of Truth – The price of penny-pinching
Emails have surfaced from within the HMRC. Cue analysis and comment from Unity.
Alex Parsons – On Militant Atheists
Atheism is split into two camps. Non-believers and God-Haters. But intolerant atheism does have a purpose.
Norfolk Blogger – Nick – if you want to make Education your priority then lets adopt the principle of having as little change as possible
Teacher and Lib Dem blogger Nich Starling, has some advice for young Mr. Clegg.
PoliticalBetting.com – Guest slot: Do governments always recover in the polls?
Guest poster Andy Cooke looks back at history to assess a government’s chances of political recovery after the mid-term blues.
Johann Hari – Charity is fine, but the real issue is trade
Only trade represents a sustainable solution to global poverty.
The latest Britblog Roundup is up at Mr Eugenides (NSFW, but you knew that already).
Elsewhere
Bruce Anderson/Independent – The main obstacle to the Tories’ success is that they sound just a bit too cheerful
Simon Titley /LDV – Opinion: What should the new leader do in his first 100 days? #6
Chicken Yoghurt – So this is Christmas, and what have you done?
Love & Garbage – Tommy Sheridan and the alphabet soup of Scottish left wing politcs – an update
Peter Dunphy/LDV – Labour’s swing to puritanism
Mike Ion – The politics of Christmas
Andy Howell – Taking the Rap – For Everything!
Werner Patels – While often tricky and controversial, comments DO define blogs
Casting the net will return on January 9th. Merry Christmas [legal dept: other festivals are available] and have a Happy New Year.
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.
Casting the net – Better late than never
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. Apologies for the lateness of today’s instalment. My internet connection has been down all day. Obviously other work has piled up too, so let’s crack on…
Highlights
Robin Lustig/BBC – The Lustig predictions for 2008
BBC4’s World Tonight presenter, Robin Lustig, gives his predictions for ‘08. No US Presidential picks though, shame on you Robin.
Dave Hill/CiF – The ghost of Christmases past
Christmas has always been flexible to changes in society. So let’s not get too defensive, eh?
Freemania – Poverty and simplicity
Tom Freeman assesses Labour’s record on tackling poverty: “it’s a mixed bag, but the mix is mostly positive.”
Johann Hari – Cluster bombs are an evil we must ban outright
Will Britain side with humanity or with the big-spending superpowers? Via.
Stephen Tall/LDV – Reshuffle reactions: your essential guide
Stephen Tall has kindly put together a blog review of Lib Dem reactions to Clegg’s reshuffle. So I don’t have to. Excellent.
Stop the BNP – Fight night in Leeds
A despatch from Searchlight spies. The BNP civil war etc. Pure theatre.
Elsewhere
Paul Linford – The importance of faith
Katrina Forrester/OurKingdom – Home grown activism can shape parliament’s behaviour
Oleg Panfilov/Index on Censorship – Russia: Elections of the absurd
Mark Valladares/LDV – Opinion: What should the new leader do in his first 100 days? #5
Labour And Capital – Private equity and governance
tygerland – Huckabee’s breath of fresh air (a bit of fun)
I’m pushed for time, so that’s all I have time for today. If I have missed something, please drop a link in the comments for the other readers to follow. Thanks.
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.
Casting the net – Britain’s liberal future
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review.
Highlights
Clairwil – Having A Pop At Herion Addicts
A compelling, hard-line view on talking Britain’s addiction to hard drugs
Crooked Timber – Belgium: time out of the political crisis
A sticky plaster has been placed on the seething wound that is Belgian politics.
Nick Clegg – Together, we can build Britain’s liberal future
The newly elected Lib Dem leader sets out his stall.
Politicalbetting.com – How important is believing in God?
Paul Linford – Clegg says no to English Parliament (and God)
Bob Piper – God botherers
In the States it would make him a presidential dead-duck, but does Clegg’s atheism even matter?
donpaskini – Telling lies about poverty
The Tories claim to be progressives. Yeah, whatever.
John B/The Sharpener – Opposition to immigration is inherently immoral
Claiming the moral high-ground in defence of the indigenous poor doesn’t bear scrutiny.
Elsewhere
Andrew Brown – Facebook is like Hotel California, but you might want to leave Andrew Brown
Andrew Hinton – Lib-Connery
James Graham – Homeophobia? I am not a scientist but…
Wongablog – Rampant Homeophobia
Compass Youth – A new chapter? Forging a truly progressive response to the threat of terrorism
Michelle Goldberg/CiF – Mike Huckabee, conservative golem
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.
Casting the net – Clegg, by a nose
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review.
The Lib Dems have an early Christmas present…
In the shape of a new leader, Nick Clegg.
The Yorksher Gob – A Clegg Victory
The Huhne-lovin’ Gob is not a happy camper.
Simon Heffer/Telegraph – Why Nick Clegg’s election could change Britain
The Hefferlump thinks Clegg is “charming, serious, intelligent and even sincere.” If that’s not reason enough to loathe Clegg, I don’t know what is.
Jonathan Freedland/CiF – If Clegg gets it right in 2008, he could bring the Lib Dems into government
Clegg is the latest Mini-Blair to be elected to lead a major political party, and this one has a big job on his hands, too.
Steve Richards/Independent – Now that he is leader, Clegg cannot afford to trip up in the ways he did as a candidate
After a tepid election, Nick Clegg must get serious. Preparation is the key.
Chris Dillow – How to elect leaders
Does a crap campaign make a crap leader?
Stephen Tall/LDV – Now’s your chance, Nick
An open letter from one of the Lib Dem’s leading bloggers.
Obsolete – The clunking Clegg.
Clegg won: meh.
The Very Fluffy Diary of Millennium Dome, Elephant – Nick Clegg: His Hand on My Bottom
Millennium Elephant’s very different take on events.
Cicero’s Songs – Brown and Out
There will be no honeymoon, Clegg will have to get straight to work.
Highlights
Julie Burchill/CiF – Why I love Tesco
Independent shopkeepers should stop whining and get off their lazy arses. Tesco rules. Via.
New Direction – About liberalism
A lengthy essay from politico-in-waiting, Tom Miller.
Westmonster – A sad day
Newsnight’s coverage of the Lib Dem election was garbage, and indicates “the Death of Political Journalism on the BBC.” A little bit sensational, maybe?
Alex Parsons – The Church is stealing Christmas
The Christians are angry, the atheists are angry. It’s Christmas Time!
Jon’s union blog – Here we go, here we go, here we go?
Don’t expect the next round of union pay talks to be any easier.
Elsewhere
John’s Labour blog – Galloway sticks knife in over SWP sleaze
Graham Watson MEP/LDV – United in Europe
Chris Paul – Tory Health Charity Hijack: Ashcroft’s Bearwood Barefaced
Stephen Newton – Beth Ditto on Keira Knightley
Liberal Burblings – Iain Dale proves that the Tories wouldn’t recognise decentralisation if it hit them in the face
William Gumede/CiF – Zuma’s victory may trigger the break-up of the ANC
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.
Casting the net – Decision day for the Lib Dems
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review.
D-Day
Today Vince Cable will announce the winner of the Liberal Democrat leadership election. Clegg is expected to win, but it’s a close call.
Lib Dem Voice has the following series of posts from Lib Dem bloggers, on how they feel the new leader should begin: -
Paul Walter – Opinion: What should the new leader do in his first 100 days?
Linda Jack – Opinion: What should the new leader do in his first 100 days? #2
David Morton – Opinion: What should the new leader do in his first 100 days? #3
Mary Reid – Opinion: What should the new leader do in his first 100 days? #4
UPDATE: The new Lib Dem leader is Nick Clegg, and it was VERY close.
Highlights
Charles Kennedy/CiF – There’s no harder party to lead than the Lib Dems
He should know!
Michael Brown/Independent – Cameron should remould our political system
The Tories have as much of a vested interest in electoral reform as the LibDems do.
PoliticalBetting.com – Why Labour under Brown is certain to lose
Mike Smithson chronicles how things have gone from bad to worse for the Labour Leader.
Recess Monkey – So what’s the deal with Dale?
After the “tw*t” remark, Alex Hilton uses his right to reply. If this were Eastenders, we’d be looking forward to a Christmas Day showdown.
The Diary of Chris K – One more thing – Are Tories evil?
More from the “Tories are evil” debate.
Stroppy Blog – In Defence Of Argument
An argument in favour of arguing. All very meta.
Matt Wardman has the latest BritBlog Roundup.
Elsewhere
Obsolete – Charles Moore enters the Policy Exchange/Newsnight fray.
Joe Otten – Reinventing the State Chapter 19: Tackling Terrorism: A Liberal Democrat Approach
John McDonnel MP – Credit Crisis and Economic Downturn Looms but it’s Another Good Year for City Bonuses.
Antonia Bance – The difference between halving child poverty and doing nice things
Freemania – Abuse of office
Love & Garbage – Trumpton: some questions
And yes, Chicken Yoghurt is back!
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.
Casting the net – The angry young man
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review.
Alex Kid
Alex Hilton has caused a shitstorm over at CiF with this polemic, which basically calls all young Tories spotty-faced goons. The great pretender to the thrown of British Blogfather, Iain Dale, asks if Hilton is, like, 12? And Gracci isn’t impressed with Alex, who he claims is “so swallowed up in the bile of partisan hatred, trade union war mongering and spite for ‘hoorays’ that he has lost his sense of proportion.”
Highlights
Crooked Timber – A big win for the planet, and others
John Quiggin considers the recent “breakthrough” in the Bali Climate Talks.
Westmonster – All bets are off
Lots of blogs have picked up on the latest YouGov poll, which puts the Tories in a commanding position. Lloyd Shepherd points out that Ed Ball’s Children’s Plan has made zero impact.
Big Sticks and Small Carrots – Dean Godson: “Research Director”
Garry Smith has more on the man behind last week’s Policy Exchange scandal.
Ken Livingstone/CiF – Sack Andrew Gilligan
London’s beloved leader is on Gilligan’s case over an “extraordinary series of stories” the hack produced for the Standard.
Antony Hook – American Gangster: a true political film
Hook looks at Director Ridley Scott’s new politically charged flick.
Elsewhere
Tobias Jones/CiF – Frank about Franco
Anthony Barnett/OurKingdom – Labour is worse than it looks
Question That – Common Censorship
donpaskini – I looked to the government to help the working man
Shiraz Socialist – No, Mr Porter: class is the ‘great divide’
PoliticalBetting.com – Is Hillary set to join Gord in the losers’ club?
Liberal England – The state can be the worst parent of all
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.
Casting the net – Policy Exchange caught with their trousers down?
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review.
Godson reacts sans humility
Policy Exchange are accused of fabricating a report on literature available in British Mosques. The blogosphere has more…
Obsolete – Policy Exchange rumbled by Newsnight.
The Green Ribbon – Newsnight on the Godson Approach to Political Warfare
Ministry of Truth – Can I have a receipt for that?
Big Sticks and Small Carrots – Predetermined Outcomes, Part 2
Highlights
PoliticalBetting.com – Were these the front pages Gord wanted to avoid?
Gordon Brown yesterday played imperfect politics. Arriving late to sign the Lisbon Treaty, he offended cosignatories and Europhobes alike.
John’s Labour Blog – George Galloway: My part in his downfall
Did John Gray really bring down everyone’s favourite pussycat?
Robin Lustig – Playing happy families in the Kremlin
Will Putin be the humble PM to a new President? Nah, Lustig doesn’t think so either. [unstable link? try here]
Polly Toynbee/CiF – The state is not public enemy number one
Finally, a defender of the government’s record on Civil Liberties. Right! Get her boys.
Greg Anrig/CiF – The real test the US keeps flunking
America must address the race-based inequalities in its education system, or suffer a further comparative decline.
Love and Liberty – A Vote For Chris (featuring Chris’ answer to a nasty question you’ve probably seen elsewhere)
The election for the LibDem leadership closes tomorrow, Lib Dem’r Alex Wilcock gives a lengthy explanation as to why last-minute voters should back Chris Huhne.
Love and Liberty – A Vote For Nick (featuring Nick’s ‘EXCLUSIVE’ answer to a nasty question)
The election for the LibDem leadership closes tomorrow, Lib Dem’r Alex Wilcock gives a lengthy explanation as to why last-minute voters should back Nick Clegg.
Very Clever. I see what you did there, Alex.
Pluggage
As UN troops prepare for deployment in Darfur they still lack essential helicopters. blogolob is petitioning the Premier to lead by example – by sending a handful of British choppers, hopefully shaming the international community into action. Sign it here.
Elsewhere
Al Gore/Independent – The world can’t wait for George Bush
Freemania – Blame where credit’s not due
New Humanist – Is the Pope Catholic? The religious views of the new England manager
Adam Boulton – Brown In Brussels
Cicero’s Songs – The Last Trump for Salmond
Murad Qureshi AM/TMP – We need to get out and vote in London
The Whiskey Priest – Realpolitik 7: Wiiii! (the latest episode of this promising political podcast)
The Labour Humanist Group – Labour Humanists debate faith based welfare
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.
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?
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» In defence of these fraternal nominations
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