Politicians Category
Politicans and world leaders making news and in the news, and spouting hot air
President Tony Blair: A Lesson From History
SIMON Jenkins on Tony Blair for President::
As Jane Austen said of bachelors, a statesman is always in need of a dinner, not to mention a title and a motorcade. Besides, “leader of Europe” has an irresistible ring. It is a sure bet that, were Blair to be dragged protesting to the throne, he would not demur the crown.
To which there is only one sensible answer. Has the man never read history? His professed ambition is one that invariably ends in tears. Europe has never tolerated being led. It is a continent of cats, not dogs. Diversity is its glory, cantankerousness its defence. It is not a family or a community but a marketplace, a cultural entrepôt. Those who have sought its unity, even as a political metaphor, have come to grief.
He won’t be able to resist…
Posted: 22nd, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comments (3)
The Best Of The Worst Presidential Campaign Videos: The Huck Dance
THE Presidential videos has been sexy , snide , sing-songy, slick, and even political.
But mostly they have just been awful. Here is the best awful video to fate:
In second place:
Lu-ur-vee. Let’s dace… the Huck dance…
Posted: 21st, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment (1)
Barack Obama: No You Can’t
Barack Obama Denies Plagiarism
Posted: 21st, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comments (2)
Norm wonders
NORM wonders:
Why does the left have a bad record and a bad reputation with regard to its attachment to democracy?
He points to “a single inescapable fact”:
[N]amely that, flawed as they may be, the capitalist democracies are democracies and none of the would-be anti-capitalist countries, anywhere, has managed to sustain comparably good or better democratic institutions over any length of time. Note that I do not say this means it could never happen; I don’t believe that. What it does mean, however, is that the democratic institutions we are familiar with have yet to be improved upon in any of those places that some leftists are given to casting an indulgent eye upon even while they seek to distance themselves critically from the institutions they themselves benefit from and which are superior.Unwilling to profess a clear allegiance towards what is democratically better, a certain type of leftist is always ready to make allowances for what is democratically worse. Is it any wonder, then, if his or her democratic avowals are regarded by many with suspicion?
Posted: 21st, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment
How To Be Made Invisible To CCTV Cameras
How to be made invisible to CCTV cameras: “The URA / FILOART developed device promises to the citizens of a more reliable protection against security measures of the state (and other Überwachenden).
“In addition to monitoring purposes organised systems interaction between man and machine is still IR.ASC an additional interaction between machines dar. This absurd accumulation of technology is symptomatic, because although the entire expense of the protection measures for the alleged safety of citizens is made, the person slips on the importance scale of the current security plan ever deeper down.”
Posted: 21st, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comments (2)
George Bush On Outside Forces And Irony
GEORGE Bush is in Africa. Bush is defending his decision not to send U.S. troops into the Darfur genocide, saying he learned lessons from the genocide in Rwanda. Why?
Well, Bush says foreign troops would only be divisive and “unbelievably counterproductive”. You knew?
BUSH: A clear lesson I learned in the museum was that outside forces that tend to divide people up inside their country are unbelievably counterproductive. In other words, people came from other countries — I guess you’d call them colonialists — and they pitted one group of people against another.
File under American irony in Iraq…
Posted: 21st, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment
F***Me, Gordon Brown Is The Famous Face Of Fiji
THAT is Gordon Brown’s smiling face beckoning holidaymakers to Fiji.
No, not the escape him, rather to meet him there. As the Independent reports:
Jane West, the director of the Fiji Visitors Bureau, says: “Gordon Brown has taken his fair share of criticism lately and has been under a lot of pressure in his job. The advert is saying that if you’ve had a tough time lately, where would you rather be in the middle of February, Britain or Fiji? It’s an exotic island and is a great place to come to get away from your troubles.”
The poster was designed by the London agency DK Advertising and approved by Downing Street and the Advertising Standards Authority. It was meant to be one in a series of adverts starring other figures who might want to get out of the country. But the others, who include the Duke of Edinburgh, London’s Mayor Ken Livingstone, and Jérôme Kerviel, the rogue trader who cost the French bank Société Gé*érale £3.6bn, are said to have refused to give permission for their images to be used, leaving Mr Brown as the sole face of Fiji.
Stel Tzirki, the media director of DK Advertising, adds: “We wanted to use the others too, but it was going to be too much hassle to get permission. Downing Street agreed that we could use Gordon Brown’s image as long as it was not derogatory and it did not appear that he was endorsing the islands in any way. We showed them the image of the Prime Minister with the red flower behind his ear and they said it was okay to use.”
Can you get a kilt in a grass finish?
Posted: 21st, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comments (5)
CNN: Be Good To Castro
CNN TO hacks: Be nice to Fidel Castro.
Posted: 20th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comments (3)
American TV Show Uses Osama Bin Laden For Barack Obama Story
SAYS Hillary Clinton: “It’s about picking a president who relies not just on words, but on work, hard work, to get America back to work. Someone who’s not just in the speeches business.”
What about someone whose in the mass murder business?
Anyway, what has Obama done?
Posted: 20th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment (1)
President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s Thought For The Day
IRANIAN President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad says:
“The world powers established this filthy bacteria, the Zionist regime, which is lashing out at the nations in the region like a wild beast…”
Posted: 20th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comments (2)
I Heart Mike Huckabee: Huck Me
THE US Presidental Race is turning into a version of American Idol.
Remember, America, this is your vote – brought to you in association wth Pepsi Cola…
Vote early and vote often…
Posted: 20th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment
Your Chance To Name Macedonia
NOTES The Croydonian: “Here we go again: “Athens yesterday accepted as “a good basis for negotiations” five different composite names for the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) proposed by the United Nations special mediator on the Macedonia name dispute during talks in Athens.”
Sources late yesterday revealed to Kathimerini four of the five proposed names: Democratic Republic of Macedonia, Constitutional Republic of Macedonia, Independent Republic of Macedonia and Republic of Upper Macedonia“.
I think I can do better:
The Not Even Remotely, Honestly not even a little bit, Hellenic Republic of Macedonia
What about Macedonia-under-Duress?
Posted: 20th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comments (37)
Gail Sherridan Charged With Lying Under Oath
GAIL Sheridan:
The wife of Tommy Sheridan has been charged with lying under oath during the socialist politician’s high-profile libel trial against the News of the World.
Gail Sheridan, 44, whose testimony formed a central part of her husband’s case during a 23-day trial in 2006, was charged with perjury after six hours’ questioning by detectives. Her father, Gus Healy, 71, who also testified at the trial, was also charged.
The move comes two months after officers charged Mr Sheridan with perjury…
Within the past 10 days three more of Mr Sheridan’s colleagues – including a former MSP – have also been charged. Rosemary Byrne, 59, who lost her seat in the Scottish Parliament last year, Graeme McIver, 39, and Jock Penman, 58, were charged with perjury after voluntarily reporting to police for questioning.
All three testified on Mr Sheridan’s behalf and are now members of his newly formed Solidarity party.
Finally:
In a statement today, the party repeated its claim that Mr Sheridan and his colleagues were the victims of a “political witch-hunt”. A spokesman said: “The only crime that Tommy Sheridan is guilty of is the crime of speaking truth to power.”
Is that the sound of laughter from the NOTW offices?
Posted: 20th, February 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Politicians | Comments (5)
That White House Abba Play List In Full
JOHN McCain likes Abba. He can very possibly name all four of the Swedish pop group in order.
McCain can be found of a night dressed in a clingy, satin, aqua marine trouser suit singing Dancing Queen and wondering if his home help, Fernando, can hear the drums?
This is known as adding colour to the political debate. Mr McCain is rumoured to favour the colour orange and pronouce Ka-bul, Kar-bull and not Kab-ul. His best funfair ride is the Spinning Cups.
The Republican candidate has taken with the notion of using Abba’s ‘Take a chance on me’ as his campaign song. But things have not gone to plan. As he tells reporters aboard his jet:
“It gets expensive in a big hurry and if you’re not careful you can alienate some Swedes,” he says.“If word gets out to Stockholm that we’re using Abba music, then there’ll be a worsening in U.S.-Swedish relations.”
Abba, it seems, will not take a chance of McCain.
What McCain realises, of course, is that there is an Abba tune for every agonsit.
As he says: “Dare I say ABBA. Everybody says, ‘Ehhh, ABBA.’ Why is that? ABBA was the largest selling (recording act ever). Nobody likes them but they sold more records than anybody in the history of the world, including the Beatles. But everybody hates them. (But) you’re a no-class guy if you like ABBA. Why does everybody go see ‘Mamma Mia?’ Hypocrisy! Rank hypocrisy! I’m not embarassed to say I like ABBA, ‘Dancing Queen.’”
And if elected, “the background music would be ABBA in the elevators all over the White House.”
That play list in full:
Barack Oabma: I Have A Dream
Hillary Clinton: Does Your Mother Know (Chelsea Into the Mix)
You’re so hot, teasing me
So you’re blue but I can’t take a chance on a chick like you
That’s something I couldn’t do
There’s that look in your eyes
I can read in your face that your feelings are driving you wild
Ah, but girl you’re only a child
John McCain: Super Trouper
Mitt Romney: Chiquitita
Chiquitita, tell me what’s wrong
You’re enchained by your own sorrow
In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow
How I hate to see you like this
There is no way you can deny it
I can see that you’re oh so sad, so quiet
Mike Huckabee: SOS
Where are those happy days, they seem so hard to find
I tried to reach for you, but you have closed your mind
Whatever happened to our love?
I wish I understood
It used to be so nice, it used to be so good
Ends…
The name of the game
Posted: 19th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comments (2)
McCain And Iraq’s Stock Market
EXTREME MORTMAN: “What’s a tangible improvement for Iraq that John McCain might want to trumpet during the campaign? It’s got nothing to do with troop levels or timetables — but everything to do with Iraq’s economy. McCain should work on ways to improve Iraq’s stock market.”
Posted: 19th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment (1)
Fidel Castro Leaves Them Gasping For More: Round Up And Resignation Letter
FIDEL Casto knows when to say adios. He will not accept another term as president, ending 49 years in power. Leave on a high. Leave them wanting more. He was ever the showman.
“I neither will aspire to, nor will I accept, the position of president of the council of state and commander in chief,” he tells the newspaper Granma.
Says US President George W Bush: “The international community should work with the Cuban people to begin to build institutions that are necessary for a democracy, and eventually this transition ought to lead to free and fair elections.”
Better cigars for Americans is the clarion call. And it will be heard.
Says Castro: “It would betray my conscience to take up a responsibility that requires mobility and total devotion, that I am not in a physical condition to offer… To prepare the people for my absence, psychologically and politically, was my first obligation after so many years of struggle.”
Adding: “I just want to carry on fighting like a soldier of ideas. I will continue writing under the title, Reflections of Comrade Fidel. I will be one more weapon in the arsenal that you can count on. Perhaps my voice will be heard. I will be careful.”
Yeah, and watch out for the cigars…
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: 19th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment (1)
Mark Steel And SWP
MARK Steel has sensationally … left the SWP:
Mark Steele spoke to a packed Green Left fringe on saturday and was very funny and radical, good on how socialist need to rethink strategy, good on climate change and good on the media. He said he had left the SWP which surprised me.
Posted: 18th, February 2008 | In: Celebrities, Politicians | Comment
Is your Child Worth More Than Chelsea, Max Or Harlow?
CHELSEA Clinton campaigns for her mum and get “pimped out”.
Meanwhile:
Christina Aguilera was paid $2million for the baby pics of her new son Max.
Nicole Richie is getting $1 million for photos of her Harlow, as reported.
My child is talented
Your child is precocious
Their child has ADT
Posted: 18th, February 2008 | In: Celebrities, Politicians | Comment (1)
Hillary: The Movie
THE McCain-Feingold Act on Hillary Clinton:
A three-judge panel ruled that the movie itself [“Hillary: The Movie”] is akin to a campaign ad and cannot be broadcast on television. It tells “the electorate that Sen. Clinton is unfit for office . . . and that viewers should vote against her,” they said. However, they said that brief ads for the film could be broadcast because “they proposed a commercial transaction — buy the DVD of The Movie.”
Posted: 18th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment
Paisley Jr Resigns Over No Wrongdoing
MR Paisley Jr refused to answer any questions today as he read a statement:
“With a certain degree of sadness I have informed the First Minister [his father] of my intention to resign from ministerial office,” he said. “I can’t express strongly enough that I am not going because of some hidden or some revealed wrongdoing on my part.”
No wrongdoing. So why resign?
The Rev Ian Paisley’s grip on power weakened today when his son and right-hand-man was forced to resign from the Northern Ireland government amid a rising tide of sleaze allegations.
Posted: 18th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment
Barack Obama Denies Plagiarism
Barack Obama Denies Plagarism:
Tribute:
Inspiration:
Now Hillary Clinton Channels Bob The Builder: Si Se Puede
Posted: 18th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment
NEW Zealand Not Recognise Independent Kosovo
“NEW Zealand would neither recognise nor not recognise an independent Kosovo, Prime Minister Helen Clark said today“. For real...
Posted: 18th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comments (2)
Hillary Clinton Loses To Win
What Clinton aides discovered is that in certain targeted districts, such as Democratic state Sen. Juan Hinojosa’s heavily Hispanic Senate district in the Rio Grande Valley, Clinton could win an overwhelming majority of votes but gain only a small edge in delegates. At the same time, a win in the more urban districts in Dallas and Houston — where Sen. Barack Obama expects to receive significant support — could yield three or four times as many delegates.
And: “Based on exit polls, among the approximately 16.3 million people who identified themselves as Democrats, over 678,000 more voted for Hillary Clinton than Barack Obama.”
Posted: 18th, February 2008 | In: Politicians | Comment
A Chance For Prisoners To Work For A Living Tax Free
“CHERIE Blair, wife of the former prime minister, is leading a drive for prisoners to earn up to £10,000 a year doing work in jail for firms which are household names.” So reports the Times.
“She has endorsed a pilot scheme in a category C prison in which serious offenders are paid the minimum wage – £5.52 an hour – to work for companies such as Kentucky Fried Chicken and Clifford Chance, the City law firm.” It light-fingered lickin’ good.
Who better to employ villains than lawyers and a take-away food shop? Perhaps call centres, with their innate fondness for small cubicles and battery-farmed workers. Or public schools.
Interestingly, because inmates pay no rent on their cells, no council tax and need incur no transport costs they could be left better off than low-paid workers outside.
In fairness, though, the Howard League for Penal Reform suggests the prisoners pay income tax, “but the government is refusing to accept contributions because the inmates might then have workers’ rights.”
The last thing you want is for a prisoner to bring a case of constructive dismissal…
Posted: 17th, February 2008 | In: Broadsheets, Money, Politicians | Comment
