That chap McKeating mocks former Home Secretary Charles Clarke so I don’t have to. The final paragraph is absolutely spot on…
June 27, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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Monthly Archives: June 2006
June 26, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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Cameron, constitutionalism and confusion
Tories pledge ‘cheap, meaningless stunt’, otherwise known as David Cameron continuing to ride the civil liberties bandwaggon with the promise of a “US-style” Bill of Rights for the UK in place of the Human Rights Act. There are a fair … Continue reading
June 23, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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Tony Blair – mediaeval madman?
You have to get 43 paragraphs into his speech on anti-social behaviour (“ASB”, apparently) before you get to what he’s really getting at. Unfortunately, most journalists seem only to have made it to paragraph 38, where he mentions (among many … Continue reading
June 21, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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DANGER: tediously overwrought political footballing metaphor approaching*
As if the team’s performances on the pitch weren’t boringly average enough, we now get our two options for next Prime Minister acting like primary school kids fighting over who had the “best” seat at the football. “Best” here meaning … Continue reading
June 20, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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Tony and the environment, sitting in a tree…
Hi, my name’s Tony, and I love the environment – Labour have just thrown away their “Cameron’s an environmental hypocrite” card…
June 20, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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The oddness of international law
The oddness of international law (part 234): Montenegro’s independence has finally allowed the country to conclude a peace treaty with Japan. Europe’s newest state had technically been at war with the land of the rising sun since the 1904-05 Russo-Japan … Continue reading
June 19, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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The EU is interminably dull
In case you missed it, final proof that the EU is interminably dull: even Eddie Izzard can’t make it entertaining. (But he does try, bless him…)(Oh and a handy summary of the outcome of last week’s summit – the EU’s … Continue reading
June 19, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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The BBC and paedos
Lacking the facility to do a screengrab before they realise the cock-up, nonetheless this is worth flagging. A BBC news story with the headline “Homes crisis ‘down to immigration’” would tend to make you think that an official body has … Continue reading
June 19, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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£12.4 billion
£12.4 billion for an overdue computer system? Double the original estimated cost? Fears of the National Identity Register are declining…But hell – that’s three times the cost of invading Iraq, for Christ’s sake! We could have whooped some filthy foreign … Continue reading
June 17, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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EU roundup
Weekend reading, shamelessly lifted wholesale from the always superb Political Theory Daily Review – as much to remind me to read them later as anything. (Warning: last few links are to .pdf files): Charles Kupchan, author of The End of … Continue reading
June 15, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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Yet more future of Europe futility
Our dear national leaders are meeting today in the Belgian capital to discuss the little problem of the EU no longer having tedious little things like “a purpose”, “a direction”, or “a viable way of continuing to function for more … Continue reading
June 13, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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“Renew for freedom”? Well, sort of…
Largely because it had run out, but partially because of the Renew for Freedom campaign, last month I renewed my passport, sending the thing off with plenty of time for the potential three week turnaround time. Perhaps thanks to the … Continue reading
June 13, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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I love the BBC
I love the BBC (part 98,476) – their already superb news site promises to get even more addictive with these dinky real-time stats of the most popular stories. Of course, the results are likely to be skewed by what’s on … Continue reading
June 12, 2006
by Nosemonkey
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Self-obsession
It has been far too hot for me to even contemplate thinking for at least the last week. I’m British, damn it – I can’t handle nice weather. As the various Sharpener people I had a drink with on Sunday … Continue reading