Telegraph Does Not Like It Up Them

I don't usually re-publish on here what I publish elsewhere but I am unhappy this afternoon about something brewing on Guido's Blog so here goes:

See first the great Order-Order and now my (edited) comment regarding the Telegraph owners' taking down of Nadine Dorries' Blog as follows:

Taking down blogs is more serious than the Order-Order comments imply. Right to reply; correction of inaccuracies; removal of certain statements; mmm, maybe ok.

Certainly the right to deal with it in full under existing provisions eg libel laws. But pulling down a whole blog? You may not like Nadine Dorries (tired, stroppy, trougher or not) and her accusations may have been ill advised in the absence of some careful research but are you happy to focus on her shortcomings and accept that her blog be silenced?

I agree with some of the comments (including ND’s) that we are risking something here in our glee at the downfall of the troughing political class; a vacuum is indeed forming and we need to be vigilant as to what turns up to fill it.

This is not a funny moment and one or two on Order-Order maybe need a quick swot up on how the minority National Socialists achieved power in Germany in the 1930’s. A reminder:

Als die Nazis die Kommunisten holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Kommunist.

Als sie die Sozialdemokraten einsperrten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Sozialdemokrat.

Als sie die Gewerkschafter holten,
habe ich nicht protestiert;
ich war ja kein Gewerkschafter.

Als sie die Juden holten,
habe ich geschwiegen;
ich war ja kein Jude.

Als sie mich holten,
gab es keinen mehr, der protestierte.

In finding the translation I hope it will make some think more carefully as to what happens next.

Bankers and Regulation

An excellent article turned up in last week's Sunday Times and upon re-reading it I decided that it would be worth sharing on here; not least because it would, in some part, explain my (perverse to some) views on the banking crisis and the joys of regulation (and how light touch regulation was anything but and actually a failure of heavy handed and misplaced regulation was much to blame). The following explains what I often by a lack of wit, voice or sobriety fail to get across in person:

Times Online Think Tank on Comfort Blankets

The cost and pain of this crisis looks to have been generally wasted because as a result we still have most of the big banking sector intact and, crikey, part government owned plus every reason under the sun for government to persuade us that more regulations are necessary.

That's what your debt of £25,000 each has bought you lucky people: more government. It's the gift that keeps on giving (as long as you keep on paying). Great. Not.

Location, Location - Starring Our Dear Leader

Our Dear Leader has of course some "form" on property and tax planning. Who would have thought it? The first report is from the Telegraph in 2007, the second from the current round of Telegraph reporting.

Some interesting links back to that Great Socialist, and not at all a bully, Robert Maxwell plus our old friend Geoffrey Robinson, lender of first resort to Lord Mandelson you will recall.

The "one off" equity release type mortgage from Lloyds TSB would bear further investigation. I think the Telegraph are on the wrong lines (talking about pensioners and Sarah Brown's lack of income) but something stinky might be there; if nothing else then an income stretch to help the PM out.

That's Lloyds TSB who were hoping to take over the failing Northern Rock by the way and who later got tipped the wink on that fine investment HBOS. Not.

A Summary of Expenses

Mind boggling isn't it? To avoid reading every report ad nauseam the Daily Mail has a good summary Here including a Top Ten Scams section.

Pathetic to note the same (national) obsession with property. No wonder no one in Government can speak sense on the subject; whilst this bunch of idiots have been talking up property prices for a decade shouldn't there have been some sort of FSA Disclosure Notice pointing out their vested interest?

The Tories will be next and not many from across the parties will come up smelling of roses. What we now see is a good indication of just how wasteful, self serving and pointless Parliament has been over the last ten years or so.

The ZaNuLiebore leadership have ruled as a dictatorship, the tory leadership have (unsurprisingly) spent much of the time powerlessly navel gazing. The clearly mainly under-employed and literally useless rank and file MP's have therefore (again unsurprisingly) just gone out and had a good time.

Idle hands and all that.

Dave needs to get a grip and show some balls now. The Prime Mentalist is doomed and can't keep taking everyone's bullets for ever.

The side shows will be interesting over the coming weeks: why the Telegraph (since after the Barclay takeover it was previously just happy to regurgitate ZNL propaganda)? What will the Police do (hint: nothing, as per the Abrahams illegal donations shambles)? And what the bleedin' hell happened to that Swine Flu myth?

State of Labour

For a fair summary of recent events (hat-tip Clartmonkey on Guido's) you could always check out the press in China HERE.

Clearly shifts are occuring and this article gives an indication maybe of how China rises as the UK is waning. This country is indeed a laughing stock and the blame lies with ZaNuLab, their blind supporters, their lazy apologists in the press and BBC, but particularly with Gordon Brown.

To be fair he told us upfront that in his plastic bag he had some empty cans and a couple of bricks. He still got let into the party. He drank all your booze and now we have the empty carrier bag.

Never mind, he still plans to save the country by giving the two bricks planning consent and building more houses, on greenfield, somewhere near you...