....but you do it 'too quickly' and they complain even more! Poor Gordy unveiled a replacement to MP's second homes in the form of weekly payments for 'attendance' - rather like the payments some high-schoolers get for turning up to "learn". Lovely. But apparently that just isn't good enough. CamCam suggested Brown had had a policy 'U-turn', which although very true could be a bit extreme. He also suggested this made the proposal a 'farce'. This resulted in him requesting a lot from his Cabinet. Ditto with the extremity. The Commons Standards Committee has suggested that the PM could be pushing the vote through 'too fast' - what kind of a complaint is that?!
Another part of Brown's week-from-hell? His first major defeat as PM, over the right of Gurkha's, who have fought alongside British soldiers for centuries, to settle in Britain. Unbelievably for a Labour Government Brown's motion was to allow only restricted settlement to the Gurkha's, with the Liberal Democrats tabling an opposing motion that all Gurkha's should be allowed to settle in the UK. 267 to 243 MPs voted for the Liberal Democrat motion over the Labour motion with 136 MPs abstaining entirely - it is these plus the 28 Labour rebels that are the biggest embarrassment for the Government. However, although CamCam in particular is elated that Gordy has been so thoroughly embarrassed it IS the PM's first defeat. I'm thinking the Times headline "Will Gordon go?" is taking defeat a tad too far. My father's best advice ever seems kinda relevant now - 'I've failed constantly for the last 20 years. It'd be a bit weak for you to be defeated once.'
Finally a recommendation: Go see In The Loop! It's a spin-off of In The Thick Of It (btw if you haven't seen that either do it!) and shows every ones favourite officials, ministers and civil servants, all with a comedic edge, travelling across the Atlantic to mingle with their American counterparts, all with the careful veil of preparing for War. Think of it as a kind of Yes Minister for the techy generation. Sound good? It is and it even premiered at Sundance to great critical acclaim. We all now know what to do at the weekend!
'Flagdown' on Iraq
After 6 years the British presence in Basra and Iraq has come to a close. The Bush era in Britain is over!
On The Bandwagon
100 Days
Oh yes Obamarama has gripped the states for 100 days now and so it's time for every news outlet in the world (almost) to 'review' his term. I figure jumping on the bandwagon would be possibly the most boring thing I could do - so let's break it down in a different way.
- The first White House kitchen garden was founded by Michelle. Recessionista? Check.
- She also became the first person to be on the cover of Oprah's magazine 'O' other than the lady herself. The girl can override the desires of an egomaniac! Power to her.
- The First Lady has a higher approval rating than her husband - 72% to 69%
- Obama has made serious moves to improve healthcare for all - $19 billion if numbers are your thing -> directed at creating electronic record systems. These kind of achievements will go largely unreported, as the economy takes headlines.
- If you haven't already - check out the Obama youtube channel. It already has over 21.3 million views.
- Throughout his electoral campaign Obama was rarely seen without his blackberry. Persuading the White House to allow him to hold on to it, despite qualms about security, showed Obama's determination to be his own man.
- Day 76, April 5th 2009 - Obama announces his desire to pretty much eliminate the threat of Nuclear Weapons with the immortal line 'As the only nuclear power to have used a nuclear weapon, the United States has a moral responsibility to act.'
- Day 85, April 14th 2009 - Obama attends Georgetown University and delivers the most comprehensive explanation of his economic plans heard yet. Not just calming the worriers down: he also delivers it with charisma and style, as is his trademark.
- This is scary.
- This is scarier.
They Know You're Here
Oh yes today plans to track all the emails sent, all the phone calls made and all the Internet pages visited will be unveiled by my least favourite "feminist" Jacqui Smith. But of course the Government is cutting as many corners as possible and so a new database will not be created - that is meant to make us feel better how??
Now on to the big news of today - Cameron has finally done the complete 180 we've all pretty much been expecting since he came into office. He's gone all thrifty! Which means that, unfortunately, his speeches at Cheltenham Racecourse had slightly less ironic charm to them. He's also likely to kinda piss off much of his party. Smaller Budgets?! Hell no! And not scrapping the 50% top tax rate?! How dare he! However, this new drive towards economy and 'prudence' does seem, politically, quite the sensible idea. Two-thirds of the electorate, angry at the arrogant city bankers who brought the economy to its knees, support the top tax rate. The concept of focusing on tax-rates that affect the majority of voters seems relatively new age and kinda zany, and is making him look like a 'man for our times'. It is also notable that Cameron himself has pointed out that the tax would be very hard to scrap - in his own words he 'can't wave a magic wand'. It basically means the electorate is stuck between New Labour and the Conservatives, with controversy following both and many of their policies.
Bo the "goofy puppy" is settling in at the White House. apparently, that's about all that's happened politically in the US...like ever. So shall we go in for some facts??? Hell yeh!
Now on to the big news of today - Cameron has finally done the complete 180 we've all pretty much been expecting since he came into office. He's gone all thrifty! Which means that, unfortunately, his speeches at Cheltenham Racecourse had slightly less ironic charm to them. He's also likely to kinda piss off much of his party. Smaller Budgets?! Hell no! And not scrapping the 50% top tax rate?! How dare he! However, this new drive towards economy and 'prudence' does seem, politically, quite the sensible idea. Two-thirds of the electorate, angry at the arrogant city bankers who brought the economy to its knees, support the top tax rate. The concept of focusing on tax-rates that affect the majority of voters seems relatively new age and kinda zany, and is making him look like a 'man for our times'. It is also notable that Cameron himself has pointed out that the tax would be very hard to scrap - in his own words he 'can't wave a magic wand'. It basically means the electorate is stuck between New Labour and the Conservatives, with controversy following both and many of their policies.
Bo the "goofy puppy" is settling in at the White House. apparently, that's about all that's happened politically in the US...like ever. So shall we go in for some facts??? Hell yeh!
- Bo has had four homes in his young life!
- Bo is six months old
- Bo is a Portuguese Water Dog.
- Bo is actually called Charlie
It makes you wonder why stuff like this isn't news over here.
The Rescue
OK so something I haven't really 'tapped into' yet is this weird/strange/freaky obsession with emo/punk-pop bands I have. Basically it's how this whole thing was named but that's another story. Back to the topic I was tweeting the other day and I just so happen to follow Pete Wentz bassist extraordinaire of Fall Out Boy. His latest entry had a url and since I have a weird and freaky obsession with both tinyurl and twitpic I clicked it. Like duh!
This is Joseph Kony. In my opinion he is one of the most evil men to have ever lived and I think a lot of people would agree with me. He has terrorised central Africa for 23 years, with no gain apart from building up the myth that surrounds him. He kidnaps children from their beds and forces children to fight for him, and for causes that most have no knowledge of, and none understand.
this is what it took me to.
Basically I'm not a charities person, like I'd go to Live8 and I'd have a laugh and I even think I'd believe in the cause.....but I wouldn't think it would make a difference. So for me finding a cause that makes me want to really really do something is a bit of a revelation. And that cause is Child Soldier's, more specifically the child soldier's of Joseph Kony (and the LRA) in Uganda.
This is Joseph Kony. In my opinion he is one of the most evil men to have ever lived and I think a lot of people would agree with me. He has terrorised central Africa for 23 years, with no gain apart from building up the myth that surrounds him. He kidnaps children from their beds and forces children to fight for him, and for causes that most have no knowledge of, and none understand.
Invisible Children started off as a film made by 3 Californian guys, Jason, Bobby and Laren, about the horrors they saw, and the inspiring people they met when they visited Uganda in 2003. The organisation has now organised several peace protests and have ended one of the biggest sufferings of the children of Uganda: night commuting.
Girls Night Commuting In Uganda
However, despite being in contact with the LRA and tireless peace talks, peace has still not come to Uganda, and the child soldiers still suffer. This weekend Invisible Children are organising The Rescue: watch the movie and get involved. Pete Wentz has also written about the issue. This war can end. These children can come home.
The Sun Is Shining
But life can still suddenly slide downwards.
You know that whole recession thing? And how it's so totally like looking up? Well....it's not in fact we're even more screwed than before. Let's evaluate!
You know that whole recession thing? And how it's so totally like looking up? Well....it's not in fact we're even more screwed than before. Let's evaluate!
- In the last quarter the UK economy has shrunk 1.9% --> this is considerable in fact it's the furthest it has shrunk since the third quarter of 1979. This sucks, it means we are pretty much falling faster and further than anyone else. Karma for not suffering the 2001 recession? You betcha!
- The quarter before that the economy shrank 1.6% which prompted experts to guess this quarter would result in a 1.5% shrinkage - which means we are falling past predictions. Not a good sign.
- In the past year (March '08 to March '09) GDP has fallen 4.1%, the worst annual decline since 1980. The chancellor is borrowing a MASSIVE £175bn this year. He now predicts GDP will fall another 3.5% in the next year.
However it's not all doom and gloom guys because Darling has surprised everyone, experts included, by predicting that we will be in growth by the end of the year, will rise 1.25% in 2010 and 3.5% in 2011. Wonder how long that will last! I'm taking bets....
G Twenty
So a round-up of the event of the year....for the politicos that is!
1. The final figure set by our leaders to save us from the-end-of-the-world (recession)? 1 trillion dollars. This breaks down to:
$500bn for the IMF to lend to struggling economies
1. The final figure set by our leaders to save us from the-end-of-the-world (recession)? 1 trillion dollars. This breaks down to:
$500bn for the IMF to lend to struggling economies
$250bn to boost world trade
$250bn for a new IMF "overdraft facility" countries can draw on
$100bn that international development banks can lend to poorest countries
IMF will raise $6bn from selling gold reserves to increase lending for the poorest countries
Source: BBC
2. Michelle Obama wore sleeves to meet the Queen. Many news agencies were fearing the worst.....
3. Although no major economic regulatory system was put in place at the summit, Obama admitting that America might have had a bit to do with the current crisis was enough to mean that Nicolas Sarkozy's seat was very much full. Oh joy.
4. Well one of them was gonna do it! The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh actually asked for Obama's autograph. Awwww!
Finally, a class photo:
All credit to the huffington post for the photo. I cba to copy the names just click the link.....
I will say that Cristina Kirchner is my new heroine in so many ways. She works cream far better than poor Angela Merkel (who, let's face it, doesn't work much). Plus her tan is to die for. But her legs don't quite match up to the raciness displayed the Queen.....we've almost got knee!!
2. Michelle Obama wore sleeves to meet the Queen. Many news agencies were fearing the worst.....
3. Although no major economic regulatory system was put in place at the summit, Obama admitting that America might have had a bit to do with the current crisis was enough to mean that Nicolas Sarkozy's seat was very much full. Oh joy.
4. Well one of them was gonna do it! The Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh actually asked for Obama's autograph. Awwww!
Finally, a class photo:
All credit to the huffington post for the photo. I cba to copy the names just click the link.....I will say that Cristina Kirchner is my new heroine in so many ways. She works cream far better than poor Angela Merkel (who, let's face it, doesn't work much). Plus her tan is to die for. But her legs don't quite match up to the raciness displayed the Queen.....we've almost got knee!!
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