Obstrobogulous obnubilation...

---

Miliband calls for an inquiry (interesting how the BBC changed their headline to big-up Ed, not for the first time...since changed again); Brown was at the heart of the design for what failed miserably; Balls and Miliband were his lieutenants: "no return to boom and bust". We know it was 'self delusion masking rank greed'...no risk. Britain having in place 'the most up-to-date early warning and response system' boasted Brown; it was worth nothing 'if you don't understand the system and its risks', watching Dispatches again is a good reminder. Politicians and bankers were and are living in a fools paradise...and "Right now, we’re seeing the party organizers blaming the bartenders";

But when Ed Balls adds his voice to calls for a Leveson-style inquiry for the banks, we ought to remember how many people have a vested interest in framing the banks for the crash. And is rigging interest rates for personal gain so much worse than rigging them for political gain by pumping cheap debt to the masses and dressing the result up as prosperity or recovery? [Link] (Fraser Nelson at The Spectator).

Obstrobogulous obnubilation...

---

Miliband calls for an inquiry (interesting how the BBC changed their headline to big-up Ed, not for the first time...since changed again); Brown was at the heart of the design for what failed miserably; Balls and Miliband were his lieutenants: "no return to boom and bust". We know it was 'self delusion masking rank greed'...no risk. Britain having in place 'the most up-to-date early warning and response system' boasted Brown; it was worth nothing 'if you don't understand the system and its risks', watching Dispatches again is a good reminder. Politicians and bankers were and are living in a fools paradise...and "Right now, we’re seeing the party organizers blaming the bartenders";

But when Ed Balls adds his voice to calls for a Leveson-style inquiry for the banks, we ought to remember how many people have a vested interest in framing the banks for the crash. And is rigging interest rates for personal gain so much worse than rigging them for political gain by pumping cheap debt to the masses and dressing the result up as prosperity or recovery? [Link] (Fraser Nelson at The Spectator).

Ordinary opprobrium...

---

"The wrongdoings were overwhelmingly the product, not the cause, of the bubble", clearly so but this won't assuage the opprobrium. Following on from yesterday's overflowing ordure and the Banks' perfect storm: Allister Heath From Boom to Bezzle, quoting US economist John Kenneth Galbraith: "...at the height of a bubble, a punch drunk world becomes so wealthy that it turns a blind eye to financial crime (embezzlement, or the “bezzle). But when the music stops, and the crash comes, everybody suddenly uncovers past scandals. It is worth quoting him at length: the bezzle, he said, “varies in size with the business cycle. In good times people are relaxed, trusting, and money is plentiful. But even though money is plentiful, there are always many people who need more. Under these circumstances the rate of embezzlement grows, the rate of discovery falls off, and the bezzle increases rapidly. In depression all this is reversed. Money is watched with a narrow, suspicious eye. The man who handles it is assumed to be dishonest until he proves himself otherwise. Audits are penetrating and meticulous. Commercial morality is enormously improved. The bezzle shrinks.” We are now at this stage of the cycle.

Ordinary opprobrium...

---

"The wrongdoings were overwhelmingly the product, not the cause, of the bubble", clearly so but this won't assuage the opprobrium. Following on from yesterday's overflowing ordure and the Banks' perfect storm: Allister Heath From Boom to Bezzle, quoting US economist John Kenneth Galbraith: "...at the height of a bubble, a punch drunk world becomes so wealthy that it turns a blind eye to financial crime (embezzlement, or the “bezzle). But when the music stops, and the crash comes, everybody suddenly uncovers past scandals. It is worth quoting him at length: the bezzle, he said, “varies in size with the business cycle. In good times people are relaxed, trusting, and money is plentiful. But even though money is plentiful, there are always many people who need more. Under these circumstances the rate of embezzlement grows, the rate of discovery falls off, and the bezzle increases rapidly. In depression all this is reversed. Money is watched with a narrow, suspicious eye. The man who handles it is assumed to be dishonest until he proves himself otherwise. Audits are penetrating and meticulous. Commercial morality is enormously improved. The bezzle shrinks.” We are now at this stage of the cycle.

Overflowing ordure...

---

Some, me included, defended the banks from much criticism over the 'credit crunch' because it was not only the banks but also the greedy public and the hopelessly wrong politicians: in the UK's case Gordon Brown et al. Now, the banks have ceded any goodwill by letting the mask slip to reveal the casino-bank wide-boy jumped-up spivs they really are; I have no need nor wish to paraphrase Raedwald who puts it so well:

"We have been forced to recapitalise the banks, mortgaging future generations and impoverishing the Kingdom, to pay for the bankers' greed and folly. Ordinary lives have been ruined, industry grievously wounded, the nation's trade, it's very life-blood, draining from severed vessels as these gilded popinjays, these pampered jades, these foul and corrupt excrescences continue to lie, steal, distort, manipulate and cheat to maintain their pillage of the national wealth. Though the temptation is to march on Docklands with a coil of hempen rope and decorate the lamp columns of Canada Square with this noxious fruit, we must leave it to the courts and the criminal justice system to exact retribution. For retribution there must be."

Overflowing ordure...

---

Some, me included, defended the banks from much criticism over the 'credit crunch' because it was not only the banks but also the greedy public and the hopelessly wrong politicians: in the UK's case Gordon Brown et al. Now, the banks have ceded any goodwill by letting the mask slip to reveal the casino-bank wide-boy jumped-up spivs they really are; I have no need nor wish to paraphrase Raedwald who puts it so well:

"We have been forced to recapitalise the banks, mortgaging future generations and impoverishing the Kingdom, to pay for the bankers' greed and folly. Ordinary lives have been ruined, industry grievously wounded, the nation's trade, it's very life-blood, draining from severed vessels as these gilded popinjays, these pampered jades, these foul and corrupt excrescences continue to lie, steal, distort, manipulate and cheat to maintain their pillage of the national wealth. Though the temptation is to march on Docklands with a coil of hempen rope and decorate the lamp columns of Canada Square with this noxious fruit, we must leave it to the courts and the criminal justice system to exact retribution. For retribution there must be."

Orthopraxy...

---

"Historic. Symbolic. Significant"..."Blessed are the peacemakers". Well said Cranmer.

Orthopraxy...

---

"Historic. Symbolic. Significant"..."Blessed are the peacemakers". Well said Cranmer.

Ogre's opinion?...

---

And it's not mine!...but I did find it interesting albeit IMHO 'sanitised': "5 years ago today, Gordon Brown became Prime Minister. Here are some personal memories and reflections...". Damian McBride said to Gordon "Sod off, you Scottish Git!"...he did! I'll not go into detail about much more - and how much I hate Gordon etc. (you've heard all that before!) - but in all fairness, after reading deeper into the blog, and knowing how the civil servant/background/back-room teams seem to be letting down the Coalition so badly, McBride could teach them a thing or two.

Ogre's opinion?...

---

And it's not mine!...but I did find it interesting albeit IMHO 'sanitised': "5 years ago today, Gordon Brown became Prime Minister. Here are some personal memories and reflections...". Damian McBride said to Gordon "Sod off, you Scottish Git!"...he did! I'll not go into detail about much more - and how much I hate Gordon etc. (you've heard all that before!) - but in all fairness, after reading deeper into the blog, and knowing how the civil servant/background/back-room teams seem to be letting down the Coalition so badly, McBride could teach them a thing or two.

Oversized, overspent orphan...

---

Yet another Euro summit...so many false peaks: it will not end until it is put out of its misery; what John Redwood says today is the plain and simple truth (as always): "The Euro is not worth a single pound of UK taxpayers money. The money tree is wilting and the reason is clear: Euro countries have overspent and borrowed far too much; there is no more money.

"The Euro remains an orphan currency in search of a country to look after it and support it. Creating a country called Euroland is taking too long for the good of its currency. The rich areas and countries are not willing to prop up all the poorer and weaker countries and institutions. There are now five countries needing special measures and special subsidised loans. It cannot go on like this".

Oversized, overspent orphan...

---

Yet another Euro summit...so many false peaks: it will not end until it is put out of its misery; what John Redwood says today is the plain and simple truth (as always): "The Euro is not worth a single pound of UK taxpayers money. The money tree is wilting and the reason is clear: Euro countries have overspent and borrowed far too much; there is no more money.

"The Euro remains an orphan currency in search of a country to look after it and support it. Creating a country called Euroland is taking too long for the good of its currency. The rich areas and countries are not willing to prop up all the poorer and weaker countries and institutions. There are now five countries needing special measures and special subsidised loans. It cannot go on like this".

Oracle on Owyhee...

---

Authorities on Owyhee have approved the purchase of most of one of the Sandwich Islands to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. Of course the archipelago is no longer called The Sandwich Islands or Owyhee; it is now called Hawaii and the island Larry has bought is Lanai. It is also known as Pineapple Island because it was once a pineapple plantation: the fruit was introduced by Francisco de Paula Marin, a Spanish adventurer but it is English Captain John Kidwell who founded Hawaii’s pineapple industry ("importing and testing a number of varieties in the 1800s for commercial crop potential"). Later, Lanai was transformed into the largest pineapple plantation in the world "that supplied more than 75% of the world’s pineapple", by James Drummond Dole. Maybe Larry wants to return the island to it's previous fame and status...or maybe not.

Oracle on Owyhee...

---

Authorities on Owyhee have approved the purchase of most of one of the Sandwich Islands to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison. Of course the archipelago is no longer called The Sandwich Islands or Owyhee; it is now called Hawaii and the island Larry has bought is Lanai. It is also known as Pineapple Island because it was once a pineapple plantation: the fruit was introduced by Francisco de Paula Marin, a Spanish adventurer but it is English Captain John Kidwell who founded Hawaii’s pineapple industry ("importing and testing a number of varieties in the 1800s for commercial crop potential"). Later, Lanai was transformed into the largest pineapple plantation in the world "that supplied more than 75% of the world’s pineapple", by James Drummond Dole. Maybe Larry wants to return the island to it's previous fame and status...or maybe not.

Ouch...

---

"Magnifico squadra italiana umiliare inutili giocatori inglesi" could/should have been a thousand headlines; I am not going to comment of the useless bunch of hapless lazy gob-shites that were in England shirts on Sunday; what is it about multi-million pound earning footballers - the ones that earn the equivalent of a hundred season tickets every week - that consistently FAIL to perform for their country? Surely it is every players ambition to represent their patria? Maybe not. That said, some take pride and looking at the player comparison in the next link where Peerless Pirlo completely slaughters the combined efforts of TWO THREE [thanks Paul] English players: he ran and passed his heart out - you know, like you should do - and you have to admire his penalty.

Ouch...

---

"Magnifico squadra italiana umiliare inutili giocatori inglesi" could/should have been a thousand headlines; I am not going to comment of the useless bunch of hapless lazy gob-shites that were in England shirts on Sunday; what is it about multi-million pound earning footballers - the ones that earn the equivalent of a hundred season tickets every week - that consistently FAIL to perform for their country? Surely it is every players ambition to represent their patria? Maybe not. That said, some take pride and looking at the player comparison in the next link where Peerless Pirlo completely slaughters the combined efforts of TWO THREE [thanks Paul] English players: he ran and passed his heart out - you know, like you should do - and you have to admire his penalty.

Ominous omens...

---

...they're all around us really but do we ever connect all the dots? "An omen can be good... or not. It can be a harbinger of positive change or a warning of impending doom." writes Dale Sinner (D Sinner, honestly!) in International Man. [Update Monday: please see Dale's comment about this]. Talking of the events - now 4 years or more ago! - leading to the current financial crisis; I think I agree with his sentence: "I don't think I'm a superstitious person, but there are times when events excite some kind of primitive, back-brain sense in me that seems to say, 'Get ready'", almost a fatal attraction or curious fascination like an inability to take ones eyes off an impending disaster: watching a train crash or something. The article is from a US perspective but I'm guessing in many countries, especially the UK, you could write something similar but with details adjusted to local events: "Americans continue to object to bailouts while the government continues to hand them out."...see what I mean?

Ominous omens...

---

...they're all around us really but do we ever connect all the dots? "An omen can be good... or not. It can be a harbinger of positive change or a warning of impending doom." writes Dale Sinner (D Sinner, honestly!) in International Man. [Update Monday: please see Dale's comment about this]. Talking of the events - now 4 years or more ago! - leading to the current financial crisis; I think I agree with his sentence: "I don't think I'm a superstitious person, but there are times when events excite some kind of primitive, back-brain sense in me that seems to say, 'Get ready'", almost a fatal attraction or curious fascination like an inability to take ones eyes off an impending disaster: watching a train crash or something. The article is from a US perspective but I'm guessing in many countries, especially the UK, you could write something similar but with details adjusted to local events: "Americans continue to object to bailouts while the government continues to hand them out."...see what I mean?

Obese option...

---

I'll have the Kid's Breakfast please...why is it called the kid's breakfast? It weighs the same as a large new born child! Yor 'aving a larf! Click HERE for BBC article and video and click on image to enlarge (if you dare).



Jester's diner in Great Yarmouth serves it and it a includes an 8 eggs, cheese and potato omelette, 12 rashers of bacon, 12 sausages, potatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, black pudding, beans and 12 slices of bread/toast. Wonderful, you don't even have to pay for it; there is one condition...

Obese option...

---

I'll have the Kid's Breakfast please...why is it called the kid's breakfast? It weighs the same as a large new born child! Yor 'aving a larf! Click HERE for BBC article and video and click on image to enlarge (if you dare).

Jester's diner in Great Yarmouth serves it and it a includes an 8 eggs, cheese and potato omelette, 12 rashers of bacon, 12 sausages, potatoes, mushrooms, hash browns, black pudding, beans and 12 slices of bread/toast. Wonderful, you don't even have to pay for it; there is one condition...

Orwell­oscope options...

---

Atando los cabos sueltos, but not at Los Cabos! More from Canada, this time the Financial Post: I like Peter Foster's phrase "Mañana-nomics". Much of the rest of what Peter says makes good sense and is certainly true in many respects: Barroso spitting the dummy, "Europeans have no desire to be ruled by the likes of Messrs Van Rompuy and Barroso... Sunday’s Greek election solves nothing... [Hollande’s] allegedly bright new alternative policy amounts to less fiscal responsibility and more unserviceable debt" etc. Opportunity knocks...

Orwell­oscope options...

---

Atando los cabos sueltos, but not at Los Cabos! More from Canada, this time the Financial Post: I like Peter Foster's phrase "Mañana-nomics". Much of the rest of what Peter says makes good sense and is certainly true in many respects: Barroso spitting the dummy, "Europeans have no desire to be ruled by the likes of Messrs Van Rompuy and Barroso... Sunday’s Greek election solves nothing... [Hollande’s] allegedly bright new alternative policy amounts to less fiscal responsibility and more unserviceable debt" etc. Opportunity knocks...

Obvious outcome II...

---

"What were they thinking?..." from Frances Wooley on Worthwhile Canadian Initiative (and good comments on that post). "No one ever seriously considered the possibility that an EU country might not be able to repay its debt... ... the question is: Why?" Click on image to enlarge: the graph is 6 months old but it does tell the story of 'The Much Praised "Convergence" as a Cause'; the failure of the market to differentiate across the Eurozone members and treat all Eurozone governments as the same (paraphrasing Frank J. Lysy via the 6 month link above). Hat-tip Raedwald.

Obvious outcome II...

---

"What were they thinking?..." from Frances Wooley on Worthwhile Canadian Initiative (and good comments on that post). "No one ever seriously considered the possibility that an EU country might not be able to repay its debt... ... the question is: Why?" Click on image to enlarge: the graph is 6 months old but it does tell the story of 'The Much Praised "Convergence" as a Cause'; the failure of the market to differentiate across the Eurozone members and treat all Eurozone governments as the same (paraphrasing Frank J. Lysy via the 6 month link above). Hat-tip Raedwald.

Oracular orator...

---

One for the shopping list: "Enoch at 100: a re-evaluation of the life, politics and philosophy of Enoch Powell.""Enoch Powell was, until the rise of Margaret Thatcher, the most famous politician in Britain" wrote Charles Moore last week (because of this speech, probably the most intentionally misreported, misquoted and misunderstood speech ever, even more so than 'there is no such thing as society') and today Adrian Hilton opens with a simialrity between the two, "The very mention of the name of Enoch Powell still divides the firmaments." 'June 2012 marks the centenary of the birth of John Enoch Powell, one of Britain's most colourful and controversial politicians. Although he never gained high office he was, throughout his career, one of the most popular politicians in the country. In 2003 Powell was voted the 55th greatest britain ever' (from archived biography, speeches and bibliography: click on image). Like anyone, Enoch was wrong about a couple of things but unlike most people he was so right about so much more. So true the closing sentence of Adrian's brief review: "But what manner of failure is it when the name of Enoch eclipses every Tory politician of the 20th century, excepting those of Winston and Margaret?"

"All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal".

Oracular orator...

---

One for the shopping list: "Enoch at 100: a re-evaluation of the life, politics and philosophy of Enoch Powell.""Enoch Powell was, until the rise of Margaret Thatcher, the most famous politician in Britain" wrote Charles Moore last week (because of this speech, probably the most intentionally misreported, misquoted and misunderstood speech ever, even more so than 'there is no such thing as society') and today Adrian Hilton opens with a simialrity between the two, "The very mention of the name of Enoch Powell still divides the firmaments." 'June 2012 marks the centenary of the birth of John Enoch Powell, one of Britain's most colourful and controversial politicians. Although he never gained high office he was, throughout his career, one of the most popular politicians in the country. In 2003 Powell was voted the 55th greatest britain ever' (from archived biography, speeches and bibliography: click on image). Like anyone, Enoch was wrong about a couple of things but unlike most people he was so right about so much more. So true the closing sentence of Adrian's brief review: "But what manner of failure is it when the name of Enoch eclipses every Tory politician of the 20th century, excepting those of Winston and Margaret?"

"All I know is that to see, and not to speak, would be the great betrayal".

Olid offal...

---

Bill Lockhart comments: "The double-spacing does at least serve to emphasis the utter vacuity of this simpering dross". I have to agree; in a way I don't blame Ed for the speech, these grey suits get their words written for them by other grey suits (and is just as dire in the other parties...the MSM have made politicians think they need to spout this shite). However, even more than the 'simpering dross', the patent hypocrisy shines through.

Olid offal...

---

Bill Lockhart comments: "The double-spacing does at least serve to emphasis the utter vacuity of this simpering dross". I have to agree; in a way I don't blame Ed for the speech, these grey suits get their words written for them by other grey suits (and is just as dire in the other parties...the MSM have made politicians think they need to spout this shite). However, even more than the 'simpering dross', the patent hypocrisy shines through.

Overblown outlook II...

---

Sorry for the lack of posting. many issues that I could waffle on about but you don't want to hear my hot air...however today is Global Wind Day! (see what I did there?). Now, Global Wind Day is a worldwide event on 15th June and pushed by European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and "is a day for discovering wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to change our world"; of course they're on about generating renewable energy (oops) rather than any appreciation of the real marvellous and terrifying power of Mother Nature. Brazilian Lars Grael (former sailor now politician) said...

"The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects the wind to change, the realist adjusts the sails to the wind you have."

Update Saturday 16th: Interesting and timely 'defense' article HERE, completely demolished in the comments; also more info (and links) on problems with wind power HERE.

Overblown outlook II...

---

Sorry for the lack of posting. many issues that I could waffle on about but you don't want to hear my hot air...however today is Global Wind Day! (see what I did there?). Now, Global Wind Day is a worldwide event on 15th June and pushed by European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) and the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) and "is a day for discovering wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to change our world"; of course they're on about generating renewable energy (oops) rather than any appreciation of the real marvellous and terrifying power of Mother Nature. Brazilian Lars Grael (former sailor now politician) said...

"The pessimist complains about the wind, the optimist expects the wind to change, the realist adjusts the sails to the wind you have."

Update Saturday 16th: Interesting and timely 'defense' article HERE, completely demolished in the comments; also more info (and links) on problems with wind power HERE.

Ows obeisance II...

---

Well said John Redwood: "She is the UK’s greatest Ambassador"...and well said too to 'colliemum' for putting it so well (in the comments, same link):

"On this day not only we here in Great Britain are celebrating – millions of people in the Commonwealth countries across the globe are celebrating with us, as are people in other countries.

There can be no Monarch, no Head of State anywhere who is held in such esteem by so many people in so many different nations as our Queen Elizabeth II."

Ows obeisance II...

---

Well said John Redwood: "She is the UK’s greatest Ambassador"...and well said too to 'colliemum' for putting it so well (in the comments, same link):

"On this day not only we here in Great Britain are celebrating – millions of people in the Commonwealth countries across the globe are celebrating with us, as are people in other countries. There can be no Monarch, no Head of State anywhere who is held in such esteem by so many people in so many different nations as our Queen Elizabeth II."

Operose opinion...

---

Operose is work characterised by the great effort needed; in this case the 'heavy going' necessary to praise the Coalition; "Outside economics, we have a Government that in two short years has been incredibly productive". Writing behind the pay wall, unfortunately, The Times' Matthew Parris - also describing Britain's comparatively and relatively good economic record - concurs with a few of us as he writes:

"Our ministers should take comfort, not sorrow, from the fact that our newspapers strut and our Opposition frets over Cornish pasties and static caravans. News bulletins led by reports from a circus of lawyers and celebrities spitting blood and splitting hairs at an inquiry into — what was it, again? . . . these are headlines for which the leaders of the eurozone nations would give their eye teeth."

Operose opinion...

---

Operose is work characterised by the great effort needed; in this case the 'heavy going' necessary to praise the Coalition; "Outside economics, we have a Government that in two short years has been incredibly productive". Writing behind the pay wall, unfortunately, The Times' Matthew Parris - also describing Britain's comparatively and relatively good economic record - concurs with a few of us as he writes:

"Our ministers should take comfort, not sorrow, from the fact that our newspapers strut and our Opposition frets over Cornish pasties and static caravans. News bulletins led by reports from a circus of lawyers and celebrities spitting blood and splitting hairs at an inquiry into — what was it, again? . . . these are headlines for which the leaders of the eurozone nations would give their eye teeth."

Ows obeisance...

---

Happy Coronation birthday and happy Diamond Jubileee to Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
[Edited: 'dead' image/video removed]
Image left:

Queen Elizabeth II

by Cecil Beaton 

bromide print, 2 June 1953 (Coronation Day)

Sitter: Queen Elizabeth II (1926-), Queen regnant.

Artist: Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer.

Lent to National Portrait Gallery (London) by Gift of Mr Ford Hill, American Friends of the National Portrait Gallery (London) Foundation, Inc., 

Ows obeisance...

---

Happy Coronation birthday and happy Diamond Jubileee to Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
[Edited: 'dead' image/video removed] Image left:
Queen Elizabeth II
by Cecil Beaton 
bromide print, 2 June 1953 (Coronation Day)
Sitter: Queen Elizabeth II (1926-), Queen regnant.
Artist: Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer.
Lent to National Portrait Gallery (London) by Gift of Mr Ford Hill, American Friends of the National Portrait Gallery (London) Foundation, Inc., 

Ows obeisance...

---

Happy Coronation birthday and happy Diamond Jubileee to Her Majesty Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and of Her other Realms and Territories, Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.
Image left:
Queen Elizabeth II
by Cecil Beaton 
bromide print, 2 June 1953 (Coronation Day)
Sitter: Queen Elizabeth II (1926-), Queen regnant.
Artist: Cecil Beaton (1904-1980), Photographer, designer and writer.
Lent to National Portrait Gallery (London) by Gift of Mr Ford Hill, American Friends of the National Portrait Gallery (London) Foundation, Inc., 

Oakeshott on Osborne...

---

Interesting article by Brian Wheeler related to the post below about politicians' U-turns and how the public perceives them (and very encouraging to read the largely sensible comments, clearly the usual suspects haven't found the thread yet!). Some - as usual unnamed - Conservative backbenchers 'have told the BBC' that Britain needed a "full-time chancellor"; "Liberal Democrat peer Lord Oakeshott said that Chancellor George Osborne needs to "focus on the day job" instead of trying to do two jobs at once" [Link]. I agree but am convinced all Osborne and Danny Alexander need do is read and think about the shit that snide EU-loving treasury civil servants seem to keep pushing to the fore; then shove it back in their faces and tell them to fuck off.

Oakeshott on Osborne...

---

Interesting article by Brian Wheeler related to the post below about politicians' U-turns and how the public perceives them (and very encouraging to read the largely sensible comments, clearly the usual suspects haven't found the thread yet!). Some - as usual unnamed - Conservative backbenchers 'have told the BBC' that Britain needed a "full-time chancellor"; "Liberal Democrat peer Lord Oakeshott said that Chancellor George Osborne needs to "focus on the day job" instead of trying to do two jobs at once" [Link]. I agree but am convinced all Osborne and Danny Alexander need do is read and think about the shit that snide EU-loving treasury civil servants seem to keep pushing to the fore; then shove it back in their faces and tell them to fuck off.

Opprobrium over 'omnishambles'...

---

Indeed: Jackart rants away yet hits the nail on the head in my opinion re the Coalition's 'absolutely inept' spectacularly incompetent media management. You may have noticed I have been away a bit (am still away) yet it is easy to note, even from afar, that things do look dire with the seeming U-turn mania. However this was mostly petty issues and based on EU tripe and totally predictably U-turn fodder: despite all, "On substantially all the big issues however, the Government's broadly right"; "It is staggering they managed to avoid a single headline about taking 2m low-waged out of tax"; I wouldn't blame only the Coalition on this point though, I have said it before but something is seriously wrong with the MSM. Added to the circus and the bias, inept and pointless Leverson sideshow plus the left-infested civil service and institutions, the ship sails on and "The simple fact is we have a government intent on leaving the country better off, without thinking about their short-term popularity."



Immediate update: related to the MSM point, the excellent Stumbling and Mumbling has a post on "journalist's fallacy".

Opprobrium over 'omnishambles'...

---

Indeed: Jackart rants away yet hits the nail on the head in my opinion re the Coalition's 'absolutely inept' spectacularly incompetent media management. You may have noticed I have been away a bit (am still away) yet it is easy to note, even from afar, that things do look dire with the seeming U-turn mania. However this was mostly petty issues and based on EU tripe and totally predictably U-turn fodder: despite all, "On substantially all the big issues however, the Government's broadly right"; "It is staggering they managed to avoid a single headline about taking 2m low-waged out of tax"; I wouldn't blame only the Coalition on this point though, I have said it before but something is seriously wrong with the MSM. Added to the circus and the bias, inept and pointless Leverson sideshow plus the left-infested civil service and institutions, the ship sails on and "The simple fact is we have a government intent on leaving the country better off, without thinking about their short-term popularity."

Immediate update: related to the MSM point, the excellent Stumbling and Mumbling has a post on "journalist's fallacy".