Battered and bruised
Labour are beginning to look like a punch-drunk former champ. They seem addicted to the buzz, but whenever they enter the ring they invariably get an almighty mauling. Last night was always going to be a shoo-in for the Tories, after all it’s Henley. But for Labour to be battered and bruised into fifth, behind such towering political heavyweights as The Greens, is quite the humiliation. It’s still uncertain that the up-and-coming challenger, Slippery Dave Cameron, has the stamina and power to win the Title belt, but surely he’s where the smart money is at…
Freemania – They don’t call him “Slippery” for nothing. Tom takes a look at some less-than-honest campaigning by the Tories.
Shiraz Socialist – It’s over for Labour, and the sooner the Left realises that it’s “no longer a viable vehicle for progressive politics in this country”, the better. Touché.
Sunder Katwala – The worst thing Brown can do is allow his tenure to splutter away hopelessly. He needs to be radical and to “get on and govern”.
Ali Gledhill – Yeah, Labour had it coming, but the real losers are the Lib Dems who, yet again, couldn’t capitalise. They’re bereft of ideas and are still conducting themselves appallingly. continue reading… »
How about some freshly squeezed Prejudice in the morning?
Welcome to the Thursday casting the net. It’s Henley by-election today so exciting times for 24 hours and I’m sure a wealth of links fo Aaron tomorrow. Yesterday was the blog nation event, and this week has provided great material to blog on, so here are the links. Feel free to post up your favourite links in the comments, especially thoughts on last night’s Lib Con event. As always please send lovely tips to tips[at]liberalconspiracy[dot]org!
Brian Barder – What Jacqui Smith said yesterday regarding Homosexuality and Iran is completely unacceptable and it certain seems to have irked a fair number of us out there.
Max Dunbar – A thoroughly interesting and, from my perspective, spot on analysis of a recent occurrence on Big Brother. With so much tension around, the actions of the few muslims and immigrants in the house are bound to be under scrutiny.
Beeblebear/ukpolitics – If you’re brown and muslim then the moment the police break in to your house to arrest you you’re targeted by the media immediately. Kiddy fiddling, fascist, white terrorist? Well you’ll make the paper only when charged.
Neil Harding – He doesn’t like Labour MPs unless they’ve got a spine.
continue reading… »
It’s all about the money?
Another early one today: why is it that I’m getting up earlier after my exams have finished? Something is wrong.
Morgan Tsvangirai - explains why he withdrew from the Zimbabwean presidential run-off.
Splintered Sunrise – doesn’t agree.
Shan Oakes - And, in Howden and Haltemprice, the real civil libertarian has stood up. Excellent.
Stumbling and Mumbling - Brown needs to realise that equality of opportunity requires some equality of resources. Not that socialists haven’t said that all along, no…
The Daily (Maybe) - considers behind-the-scenes white collar hanky panky. With money, of course, with money…
Philobiblon - hosts the latest Carnival of Feminists.
Bad Science - Second generation fundamentalist loon vs. well-respected biologist: rounds 1,2 3 and knockout.
Tips to the usual address.
A distinct lack of humanity
Welcome to the (Early Edition) Wednesday NetCast. I need to dash out soon, so here’s a brief collection in the meantime:
Kubatana – wants liberty or death, and an election.
Rowenna Davis - Infantile adult attitudes infantilise sex education to the point of uselessness. And young people suffer for it, again.
Peter Cranie - If Labour think they have trouble with money, they should try being a minor party…
Remembering the Ability in DisAbility - gives me yet more reason to question whether anyone in the Home Office quite grasps the concept of human decency.
The enemies of reason - The Telegraph manages to bewail below inflation pay increases for the middle class wealthy – and condemn the striking council workers. Inconsistency much?
Stroppyblog - The left needs to wake up and fight the BNP, not itself. If the SWP can get over itself, of course.
Lee Griffin - You can argue all you like about the nuances of the 42-day debate, but it remains an opportunity to further liberal ideals, which mustn’t be missed.
From Total Politics to Total Burnout
Is there a blog we should be reading, or a post that you think we should link to? Email us your tips to tips@liberalconspiracy.org
Iain Dale’s Total Politics site has launched, and revealed its editorial team. It’s actually quite interesting, and appears to be very well funded too… Why no, these grapes are sweet and tasty, why’d you ask? (Hat tip, Mark Pack at LDV). Oddly they don’t appear to have linked to us from their political blogs directory, but then, as a top ten political blog we’re hard to miss, and the blog directory is so badly-constructed, it’s possible they have linked to us and I just haven’t found the link
Andrew Rilstone writes about how a writer’s writings are distinct from and yet linked to the writer as a person and that person’s political views. Brilliant post (and not just because he says The Shadow Over Innsmouth is better than The Call of Cthulhu), but does contain rude words: proceed with caution.
PC Bloggs turns her ever-acerbic eye onto government in the latest of her occasional series on 21st Century Policing. If I could make PC Bloggs a Home Office advisor…
Political Betting are wondering if the Labour Party will lose their deposit in Henley.
Lynne Featherstone is a big blubbing girly – and this entry is so lovely it turned me into one too. Get your tissues out, and I won’t tell anyone that you needed them.
BluJay posts in the cheerfully-named So Very Doomed group blog about the difficulties that we in the developed world will have obtaining food if things don’t change drastically and soon.
Slightly Warped posts pictures of a fire in a cave in Uzbekistan that’s been burning for 5 years (so far) and is known as the Door to Hell. (Hat tip: Neil Gaiman)
Failing, stalling, withdrawing
Welcome to a slightly later Sunday edition of Casting the net. Jennie is off doing far more important things than sitting by a computer, whereas I, on the other hand, have nothing better to do. Remember to to us. You can catch my extended review over at my blog shortly.
Existential Rage – Gordon Brown knows he’s unpopular and that he won’t last as long as Blair, allegedly. Are wishes coming true slowly but surely?
Lib Dem Voice – Is this the plan Z I was asking for? Thomas records his thoughts on the way forward for the EU.
Zebra-Mbizi – After todays news about the withdrawal of Mugabe’s main opponent, will the unfortunate realities suggested by this article hold true?
Lynne Featherstone – Lynne thinks an MPs life is far from easy, and lets us know about her job outside parliament.
Mark Tran: Guardian blog – Iran hates Israel and vice versa, but it could all just be leading to a counter-productive end result.
The Bickerstaff record – Paul wonders where proportional punishment for crimes has gone.
Bob Piper – Total Politics is upon us, but is it as great as a “balanced” editorial board suggests?
Casting Back:
Johnathan Freedland: Guardian – In 2005 we were well aware of the integrity of information that took us to war, but where was the fuss?
Where’s our booty, huh?
Welcome to a rare Saturday edition of the NetCast. The Gods have been kind (for once) and I have a few hours to spare. You go make a nice cup of tea and we’ll make a start. Okay? Right, off we go…
Robert Fox/CiF – For those who still deny that conquering Iraq was about oil, Fox points out that US and British oil companies are busy carving up the nation’s reserves. History suggests it may not be an easy ride, though.
OurKingdom – David Davis is discovering – somewhat predictably, institutional resistance to his stand. Particularly from the BBC.
BlairWatch – Why Ireland voted no on the EU treaty, and what the EU can do to be more representative of its people.
Mike Power – As always Mike Power brings you his picks from the weekend’s newspapers (Sat edition). You might need another cup of lovely warm tea around now. We’ll wait…
Scribo Ergo Sum – Johann, baby, we don’t care if you’re fat. R.E. Vamp on the idiosyncratic scribbles of Mr. Hari.
Clairwil – Is utterly exasperated by the events in Zimbabwe.
Freakonomics – Kicking off a debate on the economics of bottled water.
The (very) Late Review
Welcome to our daily web review. Apologies for the lateness of the review, but I was teaching a class this morning. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Freemania – Tom has the kernel of an interesting debate over at his blog. A research paper has been published that discusses a “Responsibility to Protect”, re. atrocities around the world and potential UNSC stalemates. I can’t help but think this is linked to the proposal John McCain is floating.
Tim Worstall – A champion of the pithy one-liner, Tim allows this gentle fisk of our Polly to rattle-on for several paragraphs. Polly, Tim argues, is wrong to suggest that people shouldn’t “top-up” their own medical treatment – NICE shouldn’t mean gospel.
Sadie’s Tavern – She thinks we’re all conspiracy loons, and are probably a bit too unfamiliar with reality. Highly recommended.
Rachel North – is not happy about Andy Burnham’s comments. Not one bit.
Political Betting – Will Labour lose its deposit in Henley next week? Mike suggests it might be worth a flutter…
Millennium Dome, Elephant – I’ll make a prediction. When the next hurricane or “event” causes havoc in America, it’ll be because they let the gays marry.
(off topic) pda – As surreal as resignation letters can often be, this one will take some beating.
Comment is plentiful
Happy emancipation day everyone, and welcome to Thursday’s Casting the Net. Looking back on the last 24 hours(ish) of blogs it’s been hard to pick out anything that doesn’t reside on CiF. Must do better bloggers, you can’t rely on dodgy grades from me to get your gold star for the day! Remember that you can send in your to be included in these round ups, we’re all happy to receive them.
Jonathan Freedland/CiF – It’s coming up to Gordon’s first anniversary of having achieved bugger all. If the cake he gets is reflective of his performance then it’ll have to be a stale chili muffin as far as I’m concerned.
Timothy Garton Ash/CiF – Timothy muses on plans D and E for the EU. Personally I’m thinking of taking bets on if we reach a plan Z before 2010.
Alex Hannaford/CiF – The death penalty has slowly come back in to being after a legal review deems it acceptable to lethally inject once more. Alex reiterates some old arguments that can’t afford to not be repeated.
Stephen’s Linlithgow Journal – Stephen talks about an issue fairly close to my heart, and questions the arbitrary limits that society is placing on natural instincts, as if laws and rules are heeded by hormones and DNA.
Happymarx – Who’d have thought that Labour just shove people in to prison and forget about them as human beings? Everyone then…
Remind me…
Apologies today’s netcast is up late; my morning was spent explaining to Edexcel why Bakunin and Nozick just aren’t the same. What fun…
Huffington Post – Democrats in Congress are moving to extend state surveillance in the US. Remind me why they’re Democrats again?
Stroppyblog - Cuba moves further from a Marxist dictatorship to a state capitalist dictatorship. Remind me why anyone ever supported that government?
Rachel from North London - The Sun executes yet another reverse ferret. Remind me why anyone reads anything owned by Murdoch?
Soundings - begins a debate on class and culture.
This is Zimbabwe - carries a map of Zimbabwe’s election terror.
The Devil’s Kitchen - A plea on behalf of web developers. Never use Internet Explorer again, please…
Bad Science - An MP gets it while the media don’t. Halfway there, then…
Now, off to prepare for impending Wordsworth related doom.
Caressed by Dave’s kinky sub-green yoghurt
Welcome to today’s web review, please feel free to post your own recommendations in the comments…
Obselete – Kelvin MacKenzie doesn’t want to get on the wrong side of public opinion. Shouldn’t he have thought about that 20 years ago, though?
Aled Dilwyn Fisher – points out how hearing Tory greenwash is akin to being caressed by natural yoghurt. And so is only moderately kinky, it’d seem.
BlairWatch – The Lisbon Treaty is an exercise in linguistic dishonesty and obfustication. What would Orwell say?
The Daily (Maybe) – Npower’s bills are up 17%. Their profits are up 41%. The figures speak for themselves when it comes to rising fuel costs.
Guy Dammann - explores the value of anonymity.
A Very Public Sociologist - on reclaiming the concept of public value from the market fundamentalists.
France Profonde - Is there something rotten in the (supra-)state of Europe?
Casting the Net: Firefox, Vibrators, and the Police
Tomorrow is Download Day. I’ve been using the Firefox3 beta for some time now, and I’m very impressed with it. If you’re using IE and fancy giving it a shot, you may as well do it tomorrow and be part of a world record attempt. Click the button for the link:
Lynne Featherstone talks about the difficulties of relying on the NHS to provide you with independent movement.
Spirit of 1976 has suddenly discovered an urge to try Khat – why? Because the Tories want to ban it.
The Times has a fascinating article on the history of Vibrators, and how the humble Personal Massager reflects the changing attitude of society to women.
Smash Boredom has a convincing argument that Robert Mugabe is right about something.
PC Bloggs has a very affecting tale of police resources spread too thin. I can’t recommend her blog enough.
And finally, Feminist SF reviews the weekend’s episode of Doctor Who in a rather weary manner.
Rush Rush Rush Busy Busy Busy
Am in a bit of a rush this morning as am the the Fantastic Films Weekend in Bradford and overdosing on Peter Cushing. And possibly booze also. With that in mind, today’s Casting the Net might be a bit rough around the edges… All views expressed are the views of the author, not of the site, etc.
Andrew Ducker links to a very interesting article about how people read on the web. Everybody who writes for the web ought to read it, and the comments. Yes, even the contributors to this fine site. I felt the tl;dr reaction coming on me about half way through it, which is a bit ironic, but that’s because this is mostly stuff I have heard before.
Adrian Sanders MP has news that we are subsidising the aviation industry to the tune of £10bn a year. Yes it’s a MySpace Blog. No, I don’t get why his constituents like it either, but apparently they do.
Jonathan Calder has the same point of view as me on the Davis situation. Of course, we’d be screwed if we ran as well, but which way are we MORE screwed? I suspect Lib Dems will be arguing about this for some time.
Norfolk Blogger meanwhile, thinks that if the polls are right, Labour should run. Of course, he is relying on the pre-Davis resignation polls…
Political Betting reports on the predictable Lib Dem poll squeeze (and much smaller Labour poll squeeze) on voter intention for a general election after we stupidly supported David Davis we didn’t field a candidate in a single issue election.
The Forlorn NetCast
Britain was once a beacon of Liberty. Our writers and thinkers pioneered the very essence of modern Liberalism. And now? Well we’ll probably soon suffer – thanks to this most illiberal and arrogant Labour Government – one of the most authoritarian detention systems in the democratic world. To this long-time – albeit on/off – member of the Labour Party, this is the final straw. There is no point in fighting this cancerous authoritarian ignorance from within, because the leadership has now torn itself from any remaining sinew of hope. Brown has surrounded himself in a bubble of blind loyalty; a cabinet with neither backbone nor capacity. As for David Davis? I quote Mr. Eugenides: “either this man’s a self-important lunatic, or we’re witnessing one of the great principled stands of modern politics.” Now, enough of me, onto the links…
Liberty – Shami Chakrabarti’s statement and Liberty’s points of contention.
Amnesty – Amnesty International UK Director Kate Allen’s statement.
OurKingdom – Anthony Barnett, OpenDemocracy’s founder and editor, ponders a new ally in David Davis.
Iain Weaver – takes a historical look at other MP’s who have put their career on the line for principle.
Chicken Yoghurt – Justin swings both ways as he weighs up Davis’ resignation. continue reading… »
42
Welcome to the Thursday edition of Casting the Net, the round up of the last 24 hours of political blogging. And what else could dominate the list of links today other than the victory by Brown and his government on the issue of 42 days, by only 9 votes, 36 Labour rebels after 5 hours of debate. That’s so many numbers Carol Vorderman must be getting flustered just thinking of it. On to the review!
Obsolete – Septicisle thinks that there are definite positives to take from yesterdays result, a bloody nose for Brown perhaps?
Devils Kitchen – DK on the other hand is not so happy.
Comment Is Free – on CiF they feel a little disappointed about how the result came about.
Stephen’s Linlithgow Journal – Stephen is a little more placid about the whole situation, asking as many of us are about the DUP.
Centre Right – So perhaps you never though the LC would link to Centre Right? This time they’re talking sense, David Davies *was* superb and very liberal.
Program your own mind – And then there are my personal views on the events of yesterday for your pleasure also.
Neil Harding Blog – But wait! Not everyone is blogging about the events of yesterday, Neil is bitterly looking at his own party wishing for better.
Casting Back:
The Observer – The 12th of June 1999 marked a change in the war in Kosovo…the Observer once upon a time had a look deeper.
CiF tips and why pissed-off Clintonites shouldn’t vote McCain
Welcome to today’s web review, please feel free to post your own recommendations in the comments…
Jim Killock – Who should be on the Green leadership ballot? Time for a poll!
Daily Kos – has found a way to hammer home to Clinton supporters threatening to vote for McCain just how stupid they sound.
Tory Troll – Boris has managed to give away his planning powers. Already. And to a man who was willing to cut services to the housebound…
Obselete – Brown needs to be punished over the 2008 Terrorism Bill. And not just punished…
Pickled Politics – on how to write for Comment is Free. Tip: Don’t, if you value your eyes.
Scribo Ergo Sum – is liveblogging the Commons debate on 42 Days detention without charge. Join in!
The Daily (Maybe) – Brown has a super-strategy to win back voters everyone! It’s all about alienating them.
I *heart* Kucinich!
Welcome to today’s web review, please feel free to post your own recommendations in the comments…
Kubatana – Zimbabwe’s propaganda organs are giving off mixed messages – though both still add up to starvation on the streets.
Harpy Marx – asks who would be a young person these days. The paranoid parents, the tabloid press, the government, the opposition, neoliberalism and the tabloid press make it entirely too much bother…
Obsolete – picks up on a similar theme, identifying a more insidious form of child abuse amidst all this talk of “Broken Britain.” And guess who’s doing it? The tabloids, the paranoid parents, the government, the opposition, the tabloids, paranoid parents…
Dave’s Part – Do the Tories care about homelessness? About as much as they do about all those young people they’re busy stigmatising, I suspect…
Beau Bo d’Or – detects some discrepencies in Boris’ views of George Bush. Splatter them around London before the visit! It’s important that he knows, after all…
Jay Griffiths – Forced invasion with the intent of fundamentally changing an indiginous culture is racist. Isn’t it?
Huffington Post – Denis Kucinich tilts at windmills again. And don’t we love him for it?
Your Mom Had Groupies
Michelle Schwartz was incensed by some very sexist adverts for Canadian Club Whiskey. She did a parody of the advert from a feminist perspective, and then lots of other people joined in. This link is graphics-heavy, but brilliant. I think I like Your mom was a pilot
best…
Lib Dem Jo has been listening to Hazel Blears on the radio. She’s a braver woman than me. I can’t listen to Blears for more than a few seconds without falling into a frothing rage, but Jo managed it for a whole phone in!
Snuffleupagus, an inner city teacher, talks about her incredulity that one of her colleagues is blithely indifferent to her daughter going to a school in Special Measures.
Stephen Glenn has news for the Northern Irish health minister: the “treatment” that she advocates to “cure” gay people doesn’t work. He knows, because he’s been through it. Three times.
Brad Hicks is a big ball of hope and fear when he listens to Obama speak, and thinks that people calling it a “cult of personality” dismissively are missing the depth of his generation’s feelings on the matter.
Cobalt warns American women not to be seduced by the siren song of McCain, with reams of reasons.
And finally, Charlie Stross has posted a “how to behave” guide for commenters on his blog. It’s good general advice for how to behave on the internet.
My Own Little Bunny Rabbit…
Welcome to Casting the net, Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Brad Hicks and Meral Ece have two contrasting reactions to Hillary’s concession of the Democrat candidacy. Brad is full of righteous anger, Meral was more inspired.
The BBC reports that some MPs have realised that ID Cards could threaten privacy. In other news, the sky is blue, and the pope shits in the woods.
Over at my blog, a reminder of what we are actually talking about with the 42 days detention plan. Especially depressing in the light of the ICM poll that we reported here yesterday.
Jonathan Calder has tactical suggestions for Lib Dems on how to deal with David Cameron – we should hug him, and stroke him, and cuddle him, and sing to him, and call him Dave; PeeZedTee, meanwhile, has advice for Gordon Brown.
Lynne Featherstone, the relentless reformer, wanted to lower the voting age to 16; the Tories had other ideas.
And finally, Neil Gaiman and Philip Pullman are both getting involved with a campaign to say no to age banding on children’s books.
Tony and his missionary position.
Welcome to Liberal Conspiracy’s daily web review. As always, please feel free to share your own recommendations in the comments.
Stroppyblog – Blair wants to promote faith. And, bizarrely, thinks this can be achieved by putting his much maligned weight behind it?
The Enemies of Reason – Women! The Mail has decided you are LYING LIARS! Because, of course, the previous sentence couldn’t refer to the paper at all.
Red Box – You can take the Tory party away from Thatcher, but…”we will be as radical in social reform as Mrs. Thatcher was in economic reform…” Back to the 19th century, you permissive dogs! Back!
The F-Word – The DAS seem to have forgotten that men drink. And that women might just be more worried by liver failure, death and doom than a lined face…
Green Ladywell – Be a Councillor! Well, visit the website at least, and then see about getting elected…
Dave’s Part – The unions shouldn’t disaffiliate from Labour – not if they want any influence, at least. The other socialist parties are sectarian jokes.
Remembering the DisAbility in Ability – The rumours of DisAbled housemates were more than true. A whole extra person true, in fact.
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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