Longest successive webcast viewing record set
Well my Personal Best at least.
I've bene watching the BBC Parliamentary webfeed which has been superb. I've watched the entire debate on Iraq from this morning and its been a fantastic show. The debate has for the most part been intelligent and well argued. To be honest its refreshing when one sees the hideously poor standard of TV Panel programming such as "question time".
To be honest when one sees the commons in action you become embarrassed watching what I just caught sight of walking past the sitting room, namely on BBC News 24 a group of teenage girls weilding anti-war signs running after and mobbing an ex-government minister whilst shouting some ridiculously simplistic slogan about killing Iraqis. The peace march on london was superfluous but well ordered however the 'Die-ins' and the demonstrative mobbing are to be honest stupid, excessive and ridiculous given the fine example which others have previously set for peaceful protest.
I would suggest following the peaceful example of the NAACP or CORE when they marched on Washington. Running after an MP and assaulting can be likened in the previous analogy to the movement by the SNCC toward direct action.
Naturally I'd also recommend that if that suggestion is delivered to those who ran after the MP they are informed as to the groups who I described there because if they can exhibit such ignorance then I would doubt they had any knowledge of those who set such a fine example of peaceful protest.
Oh there's nothing quite like a bit of absurd rhetoric in the evening. One labour MP just spouted more anti-american cliches and poor logic than I have heard since the Charles Kennedy got up to speak. And in the public gallery a young girl shouted some anti-american rhetoric and received an applause from the public gallery. That is why she's not IN parliament because intelligent debate seems beyond a vast number of people.
Ironically my high point so far has been the devastating destruction of Charles Kennedy's speech by of all people William Hague. I hated William Hague whilst he was Tory leader and I used to support the Lib Dem's... Funny how one situation can lead to such a change of opinion.
Still it looks fairly obvious that
a) The amendment will be shot down
b) The motion will be carried by a larger majority than before
Tony Blair has worked flat-out 24/7 for a Second resolution but ultimately its failed. I for one believe France's intention to veto irrespective of circumstances can did nothing more than oblige America to take military action but irrespective of what you believe one cannot doubt.. Oh goddamn I can't write constructively because there's another simplistic firebrand waffling on. I wish we could just replace all the anti-war MP's with Robin Cook because aside from 3 others I've been subjected by the others to a nauseating display of rhetoric and simplistic propaganda
Right bring on the votes :)
John
Posted by John Swaine at March 18, 2003 08:40 PM