May 11, 2005
Rain, Tramps And Harridans
Today, I was in London, interviewing a rock star for the magazine I write for. After that, I went wandering in Central London. It was drizzling a bit at times, but that was about it. I bought a Big Issue from an East European on North Audley Street. He was a bit pierced and dishevelled, like most alternative/homeless/Big Issue vendors tend to be, but was clean and in good health, and very friendly and cheerful. He was sound too – as he had a bone thin, but well looked after little brown and white greyhound-cross dog. And a man who looks after his dog is more often that not one you can trust – it’s a sign of good character. He made sure he twirled my copy around with a juggler’s deft skill before he gave it over, as if he had to entertain me as well as flog me as a mag to get my money. I felt it was sad that he felt he had to do that – to put so much effort in to get a quid for his dog and he from all the well-off, busy people, walking by in the rain…
…As I headed off to that tempting old Slag, Soho, I went past a demo outside the Air Mauritius office on Conduit Street. It was a handful of animal rights protestors, flanked on the right by three torpid cops in black flack jackets. It seemed that Air Mauritius was ‘guilty’ of transporting animals slated for vivisection. Some mad Harridan on the protest was screaming unintelligibly about how awful it was to no one in particular…
…How awful my arse. Touch my dog or my partner’s rabbit and I’ll snap your hands off at the wrist. The bond between pet and owner is a very strong one and elevates them both. But if it takes the death of a guinea pig in a lab to save a life, to aid science or make a product safe, and the testing was as humane as can be, then why not? I’d gladly chuck 1,000 mice into a shredder (as long as they weren’t mine) to save a child’s life. Why weren’t they tearing their breasts about all the children in Africa dying of Aids or war? Or are we the only animals that are so low, so loathsome and worthless that we deserve no pity?
Two more policemen and a WPC were slowly walking from Regent Street towards the protest. No chance of a riot here – it was just a boring formality. Just some mad woman and her mates ranting on as car after car drove past, uninterested.
…As I headed off to that tempting old Slag, Soho, I went past a demo outside the Air Mauritius office on Conduit Street. It was a handful of animal rights protestors, flanked on the right by three torpid cops in black flack jackets. It seemed that Air Mauritius was ‘guilty’ of transporting animals slated for vivisection. Some mad Harridan on the protest was screaming unintelligibly about how awful it was to no one in particular…
…How awful my arse. Touch my dog or my partner’s rabbit and I’ll snap your hands off at the wrist. The bond between pet and owner is a very strong one and elevates them both. But if it takes the death of a guinea pig in a lab to save a life, to aid science or make a product safe, and the testing was as humane as can be, then why not? I’d gladly chuck 1,000 mice into a shredder (as long as they weren’t mine) to save a child’s life. Why weren’t they tearing their breasts about all the children in Africa dying of Aids or war? Or are we the only animals that are so low, so loathsome and worthless that we deserve no pity?
Two more policemen and a WPC were slowly walking from Regent Street towards the protest. No chance of a riot here – it was just a boring formality. Just some mad woman and her mates ranting on as car after car drove past, uninterested.
May 09, 2005
Bliar Running Scared
You can tell Tony Blair is afraid when he sends in some of his toughs to scare rowdy backbenchers back into line. Then again, it shows how much he's lost the plot when one of those attack dogs is David Blunkett. Tony loves Blunko – he’s loyal to a fault and Tony seems to think he’s a star with the Plebs care of him an authoritarian thug. (It does not matter about him being an adulterer who abused his position too. It’s not as if he’s a Tory.) After all, who else but the bearded brute could spout such aggressive cant as: "(We) were (all) elected on our manifesto with absolute clear commitments." To sum up, Blunko’s pitch is: The People have spoken! And since they just so happen to agree with Tony And Me (I think) You all must obey!
Actually, no. Most voters don't vote for a party on the basis of a manifesto but how strong a case their local candidate makes. Just because Barry James in Norwich likes the New Deal that doesn't mean he wants TB as PM or a police state. And just because Angela Dobbs in Sunderland has always voted Labour, that's no excuse to assume she now wants you to part-privatise the NHS and have her Mother's incapacity benefit slashed.
To assume then that a voter is won over by an entire manifesto is bloody stupid. But then, clinging on despite all evidence to the contrary isn't that smart either.
Bliar's only real consolation is that the Tories seem to going through a mini-crisis of their own. But he can't rely on a dwindling band of toadies in his own party and the incompetence of his foes forever. His meeting on Tuesday with the Parliamentary Labour party will be very interesting.
Actually, no. Most voters don't vote for a party on the basis of a manifesto but how strong a case their local candidate makes. Just because Barry James in Norwich likes the New Deal that doesn't mean he wants TB as PM or a police state. And just because Angela Dobbs in Sunderland has always voted Labour, that's no excuse to assume she now wants you to part-privatise the NHS and have her Mother's incapacity benefit slashed.
To assume then that a voter is won over by an entire manifesto is bloody stupid. But then, clinging on despite all evidence to the contrary isn't that smart either.
Bliar's only real consolation is that the Tories seem to going through a mini-crisis of their own. But he can't rely on a dwindling band of toadies in his own party and the incompetence of his foes forever. His meeting on Tuesday with the Parliamentary Labour party will be very interesting.
May 07, 2005
Winchester General Election 2005: Part Eighteen
Finally, the Harlow result has been declared. And it's all due to the narrow margin of victory for the Labour incumbent. No wonder it took a few days and a few recounts! Mr. Labour - Bill Rammell - held onto his seat with 16,453, while his Tory rival Robert Halfon almost won with 16,356.
This gives Blair a majority of 66 - just like the BBC exit poll said. (See posts passim.) All that needs be done now is for the Staffordshire South constituency's results to be announced.
Don't hold your breath, though. The voters there didn't go to the polls this time as one of the candidates died while campaigning. In times like this, the procedure states that the seat is contested in a by-election after the main poll. That said, the Tory MP there seems well dug-in, but his majority is a could-be vulnerable 7,000. Then again, it doesn't seem to be the place to go Labour.
This gives Blair a majority of 66 - just like the BBC exit poll said. (See posts passim.) All that needs be done now is for the Staffordshire South constituency's results to be announced.
Don't hold your breath, though. The voters there didn't go to the polls this time as one of the candidates died while campaigning. In times like this, the procedure states that the seat is contested in a by-election after the main poll. That said, the Tory MP there seems well dug-in, but his majority is a could-be vulnerable 7,000. Then again, it doesn't seem to be the place to go Labour.
May 06, 2005
Winchester General Election 2005: Part Seventeen
So, almost all the seats have been accounted for. Eighteen of these are in Northern Ireland, so Blair can't get any seats there. Of the remaining six, even if Bliar were to win them all, his majority would only be 67 seats. This begs the question - why is a party leader who oversaw his party lose 60% of its majority still in his job? He claims to have "Listened And Learned" - so he should fuck off then!
It was a good night for the Conservatives. They got most of the seats Labour lost. In fact, they've nearly got 200 seats, the first time in eight years. And, best of all, they've shown what they can achieve if they work together.
The Lib Dems have won only nine seats, but seem to building up this glacial momentum that could put them in a Kingmaker position in 2013 and they may even be able to form a government in a decade or so after.
To conclude, the Blair era has begun its downward spiral. Rejoice!
It was a good night for the Conservatives. They got most of the seats Labour lost. In fact, they've nearly got 200 seats, the first time in eight years. And, best of all, they've shown what they can achieve if they work together.
The Lib Dems have won only nine seats, but seem to building up this glacial momentum that could put them in a Kingmaker position in 2013 and they may even be able to form a government in a decade or so after.
To conclude, the Blair era has begun its downward spiral. Rejoice!
Winchester General Election 2005: Part Sixteen
Winchester General Election 2005: Part Fifteen
And the result is in - the Lib Dems still hold Winchester!
Mind you, there was a 2.1% swing to the Conservatives this time around. Plus the turnout was down, but only by 0.4%. An almost 72% participation rate is nothing to be sneezed at anyway...
Mind you, there was a 2.1% swing to the Conservatives this time around. Plus the turnout was down, but only by 0.4%. An almost 72% participation rate is nothing to be sneezed at anyway...
Winchester General Election 2005: Part Fourteen
It's funny to see that smug twat Stephen Twigg out on his arse in Enfield Southgate. (Another place I used to live in!) Alas, his Tory replacement - David Burrowes - is a seriously boring fucker, as this video shows.
More shocking news. A Tory has won a seat - in SCOTLAND!
More shocking news. A Tory has won a seat - in SCOTLAND!
Winchester General Election 2005: Part Thirteen
Hopefully the claims that Bliar is due a good kicking tonight will be true...
In the meantime, interesting news near Slough, where I used to live. It turns out the Windsor constituency next door has stayed in the same hands. This is interesting because a. the winner is a Tory and b. he is also black. Symbolic, perhaps?
Mind you, that old trout Fiona McTaggart has won Slough again. Then again, perhaps they deserve each other?
In the meantime, interesting news near Slough, where I used to live. It turns out the Windsor constituency next door has stayed in the same hands. This is interesting because a. the winner is a Tory and b. he is also black. Symbolic, perhaps?
Mind you, that old trout Fiona McTaggart has won Slough again. Then again, perhaps they deserve each other?
May 05, 2005
Winchester General Election 2005: Part Twelve
Well, I've just voted. I made a fool of myself by asking the moderators if I should fold the ballot before sticking it into the box. I really do need more practice. (Then again, my last General Election was four years ago...)
They told me the turnout had been good so far. By 13:30 they'd already had at least 400 votes at that polling station, plus mine. That's impressive, not least because most people have not come back from work yet. Bear in mind too that the turnout may well be much bigger when they do. This has no bearing on the rest of the country's voting trends though. Winchester has always had high turnouts…
…It's just a case now of waiting to see what happens next.
They told me the turnout had been good so far. By 13:30 they'd already had at least 400 votes at that polling station, plus mine. That's impressive, not least because most people have not come back from work yet. Bear in mind too that the turnout may well be much bigger when they do. This has no bearing on the rest of the country's voting trends though. Winchester has always had high turnouts…
…It's just a case now of waiting to see what happens next.
Winchester General Election 2005: Part Eleven
Well, I'm off to vote now... Lib Dem again. I'll tell you how the turnout was like later - the polling station is in the same building, the West Downs Centre, as I live in!
In the meantime, Terry Jones puts it all very succinctly.
In the meantime, Terry Jones puts it all very succinctly.
May 04, 2005
Fun And Frolics With Ann Coulter
I haven’t had a rant yet about the whole Ann Coulter thing, so here goes. Apparently, the heckling on her lecture tour got a bit too lurid…
What a circus. What hypocrisy. A slanderous and spiteful woman gets an audience 'cos she mouths off in a way that makes good copy. Meanwhile, a slanderous and spiteful youth gets hauled out and his arse touched up by the cops 'cos he mouths off in a way that offends all the people who've come to see a riot.
Coulter is much better packaged than the likes of Raj. She's full of the same coarse bile and hate but parcels it well in good writing. If Raj learned to frame his thuggishness in smart prose like Coulter does then maybe he could sell a few books and get a lecture tour too. Being a Twat in America sells well, but only if you know how to do it properly.
What a circus. What hypocrisy. A slanderous and spiteful woman gets an audience 'cos she mouths off in a way that makes good copy. Meanwhile, a slanderous and spiteful youth gets hauled out and his arse touched up by the cops 'cos he mouths off in a way that offends all the people who've come to see a riot.
Coulter is much better packaged than the likes of Raj. She's full of the same coarse bile and hate but parcels it well in good writing. If Raj learned to frame his thuggishness in smart prose like Coulter does then maybe he could sell a few books and get a lecture tour too. Being a Twat in America sells well, but only if you know how to do it properly.
Winchester General Election 2005: Part Ten
One day to go and it will all be over.
So let me get this off my chest: Polly Toynbee, the myopic, bovine old bag, can go xxxx herself. No I won't vote Labour. No, it's not because I'm 'decadent'. Rationalising away the deaths of 100,000 Iraqi civilians and Coalition troops is decadent. Turning a blind eye to this and focussing instead on an abstract thing called 'social justice' (whatever that means) that you can't really measure or quantify is decadent. Praising a lying government that throws money at problems and violates precepts of democracy, accountability and integrity is decadent. Blaming that two-faced rent boy/lawyer (they'll both do anything for money) Tony Blair for everything even though his party, apart from some honourable exceptions, willingly supported him is decadent. Letting those spivs win another big majority is decadent. Letting them off the hook is decadent. Voting for them as 'the lesser of two evils' is decadent. Bullying and browbeating voters into voting through fear is decadent. Voting for one Prime Minister in the vain hope you'll get another, who's much the same, is decadent. Sitting on your fat arse in Farringdon, pontificating about post-socialism while you earn over 50,000 quid and have a standard of living all those poor proles you care so much about will never have, 'social justice' notwithstanding, is decadent. Having smug, vacant xxxxs like you running the media? That's decadent too.
So why don't you just stick your pegs up your arse? It might stop you talking out of it. Save some for that doss twat Aaronovitch too. To let you off too, after all, would be decadence.
So let me get this off my chest: Polly Toynbee, the myopic, bovine old bag, can go xxxx herself. No I won't vote Labour. No, it's not because I'm 'decadent'. Rationalising away the deaths of 100,000 Iraqi civilians and Coalition troops is decadent. Turning a blind eye to this and focussing instead on an abstract thing called 'social justice' (whatever that means) that you can't really measure or quantify is decadent. Praising a lying government that throws money at problems and violates precepts of democracy, accountability and integrity is decadent. Blaming that two-faced rent boy/lawyer (they'll both do anything for money) Tony Blair for everything even though his party, apart from some honourable exceptions, willingly supported him is decadent. Letting those spivs win another big majority is decadent. Letting them off the hook is decadent. Voting for them as 'the lesser of two evils' is decadent. Bullying and browbeating voters into voting through fear is decadent. Voting for one Prime Minister in the vain hope you'll get another, who's much the same, is decadent. Sitting on your fat arse in Farringdon, pontificating about post-socialism while you earn over 50,000 quid and have a standard of living all those poor proles you care so much about will never have, 'social justice' notwithstanding, is decadent. Having smug, vacant xxxxs like you running the media? That's decadent too.
So why don't you just stick your pegs up your arse? It might stop you talking out of it. Save some for that doss twat Aaronovitch too. To let you off too, after all, would be decadence.
