Among the plethora of things I hold against Lance Armstrong is the way that his story – no matter how inspiring and heroic and extraordinary it has been – has accentuated the English-language press’s belief that there’s only one bike race of any importance each year. Apparently it’s the Tour de France first, the rest
Meanwhile in Afghanistan, Dexter Filkins reports in the NYT that talks have been taking place between the Taliban, the Afghan government and warlords such as Gulbuddin Hekmatyar and Sirajuddin Haqqani as to how some kind of “peace” agreement could be reached in Afghanistan. As Mr Filkins drily notes, most, in fact all, of the terms
Amidst the public riot over parliamentarians’ expenses, the story of Hazel Blears remains oddly fascinating. And story is the operative word, given that she appears to be the sole cabinet minister singled out for opprobrium despite the fact that several of her colleagues have enjoyed equally shady and profitable dealings with the Fees Office. Since
In the course of defending Dick Cheney’s assault on the Obama administration, Bill Kristol has this to say: But of course an intelligent and knowledgeable advocate–even if he’s personally not so popular–can do a lot to get an issue front and center. And the debate of that issue can do political damage to the existing
Danny Finkelstein’s column in the Times today is very interesting if, perhaps, also a little too neat. On the other hand, I kinda hope he’s right. Large centralised political parties were created because of the existence of the mass media. To make any political impact, an idea or an individual had to find a spot
Apparently the Prime Minister believes that parliament “cannot operate like some gentleman’s club where the members make up the rules and operate them among themselves”. But if so then that’s only because there ain’t sufficient gentlemen (and ladies) at Westminster. Parliament should be capable of operating like any decent, self-respecting gentlemen’s club. That it isn’t
The great thing about Washington is its variety. Sometimes it’s the Republicans who infuriate you and sometimes it’s the Democrats whose bone-headed nitwittery is singularly depressing. Today it’s Harry Reid’s turn to annoy: “QUESTION: If the United States — if the United States thinks that these people should be held, why shouldn’t they be held
Of all the fatuous “debates” in Washington few can be as absurd or wearisome as the mantra, repeated by politicians of all parties, that it is time for the United States to wean itself off foreign oil and declare “energy independence”. Writing about the discovery of oil in Ghana, Foreign Policy’s Elizabeth Dickinson makes some
For any number of obvious reasons Burma doesn’t receive as much attention as Cuba. One of those reasons, mind you, is that there aren’t too many simpletons forever making excuses for the Burmese junta. Nor, mind you, is there a Cuban counterpart to Aung San Suu Kyi whose struggle for democratic reform in Burma is
This is normally Melanie’s territory and it is disgraceful. The chain of events seems to be this: 1. The Edinburgh International Film Festival invites Israeli film-maker Tali Shalom-Ezer to show his her* short film Surrogate in Edinburgh. 2. The Israeli Embassy in London contributes £300 to help pay for Shalom-Ezer to come to the Scottlnd.
John Huntsman’s decision to accept Obama’s invitation to serve as the US Ambassador to Beijing is, as James suggested, interesting given the recent rise in Huntsman stock. The advantages for Obama are several: firstly, and most obviously (if also most grubbily) he removes a potential 2012 opponent from the fray. Secondly, picking someone like Huntsman
A reader asks, not without reason, what I think of the Scottish Tories attempts at a makeover since their wipeout in 1997 and whether, given that I’m generally, broadly speaking, in favour of the reformers when it comes to Project Cameron or Project GOP, I’m also happy with the Scottish Tories softer than softly-softly approach
Apologies for light posting: a power cut this morning cut one off from the outside world, returning us to the dark days of the twentieth century. It was most disconcerting. Doubly so in fact, for it was disconcerting how disconcerted one was at being denied access to the interwebs for just a few hours. Involuntarily
James is correct: that was a shambolic performance from the Speaker, hiding behind the skirt of parliamentary procedure to deny a debate that any parliamentarian in possession of even an average supply of common sense should have appreciated was in parliament’s best interests at a time of supreme public concern and, of course, scorn. So
Good grief. If I lived in, say, Luton South perhaps the only thing that could persuade me to vote for Margaret Moran would be the appalling thought of replacing her with, of all people, Esther Rantzen. What next, Janet Street-Porter for parliament?
I’m sure that there’s a Deep and Significant Meaning to this that helps explain something about the Irish economic landscape these past dozen years. It’s like an episode from An Irish Onion or something.: A “BILLIONAIRE” businessman linked with a string of high-profile potential investments has been identified as a sweet-shop owner based in rural
A slight disruption to the schedule this week postponed Saturday Morning Country by 24 hours. But not to worry, here’s the great Waylon Jennings in barnstorming form to make up for it all and get your sabbath off to a braw and brawlin’ start. So this was recorded at the “Lost Outlaw” concert from back
David Cameron’s speech to the Scottish Tory conferene was, I thought, workmanlike rather than inspired.The troops enjoyed it even if they were not necessarily enraptured by it. Interestingly he spent more time attacking the SNP than Labour, portraying the Conservatives as the only party that can truly efend the Union. Of course Labour will argue
In her speech yesterday Annabel Goldie decried the cheap and easy populism that she, rightly, described as the SNP’s approach to government. Fair enough. A shame, therefore, that she resorted to just that kind of easy, headline grabbing, rhetoric herself. Her announcement that the Tories a) respect the right of judges to decide matters for
What is Britain’s role in the world? And what resources will be devoted to sustaining it? These questions, germane for more than 40 years anyway, have an extra urgency in this New Age of Austerity. Liam Fox is addressing the Scottish Tory conference as I write this. Fox reiterates the urgent need for a post-election