tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post2920548689878838615..comments2024-01-01T17:21:52.555+00:00Comments on Is the BBC biased?: Open ThreadCraighttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08741318067991857821noreply@blogger.comBlogger187125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-56459143071444158742019-05-25T01:57:53.705+01:002019-05-25T01:57:53.705+01:00Yep, I am not convinced by Raab. At least Boris wi...Yep, I am not convinced by Raab. At least Boris will cheer us up. Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-13470015028230138742019-05-25T00:39:55.208+01:002019-05-25T00:39:55.208+01:00Things didn't work out with Davis and the Exit...Things didn't work out with Davis and the Exit Department, if you remember. Raab took the job but was only there for five minutes, it seemed. He didn't look all that clever taking it in the first place. And he doesn't look at all appealing now for PM. As with the earlier post, he looks almost desperately keen; I can't say I am when I see him putting out photos of him and wife to make him look human and then even worse is the income tax cut ploy. Income tax is the least of it really. We're clobbered in so many worse ways, especially stealth taxes, retaining the high VAT and stamp duty, inheritance tax, energy prices, travel and housing costs, business costs for the high street. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-85419768225621650562019-05-25T00:17:21.318+01:002019-05-25T00:17:21.318+01:00There is growing support I think for abolishing th...There is growing support I think for abolishing the licence fee and reducing the BBC down to size. There are loads of Asian radio stations. Absolutely no need for a specific BBC radio station. No need for a "drill music" station or an old fogies music station. All that stuff can be found for free either with or without ads. <br /><br />I think abolish the licence fee, make the BBC TV channels subscription-based (and ad free, though may be sponsored). Put in place strict impartiality rules enforced meaningfully and not just re content but also re hiring. Make the state a minority shareholder in the BBC. <br /><br />Abolishing the licence fee but retaining the BBC will be a popular policy. VERY popular I would suggest. <br />Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-19952335332047989272019-05-24T23:57:06.870+01:002019-05-24T23:57:06.870+01:00Yes - questions, questions..."May you live in...Yes - questions, questions..."May you live in times of uncertainty" as the Chinese curse goes...:) <br /><br />In Boris's defence I would say Churchill also was more of a journalist than a politician and more of a gadfly than a serious administrator. <br />I read of a historian who said it was really only Churchill's stylish prose that stopped us from defeat by Germany in 1940 - there was precious little else to stop the Germans except morale. I'm already feeling better just hearing Johnson shove it back in the EU's face. <br /><br />Churchill was of course also an artist - an accomplished painter with an artistic temperament. Johnson's mother was an artist but not sure he has the artistic temperament. In Churchill's case I think it made him more of a romantic which made Churchill's judgement seriously faulty at times over issues like trying to retain India in the Empire, King Edward's desire to marry Mrs Simpson and post war migration. <br /><br />So I would agree - Boris is more ruthless than romantic and perhaps that's what we need now. <br /><br />Go for the jugular Boris would be my advice. <br /><br />I think he is setting it all up for a General Election if necessary. Unlike May he can box Labour into a corner where they become the pro-EU "Remainer/Second Referendum" Party (as stated by Tom Watson) who want to keep the Brexit nightmare going whereas Boris will say "Let's finish this now." <br />Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-27819201942177632202019-05-24T23:42:55.858+01:002019-05-24T23:42:55.858+01:00Just a reminder how far we are into 1984...
Moris...Just a reminder how far we are into 1984...<br /><br />Morissey posters have been banned by Mersey Rail (or similar) because one person objected saying Morissey was far right. The posters had nothing to do with his political beliefs and simply advertised his latest album. All the posters are being taken down. <br /><br />In other news, For Britain, a party registered by the Electoral Commission, has been banned from Twitter for no specific reason. <br /><br />Of course the banning of all non-PC activists is continuing apace on all platforms. <br /><br />And Jess Phillips has called for all candidates for elected office to be vetted by the Electoral Commission and to be banned from the ballot if they do not meet "community standards". <br /><br />End of democracy folks. <br /><br />Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-14681430207939536742019-05-24T23:38:40.805+01:002019-05-24T23:38:40.805+01:00I believe he is highly intelligent but mentally po...I believe he is highly intelligent but mentally possibly like a butterfly as his mind flits about from one thing to the next. He is better suited to journalism where he can be eloquent, funny, witty, playful than to the job of a minister or prime minister. Writing is fun for him and what he excels at. Someone else would have to run everything if he were prime minister.<br /> I don't trust him in many respects - he can be superficial and take a cavalier attitude; he's London of course but he's also typical of the modern Conservative: pro fashionable causes of minorities for this and that and pro immigration. His family seem to be like that too. Underneath the charm and the fun personality he isn't necessarily a nice character; there is ruthlessness and some hard attitudes too. I don't look forward to having him as leader but neither am I enthusiastic about any of the others. He has a popular appeal and likeability which gives him a head start over them. Could he win an election, unless the boundary changes have been implemented? How can we leave the EU without a general election to change the numbers in Parliament? That's the key problem regardless of who's in charge, and it does have to be a Leaver. But what kind of Leaver and I'm not even sure what kind he is when it comes down to it and will he stick to what he says now? We kind of know what sort Gove is: he'd take a deal as a step out the door, with the aim of extricating ourselves further later on. The risk of an election is to let Corbyn in, which is horrible to contemplate. Nothing is resolved just by changing the leader. It is all still there to frustrate and vex us.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-47797230901265242132019-05-24T23:25:27.328+01:002019-05-24T23:25:27.328+01:00Newsnight Review:
Maitlis sounding a bit off her ...Newsnight Review:<br /><br />Maitlis sounding a bit off her head tonight...could be the first victim of Boris Derangement Syndrome...also lying. She claimed that Mark Francois said earlier in the programme that Steve Baker was "purer" than other candidates. Francois specifically rejected that term suggested by Uselss Maitlis and simply said "more consistent". So to then say he said "Purer" is to lie about what he said. Jenni Russell deliberately (I am sure - wouldn't trust her an inch but bet her memory is sharp) then echoes the lie repeating that Francois said "purer" when of course the record shows he did not. Re Maitlis - is it no longer important if a BBC presenter (a) knowingly lies about something said <br />about 15 mins earlier or (b) is so incompetent that she forgets what a guest said on a matter of crucial national importance in direct response to her question just 15 mins earlier. <br /><br />Jenni Russell's contribution - change the record luv. Hates Boris. Keeps calling him an ambitious liar. Bet there's been some interaction along the line. It sounds v. personal. <br /><br />John Crace - Doesn't seem to bad for a Guardian journalist! (Yes, I'm amazed I said that). But a bit bland. <br /><br />John Sergeant - Nice guy, trying to play down the intensity of the divisions over Brexit. Well yes, would be nice but the Remainer refusal to accept the result ensures this scar will never heal. Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-56635874729333619752019-05-24T23:08:02.615+01:002019-05-24T23:08:02.615+01:00Good news - apparently Boris is already saying tha...Good news - apparently Boris is already saying that the UK will leave the EU by the end of October, deal or no deal. That is encouraging, but terms and conditions may apply. Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-92120172940032800802019-05-24T23:04:18.521+01:002019-05-24T23:04:18.521+01:00The BBC has done a good job over the last few year...The BBC has done a good job over the last few years of discouraging people from becoming what they call "conspiracists". <br /><br />The reality is, however, that about 98% of politics is conducted conspiratorially whether to achieve an objective or do down an opponent. The public only see the 2% on the surface. <br /><br />But by making people wary of believing in conspiracies the BBC have provided good cover for what has been a giant conspiracy since the 2016 EU Referendum result. <br /><br />Here are just a few examples of where the conspiracy has been visible:<br /><br />1. Lord Hall went round the dinner party circuit bewailing the BBC balance which had "lost us the referendum" (BTW I would dispute that there was any real balance - just a formalistic balance - during the Referendum campaign). Nick Robinson made clear that BBC journalists had no intention of being balanced thereafter. <br /><br />https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/05/tackle-bbc-bias-make-plain-see-nick-robinson<br /><br />2. Blair has been co-ordinating with Macron, Merkel and Soros to prevent the UK's exit from the EU. <br /><br />https://euobserver.com/brexit/144724<br /><br />3. Can't find the link at the mo but May and Merkel agreed that the Referendum result was wrong and the UK would eventually rejoin (came from leaked German embassy papers). <br /><br />4. We know May misled both Davis and Raab about their role in the negotiations, when all the time she was conducting the negotiations. <br /><br />5. We know people like Hammond in the Cabinet deliberately prevented planning for a no deal exit despite the clear national interest that we should do so, since May had also made clear that "no deal is better than a bad deal".<br /><br />6. We know Bercow met with leading Remainers to plot means of preventing Brexit through parliamentary procedure. <br /><br />7. We know Grieve (Legion d'honneur), a leading remainer, has strong connections with the Macron government. <br /><br />8. We know Soros has been pouring millions of pounds into the anti-Brexit campaign. <br /><br />https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/may/29/george-soros-drastic-action-needed-for-eurozone-to-survive<br /><br />Personally, though I know it ain't gonna happen, I would favour a judicial board of inquiry into this conspiracy. Let's get Blair, Grieve, Campbell, Bercow and all the rest in under oath to answer questions about what they've been up to. I think the people need to know what's been going on. <br /><br /><br /><br />Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-41106592994723049062019-05-24T21:50:07.544+01:002019-05-24T21:50:07.544+01:00Nope! Hoping Farage has knocked it out of the park...Nope! Hoping Farage has knocked it out of the park. :) The Conservative leadership debacle which was already evident on the day of the vote might have delivered him another 2-3%. He does also seem to be eating into the Labour vote. Lewis Goodall's special report for Sky suggests so:<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYvP9C7APG0<br /><br />Would be nice if Tommy Robinson got elected as well, just to induce cardiac arrest in BBC Newsroom. <br /><br />One of the annoying things about EU elections is that all the newsfolk have seen the results of the UK exit polls, whereas we haven't thanks to EU law. Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-37852667056530867722019-05-24T21:41:31.207+01:002019-05-24T21:41:31.207+01:00Boris would probably sell his mother and throw in ...Boris would probably sell his mother and throw in his grandmother to seal the deal if he thought it would make him PM. My hope is that he is a realist and sees that any attempt to repackage the Abject Surrender May Deal will result in disaster for his premiership and the Conservatives as a party. I think also he is instinctively good on the importance of free speech. <br /><br />Is he highly intelligent as some say or a buffoon? I don't know. He seems to have elements of both. Did he really ponder whether to switch to Leave by looking at his Nike shoes and pondering their country of origin as reported by his sister? Could he really be operating at such a moronic level of argumentation? Or is the clockwork whirring away inside? <br /><br />I don't trust Boris to move the centre of gravity away of the economy from the City...he is Londoncentric through and through. I can't imagine him knowing how to develop an industrial strategy. But maybe he will see it is politically important and get someone else to do it. <br />Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-44480436939333451212019-05-24T20:51:56.294+01:002019-05-24T20:51:56.294+01:00Don't, somehow, think they're looking forw...Don't, somehow, think they're looking forward to the European election results with quite the same enthusiasm as we are!Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02650372666915304667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-49093410406064883922019-05-24T20:49:36.433+01:002019-05-24T20:49:36.433+01:00"PS When we've sorted out the EU, we'..."PS When we've sorted out the EU, we're coming gunning for the BBC, which has a great deal to answer for!"Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02650372666915304667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-23724878424231429692019-05-24T20:09:33.327+01:002019-05-24T20:09:33.327+01:00Been out all day & came back to the wonderful ...Been out all day & came back to the wonderful news! Mind you, until they've driven a stake through where her heart ought to be - or at least removed her power-pack - I'll not really dare to believe it's happening at last!<br /><br />Maybe her successor as Party Leader could be the one who makes the least hypocritical "So long, Treeza" speech. Hunt has already failed there!Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02650372666915304667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-45443927241792474292019-05-24T19:56:39.305+01:002019-05-24T19:56:39.305+01:00Not sure if Boris will (would) with Farage breathi...Not sure if Boris will (would) with Farage breathing down his neck!Sisyphushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02650372666915304667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-72024999609170702752019-05-24T19:12:04.328+01:002019-05-24T19:12:04.328+01:00Conceded MB ; ).
The BBC fear a Brexiter PM And ...Conceded MB ; ).<br /><br />The BBC fear a Brexiter PM And cabinet and therefore what they call a no deal. Watch them ramp up a new campaign to stop ultras and extremists. Anyone who supports a proper Brexit will be a target and fair game. <br /><br />The upside is that Hammond is almost certainly out on his ear shortly. <br /><br />The downside is that if Boris wins, he will blink and do a compromise - he is establishment through and through. Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07341313534441507081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-74568898803375619532019-05-24T19:11:55.702+01:002019-05-24T19:11:55.702+01:00You won't find anyone in the BBC prepared to s...You won't find anyone in the BBC prepared to say "The EU overplayed its hand." Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-54422883478373705432019-05-24T19:04:42.652+01:002019-05-24T19:04:42.652+01:00Mardell was in fine Remainiac form on WATO. He gav...Mardell was in fine Remainiac form on WATO. He gave Mairead McGuinness (Euro-elite) the softest of soft-lob interviews. Didn't challenge any of her assertions. He might have reminded her that the UK, Republic and EU have all indicated that have no intention of erecting a hard border in the circumstances of a no deal Brexit. He did not, allowed her to continue with her lying pretence that the hard border issue is genuine and not a negotiating ploy. <br /><br />Then he listened impassively as Katya Adler read from her EU Press Release. What is the point of Katya Adler? The EU Press Officer would be more informative. <br /><br />He sounded a bit depressed. As well he might. The love affair is truly over. The UK electorate have just left a second and final leaving note. "Dear EU, It's over. Don't try and stop me. I'm going. There's nothing more to say. I've left £10 billion on the kitchen table. Goodbye." Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-58903385003068369202019-05-24T18:47:41.652+01:002019-05-24T18:47:41.652+01:00I'm claiming the first spot of the "compr...I'm claiming the first spot of the "compromise" theme on Newsnight two night ago - see above, where I commented:<br /><br />"Suddenly the BBC is all in favour of "compromise" now that the prospect of May being kicked out, Boris as PM and an end to the Abject Surrender hoves into view, threatening the Blair-Soros-EU-BBC conspiracy." Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-28793857556607587932019-05-24T18:29:47.717+01:002019-05-24T18:29:47.717+01:00Laura K seems to been overcome by an attack of bre...Laura K seems to been overcome by an attack of breathlessness causing her to whisper in truncated quick-fire sentences. She and the BBC at large must be mourning the loss of their tame Prime Minister.Arthur Trofhttp://otboae.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-30426877088478676802019-05-24T16:48:59.567+01:002019-05-24T16:48:59.567+01:00Agreed Arne. Ben Brown was on this tack just as so...Agreed Arne. Ben Brown was on this tack just as soon as May had finished her speech - blaming the 'rebellious' ERG for causing her fall from power.Arthur Trofhttp://otboae.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-28490652462240257412019-05-24T16:39:34.719+01:002019-05-24T16:39:34.719+01:00Much is being made of May’s resignation speech and...Much is being made of May’s resignation speech and the need to compromise. <br /><br />The BBC led with this theme in their analysis immediately at the end of the speech. The inference being that a very soft Brexit is the compromise Tory Brexiters should make. <br /><br />But all the compromises have already been a one way street. The WA is chock full of concessions to the EU and the remainer parliament have weakened our leaving so much that it has been labelled BRINO. <br /><br />Leavers are getting it in the neck again as the culprits of the impasse despite there being a decisive vote to leave and conceding much ground. The other side meanwhile continue to be uncompromising and try to thwart the democratic will. <br /> <br /><br />By playing the blame game and painting leavers as the villains, the BBC show their true colours again. Charliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07341313534441507081noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-76705300608608049792019-05-24T13:15:09.639+01:002019-05-24T13:15:09.639+01:00We need to work through a list:
1. Achieve a real...We need to work through a list:<br /><br />1. Achieve a real Brexit. <br /><br />2. Abolish the House of Lords. Replace with a small national PR-elected chamber with non-voting advisors. <br /><br />3. Replace First Past the Post election system with a mix of constituency and PR. <br /><br />4. Abolish the licence fee and convert the BBC into a subscription-based service with impartiality oversight. <br /><br />5. Introduce a written constitution embedding free speech rights (will incorporate element of Magna Carta and Bill of Rights). <br /><br />6. Abolish the Electoral Commission. Abolish Ofcom. <br />Abolish the Equality and Human Rights Commission. Replace with a Personal Development and Consitutional Commission, dedicated to working towards equality of opportunity for all individuals and respect for constitutional norms. <br /><br />6. Introduce an internet bill of rights. <br /><br />7. Royal Commission on Immigration. Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-43119247426222947422019-05-24T13:04:06.671+01:002019-05-24T13:04:06.671+01:00Mad Dog Campbell admits the Referendum gave mandat...Mad Dog Campbell admits the Referendum gave mandate for no deal and ditto the EU Elections will do so again:<br /><br />https://twitter.com/campbellclaret/status/1131875277880090624<br /><br />He's such an arrogant sod he can't even be bothered to admit his Freudian slip. Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3272054900018746845.post-10950353798575815292019-05-24T11:47:52.466+01:002019-05-24T11:47:52.466+01:00Matthew Parris, possibly playing a subtle game, is...Matthew Parris, possibly playing a subtle game, is suggesting Boris Johnson will do a de Gaulle and deliver the May deal. Monkey Brainsnoreply@blogger.com