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Batson_D_Belfry

Listed below are comments made by Batson_D_Belfry between Wednesday, 12th November 2008 and Thursday, 19th March 2009.

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Time to mention the unmentionable 9:26pm on 19 Mar 2009 I'd normally be neutral in this match. But I'm supporting Wales this time for one reason. To win a grand slam I think a team should be worthy of it through the rugby they've played in the tournament - be that a physical or an expansive style. And sorry Ireland, but I think a lot of their performances have been not much more than OK, and it's more representative of a below average tournament that they're in the position they are. I don't really understand Keith Woods' "it's time" comment, as how long it was since the last slam counts for nothing on the day, and ultimately I think Wales will do it. Perhaps not by 13 points, though, as the one true star of Ireland has been O'Driscoll, and I don't see a team with him in it losing by that much. The player of the tournament for me.
Naughty England fail to learn lessons 6:40pm on 01 Mar 2009 Like a bad workman with his tools, some people want to put the convenient blame on the referee, and are even drumming up some daft conspiracy theories on bias against England and in favour of Wales / Ireland.
Well, it's obvious nonsense and is just seeing the game through conveniently red rose tinted spectacles. Like any addict, if we don't first admit our problem it will never get sorted. And in reality, we were lucky that Flutey stayed on the pitch for a charge that looked more made in Samoa than made in New Zealand, arms outstretched like an albatross with no attempt to tackle. And Armitage committed a clear professional foul to stop a try scoring opportunity. Unlike Danielli earlier in the Scotland / Italy game who chipped and ran straight into the defender (and was correctly penalised himself), Armitage had enough time to turn his back on O'Driscoll and drop his shoulder - so he had enough time to get out of the way and it was clearly cynical.
And sorry to say it, but those on about Heaslip's charge on Armitage are just being (mis)led by Briam Moore. It should have been a penalty, but was innocuous compared to Flutey's wholly unpunished charge of moments earlier, and lacked the try saving advantage of Armitage's blockage on O'Driscoll.
It's not the referees who are causing all the penalties awared against England, it's the number of penalties that England are committing. I think the commentator in the press who today said England are putting so much pressure on the win at all costs that they panic at the prospect of defeat is closest to the truth.
Bat out of hell 07:13am on 19 Jan 2009 This surely just underlines the poor job done by Osborne over the financial crisis. Muddled, fumbling and out of his depth he hasn't given the Tories any clear voice or constructive ideas. Bringing Clarke back is a good idea, but Cameron has part fudged it, and we still don't have a credible prospective chancellor in the opposition. Never mind the election and politicial requirements, the country needs a competent voice in the shadow cabinet on financial matters - which has to date only come from Vince Cable. But has Cameron got the leadership qualities to reshuffle his mate?
Sports Personality shortlist announced 9:58pm on 09 Dec 2008 I'd rank it Adlington, then Hamilton then Hoy.
Team of the year also to the cyclists - not just because of their success, but also because it was such a demonstration of teamwork, and incredible to watch the way they worked and bonded as a unit.
Overseas personality should surely be Usain Bolt - I've not leapt out of my chair at the victory of someone who was not from my country / team in such a way as when he won the 100m since Michael Johnson's 200m world record, and I've met many more who did the same.
On the downside, I'm disappointed they have put Ohuruogo in the top 10, as I just don't think this sends out the right message to aspiring athletes. And I do agree Pendleton is unfortunate as well - it's not her fault she only had one gold she could go for due to the competitions available.
Green's arrest draws parallels 11:11am on 01 Dec 2008 Just why is it so "simply incredible" that the police would arrest a member of the shadow cabinet without telling the home secretary? And if they did what is she supposed to then do? Surely for her to act in any way other than simply to note the fact would imply a link between police and state that is far more questionable than what we have here? The police should not have to ask permission to arrest anyone they think has broken a law, whether they are right or wrong - and MP's should be subject to the same rules as the rest of us.

The fact this has happened before with Labour on the receiving end, and that we are reminded this morning that Harriet Harman has her own history on a related matter from 25 years ago when the Conservatives were in charge should remind everyone where the question marks really lie in this.

For there is no doubt the police have been heavy handed in this - and Harman is right that there is a consitutional point to consider. But to jump off the deep end and start talking of police states, and try desperately to pin this to government without any evidence is a hysterical. And it reached a new low yesterday with the Conservatives feed to the media of having their offices swept for bugs and listening devices. Presumably none were found or that really would be a story - but this non-story hints at a certain paranoia in Dave's camp.

The other irony is that the Met Chief being blamed for this now is only there because of Boris getting rid of Ian Blair without having a successor ready.

Keep up the balanced reports and blogs Mr Robinson - and ignore the orchestrated efforts of those who scream about BBC bias in high pitched e-mails the moment you write anything. They are an unfortunate blight on a number of comment sites, but their messages only appeal to themselves and are easy to spot and ignore.
Giant borrowing payback looms 11:05pm on 21 Nov 2008 Darling is not a high charisma politician. But I have been increasingly impressed by the way he has calmly analysed and thought out some of the problems he has picked up. Not that long ago he was chastised for calling this the worst position we have seen for 60 years - and while I am still not sure why he referred to 1948 in particular, his viewpoint looks less exaggerated than it once did. And he has in his own quiet way come up with answers and solutions, and in general seems to be threading his way more than competently through troubled waters.

The knee jerk response is just to go "ya, boo" and witter on about Brown, Labour and ignore the way this country has built its economy over the last 30 years. As the facts are that are debt to income ratios now are actually better than average. Our problem is that our economy based on housing and financial services is not well placed to ride a global storm, and the result of this will be that future debt to income measure will soon become badly skewed, and we will be dependent on the performance of other nations to eventually see this out. Both major parties have responsibility for the shape of this economy, as it has taken far more than 10 years to get to where it is, and set off down the route to lead us here in the 1980's. It will take more than 10 years to get it back.

But I will await Darling's announcement with interest, as so far he has in his considered way come up with answers and decisions, and has seemed to be sincere and honest. The only other person in the House who has come up with more and been ahead of the situation has been Vince Cable.

But if your interests are cheap party politics, rather than who is best to sort this - then of course, look to the Dave and George show - so aptly displayed in a Times cartoon this week with the Mickey and Minnie Mouse ears on for their latest non-announcement that really did once again nothing for the country.
Tories free of spending commitment 10:37pm on 18 Nov 2008 I had to laugh at post 309 having just read the magazine article on the "myth of record debt". It quite clearly shows that the proportion of debt to GDP, which is what matters rather than crude measures of absolute debt, are at lower levels now than in '97.

How on earth someone can call that measure a soundbite and make out there is more reality to the distortion of looking at gross figures between years without adjusting for intervening inflation, or taking into account ability to service debt really makes you wonder. As the article says, £10k of debt is not the same to the man in the street as it is to Roman Abramovich.

In the US, they have found an inverse correlation between intelligence and likelihood to vote Republican. Perhaps the same applies to voting Conservative here.

As to Cameron today - he's sort of very vaguely told us what he won't do, but not what he will. The economic crisis has been around for months now, and we still have yet to see a credible strategy or coherent set of policies from the opposition.

And we really could do with a strong opposition with gravitas and good ideas right now. Sadly, we have Dave and George, a right pair of lightweights, following events not leading them, and giving us no clear consistent idea of what they would do.
Irresponsible or prudent? 5:35pm on 15 Nov 2008 A slightly selective post there in number 30, as another Washington Post article today on the actual output of the meeting includes reference and such quotes as, "Brown has taken a lead in pushing for a global coordination of county-by-country economic aid plans." Reference to the New York Times critique of Brown on 13th October may also make you pause and reflect. (Or not, of course, if taking the soft route of let's blame Brown for everything is just easier).

Don't get me wrong - Brown has made mistakes, and it is to a large extent Darling that has been something of a surprise in recent months and has a lot to take credit for. But compared to the paucity of ideas coming from the opposition, there seems little doubt we would be a lot worse off right now with the Tweedledee and Tweedledum combination of Cameron and Osborne. All Mr Osborne has done today is underline that with yet another lapse in judgement in the language he has used. Hopefully the markets do not take him seriously enough for this to do real damage come Monday morning.
Irresponsible or prudent? 5:20pm on 15 Nov 2008 Young George Osborne just doesn't seem to be able to stop putting his foot in it. Whether to borrow to boost the economy is a matter for serious debate. Personally, I feel the timing is wrong, as to do so it needs something to grip on, and there is just too much uncertainty in the global economy at present.

Which brings us onto one of the knowns, that the market will respond to sentiment and confidence. So to use such language as "a proper sterling collapse" in public like this in Mr Osborne's position is either reckless or deliberate.

He just seems completely out of his depth, as shown by the lack of anything constructive from him in recent weeks in the crucial period, and that slightly lost expression we have got used to now replacing the smug look of old. But now it also appears our Gideon is more interested in his and his party's position than that of the country. He has clearly put the former before the latter in using language such as this.

So a serious test lies ahead now for Mr Cameron as well. As the shadow chancellor hesitates then fumbles, and shows successive failures in judgement - does Mr Cameron have the courage to replace his Bullingdon friend?
PMQs row over Baby P 10:59pm on 12 Nov 2008 An issue like this needs to be seriously considered in depth. It is not suited to knee-jerk questions and answers in the highly politicised atmosphere of Prime Minister's Questions on the spur of the moment in reaction to this morning's press.

Mr Brown did not handle this well in his presentation, but was right not to fire off half-baked answers to half-baked questions on such a complex and emotionally fraught matter. Mr Cameron was effectively asking him to shoot from the hip, which had he done so, would most likely only have succeeded in making the task of those who must investigate this more politicised and difficult.

Someone with the true interests of the case at heart would not have been looking for such quick answers thought up on the hoof.

So of course Mr Cameron was using this for political gain. He has struggled to find any voice on the economy, and has looked all at sea in recent weeks. And under pressure we have now found out how he responds and what sort of man lies underneath the politician's charm. It was not a pleasant sight.

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