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nosetam

Listed below are comments made by nosetam between Thursday, 6th November 2008 and Thursday, 4th December 2008.

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The Speaker speaks 09:45am on 04 Dec 2008 18. brigadierjohn

I have little regard for Michael Martin and less for his party. The saving grace seems to be that a working class Scot has made it to the Speaker's Chair.

What are you suggesting, brigadierjohn? That Scottish working class people who are embarrassed by how Martin handled the affair should stay quiet, just because he's "wan ae us"? This is the kind of stereotypical 'small town' attitude that undermines our ability to speak objectively and coherently on any big stage.
The Speaker speaks 09:26am on 04 Dec 2008 The way Martin fumbled about and awkwardly blameshifted was quite embarrassing to watch. He was not just the person technically responsible for what happened, but ought to have had the presence of mind - even if he didn't know who had the power to do what - to have sought legal advice before allowing the raid.

Had Martin demanded a warrant, the magistrate (?) responsible for signing it would now be a very important focal point in the entire investigation into the matter, as all the information relevant to the decision to raid would now be sitting tidily in that person's hands. Such a clearcut analysis will not now be possible - simply because Martin did not demand a warrant.

Furthermore, his objectivity in handling Brown's later cross-examination in the Commons on the matter of which he himself was the subject could have been seriously compromised. When the Speaker himself becomes the centre of debate, who is left to ensure balance?
Meet the Home Office mole 11:48am on 03 Dec 2008 Please somebody help me here.
I have always been under the impression that Whitehall civil servants were strictly forbidden from having party political affiliations. And yet the BBC reports that this guy was a Conservative Party activist who had even previously tried to get work in Green's office. Does the ruling only apply to SENIOR civil servants then, or am I missing something?
Honeymoon ends 2:10pm on 07 Nov 2008 #45 - What are you talking about? Media bias in favour of SNP?!
Front pages on Scottish Parliament election day 2007 ...
Daily Mail - "This man [Salmond] wants to destroy Great Britain"
The Sun - "Vote SNP today and you put Scotland's head in the noose"
The Mirror - "Stop the wrecker [Salmond]"
Daily Record - "Do not sleepwalk into independence. Do not let a protest vote break up Britain"
You see, we need the media to be clear in their instructions because we Scots are not very clever and can't really work things out for ourselves!
And the Beeb? Forced to apologise for Kirsty Wark's sheer rudeness on the election of Scotland's new First Minister (well, she wouldn't want to feel awkward on her next holiday abroad with Jack McConnell ...)
In fairness, they'll probably pass this, so I suppose it could be worse.
By the way, I'm not an SNP voter, just incensed by blatant media bias who likes to back the underdog (which, in terms of media support, the SNP still very much are)
Honeymoon ends 11:13am on 07 Nov 2008 PS. And Taylor has many to compete with, not least Jack McConnell's old pal Kirsty Wark, who just love to snub and drub Salmond and the SNP. Then ,of course, there's virtually the entire Scottish tabloid media, whose combined scare-mongering SNP-assassination attempt on the day of the 2007 election was the most shocking example of extreme political bias I have ever witnessed in our print media. It shows the the incredible, growing grass roots support the SNP has when they are still increasing their share of the vote against such odds.
Honeymoon ends 11:02am on 07 Nov 2008 Just the kind of response I would expect from Brian Taylor, one of the most undisguisably anti-SNP journalists on the BBC.
A history day? 11:08am on 06 Nov 2008 Akil,
You ask, "Is it really so astonishing that a "black" man can become president of the USA?"
Yes, it is.
Powell and Rice are not a realistic comparison. They were Whitehouse APPOINTMENTS and not elected by the American people, only 12% of whom are black.
If you go to Capitol Hill, you find that Obama is the only black Senator out of 100, and only the fifth in history. If 1% for 12% is the height of black representation in the Senate, it should be far more unlikely for there ever to be a black President, where the entire population - 68% white, 12% black - is polled and high density black electoral areas lose whatever impact they may have had for Senate elections.
A history day? 09:55am on 06 Nov 2008 Erda_speaks:
"the long view of history will some day completely vindicate George W. Bush." As a famour American tennis player was apt to respond to dubious line calls, "You can NOT be serious!"
The longer time passes, the more Bush's presidency is already becoming synonymous with the invasion of Iraq, and the more Iraq seems to be finding itself in the same 'oh-oh' category as Vietnam, in terms of popularity, usefulness and conclusiveness. Many people still can't get their heads around why Bush opted to pursue Iraq rather than Bin Laden ...
Despite all the jeers and mockery, I actually found something quite likeable about Bush's personality, but he leaves the Whitehouse caricatured as a fumbling communicator, with a failing economy at home and a reputation as a bull in a China shop abroad. What good things do you think history will say about him (a serious question - not rhetorical)?
A history day? 09:22am on 06 Nov 2008 Barack Obama ... glory of the American people, and light of revelation to the nations ... King the 'John the Baptist', Obama the Messiah ...
Yes, it really is thrilling that a black President has been elected, and there can be no doubt that's he's a masterful orator, but once the initial euphoria has passed and the media hype dies down, it will later or sooner dawn on everyone that he's not the Saviour of America, let alone the world.
I hope his administration comes to earth without a bang. But, either way, I'm sure the media will oblige in the way it deems most useful to audience satisfaction!

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