I always liked Kenneth Calman, although plenty of people whom I knew certainly didn’t. He is of course quite right that there should be no further devolution of fiscal matters. The dogs bark, as the Arabs say, but the caravan has moved on.
However, why on earth would he consider devolving either energy or broadcasting? These are the next two dogs that are about to bark very, very loudly. They are already very audibly clearing their throats.
Oh, well, such devolution will not happen while there is breath in Gordon Brown’s body. And by the time of the next Election, the energy and broadcasting dogs will be howling their heads off. There was never much chance of the Scots voting for further devolution. By then, the likelihood of that among quite possibly the most risk-averse people on earth will be as good as nil.
Tuesday, 2 December 2008
Britain: A Siamese Twin?
The Thai Constitutional Court may or may not be right about the current Thai Government.
But a political party being dissolved by judicial fiat and its leaders barred from office? Couldn’t happen here. Could it?
Oh, yes, it could.
But a political party being dissolved by judicial fiat and its leaders barred from office? Couldn’t happen here. Could it?
Oh, yes, it could.
How About Some Change We Can Believe In?
Hillary Clinton would have done a lot less damage if Obama had appointed her to the Supreme Court, where she could not have made abortion any worse, since abortion could not possibly be any worse.
Instead, she has been made Secretary of State while paid to nuke Iran if so instructed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or the United Arab Emirates. The Israel lobby in America is real enough, of course. But (of which, another time) it is an amateur operation compared to the Israel lobby in Britain. And it is as nothing compared to the Saudi-Kuwaiti-Emirati lobby.
No Israeli Government, as such, has ever had, or would ever dare to try and have, a senior Administration figure openly in its pay. Whereas the Gulf despots have been in that position for at least twenty years, and there is no sign of that state of affairs changing one iota over the next four. The very reverse, in fact.
The word on the street is that Clinton’s Senate seat will go to her husband, while Biden’s is to go to his son, and Obama’s to Jesse Jackson, Junior. Change We Can Believe In, eh?
Clinton’s seat needs to be filled by a Democrat who enjoys the endorsement of the Working Families Party on the protection of workers and consumers, on fair trade and fair tax, on universal health care, on Social Security, on environmental responsibility, on Civil Rights, and on foreign policy realism, whatever disagreements that party might have with him or her on other issues.
And that seat needs to be filled by a Democrat who enjoys the endorsement of the Conservative Party on family values, on strictly limited and strictly legal immigration, on constitutional checks and balances, on national security, on energy independence, on Second Amendment rights and responsibilities, on America as an English-speaking country, and (one trusts, now that the Bush Era is coming to an end) on foreign policy realism, whatever disagreements that party might have with him or her on other issues.
On that first basis, such a Democrat would also deserve the support of the Green Party. On that second basis, such a Democrat would also deserve the support of the Pro-Life Party. And on that double basis, support for such a Democrat could and should unite the warring factions within the Independence Party.
Regarding Obama’s seat in simply two-party Illinois, where is, for example, a totally orthodox Catholic Democrat who also has very deep roots in the Civil Rights movement effectively headquartered in Illinois, with that movement’s very strong economic populism and its very strong opposition to the neoconservative war agenda?
Lest it be imagined that this is an unwarranted British interference, either of those Democrats should not only declare to the Governor via the whole media of the United States in general and of the relevant state in particular, but should also contact, as a matter of the utmost urgency, the impeccably American Right Democrat - rightdemocrat@aol.com.
Instead, she has been made Secretary of State while paid to nuke Iran if so instructed by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or the United Arab Emirates. The Israel lobby in America is real enough, of course. But (of which, another time) it is an amateur operation compared to the Israel lobby in Britain. And it is as nothing compared to the Saudi-Kuwaiti-Emirati lobby.
No Israeli Government, as such, has ever had, or would ever dare to try and have, a senior Administration figure openly in its pay. Whereas the Gulf despots have been in that position for at least twenty years, and there is no sign of that state of affairs changing one iota over the next four. The very reverse, in fact.
The word on the street is that Clinton’s Senate seat will go to her husband, while Biden’s is to go to his son, and Obama’s to Jesse Jackson, Junior. Change We Can Believe In, eh?
Clinton’s seat needs to be filled by a Democrat who enjoys the endorsement of the Working Families Party on the protection of workers and consumers, on fair trade and fair tax, on universal health care, on Social Security, on environmental responsibility, on Civil Rights, and on foreign policy realism, whatever disagreements that party might have with him or her on other issues.
And that seat needs to be filled by a Democrat who enjoys the endorsement of the Conservative Party on family values, on strictly limited and strictly legal immigration, on constitutional checks and balances, on national security, on energy independence, on Second Amendment rights and responsibilities, on America as an English-speaking country, and (one trusts, now that the Bush Era is coming to an end) on foreign policy realism, whatever disagreements that party might have with him or her on other issues.
On that first basis, such a Democrat would also deserve the support of the Green Party. On that second basis, such a Democrat would also deserve the support of the Pro-Life Party. And on that double basis, support for such a Democrat could and should unite the warring factions within the Independence Party.
Regarding Obama’s seat in simply two-party Illinois, where is, for example, a totally orthodox Catholic Democrat who also has very deep roots in the Civil Rights movement effectively headquartered in Illinois, with that movement’s very strong economic populism and its very strong opposition to the neoconservative war agenda?
Lest it be imagined that this is an unwarranted British interference, either of those Democrats should not only declare to the Governor via the whole media of the United States in general and of the relevant state in particular, but should also contact, as a matter of the utmost urgency, the impeccably American Right Democrat - rightdemocrat@aol.com.
A Tale of Two Georgias
Watching the Georgian Foreign Minister on Hard Talk was hilarious. You were wrong, dear. Everyone now recognises that. You stand absolutely no chance of ever being let into either NATO or the EU whose flag you display everywhere.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia were never really yours, and your attempt to annex and ethnically cleanse them was spectacularly incompetent even in its own despicable terms.
The rest of us should recognise them immediately. Undoubtedly, before long, we will.
But there is another Georgia, and it matters rather more. I know that I have readers there, since they have posted comments or emailed me in the past. So, have you been out and voted for Jim Martin in the run-off today?
Only Obama’s betrayal of his economically populist, morally and socially conservative, foreign policy realist supporters, black and white, can save Saxby Chambliss now. Don’t let it. Instead, return an economically populist, morally and socially conservative foreign policy realist to the Senate.
Let that be your answer to Obama. And your warning to him.
Abkhazia and South Ossetia were never really yours, and your attempt to annex and ethnically cleanse them was spectacularly incompetent even in its own despicable terms.
The rest of us should recognise them immediately. Undoubtedly, before long, we will.
But there is another Georgia, and it matters rather more. I know that I have readers there, since they have posted comments or emailed me in the past. So, have you been out and voted for Jim Martin in the run-off today?
Only Obama’s betrayal of his economically populist, morally and socially conservative, foreign policy realist supporters, black and white, can save Saxby Chambliss now. Don’t let it. Instead, return an economically populist, morally and socially conservative foreign policy realist to the Senate.
Let that be your answer to Obama. And your warning to him.
Auntie Has Been Spooked
Last night for want of anything better to do, I watched Spooks. How the hell are they getting away with this? Russia was depicted, on no basis whatever, as a threat to this country, and one, moreover, with which ageing Soviet fellow-travellers would actively sympathise.
In fact, of course, the only present Russian Government is the only thing standing between that country and the totally unreconstructed Communist Party of the Russian Federation, or else the National Bolsheviks beloved of the BBC and whose flag is that of Nazi Germany but with the hammer and sickle in place of the swastika.
And Russia herself is, as one way or another she has always been (and these days specifically as country which has restored the teaching of Christianity in schools, as forbidden in the United States and detested in this country by Russia’s enemies here), the shield protecting us all from either or both of Islamic and Far Eastern domination.
Meanwhile, the office of Home Secretary, to which Spooks depicts MI5 as answering, has lately been occupied by Charles Clarke and John Reid. So Auntie, the Cold War is over. But it is not at all clear which side won. Well, not here it isn’t. Nor in the land of the land of the Project for the New American Century and the American Enterprise Institute, clearly with no intention of going anywhere, elections or no elections.
Thank God for Russia.
In fact, of course, the only present Russian Government is the only thing standing between that country and the totally unreconstructed Communist Party of the Russian Federation, or else the National Bolsheviks beloved of the BBC and whose flag is that of Nazi Germany but with the hammer and sickle in place of the swastika.
And Russia herself is, as one way or another she has always been (and these days specifically as country which has restored the teaching of Christianity in schools, as forbidden in the United States and detested in this country by Russia’s enemies here), the shield protecting us all from either or both of Islamic and Far Eastern domination.
Meanwhile, the office of Home Secretary, to which Spooks depicts MI5 as answering, has lately been occupied by Charles Clarke and John Reid. So Auntie, the Cold War is over. But it is not at all clear which side won. Well, not here it isn’t. Nor in the land of the land of the Project for the New American Century and the American Enterprise Institute, clearly with no intention of going anywhere, elections or no elections.
Thank God for Russia.
Monday, 1 December 2008
The Clinton Betrayal
Those who elected Obama also voted to reaffirm traditional marriage in Florida and in California. To end legal discrimination against working-class white men in Colorado. And not to liberalise gambling in Missouri or in Ohio. They included almost everyone in the black church. They included the clear majority of Catholics. In a word, they were moral and social conservatives.
They are Democrats for reasons of economic populism and foreign policy realism. Which are, of course, the right reasons. Yes, lots of liberals voted for Obama, too. But lots of liberals voted for Gore. Lots of liberals voted for Kerry. And lots of liberals would have voted for Clinton.
Integral to all three of economic populism, moral and social conservatism, and foreign policy realism are that immigration must be strictly legal, that legal immigration must be strictly limited, and that English must remain the only language of the United States. No one feels more strongly about these things than African-Americans, ninety-five per cent of whom voted for Obama. By contrast, Hispanics, especially in the South West, voted for him less than had been expected, preferring John “Amnesty” McCain instead. (Both groups voted for traditional marriage in California and Florida. Hence the picketing of the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, attendees at which have no vote in states where they do not live, but are very rarely either black or Hispanic.)
Huge numbers of people are now registering as Democrats. Hard Leftists, ultra-liberals and peaceniks were already registered Democrats. Hardline capitalists, racist rednecks and neoconservative hawks would never join a party led by Obama. So these must be the economically populist, morally and socially conservative foreign policy realists who have put Obama into the White House. And who could just as easily put him back out again.
Therefore, the nomination of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State is a betrayal. Clinton is a throwback to her husband’s era of NAFTA and GATT, and look how those have ended up. She is obviously anything but a moral and social conservative.
As a Senator, she voted for the Iraq War. As a candidate, she was beloved of AIPAC. And she offered an American nuclear shield to “protect” against Iran (where there are more women than men at university) the feminist paradises of Saudi Arabia (whence came the 9/11 attacks), Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, all generous benefactors of her campaign.
The Democratic nominee is going to beat Sarah Palin anyway. But Obama has no automatic right to be that nominee. He must earn that nomination by delivering on all three of economic populism, moral and social conservatism (at the very least, he must not make matters any worse), and foreign policy realism. The nomination of Clinton augurs very ill indeed on all three fronts.
In 2012, one American election will really matter. That conducted in and as the Democratic primaries. Obama needs to face a very serious challenge indeed. And he needs to know even now that he will be facing it.
They are Democrats for reasons of economic populism and foreign policy realism. Which are, of course, the right reasons. Yes, lots of liberals voted for Obama, too. But lots of liberals voted for Gore. Lots of liberals voted for Kerry. And lots of liberals would have voted for Clinton.
Integral to all three of economic populism, moral and social conservatism, and foreign policy realism are that immigration must be strictly legal, that legal immigration must be strictly limited, and that English must remain the only language of the United States. No one feels more strongly about these things than African-Americans, ninety-five per cent of whom voted for Obama. By contrast, Hispanics, especially in the South West, voted for him less than had been expected, preferring John “Amnesty” McCain instead. (Both groups voted for traditional marriage in California and Florida. Hence the picketing of the Mormon Temple in Salt Lake City, attendees at which have no vote in states where they do not live, but are very rarely either black or Hispanic.)
Huge numbers of people are now registering as Democrats. Hard Leftists, ultra-liberals and peaceniks were already registered Democrats. Hardline capitalists, racist rednecks and neoconservative hawks would never join a party led by Obama. So these must be the economically populist, morally and socially conservative foreign policy realists who have put Obama into the White House. And who could just as easily put him back out again.
Therefore, the nomination of Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State is a betrayal. Clinton is a throwback to her husband’s era of NAFTA and GATT, and look how those have ended up. She is obviously anything but a moral and social conservative.
As a Senator, she voted for the Iraq War. As a candidate, she was beloved of AIPAC. And she offered an American nuclear shield to “protect” against Iran (where there are more women than men at university) the feminist paradises of Saudi Arabia (whence came the 9/11 attacks), Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, all generous benefactors of her campaign.
The Democratic nominee is going to beat Sarah Palin anyway. But Obama has no automatic right to be that nominee. He must earn that nomination by delivering on all three of economic populism, moral and social conservatism (at the very least, he must not make matters any worse), and foreign policy realism. The nomination of Clinton augurs very ill indeed on all three fronts.
In 2012, one American election will really matter. That conducted in and as the Democratic primaries. Obama needs to face a very serious challenge indeed. And he needs to know even now that he will be facing it.
Where Have All The Workers Gone?
Well, Anthony Giddens, we have exported them.
We have exported jobs to un-unionised, child-exploiting sweatshops.
And now, we are importing the un-unionised, child-exploiting sweatshops themselves.
We have exported jobs to un-unionised, child-exploiting sweatshops.
And now, we are importing the un-unionised, child-exploiting sweatshops themselves.
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