Mid-Week Open Thread

The ‘deep left’ Mary Riddell and someone from the Economist, the Economist which just printed a hatchet job on May, on the Today programme to discuss May, Brexit and ‘muddle’….no bias there then.  The BBC failing to challenge Corbyn as he says he is not wedded to freedom of movement but, oh, hang on, demands we remain members of the Single Market which entails keeping freedom of movement…so pretty much wedded to freedom of movement just not to the truth….Jon Pienaar calls Corbyn ‘deep Left’…sorry what? The extremist  ‘Far Left’ surely?  The BBC once again covering for Corbyn.  I’m sure there’s plenty more bias out there…..

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494 Responses to Mid-Week Open Thread

  1. embolden says:

    On Today this morning Barbara Plett-Usher*, reporting “American media reports” that the Russkies have something embarrassing on Donald Trump….. The obvious question….How has a man who has been under intense media scrutiny throughout the year long presidential campaign and will have been security vetted by the US intelligence agencies managed to conceal “something embarrassing”? went unasked, as did the question, which American media are reporting this?

    Fake news…….smear and innuendo, the BBCs speciality.

    * Barbara Plett-Usher, she who reported that she had cried on the death of Yasser Arafat, giving rise to complaints that the BBC is biased.
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbara_Plett

       96 likes

    • Guest Who says:

      Nick ‘sources who say’ Robinson is convinced and has the heresay to prove… er… has the goss:

         38 likes

      • GCooper says:

        Yes, strange isn’t it, how the BBC can find room for the latest schoolgirl level smear at Trump from the sulking Dems and yet has (once again) ignored the growing evidence that the Kenyan was never qualified at all to become POTUS?

        Bias? What bias?

           98 likes

        • boohanna says:

          The Trump press conference today. Please just jump to 1.11.50.

          I wonder if Trump also reads in on BBBC?

          That cold shiver the luvvies are feeling running down their spines (such as they are) is the realisation they are on the wrong side of history at this point. They know the white-hot, suppressed fury is out there.

             21 likes

          • taffman says:

            boohanna
            1:11:50 “BBC News, that’s another beauty”.
            The meeja are loosing their control of the politicians.
            You can bet that Trump and his advisor’s read BBBC.

               15 likes

            • boohanna says:

              Precisely.

              Thus far Trump is showing every sign that he is everything that’s written on the tin.

              There will be a growing cold and deep terror in many circles at this point.

              For my part I am beginning to dare hope that my own children won’t now be living their lives in the politically-correct world it was beginning to crystallise into.

              I do believe we have just dodged the bullet with this election.

                 25 likes

              • JosF says:

                With Brexit, Nigel Farage, Gurt Willers, Vicktor Orban and other and then with Trump The leftards and their willing mouthpeices at the BBC, Al-Guardian and the rest of the lying dying MSM are losing not just their control of the politicians but their ability to influence what many people now think

                   13 likes

              • NCBBC says:

                boohanna – There will be a growing cold and deep terror in many circles at this point.

                You bet. There are quite a few real hard men, like Marine corp Gen Mattis.

                   2 likes

          • boohanna says:

            I would very much like to share this scene from an old three-part series “A Very British Coup” from the 80’s. One of the finest I have ever seen.

            It’s parallels are clear I hope despite the contrast of ideology. It’s only a 6 minute clip but for the very busy just watch from 4.00.

            And Donald, if you’re reading in?……..Do note the line “You show alarming signs of becoming a major statesman”……

            The very final scene after the above one is equally…….good….

               3 likes

      • Guest Who says:

        Nick and Guido:

        https://order-order.com/2017/01/10/trumps-golden-shower-gate/

        Only Guido has contextualised the provenance, which an editor of the world’s most trusted broadcaster failed to do.

           46 likes

      • gb123 says:

        What annoys me is how the UK media just parrot the US without doing even the most basic checks. Even Buzz feed which published the story said things like it is unverified (i.e. unverifiable).

        The trouble with a story like this is you have left leaning normally rational people like some of my business colleagues wanting this to be true therefore believing that some of it must be true.

        What next? Trump in conspiracy to arrange opponents to be abducted by aliens? Which is probably more verifiable.

           41 likes

        • Mice Height says:

          OMG!!! He gonna send all the gays back to Africa!!!

             21 likes

        • All Lives Matter says:

          Instead of letting facts form their opinions, liberals have for a long time let their prejudices dictate the facts. If they would take a step back to analyse what’s happening they’d see how manipulative and overly powerful the PC anti-democratic elite has become. This should be a concern for everyone regardless of political opinions, but the left has instead inherited a sense of Stockholm Syndrome towards the bureaucratic behemoths that endorse values that are the antithesis of what liberals claim to stand for.

          We’re led to believe that Trump was being dictated by Russia despite the same intelligence agencies doing a comprehensive investigation that concluded in October that there was no link between the two. We simply can’t believe anything from the Democratic party and their media cheerleaders after the constant lies and collusion between the two. The BBC is quick to report on any trivial ‘scandal’ surrounding Trump, yet has made no mention whatsoever of Project Veritas and barely covered the Clinton Foundation. And now the BBC and other discredited MSN outlets, already reluctant to give the public a chance to air their dissent, are using the precursor of ‘fake news’ as an excuse to try and wrestle back control they’ve lost over information thanks to the internet, when they themselves continue to publish fake news without any sense of shame.

          “Drain the swamp” wasn’t just a slogan, it’s a necessity if Western nations are going to retain sovereignty and national values – the loss of which, of course, will affect the people and causes liberals opine for much more than most.

             43 likes

      • Stella2 says:

        Hey, BBC – so you employ all these very serious news journalists and specialists in what is supposed to be the gold-standard news corporation, and no one – just no one – thinks to check out a BUZZFEED story? Seriously? And despite the fact that the story is mined with fake-news explosives and details that don’t stand up to any normal scrutiny?

        All that twittering must have corroded your brain cells. Superb sting!

           57 likes

        • Dogger Bank says:

          You’re right! We do employ them (as we pay the license fee) as serious journalists and specialists and all they come up with is shite! I want my money back!

             47 likes

        • nofanofpoliticians says:

          Who knows what to believe anymore? I would imagine this could get serious for CNN, who in a survey released earlier this week were adjudged by ordinary US folk to be the least trustworthy US news outlet.

          Notwithstanding the BBC just accept what they say pretty much verbatim with no independent checking of any kind. Quality journalism indeed.

          The golden shower story seems to be discredited now…

          http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2017-01-10/4chan-claims-have-fabricated-anti-trump-report-hoax

             37 likes

          • JosF says:

            Remember when the BBC and the rest of the MSM researched and checked their news stories and articles for facts and truth before broadcasting and printing I do but that was about 40 years ago but it hasnt been that way for years now

               47 likes

            • GoingInNowDan says:

              I agree. Take the Jamie Oliver story last week. It would take anyone literally two minutes to go on Companies House website to look up how his companies are performing (it’s free, you don’t need an account, and their financial accounts are there in the public domain), instead they just take the story “as is”. If it’s so easy for a member of the public to check these things, why not a journalist?

              Keir Starmer’s credo of “listen and believe” obviously wasn’t aimed just at the police force.

                 47 likes

          • All Lives Matter says:

            Who cares if it’s true anyway? Donald Trump engages in fetishism with a consenting adult prostitute. Hardly comparable to the wicked actions of both Clintons towards vulnerable women and girls.

               24 likes

            • JosF says:

              And dont forget the donations from saudi arabia and most of the other gulf states and their royal families to the clinton foundation remind me again about the rights of women, gays, non-muslims and similar in saudi arabia {apparently there are 3 million christians in saudia arabia but zero churches and the other gulf states, Surely a subject that the BBC could do a major investagative program on……………Oh wait its the BBC and in the BBC bubbleverse islam good no criticism allowed, Anything not islam plenty of criticism. Then there is shillary clinton’s emails, cellphones, Bhengazi, ISIS, The clinton foundation and Haiti, suspicious deaths etc etc

                 28 likes

            • ID says:

              The most hilarious thing about the dossier is the reference to the defilement of the sacred bed where the divine Obamas once slept. Obama is revered in the media as if he were a second Christ. Trump real crime is that of sacrilege. How mediaeval. Some deranged woman on the Sky Press Review was claiming that Obama was a laterday Cicero. The epitome of oratorial elegance and rhetorical polish. Yet he is the man who came up with “yes, we can” – very much like Merkel’s “Wir schaffen das”. Not very Ciceronian. I thought it was those wicked populists who were offering “an unsophisticated public simplistic solutions to complex problems”. Parroting Bob the Builder is hardly reaching the heights of intellectual achievement.

                 16 likes

              • Guest Who says:

                “the defilement of the sacred bed where the divine Obamas once slept”

                Love it. Maybe Andreas Serrano could team up with Tracey Emin and create an installation that will literally (h/t SoL) explode every snowflake and SJW head in the Western Hemisphere?

                   8 likes

          • kane says:

            Has anyone noticed just how many BBC so called journalists are now employed at CNN?

               8 likes

            • JosF says:

              CNN and the BBC, BBC so-called journos working for CNN brown smelly stuff aka BBC journos sticking to more brown smelly stuff aka CNN and yet with the internet, alternative media, social media, multi-channel cable and multi-channel satellite the sheeple still unquestionly believe the BBC and CNN. Sorry BBC and CNN but I neither pay for the BBC or CNN or when it comes to so-called news and so-called current affairs I go to more reilable, believable and accurate sources than the BBC and CNN, Dr Josef Gobbels must be envious of the how that the likes of the BBC and CNN have on the mindless sheeple who seem not to be able to work out or are too lazy to realise that they are being lied to and are willing to accept what they are being fed by the BBC, CNN and the rest of the lying dying MSM

                 2 likes

    • Jack M says:

      This story is great, isn’t it? The combination of the details of this story (which the creators of Austin Powers would not even contemplate), the po-faced but barely hidden glee in Today’s reporting of this item and the probability that the whole thing really is fake news (see Zero Hedge) has induced in me side splitting laughter.

         64 likes

    • Dogger Bank says:

      Obviously the good thing is that now the Russkies don’t have anything embarrassing on the new POTUS, so have been foiled by the freedom and truth loving Western press! Hurrah!

         23 likes

      • gb123 says:

        Aha! Maybe they have. If it was is the same room as the Obamas stayed in they could have a recording of them in the bedroom! Russia in need of funds, off to one of those Celeb sex tape sites sell the tapes for oodles of cash. End of financial crisis, BBC have a hive heart attack, double whammy!
        (BTW this is a joke just in case the BBC see this a think it is a real story to deny!)

           19 likes

    • kane says:

      The BBC’s 10 O’clock news last night (Wednesday 11th January) led with a de facto accusation that Trump was a Russian agent in waiting, later repeated on Newsnight and comprehensively rubbished by Glenn Greenwald leaving Emily Maitless looking sick. BBC news editorial is now out of control, a propaganda tool of the hard left, a cultural Marxist entity exactly as described in “Britain’s Great Immigration Disaster” by Gavin Cooke. If you think the BBC’s Soviet style neo-Islamist propaganda is bad now just wait until the Muslims reach 20% of the population, 50% in London, sometime shortly after 2025. As an aside, has anyone noticed that CNN who were responsible for this anti Trump propaganda now have more BBC trained so-called journalists working for them than any other broadcast news agency outside of the BBC…coincidence?

         15 likes

  2. Up2snuff says:

    Anthropogenic Global Warming and Climate Change is very important to Governments around the globe and to the BBC.

    It is funny how it is quickly forgotten on the BBC when Government, a supra governmental, quango or NGO organisation makes a particular decision that will increase the supposed components that create AGW/CC.

    Yesterday, it was FIFA expanding the World Cup tournament to 48 teams and more Post Office closures. Today, on TODAY, it is digital broadcasting. You couldn’t make it up!

    Emissions crisis? What emissions crisis?

       40 likes

    • AsISeeIt says:

      ‘Yesterday, it was FIFA expanding the World Cup tournament to 48 teams’

      A very telling reaction to this news on the BBC red sofa yesterday – the girls loved the idea “even more opportunity to discover new sporting heroes!”

      However, lanky Dan Walker who is supposed to play the part of the beta male and agree with the girlies is now getting a bit feisty. Our Dan points out the World Cup already goes on too long, there will be too many boring games and this move is just about cash for FIFA. Oh dear, off message, talking sense and standing up to the women. There’s hope for the lad.

         60 likes

    • Mice Height says:

      Not to mention moving millions of people from low-consumption countries to the high-consumption countries of the west.

         17 likes

  3. Up2snuff says:

    2008 “Yes, we can!”

    2016 “Well, we didn’t do that much. At all, really. The worlds not a much better place. America has more, not fewer, problems. But we got same sex marriage. 20m more Americans pay for Health Insurance. I got a Peace Prize. My golf swing improved. But, hey-ho, never mind, ‘Yes, we can!’ Bye Bye.”

       82 likes

    • nofanofpoliticians says:

      The most disappointing US President since………. Jimmy Carter?

      He seems to be trying to create as many problems as he possibly can for his successor, no class, no honour!

         36 likes

      • Grant says:

        nof,

        Carter , at least, had the Camp David agreement which was something , but Obama has not merely achieved nothing, but by his weakness and laziness has made the World a more dangerous place.

           32 likes

      • Up2snuff says:

        no fan, Carter was a pretty good President after his good ol’ country boys had settled down in Washington a bit. He was unfairly blamed for the failure of the rescue attempt to liberate the US hostages in Iran.

           4 likes

        • Owen Morgan says:

          I think you’re letting Carter off a bit too easily regarding the disastrous hostage rescue attempt. For one thing, the President is the commander-in-chief and has to take ultimate responsibility. That is particularly so in a case like the Iranian one, where the White House must have been pretty closely involved (just as Obama must have had plenty to say, behind the scenes, about the never-attempted Benghazi rescue).

          The other reason Carter can’t deflect criticism for the fiasco is that the US armed forces in the late Seventies were in a pretty run-down state. The Democrats were very keen to dissociate themselves from Vietnam, as if they’d never had anything to do with it, and that meant distancing themselves from the services in general, which is an attitude which has never really changed. The services were plagued by poor discipline and low morale, low pay doing nothing much to attract the best recruits. Badly maintained equipment was fatal to the Tehran raid, but that problem didn’t occur in isolation. The number of frontline aircraft capable of being scrambled in West Germany, in the event of a Warsaw Pact attack, was a fraction of those supposedly available. Perhaps, paradoxically, this may have deterred Moscow from starting anything, knowing that NATO would have no option but to go nuclear at a very early stage, but I rather doubt Carter ever had the Machiavellian turn of mind to think that one through.

             3 likes

  4. AsISeeIt says:

    BBC tv news appears to have let Corbyn and his snafu slip down the memory hole. These things usually last the full 24 hour cycle – the what’s he going to say reports, the what’s he saying coverage and then the what did he say yesterday round up.

    Never mind, there’s always failed President and Leftist cultural icon Barrack Obama (now off to spend even more time with his golf swing).

    Must just say I did like his work on Osama Bin Laden. Pity about the ISIS thing blowing up on his watch.

    Schedules a bit sparce? No matter there’s this amazing snooker trick shot gone viral – give it 8 minutes or so airtime.

       36 likes

    • Deborah says:

      The newspaper review on Today this morning started with the I’s and the Mirror’s take on yesterday for Corbyn and the Labour Party with no mention of U turns; the The Times, Express and The Mail I think mentioning him limiting top salaries (to be honest I was so cross about the way they chose to ignore the majority of what really went on yesterday and wondering why they were not mentioning The Guardian I may be wrong about the second item on their list). It was amazing this morning the chutzpah at choosing their main choice of papers. I have noticed an increasing use in the past few days of the I in the newspaper review. Instructions from on high or somebody’s new year resolution?

         43 likes

      • Guest Who says:

        BBC editorial integrity dialed to eleven.

        And of course what impartial mechanisms guided these choices are FOI exempted.

           25 likes

        • JosF says:

          Guest Who should not be BBC LACK of integrity turned up to eleven

             4 likes

          • Guest Who says:

            Apologies, I should have clarified this is ‘according to the BBC’ as always, so it must be true. Trust them.

            I can err on the sarcastic with the spokespeople of the nation at times.

               7 likes

      • AsISeeIt says:

        BBC tv reviews of the papers are, to say the least, an odd beast. The audience might assume that these items would be a review of what’s actually in the newspaper headlines – but no, that might be a tad risky. Afterall it’s BBC news editors who must decide what news we are allowed to see on our tvs, right? All kinds of off-message news might be aired. For an extreme example remember the Harriet Harman PIE coverage which was in the newspapers but which the BBC chose to quash by neglecting to show the offending front pages. So to avoid showing national newspaper front pages of which they don’t approve the BBC creates the illusion of arms-length ‘not us guv’ impartiality through the device of the ‘guest reviewer’ A trusty hack or lefty campaigner with predictable palatable outlook is invited to make their selection which will invariably coincide with what the BBC would like us to hear about.

           65 likes

        • Grant says:

          AsI,

          It will be interesting to see if Harman justifies her erstwhile support for paedophilia in her book and how the BBC cover it. If she omits it altogether, the BBC will, of course, point that out as it is a subject which they have direct experience of.

             30 likes

        • BRISSLES says:

          I gave up watching the BBC version after listening to the inane ramblings of Penny Smith (painful to listen to) and Richard (desperate for a job) Madeley, and the like with their errrrrss, and ummmmmmmms. The BBC are to ‘sleb’ reviewers as the Sky are for their self important ‘authors/journalists/historian/documentary makers’. How about having a member of the public for a change ? they sure as hell couldn’t do any worse !

             32 likes

    • Marion says:

      Probably true, and might explain the poor quality of most of its output. However, I don’t think the problem is pay, the problem is that the BBC sees itself as a political party, and the pay structure is incidental.

      There’s too much wrong with the BBC. It has degenerated (or been allowed to degenerate by successive governments) to the point that most of its employees at anything approaching a decision making level are wrong. It doesn’t even have good quality presenters.

      I don’t think the BBC is reformable now.

         57 likes

      • Philip_2 says:

        I have just been reading this on Conservative Woman blog site on the failures of Conservative to address the BBC as a ‘political party’ and allow it to continue its ‘impartial’ nonsense. Even under OfCom.
        (excerpt)
        In effect, its partisan position as a political advocate of the liberal Left, facilitated by its self-serving concept of ‘due impartiality’, has been cemented. Its attacks on the Brexit vote, Nigel Farage, Donald Trump, and anything to do with ‘populism’ (aided last week even by Prince Charles) continue unabated.
        http://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/david-keighleys-bbc-watch-tories-missed-chance-quell-cosseted-mouthpiece-left/

           42 likes

      • JosF says:

        If I was asked to sort out the BBC all I would do is raise an AFS work order on the BBC AFS Authorised For Scrap, Which I have done enough times. The BBC is a stagecoach in the era of Shinkansen, TGV, HST, ICE, Pendolino

           11 likes

  5. Dave666 says:

    http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4107764/BBC-turn-iPlayer-Netflix-rival-Director-General-unveils-plans-offer-box-sets-exclusive-content-make-biggest-online-TV-service.html

    It will still be biased and crap and I still won’t be using I player because the BBc doesn’t make anything I want to watch and hasn’t done for some time.

       33 likes

  6. Sluff says:

    Luckily, I have total faith in the impartiality of the BBC.
    Because if I did not, I would conclude that the daily drip drip drip of ‘NHS in Crisis’ stories this week was a deliberate political anti government ploy by a bunch of self indulgent, entitled Far Left, Corbyn-supporting news editors.

       63 likes

  7. Foscari says:

    We know from the last census that indigenous Londoners are in a minority. But what is this minority? From the census it is said to be about 45%. However maybe the BBC isn’t showing
    diversity and positive discrimination which could of been said on their Londonistan programme.Last night fronted by Riz Lateef.
    75% of the presenter’s and reporters were ethnic women.Now 75 % of the population of London may well not be indigenous Londoners But I still think that we should have more than the occasional bloke on the programme ,even if it is to interview the one in fifty commuters who agree with all the strikes. Then maybe the odd indigenous Londonder doesn’t want to do the bidding of his TROTSKYIST bosses in spending all day finding somebody that agrees with the editors, sub editors and researchers who make this load of bile everyday.

       54 likes

    • Sluff says:

      Foscari
      You omitted there is one regular male presenter.
      Assad Ahmed, unsurprisingly of Indian subcontinental appearance, AND who uses a walking stick.
      Tick. Tick.

         35 likes

  8. Grant says:

    FT 100 closed at an all-time high yesterday and is rising again today.

       35 likes

    • Grant says:

      PS. I notice BBC Website “live news” points to a fall in opening trading today but hasn’t reported the subsequent recovery. They refer to the fall in terms of “points” and not the miniscule %, a favourite BBC trick. The BBC, not to be trusted on anything !

         53 likes

    • Sluff says:

      Yeah but ‘there are fears it may go down soon’

         19 likes

      • Emmanuel Goldstein says:

        Exactly Sluff.
        Sometime in the future, who knows when, the ftse will inevitably slip back. It cannot keep breaking record after record going up all the time.
        When that happens you can expect the BBC headline of doom and gloom and the blame will be firmly on Brexit.
        Not an earth shattering prediction I know, all of us on here know how the BBC works.

           17 likes

    • Philip_2 says:

      Yes, thats good (for UK investors) but its a worry of if Sterling (£) get too high. I mean IF we are the only postive economy (outside the EU clutches), the UK will be seen as ‘better value’ and having better ‘future’ than the rest of (EU controlled) Europe. It means we UK are ‘free’ to choose our trading partners, media broadcasters, international holidays and more cheaper goods. And goods are a lot ‘cheaper’ – outside the EU, including FOOD. The futures bright – but a complete disaster for the BBC predicting the end-of-the-world. Even so, if the GBP (£) gets too high (over confidence) that’s a problem for us. We are NOT out of Europe yet and they are demanding an expensive DIVORCE settlement. The EU has no money, and it wants our currency to suffer. Problem being FTSE is at an all time high. Its a nice problem to have, although we may all have to accept that our UK goods (and wages) have to be competitive from now on. No EU tariffs no more EU inspired quotas and EU media subsidies for the BBC. It’ll be tough for the BBC!

         22 likes

      • Grant says:

        Philip,

        Yes, I think shares and currencies can be “over or undervalued ” , but in the absence of government manipulation, they tend to “self-correct” in the long run. I have never heard of any country wanting to have a weak currency !

           8 likes

        • AceFlyingPig says:

          Not sure what your financial background is Grant but I think you need to have your hearing checked out. You’ve never heard of countries wanting to have a weak currency ? So you have never heard of countries deliberately devaluing their currency. For just one example check out what the Chinese have been doing when they consider it necessary to protect their manufacturing economy. There are many many examples of formal currency devaluations. Quantative easing has exactly the same effect.

             11 likes

          • Grant says:

            Ace,

            I am a Chartered Accountant.

            I am aware of Government interference and currency devaluations and other interferences in markets. But, I would argue that , in the long run, including China, they do not benefit any country’s economies. I think that you will find that the Chinese Government is coming round to that view.

            By the way, what is your financial background and qualifications ?

               3 likes

            • AceFlyingPig says:

              Grant. I don’t want to get in to a comparison of qualifications, I was simply asking whether you had a financial background given what I felt was a somewhat surprising statement in your original post about never having heard of a country wanting a weakened currency. It was not my intention to insult or patronize you in any way and if you felt that then I apologise unreservedly. For the record I have relevant professional Accountancy, Banking, Auditing and Business qualifications, garnered somewhat tortuously over several decades working first for a major UK Bank, and then for one of the world’s largest multi nationals. Not that it matters, everyone’s opinion is equally valid as far as I am concerned, provided it is supported by fact or logic.

              I have to disagree with your view of China which has deliberately sought to keep it’s currency under valued in order to protect it’s manufacturing base, and give it an unfair competitive edge. It seems to be working for them given the size of their foreign currency reserves, growth figures, and infrastructure expenditure. Whether it will benefit them in the long term is subjective, especially considering their reported debt levels (but then who are the West to lecture on that). However, the consensus is that they will shortly become the World’s number one economy. That could be considered somewhat of a success given where they came from.

              I see no genuine evidence that they are coming round other than to make a few positive comments to placate the US in an attempt to stop them retaliating (see Trump), and to assuage the concerns of the international financial and trade organisations. Certainly historic currency charts do not reflect it to any significant extent. Virtually every expert opinion seems to be that the Chinese currency should be considerably higher that it is now, and should have been for a considerable number of years. Therefore one can only presume that they ‘want’ a weak currency.

              It is also argued that Germany has benefitted from being in the Euro and having the strength of it’s currency held artificially low, giving it a competitive edge over the other EU countries. So they don’t appear to mind very much that their currency isn’t as strong as all economic measurements indicate that it should be.

                 11 likes

              • Grant says:

                Ace,

                Apology accepted !

                I was just a little taken aback at your vitriol in your previous post. Far from being hard of hearing , I can hear a Goldcrest singing at 100 yards !

                When I made the point about no country wanting a weak currency , I was referring to people as a whole, not just Governments. They do not necessarily have the same agenda !

                Turning to the question of China. I am biased having been born in HK . But , there is no question in my mind that China will be the main economic and military power in the future. It is difficult for them to move from a command system to freedom and markets, and that includes currency issues. So it will take time.

                Someone once said ” You can’t buck the markets ” !

                   3 likes

                • AceFlyingPig says:

                  Again I apologise Grant. The hearing comment was meant in jest not vitriol, yet further evidence that the written word cannot reflect such nuances. Totally agree with your view on China in the future, although they have a way to go to meet the US expenditure on their military … if indeed that is the way of warfare in the future (Cyber?). Makes Brown’s follies of the new aircraft carriers look even more vulnerable.

                  I caught a very interesting program on TV a few weeks back which discussed subjects with the Chinese themselves and it is clear we think very differently. They had a very interesting perspective on capitalism and free markets. At least those interviewed did. Their view was that in the West capitalism rules and therefore controls Government, but in China capitalism will always be controlled by Government. It will be interesting to see how that plays out in the coming years.

                     8 likes

                  • JosF says:

                    “Makes Brown’s follies of the new aircraft carriers look even more vulnerable.”

                    Not the new Aircraft carries by any chance? The ones that were only designed to take the VTOL version of the $1 trillion and climbing F35 Flying Pig that Trump might not waste anymore US taxpayers money and might cancel it instead. Look forward to seeing the BBC spin that one when it happens

                       8 likes

                    • AceFlyingPig says:

                      JosF … it will go something like … ‘the brave Scottish Nationalist Patriots agreed a deal before they were even elected to cooperate with the saintly Labour party to protect Scottish industry and jobs by investing in much needed infrastructure, and were subsequently betrayed by the thin-skinned and unstable President cancelling the guaranteed contract because they built a wind farm near his golf course thereby proving his climate change denier programme’.

                      By the way the story that I have been valued at $1 trillion is fake news and my stealth capabilities have not been countered already by the Russian and Chinese military … the CIA said so, HC sent me copy of the email … by accident … she didn’t know what the big F stood for … (she does now !!!).

                         2 likes

          • Up2snuff says:

            AFP, I may be more economist than ACA, but I recall during the era of Prudence & The Longest Growth Period (what a band they were!!), the TUC or CBI, or both, managed to complain on BBC R4 that the £ was too high and it was too low in two consecutive months!

            It hadn’t shifted much in those two months.

               8 likes

            • AceFlyingPig says:

              Lol I guess that’s why they call Economics the dismal science U2S. It seems much of what I was taught about it was subsequently overturned by events. Interesting though, when a country is in real financial trouble it always appears to want to devalues it’s currency … I may be wrong but I am not aware of one actively seeking to strengthen it’s currency to alleviate a crisis. However, when everything is going well a strong currency is always mentioned positively.

                 4 likes

  9. G says:

    The seeding of Europe by the Cult of Submission – I like to think of it as, ‘Islamic terraforming’ – continued through 2016 virtually unabated –
    http://newobserveronline.com/2016-invasion-big-2015/
    Unlike the previous years, these figures can surely be taken as accurate in view of European Governments having become more organised in registering the, so-called ‘Refugees’. I note that only 15% were Syrians. It is estimated that a further 10/15 million are on their way, mainly illiterates from Africa. The draining of that continent continues with the approval and assistance of the UN and other liberal Globalist organisations such as, ‘Save the Children’ and other charities.

       37 likes

  10. matahari says:

    I’m afraid this kind of stuff about President Trump is going to happen on a daily basis for the next 4 years. They will create the fake news. Anything will do. Fake witnesses. Think Walt Disney. The rotten is in various places and the cnn and other similar traitors are only the outlet. The plan is impeachment and get al capona in. She has not given up.

       56 likes

    • GCooper says:

      And the BBC, in lockstep with the rest of the far Left media, will love every minute of it.

      Rotten to the core, the BBC has simply got to go!

         53 likes

      • StewGreen says:

        BBCs Justin Webb ‘white people cheering Trump same as black people cheering OJ Simpson’ pg 24 The Times. He spends half a page being melodramatic about Trump. Wishfully thinking “they’ll be blood” between Republicans and Trump.

           29 likes

        • G.W.F. says:

          BBC will attack Trump on every occasion and not inquire into the truth of their reports.
          So why is the BBC being allowed to poison US UK relations in this way?

          We need to ask why the PM and her Government are not calling for the BBC to act responsibly. I don’t mean asking the BBC to tow any Government line, nut simply research their reports for accuracy rather than blurt out propaganda.

          Or – as I believe – treacherous Treezer is quietly endorsing the anti Trump, anti US, line taken by the media which will result in the UK finding alliances with EU socialism to her satisfaction.

             33 likes

          • gaxvil says:

            Theresa May, above all, should stand for, truth and honesty, integrity, surely?

            The BBC isn’t a little teenagers blog site – it purports to be the BRITISH and INTERNATIONAL Broadcasting Corporation and it’s completely off the rails.

               19 likes

          • chrisH says:

            The BBC have now decided that they are not content with being a State within a State-but now have a political arm by way of a Potemkin-type political party.
            Clearly Corbyn can`t be trusted not to set fire to his mittens, after yesterdays blow-up on the aborted launch pad(very Soyuz indeed) shows
            So the BBC do a Janet Webb and push onto the Left Liberal stage to show the Left some leadership and a sequinned fat arse.
            Wonder if she`s Justin Webbs mum?…am now imagining the coupling of Peter Woods with Janet Webb to create something akin to Matthews Parris foreskin. Have yet to meet a Justin worth a jot( OK then-Heyward!)

               8 likes

  11. gaxvil says:

    Witness the outcry over the painting in the Capitol Building – the winner of a competition following the Fergusson riots – it depicts Police Officers as pigs.
    The reasons to hang it is all about freedom of expression, freedom of speech and the constitution say the left. How would it be – a painting depicting rioters as apes? Wonder how that would go down?

       53 likes

    • JosF says:

      The lkeft and its mouthpieces at the BBC, Al-Guardian does not do facts and balance only what suits ther aganda if someone did a painting depicting rioting african-americans and their white leftard useful idiots as apes they would be screaming rascist, bigots, fascists etc before I had finished typing this but its First ammendent, right to free speech etc…..Oh silly me only the leftards have the right to free speech every one else who has a differing veiw to the average leftard is a bigot, rascist, fascist member of the Waffen-SS etc in leftard SJW snowflake {closed} mindset

         30 likes

  12. seismicboy says:

    Barack Obama legacy: Did he improve US race relations?
    The bbc are tiptoeing around this subject. To show just how good they are at reporting, they ask a question in the title (as is their want these days) but don’t actually answer it in the body of the piece. They even mention Donald Trump as if he is anything to do with Obama’s race problem. The fact that Obama was the first black president is mentioned ad nauseam as if that on its own is enough, but any facts to answer the main question are sadly missing. The only hint is a mention of the rise of the black lives matter activist group which really answers the main question, although the bbc would never say that the answer to the question “what has Obama done to improve race relations in the US?” is –
    jack shit.

       55 likes

    • Marion says:

      ““what has Obama done to improve race relations in the US?” is – jack shit.”

      It’s a real success story, isn’t it? Mind you, it’s not all down to Obama. The idiots who thought that the Labour/BBC type of cash-from-nowhere would start flooding into black households must carry some of the blame.

      Now the problem has become worse and, as usual, black idiots over here don’t seem to know which country they are in and copy everything they see on YouTube.

      Only a fool could have failed to predict this:

      Three quarters of American police wary of dealing with black people following protests

      With the usual consequence that the neighborhoods continue in a downward spiral as businesses close, educated people move out, and crime increases.

         38 likes

    • G says:

      Seismic,
      Maybe Obama is off to South Africa to put a rapidly failing and deteriorating situation under Black rule, right. SA (well, in fact, all of Africa) sure needs putting right. In view of Tony Blair’s post PM international appointment to calm things in the Middle East (c’mon Brucie: ‘Didn’t he do well!’) Obama could impart his own style of Black leadership to turn things around in Africa. Surely he is the man for that job.

         14 likes

  13. Jeff says:

    The latest rumours swirling around about president elect Trump seem to involve his (alleged) use of prostitutes and him (allegedly) enjoying “golden showers.” Ye gods!
    Is this what they call a leak?
    I’ve still got it…

       46 likes

  14. BRISSLES says:

    AND another rumour is that the Clintons will split by June. He stuck with her on the premise she would win the White House because she stuck by him through the Monica affair. Now he’s threatening to ‘reveal all’ about the emails if she doesn’t play ball and give him a divorce.

       41 likes

  15. ToobiWan says:

    Trump could singlehandedly find a cure for cancer; stop all wars and abolish world poverty yet still be viewed as the antichrist by the left! A lot of voters must have been royally pissed off when the Hawaiian was elected twice in succession, yet I do not remember any of those chucking their toys out of the pram like this bunch.

       61 likes

    • gaxvil says:

      Well, to criticize Obama would be racist and if Clinton had won to criticize her would be sexist. Critics of Trump are billoionaireist I guess.

         43 likes

  16. StewGreen says:

    Lord Hall will announce new BBC innovations today.
    Times pg4 “BBC to take on Netflix by offering downloads of series before they are broadcast ”
    – Doesn’t mention charging.
    – Doh surely it’s a pirates charter.
    Iplayer is quite a small thing cos only 10m viewers, viewing average 30min/wk
    2020 target is 20m viewers

       11 likes

    • GCooper says:

      If the BBC has any hope of taking on Netflix it’s going to have to start coming up with better programming. At least half the reason for customers flooding to Amazon and Netflikx is because of the BBC’s obsession with ‘reality shows’ and the way it has turned all its drama into virtue signalling propaganda pieces

      Can anyone imagine a Breaking Bad or The Man In The High Castle coming from the BBC? There’s not a hope in hell.

      And let’s not mention Top Gear, eh?

         48 likes

    • richard D says:

      The BBC continues to enter commercially competitive fields with a very unfair advantage – i.e. it is not a truly commercial organisation – it is a tax-funded body which can never, no matter how commercially uncompetitive it is in reality, fail financially and so go out of business. It has vast resources it can throw at any sector of the market, destabilising such markets in its own favour – at no risk to itself.

         25 likes

      • Philip_2 says:

        Yes I agree Richard D. It destablises the media market by undercutting competitors in both Radio and TV channels in the UK. The BBC is ‘over present’ in almost all areas including back catalogue programming which it also hopes to ‘sell’ via the BBC ‘Store’ which will use BBC Iplayer service to operate a ‘pay-to-view’ – identical to NetFlix Internationally (paid for by the UK taxpayer via the TV license). Not many people realise that the ‘income’ from ‘BBC Worldwide’ is a private company that the BBC own and control. It accounts are not subject to the same UK restrictions of the BBC UK Charter. Nor is the many BBC Magazines ‘spin off’ of popular TV programs such as “Top Gear” magazine (all private BBC companies). The BBC (under Lord Hall) has alrady outlined his global strategy for the BBC and that includes selling cross-subsiding BBC content to rival operators to help ‘fund-the-BBC’ empire on all press, TV and radio. But we UK taxpayers will have to fund it all, all of it for another ten years.
        http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-3224861/BBC-work-local-newspapers-major-reforms.html

           18 likes

  17. StewGreen says:

    Denis MacShane calls for UK to adopt Swiss immigration system of internal controls not external. Pg 24 Times
    Dhead : UK is an island, Switzerland borders 4 countries.

       32 likes

    • Grant says:

      Stew,

      How does Denis MacNoshame have the brass neck to comment on anything and why would anyone listen him ? Seems like geography is not his strong point, but then, what is ? Unbelievable !

         26 likes

      • Nibor says:

        Read the weasels book about Brexit referendum . He starts by mentioning he had to go to prison in Poland for smuggling literature in . He doesn’t mention his stay in one of Her Majesties for being a lying fiddler .

           21 likes

  18. gaxvil says:

    During the last wars we had fairly tight security, made easier because we were a small island. People took note of anyone who might be foreign or acting suspiciously.
    However, today ………………………..

       39 likes

  19. Soapbox says:

    Our national broadcaster often has a headline beginning…according to a report commissioned by the BBC…

    I am constantly always niggled because it is usually upon some obscure topic from which they proceed to extrapolate some dodgy conclusions to support their latest wheeze.

    Now what I would really like to see is information resulting in a report commissioned by a respected authority to show the following with regard to the NHS in England – you know, the one in permanent crisis!

    How many outpatient appointments are missed by patients?
    What category of medicine were these appointments in?
    Breakdown of nationality/ethnicity of missed appointments.
    A list of every illness presented in every A&E dept
    Breakdown of nationality/ethnicity of above illnesses presented
    How many A&E patients need interpreters?
    Breakdown of interpreters by area and language.
    How many A&E patients present with drug and/or drink-related complaints?
    I am sure contributors could add to the list.

    I would like this report to be done for the years 2011-2015 AND for the sake of comparison for the years 1999-2005.And the cost of each question should be shown too

    Oh dear…I’ve just realised…Al Beeb would not report any of it.

    But this is information we need to know. NO ONE ever says…there are too many people in the country and that’s why the NHS is in trouble!

       48 likes

    • gaxvil says:

      And no one says, there are far too many people on the planet. We are bombarded by charities which, where successful, increase the World population.
      Ultimately, I can’t see where it goes and I reckon colonies in space are not likely.
      The vast majority of national and global troubles are due to one thing and more people is definitely not the solution.

         31 likes

    • Emmanuel Goldstein says:

      Just as an aside, whenever I go to see a doctor I am always seen ten minutes to half an hour later than the appointment time with the ‘running late’ excuse used.
      Where do they get the cost of billions of pounds to the NHS through missed appointments.
      If everyone kept their appointments my wait would probably be well over an hour.

         22 likes

  20. BBCReject says:

    ‘If the BBC has any hope of taking on Netflix it’s going to have to start coming up with better programming. At least half the reason for customers flooding to Amazon and Netflikx is because of the BBC’s obsession with ‘reality shows’ and the way it has turned all its drama into virtue signalling propaganda pieces’

    … and Strictly Sharia Bake Off, and screaming Graham Norton, and muttering Chris Packham… and the PC propaganda shite shoved down our throats every time we switch the TV on.

    In fact it’s hardly surprising people are fleeing the BBC for alternatives. iPlayer take on Netflix and Amazon, might be a much needed lesson in reality if they try.

       34 likes

    • Grant says:

      BBC,

      If any business offended half their customers, they would not be in business. But the BBC do not have to give a damn about who they offend, they get their money anyway. They should be cut loose and let the market decide if they are worth it.

         61 likes

      • Broadcasting-on-Behalf-of-the-Caliphate says:

        Although I agree the BBC is rotten to the core – taken over by subversives and activists, cutting it loose on the market is not necessarily the answer – although I do agree it would be better than the present situation. What is needed is a rapid accountability system which kicks in when the BBC steer away from simply reporting fact based news or when they omit relevant information to distort the presentation of that news.

           13 likes

    • JosF says:

      BBC taking on the likes of Netflix and Amazon……..Sherman vs Tiger comes to mind with the BBC being the Sherman

         12 likes

  21. richard D says:

    Noticed this morning the last section of the ‘Today’ programme,John Humphries interviewing two people about Mr Corbyn’s unashamed ‘populist’ stance on pay in the private sector (no way the BBC would stand for this being imposed in the public sector)and taxes.

    The two being interviewed were Paul Mason (Guardian) and John Harris (Guardian) – so a real balance there, then…. a Guardian contributor on each hand.

    Then came the real objective of this interview, Mr Humphries listened to the two of them for a bit, then, on the ‘populist’ aspect of the debate, asked the question “So is ‘left’ populism different from ‘right’ populism ?”, eliciting the answer that of course that was so…’our’ (i.e. left-wing) populism arises from ‘The Enlightenment’, truth, facts, science, etc., whilst ‘right’ populism is basically just biased crap.

    So – now we begin the next rush towards the ‘racist’, ‘alt-right’, etc., labelling attitude of the liberal left …. only white people can be racist, only right-wing policies are extreme, populism is good it if suits us, and bad if it doesn’t. This will no doubt become part of the liberal vocabulary in the near future. They will find a new word for ‘left populism’, attach a smearing tone to the word ‘populism’, imbue it with all sorts of evil intent, and direct it only at one end of the political spectrum.

       49 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      Radio48% is not made for people like you.
      You have no right to listen to it !

      BTW Paul Mason must sleep in the Radio4 lobby or something.

         26 likes

    • Up2snuff says:

      It was laughable for it showed what all three know about taxation & where UK Government gets its money. All three would also be affected by Corbyn’s proposed Public Sector Top Pay Cap.

      Or would the BBC and its contributors be deemed exempt?

         11 likes

  22. StewGreen says:

    So a few days ago the BBC hyped “High Street XMas sales down” and since then Tescos, Saintsbury’s, Morrison’s, COOP have all reported better than expected Xmas sales #DespiteBrexit.

       41 likes

    • gaxvil says:

      Was it because Next announced an across the board 5% price rise and that really matters?

         11 likes

      • Grant says:

        gax,

        I posted before that the day Next produced some profit forecast or something, the BBC immediately linked it a fall in the FT100 of a certain number of “points” which worked out at 0.03 %. What a bunch of clowns.

           19 likes

  23. Umbongo says:

    As of now (12:37) the BBC’s news webshite headlines the crap concerning the latest made-up story released by Buzzfeed (including allegations of video nasties of the POTUS-Elect). These stories have now been comprehensively discredited and Guido reports accordingly that even Buzzfeed’s editor-in-chief doubts the allegations. Although the BBC admits in the body of its report that the allegations are not verified it still continues to pour this shite into the public domain. This is the smear process as alleged by a commenter on Guido’s site. Let’s hope Trump sues.

       45 likes

    • Roland Deschain says:

      To be honest, I’m past caring overly much. The BBC has been given enough rope and is proceeding to use it on itself.

         36 likes

  24. gaxvil says:

    It could just be me but it does seem kinda odd and unusual that on both side of the Atlantic a bunch of, what can only be described as, extremists and fanatics most fervent wish is that their countries should crash and burn in order to justify their beliefs.

       39 likes

    • Grant says:

      gax,

      It is a complete mystery to me as to why these people think they will benefit. They are committing suicide , which is fine by me, but dragging the rest of us down with them is not ok with me. Maybe they are just stupid.

         26 likes

  25. NISA says:

    Unnecessary smut from the world renowned national broadcaster. BBC1 News at One has a report on the NHS by Ian Watson. Over pictures of Jeremy Hunt exiting his house, Watson says “He doesn’t use the C word” (i.e. as in Crisis)

       17 likes

    • Mustapha Sheikup al-Beebi says:

      Does anyone recall the biased BBC’s staff ever making a slip of the tongue with Tristram Hunt’s surname?

         10 likes

  26. Stella2 says:

    Steeled myself to switch on the BBC 1 News at One. (That set seems to get Mao-redder each time – and Sophie Raworth even has a matching jacket.)

    She started off by announcing that “Russia had dismissed claims in America…Trump strenuously denies…etc”. So we wait and wonder whether they might really have got to the bottom of the story. Might the BBC even have got some of its top class journalist working on the trail of the hoax? Mention how it came to be the story-du-jour? Er, nope.

    On to the mid-section of the report, full of spy-thrillerish images of Moscow, icy and smoky. Their man on-the-spot can practically be heard licking his lips to talk about “unusual sexual practices” that he then makes unspeakable (literally) by saying that he cannot elucidate them, “in deference to Mr Trump and those aged under 18”. (OOoooh, must be quite something, then.) Lashings of references to Trump’s extensive network of links with the Russian government, and “improper relationships” with the Russians. See where we’re going here?

    And then the BBC’s killer blow to decent journalistic practice – the pernicious interview with their own correspondent in which no one involved in the story is allowed to challenge the BBC FAKE NEWS. This lunchtime, Paul Wood, Washington Correspondent, says that he tried to investigate these stories months ago and that he is well in with the compilers of intelligence reports. “The allegations were regarded as credible,” says BBC Paul. There was more than one tape, from more than one city – including one from St Petersburg. (Hang on, Paul – if it was “credible”, why didn’t you try harder to find some evidence? Surely those who were doing their best to discredit Trump could have come up with some proof.)

    He then muddies the water by saying that “credible” doesn’t always mean true. But the report ends with a repeat of the words: “regarded as credible by the US intelligence community”. Just in case they can persuade the odd viewer who still believes what they say, that it’s all true.

       40 likes

    • GCooper says:

      The same Fake News on R4’s WATO.

      From the people that bought you Jimmy Carter, Slick Willy, the Keynan and Illary, we now have the full-on Get Trump campaign – and the BBC is a fully paid-up subscriber.

      If Treezer doesn’t shut the damn thing down soon, we will have no relationship at all with the next US government!

         41 likes

  27. Razza94 says:

    Why are the BBC using Buzzfeed’s fake news as their lead article? Clearly it doesn’t matter if the claims cannot be substantiated by a single piece of credible evidence, so long as it’s anti-Trump the BBC will run with it.

    This is the fake news epidemic that we were warned about.

       44 likes

    • gaxvil says:

      Turns out the guy was in California at the time and has never been to Prague or Czechoslovakia.
      Slow news day – well, make some up! Hmmm wonder if grass is really green and sky blue?

         21 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      With 1 week to go
      It sounds like MSM/BBC is doing operation desperation to stop Trump.

      Next the Trump eating babies video.

         23 likes

  28. Dover Sentry says:

    PM Question Time Today:

    “”May said: “… we’ve all seen humanitarian crises from around the world and to use that description of a National Health Service, which last year saw two-and-a-half million more people treated in A&E than six years ago was irresponsible and overblown.””

    (Not so far reported by the BBC).

    So, 2.5 million more people treated last year than six years ago.

    Equates to about an extra 500,000 immigrants each year for the past 6 years?

       55 likes

    • G says:

      DS,
      For me, the unbelievably sick thing is amongst all the debate and despite the NHS struggling, we will invariably be told later this year that another 350/400,000 immigrants arrived from the Third World. Many will seek a reversal of FGM on the NHS who are busily, right now, setting clinics up around the country to deal with it.
      ‘Democracy’ – we have already all suffered a deterioration in our quality of life but I’m sure, as the saying goes, “we ain’t seen nothing yet”.

         34 likes

  29. gaxvil says:

    It does seem appropriate that the ‘hot’ movie at the moment is, “La La Land”.
    Did any ‘genius’ figure that – if Russia has some dirt on Trump that they shot their own fox by leaking it? And why would they want to bring down Trump? After all they hacked the election to get Trump in, didn’t they?

       32 likes

    • GCooper says:

      “If Russia has some dirt on Trump that they shot their own fox by leaking it? And why would they want to bring down Trump? After all they hacked the election to get trump in, didn’t they?”

      The CIA, on the other hand…

         35 likes

      • Grant says:

        GC,

        I was going to post that the CIA have some questions to answer. I hope that Trump and his people will deal with it. Some heads may have to roll !

           24 likes

        • gaxvil says:

          Sure thing guys. Maybe the CIA is afflicted with same petulant, self destructive mind set as the Left?

             17 likes

          • GCooper says:

            As is the case here, most organs of the US state have been infected with Leftism.

            And anyone who thinks that is an accident is living in a world of fantasy.

               24 likes

        • Philip_2 says:

          I wonder if the CIA would be against an FBI investigation? It seems the two accuse each other of malpractive but I think the CIA have overstepped the mark, publically. I am wondering if the FBI has the power to arrest the CIA top noggin – if push comes to shove, it seems to be the CIA is in serious trouble with breaches of secrurity and supporting character assasinations (True or false) for Obhama (on side) publically. We shall know soon enough.
          http://www.diffen.com/difference/CIA_vs_FBI

             15 likes

          • tarien says:

            Yes Philip the CIA have been a loose canon since the Hoover Presidency and then aided by the Bush/Clinton gang that have simply allowed this monster CIA to disrupt any chance of a settlement for the Middle East or indeed anywhere-far too much power has been allowed to surround this bunch and it should be disbanded and Trump might be the man to do so. Frankly don’t trust much of what is currently in and coming out the USA-why the Hell have they pushed over 3000 troops onto the north western borders of Poland-want to make Russia angry? That is probably the best way to do it.

               2 likes

  30. G says:

    Surely, similar laws are necessary in all European countries –
    http://newobserveronline.com/hungary-crackdown-soros-subversion/
    Read all about this wonderful chap who has clear designs on turning Europe and the West in general into the cess pits from where most of the, ‘Refugees’ come from. Note particularly the promotion of “….his philanthropy in 1979, giving scholarships to black South Africans under apartheid.” Didn’t he do well! Look at South Africa now –
    https://www.opensocietyfoundations.org/people/george-soros

       19 likes

  31. Grant says:

    BBC Website reporting the Rolf Harris case, but omitting to say that he worked for the BBC for many decades.

       33 likes

  32. StewGreen says:

    Whys this 5 Live prog from November been just modified ?
    “NHS Patients Referred to Prevent
    5 live Investigates

    Hundreds of NHS patients and staff have been referred to the government’s controversial counter-terrorism scheme Prevent”
    It popped a a new edition on the podcasts 4 days ago… Im guessing it’s been rdited for legal reasons and re-uploaded.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0833skq

       8 likes

  33. Sluff says:

    Rolf Harris is standing trial, apparently for 5 weeks, accused of groping people in public up to 45 years ago.
    You’ll forgive me if I feel that there are better things to spend our taxes on.

    And whether we like him or not, and not to defend his actions if guilty, but to apply the politically correct norms of today in judgement of behaviours that I suspect were commonplace 45 years ago smacks more of injustice than justice.

       46 likes

    • RJ says:

      “And whether we like him or not, and not to defend his actions if guilty, but to apply the politically correct norms of today in judgement of behaviours that I suspect were commonplace 45 years ago smacks more of injustice than justice.”

      Sluff, the key point is his ethnicity. The criminal justice system has given the media an excuse to give extensive coverage to an abuse story where the accused is white, so they won’t have time to report on the numerous and more serious abuse cases where the accused are non-white. The BBC will make the most of this, playing yet again to the government’s agenda. Or should that be the civil service’s agenda? I’m not convinced that the politicians are in control of the government, c/f the BBC’s Charter renewal.

         28 likes

    • Spiderman says:

      Petition to question the Rolf Harris trial. Interesting reading.

      Rolf Harris was tried at Southwark Crown Court enduring four trials at once. There were four accusers and a total of twelve charges.

      Tonya Lee had already sold her story to a magazine so had a financial interest in sticking to the already published story. In court, the story was shown to contain serious falsehoods and she admitted that she lied to the police. Despite this Mr Harris was found guilty.

      The alleged Leigh Park community centre assault was alleged to have been done at a time when Mr Harris was in fact in another part of the country, and this can be easily proved. A police search for evidence that Mr Harris had appeared at the community centre at this time confirmed that he had never appeared there at all. The police admitted in court that they had NO EVIDENCE that he had even been there, but despite this Mr Harris was found guilty.

      The Cambridge celebrity It’s a Knockout allegation was made by a woman who claimed she was thirteen/fourteen at the time of the assault. The assault happened in public and yet nobody saw it happen. Mid trial she changed this story to fit an appearance Mr Harris had made at a Star Games event, three years later. She changed her age to sixteen/seventeen and the location miles away from the site of the original allegation. Despite this Mr Harris was found guilty.

      Mr Harris admitted a consensual affair with a woman younger than him but of consenting age. It was shown that this woman had attempted to blackmail him after asking him for £25000 and there was no evidence to show that any under age abuse took place as she later claimed. Despite this Mr Harris was found guilty.

      Mr Harris was convicted of all twelve counts after the jury were told by the trial judge to ‘recognise a RED HERRING when you see one and ignore it’; but the prosecution barrister had told the jury in her closing speech that Mr Harris’ explanations and denials were RED HERRINGS. Was the judge summing up on behalf of the prosecution by effectively telling the jury to ignore Mr Harris denials and explanations? This was a gross burden of bias given to the jury by the trial judge who was supposed to have summed up impartially.

      Criminal justice must be based on truth and not the ‘I believe’ edicts that allows any person to make any claim of abuse against any person and be believed; with cases going to court despite there being evidence contrary to the claims and the resultant miscarriages of justice.

      Mr Harris has been denied a right to appeal and this travesty of justice must be urgently reviewed and his right of appeal allowed.

         7 likes

  34. embolden says:

    On the BBC website….Barack Obama legacy: Did he improve US race relations?

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-38536668

    Hmmmm, well reading through that I`m non too sure but “Black writer” Ta Nehisi Coates implies Obama wasn`t black enough to understand the real problems….

    Of course there`s no suggestion that a nation having elected a black president, a two term black president, twice elected, rather demonstrates a lack of racism and the possible need to row back from “affirmative action” since Americas equal opportunities credentials have been comprehensively proven….no Siree!

    Guess suggesting that would be a little too egalitarian for the “equalities” lobbies.

       28 likes

    • Grant says:

      embolden,

      Of course we have to remember that is is only half “black”. His mother was white. But that has been airbrushed out of history !

         36 likes

      • Grant says:

        Looking forward to Obama’s memoirs ” Dreams from my Mother ” !

           24 likes

        • embolden says:

          From the BBC link

          “But the black writer Ta-Nehisi Coates makes a persuasive case that Obama has always been overly optimistic on race, in large part because he did not have a conventional black upbringing.

          His formative years were spent in Hawaii, America’s most racially integrated state, and the whites he encountered, namely his mother and grandparents, were doting and loving.

          Obama was not the victim of discrimination in the same way as a black kid growing up in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, or even New York or Illinois.”

          Having a white mum goes against him among the race profiling left.

             18 likes

          • JosF says:

            Some of my American friend think of obama as a skunk, On account of them being Half Black and Half White and everything about him stinks

               12 likes

        • G.W.F. says:

          We have not had a black US President yet. Obama is an Arab

          Barack Hussein Obama is not half black. If elected, he would be the first Arab-American President, not the first black President. Barack Hussein Obama is 50% Caucasian from his mother’s side and 43.75% Arabic and 6.25% African Negro from his father’s side.
          Obama’s Lineage – cfcia
          http://www.cf-cia.org/obama_lineage.htm

             17 likes

          • Grant says:

            GWF,

            The problem that racists like Obama have is that they believe in ” race theory ” and that is a very slippery slope.

               10 likes

  35. Grant says:

    GWF,

    LOL !

       8 likes

  36. StewGreen says:

    Radio : The Future of the Climate Deal
    Discovery

    “The incoming administration of President Trump has frightened many in the international environmental community. ”

    And another one

    Can We Eat Our Way Out Of Climate Change?

    And another : Science In Action
    State of the Climate 2016
    Features Bettsy and UEA people etc
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p04kt49r

       13 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      More BBC Green-verts
      And today on R4 Midweek
      ….”Peter Willcox has been a Captain with Greenpeace for over 30 years, making him the most experienced captain in the organization.
      An activist for most of his life,
      …confronting naval ships, being bombed by the French secret service and serving time in a Russian jail for protesting* against Russian oil drilling in Antarctica.
      Greenpeace Captain: Bizarre Wanderings on the Rainbow Warrior ”
      * “For protesting” not true In the video the GP inflatable cuts in front of a Russian inflatable almost capsising it, causing the Russian sailor to draw his gun.

      BTW the other day Science In Action did a prog Little Ice Age, winter temperatures plummeted even lower in the extraordinary decade of 1430-1440″
      I notice they didn’t anywhere asking if it was worldwide …probably cos that would be too close to admitting the Medieval Warm Period was global.

         19 likes

      • ToobiWan says:

        I had a real teacher about 50 years ago, Stew, whose passion was vulcanology, (he actually taught maths)who told us of eruptions in the 13th and 14th centuries that affected populations all over the world (crop failures and mass migrations) and their effect lasting for almost 500 years, which would bring us into Dicken’s time and the Thames ice fairs.

           23 likes

        • JosF says:

          And dont forget Krakatoa in 1883 I read that the 1883 Krakatoa eruption apparently caused cold volcanic winters for several years afterwards

             11 likes

          • Mustapha Sheikup al-Beebi says:

            I’m probably wrong about this but I wondered if Tambora (1815) had any effect on the poor British summers after the Napoleonic Wars and the relatively high CO2 readings in the 1820s (~475 parts per million, I think) given that the mountain’s height was reduced by well over one quarter after the eruption. In spite of Krakatoa, the 1880s CO2 readings were lower, so maybe even that big eruption was only one small factor.

               7 likes

  37. peterthegreat says:

    So far Trump has given it to the Chinese, the muslims, and luvvies like overrated meryl-the-peril streep.
    Good start, but when will he let the bibistan have it?

       31 likes

    • gaxvil says:

      He’s probably confused. The state sponsored BBC? Does it represent the people, the Government? To criticise the BBC – would it equate with criticism of the Queen.
      Someone needs to explain it to him – then they can explain it to me.

         22 likes

    • JosF says:

      I would prefer that Donald Trump let Reichsfuhrer merkel, reichsminister juncker and the rest of the EU reichsministers in brussels have it first before turning his attention to Al-BBCeera

         17 likes

  38. gaxvil says:

    Tillerson is speaking on Fox at the moment. In laying out his hopes and plans for the future, he’s delivering a damning indictment of the last eight years – America but moreover the Western nations.

       21 likes

  39. Dover Sentry says:

    BBC Online News:

    “”Oxford academics warning of Brexit ‘disaster’ “”

    “”You would be hard-pressed to find any sector in the country more opposed to Brexit than higher education””

    “”Universities, bastions of liberal thinking, intensely international in their outlook and staffing, seemed culturally allergic to Brexit””

    “”Showing how seriously they take this, Oxford University has appointed its own head of Brexit strategy””

    “”If the UK is to stay ahead in research, Dr Anne Corbett of the LSE said the UK government would have to be prepared for some “serious funding”.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-38587765

    The BBC equates intellect with Remain. Do I care?

       35 likes

    • gaxvil says:

      Hmmmm – We watch University Challenge and watched the Christmas version with the ‘successful’ minor celeb graduates – enough said.

         18 likes

    • StewGreen says:

      Tip toe-ing around Muslims.
      BBC has been afraid to tackle the issue that most Muslims mistakenly think the Koran says you can’t keep dogs .
      5 Live Emma Barnett has dramatic interview with Blind Mo who braved all to get a guide dog.
      #1 The rule is “don’t get dog saliva in your hand”
      #2 Islamic rules are usually superceded by needs eg “things you need to do for your job”

      Interesting how Islamic culture and SJWs are FRIGHTENED of breaking dogma over everyday practicality..

      90% of the rest of the podcast is about the Labour Party etc.

         22 likes

      • Al Shubtill says:

        I shudder to think of any poor dog falling into the hands of one of those c***s, whether they’re blind or not.

           12 likes

    • RJ says:

      ”Oxford academics warning of Brexit ‘disaster’ ”

      Would this be the Oxford University that demonstrated its broad-mindedness when it refused to give Margaret Thatcher an honorary degree?

      The universities gets funding from EU research programmes, but like all EU money coming to the UK it was originally UK money that’s been top sliced by the EU. Brexit gives the government an opportunity to re-examine spending priorities and the universities want to make sure that after Brexit their trough is kept full.

         29 likes

      • gaxvil says:

        Yep – Universities, especially the Oxfords are about one thing – making money. I place the same value on what they say as what dribbles from the likes of, Bono and Madonna.

           21 likes

  40. Up2snuff says:

    Yesterday (10th Jan) was notable for a Laura Doomsberg Blog being open for Comments. First one for ages and only the fourth or fifth (something like that) in her time as Political Editor.

    The Comments have been removed it seems. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-38570495. Perhaps they distracted from her or maybe they didn’t go according to the BBC’s or the PE’s liking?

       23 likes

  41. Geoff says:

    BBC Sport online headline right now (also main sport headline on Radio 2 at 3pm)

    “Kelly Smith: Arsenal Ladies & England legend retires from professional football”

    WTF? Legend? Probably like me most have never heard of her.

    Legend to the BBC and the BBC alone.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/38542111

       26 likes

    • pete ongyo says:

      Just googled her because I didn’t have a clue either. Virtually nothing until her retirement!

         6 likes

  42. StewGreen says:

    Breaking : R4 Media Show has just played a clip of Trump saying “I would like the many media . .for NOT carrying that story that is obviously fake news”
    So far the show hasn’t mentioned what fake news he’s talking about.

       17 likes

  43. chrisH says:

    Good point above re Obama not being Americas first black president-first mixed race one maybe, more Arab than black sounds all too likely.
    I mention this because Radio 4`s news headlines at 7am put the conviction of Dylan Roof second on their billing. Funnily enough linked to Obamas warning re “inequality and racism”-see what the BBC did there?
    The BBC said that Roofs killings were RACIALLY motivated.
    Were they not all Christians holding a Bible Study in their church?
    And being a Christian is by FAR a bigger signifier of self-descriptions than skin colour. Might suit the left-but it`s not what Church people do.
    How do the BBC know that it was NOT RELIGIOUSLY-motivated? And would they describe it so, only if Muslims had been killed. Seeing as its black Christians, pretty clear how the BBC prefer to see it.
    Funnily enough-the whole Roof conviction didn`t even show up on the 8am headlines. Can only assume the drive-by linking of Trump to white supremacist atrocities had served its sly, nasty and conniving purpose.
    The BBC-is ANYBODY giving them any house room any more-proven liars.

       18 likes

  44. StewGreen says:

    Re “fact checking” websites get infiltrated by Leftmob zombies and get corupted
    To Leftmob : Truth= what Leftnob mates commonly believe..
    Eg FillFact started to make lots of dogmatic misleads on enegy etc.

    They just posted this
    “Are you a developer who has solr experience? Come to our hackday at Facebook on 20th and battle fake news
    http://www.flax.co.uk/blog/2017/01/04/just-facts-solr-luwak/

    Solr and Luwak are search engine programs

       12 likes

  45. Guest Who says:

    http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/john-humphrys-says-his-report-on-blairs-handling-of-iraq-invasion-nearly-brought-down-the-bbc/?

    As Bill Clinton would say, ‘smells, but no Presidential cigar’.

    What is interesting is that the BBC seemed capable then of being ‘brought down’ for staying true to its job. What it pulls daily nowadays seems to be merely buffing the turd to higher levels of Teflon unaccountability.

    ps: “Three months later I did a perfectly unremarkable early-morning, three-minute interview with a correspondent. I’ve done thousands of them over the last 30 years.
    “Did I say unremarkable? It nearly brought down the BBC.

    So it was actually Andrew Gilligan. What is he up to now?

    pps: Note, for balance, the Mrs. T insight.

       13 likes

  46. Old Goat says:

    BBC dissed, along with CNN, in Trump’s press conference. It’s brilliant, what a geezer!

       41 likes

    • Lobster says:

      He clearly doesn’t give a shit about what the media think of him, and they don’t like it one little bit do they? I’m going to buy a lot of shares in popcorn companies!

         32 likes

      • Grant says:

        Lobbie,

        BBC Website ” Trump faces press “. Never ” Corbyn faces press “. They are all so frigging stupid !

           19 likes

        • Lobster says:

          Grant – I bet we don’t see “Trump wipes floor with press” on the BBC Website!
          And no sign of a script!

             30 likes

  47. Thoughtful says:

    Interesting interview / reporting of the Trump interview / speech on Radio 4 PM

    Trump says he wants to thank many of the news agencies who have ‘not been kind to him’ in the past who have reported the Russian dossier with the contempt it deserves, and for their professionalism. He remarked on the strength of the rebuttals.

    He then went on to say that not all news agencies have behaved so professionally nor strongly rebutted the allegations.

    Although the source was’t named it was difficult to avoid thinking of the massively biased BBC.
    The source is apparently a British intelligence agent, and it was made public on a ‘left wing web site’

    Given that some extremely biased US news agencies have treated this news in such a contemptuous way and that has not been the case of the BBC it does make one wonder as to why that might be.
    More biased that the most biased left wing US MSM?? Certainly makes one wonder !

       34 likes

    • G.W.F. says:

      British Government not looking too well because of the anti Trump hostility displayed by our media.
      Did any of the over paid whores from the BBC get to ask Trump a question at his Press Conference? Or were they confined to their rooms with their rent boys?

         21 likes

  48. taffman says:

    Important !
    Good News, Bad News….
    “Carney: Brexit risks now lower”.
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38587625
    “Carney warns EU on risks of Brexit”
    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-38582690

    Who employed that chap ? HYS running, some of them are ‘corkers’ – Go on, you know it makes sense. 😉

       16 likes