Sunday, December 31, 2006
SIR JOHN SCARLETT AND THE IRAQ WAR
Sometimes, something happens which makes me really angry - and some who know me know I can act impulsively... this is one of those times.
While my mind was being invaded by the grotesque media images of Saddam's lynching, BBC Ceefax finds space to mention that the MI6 Head John Scarlett has been knighted - he is now Sir John Scarlett.
Do you remember him ? Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) who master-minded the 'sexed-up' WMD dossier - "45 minutes" and all that - gave evidence at the 2004 Hutton inquiry concerning the 'apparent' suicide of Dr David Kelly, and subsequently resulted in the 'resignations' of BBC's Greg Dyke and Andrew Gilligan, and the disgusting apology to the Government (& Alastair Campbell) by Lord Ryder.
Well, I remember it - and the dossier was total crap, and Blair squirmed his way out...
Now, The Establishment (which is very, very real) sees fit to give a knighthood to this guy. It sickens me to the stomach - especially as I continue to be invaded by the media orgasm over Saddam.
Well, I'm angry - and I'm going to act impulsively...
Tomorrow morning at 08.00, there will be a protest outside the Security Services offices at Vauxhall Bridge Road, London. 3 signs will read :
1. "Though your sins be as Scarlett, they shall be as white as Blair" (Isaiah 1 v 18 adapt.)
2. "It is sometimes necessary to lie damnably in the interests of the nation" (Belloc to Chesterton 1917).
3. "Political language...is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind"
For those of you who think I'm quite mad, I don't give a s...
It all depends on one thing though...whether I can wake up in time, let alone get up, after seeing in the New Year !!!
While my mind was being invaded by the grotesque media images of Saddam's lynching, BBC Ceefax finds space to mention that the MI6 Head John Scarlett has been knighted - he is now Sir John Scarlett.
Do you remember him ? Chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee (JIC) who master-minded the 'sexed-up' WMD dossier - "45 minutes" and all that - gave evidence at the 2004 Hutton inquiry concerning the 'apparent' suicide of Dr David Kelly, and subsequently resulted in the 'resignations' of BBC's Greg Dyke and Andrew Gilligan, and the disgusting apology to the Government (& Alastair Campbell) by Lord Ryder.
Well, I remember it - and the dossier was total crap, and Blair squirmed his way out...
Now, The Establishment (which is very, very real) sees fit to give a knighthood to this guy. It sickens me to the stomach - especially as I continue to be invaded by the media orgasm over Saddam.
Well, I'm angry - and I'm going to act impulsively...
Tomorrow morning at 08.00, there will be a protest outside the Security Services offices at Vauxhall Bridge Road, London. 3 signs will read :
1. "Though your sins be as Scarlett, they shall be as white as Blair" (Isaiah 1 v 18 adapt.)
2. "It is sometimes necessary to lie damnably in the interests of the nation" (Belloc to Chesterton 1917).
3. "Political language...is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind"
For those of you who think I'm quite mad, I don't give a s...
It all depends on one thing though...whether I can wake up in time, let alone get up, after seeing in the New Year !!!
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
WHO OWNS WEST SUSSEX OWNS WEST SUSSEX COUNTY COUNCIL
West Sussex Gazette (WSG) is the local 'snooze paper' for those who own West Sussex - and probably published (by Johnston Press - JP) just for their benefit.
But, very occasionally, WSG surprises me - as it has done this week ("Just who owns West Sussex? We reveal some fascinating answers", December 27 2006 - Page 4).
This is a full-page feature, written by a former WSCC Leader/"Gazette Kiss 'n Tell Contributor"/'Gamekeeper turned Poacher' - Graham Forshaw.
I can just imagine many a West Sussex Lord/Duke/Earl/Viscount/Colonel/Major spluttering on their sherry when they settle down in their armchairs to read this - it might upset their after-dinner doze. But methinks I sound a little bitter - and there might be some truth in that - as I think people like them have helped to 'unofficially' ban people like me from JP's West Sussex Gazette and Crawley Observer Letters Pages - until further notice.
No matter...more importantly, back to Graham Forshaw's revelations :
"The major landowners in West Sussex are still the aristocratic families and the trusts they have established..."
Duke of Norfolk Family (Arundel Estate et al) - 16000 acres (v.v. approx)
Viscount Cowdray (Cowdray Estate et al) - 17000 acres (v.v. approx)
Duke of Richmond (Goodwood Estate et al) - 12000 acres (v.v.approx)
Lord Egremont (Petworth Estate et al) - 22000 acres (v.v. approx)
"If we add together the acres...throw in a few thousand acres owned by well known local families - the Goring and Langmead families, for example -we arrive at a figure that is roughly half the land area of West Sussex."
The Lord Lieutenant's Office is part of West Sussex County Council - a kind of 'County House of Lords with a direct line to the Queen'. It is housed at County Hall Chichester - paid for by (you've guessed it), us the West Sussex taxpayer. There are 47 West Sussex Deputy Lieutenants appointed (not elected) by the Lord Lieutenant - paid for by (you've guessed it), us the West Sussex taxpayer.
You can probably guess who have been appointed Deputy Lieutenants for West Sussex. Yes, you're right - every Lord, Duke and Viscount mentioned above...and quite a few more (eg Lord Luce), including 'retired' Colonels and Majors.
Who owns West Sussex owns West Sussex County Council...
Graham Forshaw again : "Vested interests, the people who own land in West Sussex, have every reason to restrict the supply of land for housing. As land becomes even more expensive, so their future profits increase".
Graham Forshaw finally : "The 1872 Return of Owners of Land was prompted, in part, by fear that Radical politicians would incite the masses to rebel against authority. Will a more open disclosure of land ownership in West Sussex, and elsewhere, be enough to lance the swelling boil of social discontent in the 21st century".
Vive La Revolution !!!
But, very occasionally, WSG surprises me - as it has done this week ("Just who owns West Sussex? We reveal some fascinating answers", December 27 2006 - Page 4).
This is a full-page feature, written by a former WSCC Leader/"Gazette Kiss 'n Tell Contributor"/'Gamekeeper turned Poacher' - Graham Forshaw.
I can just imagine many a West Sussex Lord/Duke/Earl/Viscount/Colonel/Major spluttering on their sherry when they settle down in their armchairs to read this - it might upset their after-dinner doze. But methinks I sound a little bitter - and there might be some truth in that - as I think people like them have helped to 'unofficially' ban people like me from JP's West Sussex Gazette and Crawley Observer Letters Pages - until further notice.
No matter...more importantly, back to Graham Forshaw's revelations :
"The major landowners in West Sussex are still the aristocratic families and the trusts they have established..."
Duke of Norfolk Family (Arundel Estate et al) - 16000 acres (v.v. approx)
Viscount Cowdray (Cowdray Estate et al) - 17000 acres (v.v. approx)
Duke of Richmond (Goodwood Estate et al) - 12000 acres (v.v.approx)
Lord Egremont (Petworth Estate et al) - 22000 acres (v.v. approx)
"If we add together the acres...throw in a few thousand acres owned by well known local families - the Goring and Langmead families, for example -we arrive at a figure that is roughly half the land area of West Sussex."
The Lord Lieutenant's Office is part of West Sussex County Council - a kind of 'County House of Lords with a direct line to the Queen'. It is housed at County Hall Chichester - paid for by (you've guessed it), us the West Sussex taxpayer. There are 47 West Sussex Deputy Lieutenants appointed (not elected) by the Lord Lieutenant - paid for by (you've guessed it), us the West Sussex taxpayer.
You can probably guess who have been appointed Deputy Lieutenants for West Sussex. Yes, you're right - every Lord, Duke and Viscount mentioned above...and quite a few more (eg Lord Luce), including 'retired' Colonels and Majors.
Who owns West Sussex owns West Sussex County Council...
Graham Forshaw again : "Vested interests, the people who own land in West Sussex, have every reason to restrict the supply of land for housing. As land becomes even more expensive, so their future profits increase".
Graham Forshaw finally : "The 1872 Return of Owners of Land was prompted, in part, by fear that Radical politicians would incite the masses to rebel against authority. Will a more open disclosure of land ownership in West Sussex, and elsewhere, be enough to lance the swelling boil of social discontent in the 21st century".
Vive La Revolution !!!
Friday, December 22, 2006
COUNCILLOR DUNCAN CROW - AND DEPUTY LEADER OF CRAWLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL
Cllr Duncan Crow's political immaturity is putting his local party (Cons), and this town (Crawley), at risk with his 'crowing'. Cllr Crow should be watched 'like a hawk'...watch this space...
Friday, December 15, 2006
CRAWLEY OBSERVER (JOHNSTON PRESS) TO TAKE OVER CRAWLEY NEWS (TRINITY MIRROR) ?
Trinity Mirror "said it will off-load its...newspapers in the...South East...Rival publisher Johnston Press...is understood to be interested in the regional newspapers up for sale."
(Source : "Trinity to sell Racing Post", Business Argus, December 15 2006)
If Johnston Press (JP) buy Trinity's East Surrey and Sussex Newspapers (which includes Crawley News), then Crawley Observer and Crawley News are likely to become one.
That would mean only one newspaper for Crawley - JP - just as Worthing has one JP newspaper (Worthing Herald), Haywards Heath (JP-Mid Sussex Times), Horsham (JP-West Sussex County Times), and West Sussex County Council 'Sunday Readers' (JP-West Sussex Gazette).
Johnston Press would have an unhealthy control and monopoly of the printed word throughout West Sussex.
Not a pretty thought for local democracy - of, by and for the people....but a lucrative thought for the local plutocracy - of, by and for the powerful.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
CRAWLEY CONS LOSE THEIR HEAD (AS IF WE DIDN'T ALREADY KNOW)
So, Marcella Head has defected from the Lanzer Conservatives to the Seeking Lib Dems - that was a very neat political manoevre !!!
REPORTER ADRIAN PEARSON, CRAWLEY NEWS, 'TOWN LEADERSHIP IS NOW UP FOR GRABS', DECEMBER 13 2006 :
"The minority administration will in effect only rule with the say-so of the other parties. In the worst case scenario Labour and Liberal Democrats could eventually ask for a vote of no-confidence in the Conservative administration, which would result in a new leader been(sic) chosen.
"If the two opposition groups put aside their differences they could go for a coalition and elect a new leader which could be either Brenda Smith or Gordon Seekings"
CLLR BRENDA SMITH (LAB) :
"Bob Lanzer's claim of strong leadership came from not having an effective opposition. We can all be a strong leader if we don't take into account any other views. He will now be forced to listen" (Source : Crawley News, December 13 2006)
CLLR CLAIRE DENMAN (CON) :
"We have a good working relationship with the Liberal Democrat Group, more so than the Labour Group, whose agenda appears to be one of causing maximum disruption within the council" (Source : Crawley News, Letter, December 13 2006)
RICHARD W. SYMONDS (INDEPENDENT - 'FAILED AGAIN')
"Roll on next May - and watch your back - and the long knives"
REPORTER ADRIAN PEARSON, CRAWLEY NEWS, 'TOWN LEADERSHIP IS NOW UP FOR GRABS', DECEMBER 13 2006 :
"The minority administration will in effect only rule with the say-so of the other parties. In the worst case scenario Labour and Liberal Democrats could eventually ask for a vote of no-confidence in the Conservative administration, which would result in a new leader been(sic) chosen.
"If the two opposition groups put aside their differences they could go for a coalition and elect a new leader which could be either Brenda Smith or Gordon Seekings"
CLLR BRENDA SMITH (LAB) :
"Bob Lanzer's claim of strong leadership came from not having an effective opposition. We can all be a strong leader if we don't take into account any other views. He will now be forced to listen" (Source : Crawley News, December 13 2006)
CLLR CLAIRE DENMAN (CON) :
"We have a good working relationship with the Liberal Democrat Group, more so than the Labour Group, whose agenda appears to be one of causing maximum disruption within the council" (Source : Crawley News, Letter, December 13 2006)
RICHARD W. SYMONDS (INDEPENDENT - 'FAILED AGAIN')
"Roll on next May - and watch your back - and the long knives"
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
THE RWS LIST OF COMPLETE MORONS - PART 1
1. SUN READERS THROUGHOUT THE UK - Well over 3 million people read Rupert's Comic Fodder.
2. FOX NEWS VIEWERS THROUGHOUT THE US - I don't know how many million look at Rupert's Propaganda News Cartoon.
3. SKY NEWS VIEWERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD - I don't want to know how many million get dished-up rubbish from Rupert's Satellite.
4. BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY (BNP) VOTERS - no further comment necessary.
5. ANYBODY WHO LIKES A KNOCK AT THE DOOR FROM A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS (x 2).
6. ANYBODY WHO LIKES TO SPEAK TO A CALL-CENTRE IN INDIA.
7. ANYBODY WHO DISAGREES WITH ME :)
2. FOX NEWS VIEWERS THROUGHOUT THE US - I don't know how many million look at Rupert's Propaganda News Cartoon.
3. SKY NEWS VIEWERS THROUGHOUT THE WORLD - I don't want to know how many million get dished-up rubbish from Rupert's Satellite.
4. BRITISH NATIONAL PARTY (BNP) VOTERS - no further comment necessary.
5. ANYBODY WHO LIKES A KNOCK AT THE DOOR FROM A JEHOVAH'S WITNESS (x 2).
6. ANYBODY WHO LIKES TO SPEAK TO A CALL-CENTRE IN INDIA.
7. ANYBODY WHO DISAGREES WITH ME :)
