Thursday, October 28, 2004
Aaah, something to cheer everyone up on a Thursday morning, Robert Kilroy-Silk, who's BBC program was axed after he made inflammatory and racist comments about Muslims has quit the UKIP, branding them as 'barmy'. It's rather like the inmate in the asylum who begs to be let out because "the giant cactus and the monkey told me everyone here is mad".
And a positive Europe story. Incoming commission president Jose Manuel Barroso forced to back down over his plan to install Italian misogynistic homophobe Rocco Buttiglione as commissioner for justice. For some reason MEPs have to vote for the commission en masse, maybe it's hoped that if they lack the choice they'd vote to accept a group rather than turn them down because of one or two people. But Barroso has to suggest a new team that won't include Buttiglione.
The downside of this was that Peter Mandelson did squirm his way onto our screens last night to try and maintain that it's fine for Buttiglione to work for the EU when he holds these views but that he shouldn't let these views influence him in developing policy. I think. It was quite difficult to understand what on earth Mandy was saying, for a gay he's extremely adept at fence-sitting.
"Mr Kerry, welcome back, we missed you." Only a week to go before the last battle between the forces of night "Vote Bush/Satan!" and the forces of a Democratic party too scared to go with anyone who doesn't look like a Republican ("Vote Kerry! He's like Republicans from the good old days!") Polls now seem meaningless to everyone who's not a pollster as it seems there's been a groundswell of signing up from people who usually don't care who want to vote. I'm hopeful for Kerry now, but it's now just a matter of waiting and seeing. The papers seem to be full of reports of Republican dirty tricks, but maybe it's Democrats pretending to be Republicans in order to make the GOP look bad, or maybe it's Republicans pretending to be Democrats pretending to be Republicans... But what's worse is that there's already an assumption on the left that whatever the result Bush will steal the Presidency again, it seems that if it's close the election will be decided in court again, with Democrats unwilling to back down this time. Pledge of Action to Stop A Stolen Election.
The answer seems obvious: Naked Weakest Link between Kerry and Bush. No, I don't particularly want to see Kerry's bottom either, but when Bush can somehow have a perfect square bulge in the back of an 'ill tailored suit' that he wears in public, I don't see much choice. Now, some might say that anything which relies on Bush having to use his intelligence against Kerry puts him at a disadvantage, but the NYT has supposedly uncovered information proving Kerry is at a disadvantage to Bush* so let's just see how it goes. Or maybe Who Wants to be an American President. "Okay George, you said 'We invaded Iraq because...' 'of Weapons of Mass Destruction'. We'll see if you're right after these messages."
* though read this too.
And a positive Europe story. Incoming commission president Jose Manuel Barroso forced to back down over his plan to install Italian misogynistic homophobe Rocco Buttiglione as commissioner for justice. For some reason MEPs have to vote for the commission en masse, maybe it's hoped that if they lack the choice they'd vote to accept a group rather than turn them down because of one or two people. But Barroso has to suggest a new team that won't include Buttiglione.
The downside of this was that Peter Mandelson did squirm his way onto our screens last night to try and maintain that it's fine for Buttiglione to work for the EU when he holds these views but that he shouldn't let these views influence him in developing policy. I think. It was quite difficult to understand what on earth Mandy was saying, for a gay he's extremely adept at fence-sitting.
"Mr Kerry, welcome back, we missed you." Only a week to go before the last battle between the forces of night "Vote Bush/Satan!" and the forces of a Democratic party too scared to go with anyone who doesn't look like a Republican ("Vote Kerry! He's like Republicans from the good old days!") Polls now seem meaningless to everyone who's not a pollster as it seems there's been a groundswell of signing up from people who usually don't care who want to vote. I'm hopeful for Kerry now, but it's now just a matter of waiting and seeing. The papers seem to be full of reports of Republican dirty tricks, but maybe it's Democrats pretending to be Republicans in order to make the GOP look bad, or maybe it's Republicans pretending to be Democrats pretending to be Republicans... But what's worse is that there's already an assumption on the left that whatever the result Bush will steal the Presidency again, it seems that if it's close the election will be decided in court again, with Democrats unwilling to back down this time. Pledge of Action to Stop A Stolen Election.
The answer seems obvious: Naked Weakest Link between Kerry and Bush. No, I don't particularly want to see Kerry's bottom either, but when Bush can somehow have a perfect square bulge in the back of an 'ill tailored suit' that he wears in public, I don't see much choice. Now, some might say that anything which relies on Bush having to use his intelligence against Kerry puts him at a disadvantage, but the NYT has supposedly uncovered information proving Kerry is at a disadvantage to Bush* so let's just see how it goes. Or maybe Who Wants to be an American President. "Okay George, you said 'We invaded Iraq because...' 'of Weapons of Mass Destruction'. We'll see if you're right after these messages."
* though read this too.
