Tuesday 2 December 2008

 

The latest culture as recommended by our staff

Michael Henderson

Michael Henderson suggests


More than political paranoia

Monday, 28th July 2008

Is this true?

The other day, Gordon Brown was convinced that Dominic Grieve, the shadow Home Secretary, had made such a strong attack on 42-day detention as to impugn his commitment to national security. Although Downing Street advisers trawled and Googled, they could not find the quote. Their boss expressed gratitude for their efforts in the way that a sergeant-major would thank a recruit for a speck of dust on his rifle. Mr Brown then stationed himself at a terminal. For the next four hours, he sat there unavailingly, emanating gloom and rage. The non-psychiatric interpretation of his behaviour is termed "the playing politics with national security syndrome".

Shortly afterwards, John Prescott was in No. 10, showing around some children. "What's he doing in this building?" exploded Mr Brown. "Get him out of here." (He surely cannot regard Mr Prescott as a potential leadership challenger – otherwise, things are truly desperate).

Embarrassed aides explained that, you know, Mr Prescott had been Deputy Prime Minister until last year, and what harm could there be in showing kids around? Gordon Brown's response was to shut himself in the Cabinet Room for the next two hours, talking to no-one.

I've been the first to dance on Mr Brown's political grave. He is a mendacious incompetent who has in the past received an inexclipably favourable - nay. hero-worshipping - press, a man who spent a decade undermining his superior in every way, Tony Blair. Politically, he deserves everything he is about to get.

But this sounds like something way in excess of political paranoia. This reads like someone on the edge. And no one can take pleasure in that.

UPDATE: There is a danger in thinking more quickly than one can type...the word should, as the first commenter points out, be 'inexplicably'!

Blogs: Clive Davis | Melanie Phillips | Americano | Coffee House | Trading Floor

Actions: Print this article  |  Email to a friend  |  Permalink  |   Comments (14)

Subscribe now

Post this entry to:   del.icio.us | Digg | Newsvine | NowPublic | Reddit

Comments

Post a comment


Your comment:*

Your name:*

Your email address:*
(We won't publish this)

*Required information

Please click the button only once - your comment will not be published immediately

W Irving

July 28th, 2008 12:38pm

"inexclipably" - great word. It really ought to mean something. Perhaps "not worth quoting" or "readily forgettable"

Guido Fawkes

July 28th, 2008 3:15pm

Oh yes I can.

JB

July 28th, 2008 4:11pm

Me too

ht

July 28th, 2008 4:46pm

me three

michael

July 28th, 2008 5:11pm

Tony Blair.

Israel's friend, the man who refused to condemn the destruction of Lebanon, silenced all Labour disent on the issue and allowed the US cluster bombs that are daily killing Lebanese children, to transit Prestwick airport.

And Nasty Gordon tried to undermine hm.

Awww. Nasty Gordon. Diddums.

michael

July 28th, 2008 5:12pm

It's so nice to see Guido here supporting Steve's failing blog.

Steve - What is your average number of responses these days?

John Gibson

July 28th, 2008 7:41pm

Inexclipably = head so full of rubbish* that even a clip round the lugs will make no difference

* this does not include S.Pollard, whose thinking is sound, but certainly includes all Guardian and Independent, and, nearly all, BBC journalists.

NPM

July 28th, 2008 9:17pm

Please don't judge blogs by the number of comments - or I'll feel obliged to make inane responses on every post of every blog I like. The signal to noise ratio will go down even further.

Adam B.

July 29th, 2008 12:12am

Michael, how do you know what was transported through Prestwich airport? Did you examine the cargo? Lebanon was not destroyed, as is patently obvious - if Israel had wanted to be indiscriminate, there wouldn't be a building left standing. Israel targeted Hizbollah, who were deliberately ensconced in civilian areas. Hizbollah deliberately targeted civilians.

Frank Pulley

July 29th, 2008 10:01am

Ah, well! You're obviously too polite to allow me to berate michael, let alone DIY. What a nice man you are!

NikeCohen

July 29th, 2008 10:11am

I didn't realise that loser Guido had time to post on other people's blogs. Doesn't he have more important things to do?

Number 6

July 29th, 2008 12:12pm

NikeCohen: Don't you?

Dog Snob

July 29th, 2008 5:43pm

There is a perfectly reasonable explanation for Mr Brown's anxiety at the presence of Mr Prescott within No 10.

His stint as tour guide took him close to the fridge where Mrs Brown had set aside a nice piece of haslet for Tuesday night's tea.

Every man's right I would have thought.

NikeCohen

July 30th, 2008 9:52am

Number 6: clearly not as much as you....

The Spectator Parliamentarian Awards
Spectator Book Club
The Spectator Billabong

Stephen Pollard's Blog Roll

Oliver Kamm
Politics, economics and culture from the master. Unmissable.

Daniel Finkelstein's Times Comment Central
A daily must-read. 

Tim Worstall 
Lots of interesting nibbles - and a ruthless swatter of economic gibberish.

Marginal Revolution
Tyler Cowen's riveting economic blog.

Harry's Place
Must-read left of centre blog from writers who understand the threat to the West. 

Thought Experiments
The peerless Bryan Appleyard's blog.

Opera Chic
An American in Milan, on opera.

Intermezzo
A London-based classical music enthusiast.

Jessica Duchen's classical music blog
Does what it says on the tin.

Samizdata
Libertarian blog, packed every day.

Norm's blog
The thoroughly sensible thoughts of renowned left-wing academic Norman Geras, Professor of Government at Manchester. And cricket, too.

Public Interest
Peter Briffa's inimitable take on The Yazzmonster and other assorted demons.

Reform
The public sector reform group; their website is an invaluable source of data and ideas.

Centre for the New Europe
The leading European public policy think tank.

Spectator recommends

Nissan Family Cars - Book a Test Drive Online

Take advantage of unbeatable Nissan value. Book a test drive today.


Spectator classifieds

ROME CENTRE

PORTA METRONIA, ROME Standing high on the top of one of the seven hills of Rome- the Coelian- this unique

City Breaks. ROME and PARIS

ROME and PARIS: over 350 holiday rentals apartments listed: visit  www.romanreference.com  and  www.parisreference.com or call +39 0648 903612.

Jewellery. RUFFS (Estd. 1904).

Goldsmiths by Design Welcome to Ruffs!  You have found a company of Goldsmiths that specialises in the manufacture, amongst other