Outwardly on our own; openly optimistic...

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Alone again although not quite: we are open for business with the world. I still am not 100 percent convinced by BoJo but by God it makes a hell of a differnece to have an overtly optimistic and patriotic Prime Minister again.



Today his written statement is promising: "The Government remains committed in all circumstances to securing all those benefits for the whole of the UK and to strengthening our Union."..."In its negotiations with the EU, the Government will be acting on behalf of the UK Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories: the whole UK family. The UK proposes to agree similar arrangements with the EFTA states."

But...today's speech is outstanding.

"And - you know where this is going - today if we get it right, if we have the courage to follow the instincts and the instructions of the British people, this can be another such moment on the launching pad."

"We are re-emerging after decades of hibernation as a campaigner for global free trade.

"And frankly it is not a moment too soon because the argument for this fundamental liberty is now not being made...

...And since these notions were born here in this country, it has been free trade that has done more than any other single economic idea to raise billions out of poverty and incredibly fast."

We do extraordinary things as I never tire of telling you.

Tea to China, cake to France, TV aerials to South Korea and so on.

Boomerangs to Australia - Nigel Farage to America. Then he came back of course. [Ows: Thank God!]

We are embarked now on a great voyage, a project that no one thought in the international community that this country would have the guts to undertake, but if we are brave and if we truly commit to the logic of our mission - open, outward-looking - generous, welcoming, engaged with the world championing global free trade now when global free trade needs a global champion,

I believe we can make a huge success of this venture, for Britain, for our European friends, and for the world.

Very well worth a read of the whole thing, or a watch and listen (speech begins @3:25, don't miss Q&A at the end, LOL).



Plus another good read: Leaving the EU is a joyous expression of national self-confidence. For that, we have Thatcher to thank. (Conservative Home):

"However, Thatcher changed everything. Her radical reforms, unapologetic patriotism, uncompromising will and remarkable character lifted the nation out of its post-war torpor and restored its self-confidence... 



"A British ‘economic miracle’ was being enviously mooted on the continent – a truly remarkable turnaround from the stagnation and misery afflicting the nation just 10 years earlier...

"Most important, though, was the national pride restored by Thatcher’s indomitable spirit and sense of moral purpose. 



"If Britain joined what was to become the EU in a moment of disorientation and self-doubt, it voted out as a confident, self-assured, optimistic, outward-looking and independent nation state.

"For this, we have Thatcher to thank. And as a delicious accompaniment, she posthumously drove a stake through the heart of her vampiric nemesis, Michael Heseltine. Victory has never been sweeter."

Outwardly on our own; openly optimistic...

---

Alone again although not quite: we are open for business with the world. I still am not 100 percent convinced by BoJo but by God it makes a hell of a differnece to have an overtly optimistic and patriotic Prime Minister again.

Today his written statement is promising: "The Government remains committed in all circumstances to securing all those benefits for the whole of the UK and to strengthening our Union."..."In its negotiations with the EU, the Government will be acting on behalf of the UK Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories: the whole UK family. The UK proposes to agree similar arrangements with the EFTA states." But...today's speech is outstanding.

"And - you know where this is going - today if we get it right, if we have the courage to follow the instincts and the instructions of the British people, this can be another such moment on the launching pad."

"We are re-emerging after decades of hibernation as a campaigner for global free trade.

"And frankly it is not a moment too soon because the argument for this fundamental liberty is now not being made...

...And since these notions were born here in this country, it has been free trade that has done more than any other single economic idea to raise billions out of poverty and incredibly fast." We do extraordinary things as I never tire of telling you. Tea to China, cake to France, TV aerials to South Korea and so on. Boomerangs to Australia - Nigel Farage to America. Then he came back of course. [Ows: Thank God!]

We are embarked now on a great voyage, a project that no one thought in the international community that this country would have the guts to undertake, but if we are brave and if we truly commit to the logic of our mission - open, outward-looking - generous, welcoming, engaged with the world championing global free trade now when global free trade needs a global champion, I believe we can make a huge success of this venture, for Britain, for our European friends, and for the world.

Very well worth a read of the whole thing, or a watch and listen (speech begins @3:25, don't miss Q&A at the end, LOL).

Plus another good read: Leaving the EU is a joyous expression of national self-confidence. For that, we have Thatcher to thank. (Conservative Home): "However, Thatcher changed everything. Her radical reforms, unapologetic patriotism, uncompromising will and remarkable character lifted the nation out of its post-war torpor and restored its self-confidence... 

"A British ‘economic miracle’ was being enviously mooted on the continent – a truly remarkable turnaround from the stagnation and misery afflicting the nation just 10 years earlier...

"Most important, though, was the national pride restored by Thatcher’s indomitable spirit and sense of moral purpose. 

"If Britain joined what was to become the EU in a moment of disorientation and self-doubt, it voted out as a confident, self-assured, optimistic, outward-looking and independent nation state.

"For this, we have Thatcher to thank. And as a delicious accompaniment, she posthumously drove a stake through the heart of her vampiric nemesis, Michael Heseltine. Victory has never been sweeter."

Outsider odds orison...

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Live in hope. "...[Political Betting's] assumption is that the next Tory leadership contest won’t be until 2019, so it might be wise to look at the current leadership polling and betting markets and assume whoever leads and is the favourite won’t be Theresa May’s successor. Just look at the odds on the next Tory leader in October 1974, a little over three months later the 50/1 outsider won" (image). By the same token and from the same source, "Ten days before he became Tory leader, only 5% of  [all] voters preferred John Major as Tory leader.".



This is a pity because Jacob Rees-Mogg and David Davis are the two current favourites and I would prefer either to the empty space we have now. I take that back: TM is actually WORSE than an empty space or at least seems to be making every effort to appear so. Add John Redwood, Owen Paterson, Priti Patel, Liam Fox, Kemi Badenoch, Boris Johnson etc., to Rees-Mogg and Davis and the Conservative Party may attract some Conservatives again.  

Outsider odds orison...

---

Live in hope. "...[Political Betting's] assumption is that the next Tory leadership contest won’t be until 2019, so it might be wise to look at the current leadership polling and betting markets and assume whoever leads and is the favourite won’t be Theresa May’s successor. Just look at the odds on the next Tory leader in October 1974, a little over three months later the 50/1 outsider won" (image). By the same token and from the same source, "Ten days before he became Tory leader, only 5% of  [all] voters preferred John Major as Tory leader.".

This is a pity because Jacob Rees-Mogg and David Davis are the two current favourites and I would prefer either to the empty space we have now. I take that back: TM is actually WORSE than an empty space or at least seems to be making every effort to appear so. Add John Redwood, Owen Paterson, Priti Patel, Liam Fox, Kemi Badenoch, Boris Johnson etc., to Rees-Mogg and Davis and the Conservative Party may attract some Conservatives again.  

Ochlocracy oneirodynia...

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Picture credit: Rex in the Metro

Imagine government by mob, it would be a nightmare. We saw how lefty groups couldn't take the Brexit vote and we saw it with Trump in the USA: these days many 'of the Left' don't seem to understand how democracy works.



Yesterday in London there were more "Deniers of Democracy" in an anti-Theresa May demonstration at Downing Street despite the Conservative Party easily (albeit an unexpected disappointment in terms of seat numbers) winning the election, "Demonstrators chanting with megaphones have been joined by Lily Allen this evening as they refuse to accept the Conservative win".



More HERE, yes, it's the usual suspects (see link and image). Thought this was interesting: putting the "disaster" of this week in perspective: highest ever UK GE winning vote counts:

1. John Major 14,093,007 (1992) 41.9% 


2. Margaret Thatcher 13,760,935 (1987) 42.2% 


3. Margaret Thatcher 13,697,923 (1979) 43.9% 


4. Theresa May 13,667,213 (2017) 42.4% 


5. Tony Blair 13,518,167 (1997) 43.2%

Outrageous opportunist obnubilation...

---

I seem to have missed the period that Sky News turned into a shitty caricature and combination of the worst aspects of toilet paper lefty rag The Daily Mirror and the laughable biased BBC News. Just WTF is this? "Thatcher 'Turned Blind Eye' To Paedophile MPs". Documents show Mrs Thatcher was made aware of the claims about the Liberal MP before he was handed the honour in 1988. I have no problem with Labour MP Simon Danczuk exposing Cyril Smith as a child abuser; I do have a problem with him and Sky News acting like the worst of the worst gutter tabloid.



Their own report tends to belie both the headline and Danczuk's comments; it goes on to say that the then Political Honours Scrutiny Committee had written to Margaret Thatcher explaining that police had investigated Liberal MP Cyril Smith in 1970 for "indecent assault against teenage boys" between 1961 and 1966 when he was a Labour Party Councillor; also that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had decided "there was no reasonable prospect of conviction" but that "One may regret this kind of press reporting but it could be revived if an award to Mr Smith were made" (referring to the fact that the case was reported in the Rochdale Alternative Press and Private Eye). Labour Lord Shackleton - who had written the letter - also said it would be "slightly unfortunate" if the revelation meant the Liberal MP didn't receive the knighthood.



I got more info from The Guardian; never thought I'd be using them to show what fucking cunts Sky News are.



Apparently a 2nd letter to PM MT said that the committee had some hesitation about the award but “so far as we believe and have been able to ascertain, his past history or general character does not, in all the circumstances, render him unsuitable” and yet another letter on the topic said Smith had been given the benefit of the doubt because he had not been prosecuted. The then cabinet secretary, Sir Robin Butler asked for more info:

“The case for taking the exceptional step of writing to you in this way is to protect the prime minister (and the Queen) while also being fair to Mr Smith.”



He said the committee wanted to know “whether the case against Mr Smith was not well founded; or whether it was a sound case, but that the evidence was not likely to stand up in court”.

I'm sure Simon Danczuk isn't acting like the prize cunt and he certainly isn't entirely partisan (he knows his own party 'are at it' too); maybe it was Sky News that put the headline; however, wouldn't it be true to say that rather than this being "a real stain on Margaret Thatcher's legacy and I don't get any pleasure from saying that, but she turned a blind eye to it"  as Danczuk has stated, wouldn't it be fairer to say it was the Cabinet Office/ civil servants, not Margaret Thatcher? Or at the very worst she acted on the various snippets of advice she was given by trusted aides at the time? 

Outrageous opportunist obnubilation...

---

I seem to have missed the period that Sky News turned into a shitty caricature and combination of the worst aspects of toilet paper lefty rag The Daily Mirror and the laughable biased BBC News. Just WTF is this? "Thatcher 'Turned Blind Eye' To Paedophile MPs". Documents show Mrs Thatcher was made aware of the claims about the Liberal MP before he was handed the honour in 1988. I have no problem with Labour MP Simon Danczuk exposing Cyril Smith as a child abuser; I do have a problem with him and Sky News acting like the worst of the worst gutter tabloid.

Their own report tends to belie both the headline and Danczuk's comments; it goes on to say that the then Political Honours Scrutiny Committee had written to Margaret Thatcher explaining that police had investigated Liberal MP Cyril Smith in 1970 for "indecent assault against teenage boys" between 1961 and 1966 when he was a Labour Party Councillor; also that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had decided "there was no reasonable prospect of conviction" but that "One may regret this kind of press reporting but it could be revived if an award to Mr Smith were made" (referring to the fact that the case was reported in the Rochdale Alternative Press and Private Eye). Labour Lord Shackleton - who had written the letter - also said it would be "slightly unfortunate" if the revelation meant the Liberal MP didn't receive the knighthood.

I got more info from The Guardian; never thought I'd be using them to show what fucking cunts Sky News are.

Apparently a 2nd letter to PM MT said that the committee had some hesitation about the award but “so far as we believe and have been able to ascertain, his past history or general character does not, in all the circumstances, render him unsuitable” and yet another letter on the topic said Smith had been given the benefit of the doubt because he had not been prosecuted. The then cabinet secretary, Sir Robin Butler asked for more info:

“The case for taking the exceptional step of writing to you in this way is to protect the prime minister (and the Queen) while also being fair to Mr Smith.”

He said the committee wanted to know “whether the case against Mr Smith was not well founded; or whether it was a sound case, but that the evidence was not likely to stand up in court”.

I'm sure Simon Danczuk isn't acting like the prize cunt and he certainly isn't entirely partisan (he knows his own party 'are at it' too); maybe it was Sky News that put the headline; however, wouldn't it be true to say that rather than this being "a real stain on Margaret Thatcher's legacy and I don't get any pleasure from saying that, but she turned a blind eye to it"  as Danczuk has stated, wouldn't it be fairer to say it was the Cabinet Office/ civil servants, not Margaret Thatcher? Or at the very worst she acted on the various snippets of advice she was given by trusted aides at the time? 

O or odium...

---

Love or hate. The Year of the Snake started on February 10th and should really be renamed year of Marmite ("Love it or hate it."); not because you hate the year or because it has any similarity to the sticky, salty, brown, beer by-product yeast extract but by our calendar so far each month we have a had a 'Marmite' moment: the end of the line or the end of an era for 'divisive' characters. First Chavez died. A month later Maggie died (no O that day) and now, another month later, Ferguson has retired! To quote Austin Barry commenting at The Spectator (I hope he doesn't mind) whose comment has caused a tea and toast crumb splattered Ows laptop:

"So farewell, Sir Alex, you have been one of the most successful care-in-the-community probation officers we have ever known."

LOL!

O or odium...

---

Love or hate. The Year of the Snake started on February 10th and should really be renamed year of Marmite ("Love it or hate it."); not because you hate the year or because it has any similarity to the sticky, salty, brown, beer by-product yeast extract but by our calendar so far each month we have a had a 'Marmite' moment: the end of the line or the end of an era for 'divisive' characters. First Chavez died. A month later Maggie died (no O that day) and now, another month later, Ferguson has retired! To quote Austin Barry commenting at The Spectator (I hope he doesn't mind) whose comment has caused a tea and toast crumb splattered Ows laptop:

"So farewell, Sir Alex, you have been one of the most successful care-in-the-community probation officers we have ever known."

LOL!

R.I.P. Baroness Thatcher...

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Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013). Here are 'some memorable moments and sayings from a remarkable life'; certainly one that shaped young Ows' life and future and I have tears in my eyes as I write this: funnily enough one of the moments I remember most clearly was listening to the BBC World Service telling us in late November 1990 how she had decided to withdraw her candidacy from the 2nd Conservative leadership ballot; she had easily won the 1st ballot but failed to gain the necessary 'new contest rules' 15% winning-margin by 1% (one percent: 4 votes; there were 16 abstentions...). I will probably refrain from forum's for a bit...probably. Please visit the The Margaret Thatcher Foundation." By complete coincidence I find myself next to Grantham... 

R.I.P. Baroness Thatcher...

---

Margaret Thatcher (1925-2013). Here are 'some memorable moments and sayings from a remarkable life'; certainly one that shaped young Ows' life and future and I have tears in my eyes as I write this: funnily enough one of the moments I remember most clearly was listening to the BBC World Service telling us in late November 1990 how she had decided to withdraw her candidacy from the 2nd Conservative leadership ballot; she had easily won the 1st ballot but failed to gain the necessary 'new contest rules' 15% winning-margin by 1% (one percent: 4 votes; there were 16 abstentions...). I will probably refrain from forum's for a bit...probably. Please visit the The Margaret Thatcher Foundation." By complete coincidence I find myself next to Grantham... 

Operational oversight...

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Posting light, travelling (Mexico at present) and loads of work. Anyway, thank God, in that case, for psychopathic tendencies: "Mrs Thatcher had oversights when it came to thousands of people"..."she didn't operate in the way others did."..." As well as being such an intelligent woman, I would say she had psychopathic tendencies." The BBC [edit] are going to be all over this.



In other news, Huhne the hoon: James has it right: "There are some very bad dangerous people in politics right now. But it's their policies I want them nailed on, not their personalities [or minor crimes]".

Operational oversight...

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Posting light, travelling (Mexico at present) and loads of work. Anyway, thank God, in that case, for psychopathic tendencies: "Mrs Thatcher had oversights when it came to thousands of people"..."she didn't operate in the way others did."..." As well as being such an intelligent woman, I would say she had psychopathic tendencies." The BBC [edit] are going to be all over this.

In other news, Huhne the hoon: James has it right: "There are some very bad dangerous people in politics right now. But it's their policies I want them nailed on, not their personalities [or minor crimes]".

Oecist obeisance...

---

From The Blue Collar Tory Blog, Happy Margaret Thatcher Day! I hope Cristina the oligodontous odorivector is aware.

"Today the Falkland Islanders honour the Prime Minister who fought to save the Islands from the tyranny of the Argentine Junta. Of course that prime Minister was the great Margaret Thatcher who led Britain out of decline and back to greatness. I just wish that we had a similar day here in the UK to celebrate the achievements of Baroness Thatcher who as well as liberating the Falklands liberated Britain from the grasp of the trade unions."

And a lot more besides: Baroness Thatcher is by far and away the greatest living UK PM, and consistently polls among, if not top, the best ever.  The Margaret Thatcher Foundation website (the largest contemporary history site of its kind) - and linked on Owsblog for years - offers free access to thousands of historical documents relating to the Thatcher period including files on the Falklands [Link]. 

Oecist obeisance...

---

From The Blue Collar Tory Blog, Happy Margaret Thatcher Day! I hope Cristina the oligodontous odorivector is aware.

"Today the Falkland Islanders honour the Prime Minister who fought to save the Islands from the tyranny of the Argentine Junta. Of course that prime Minister was the great Margaret Thatcher who led Britain out of decline and back to greatness. I just wish that we had a similar day here in the UK to celebrate the achievements of Baroness Thatcher who as well as liberating the Falklands liberated Britain from the grasp of the trade unions."

And a lot more besides: Baroness Thatcher is by far and away the greatest living UK PM, and consistently polls among, if not top, the best ever.  The Margaret Thatcher Foundation website (the largest contemporary history site of its kind) - and linked on Owsblog for years - offers free access to thousands of historical documents relating to the Thatcher period including files on the Falklands [Link].