Hackery
The Iraq War's Real Victims? Laurie Penny and the Narcissistic Left
Don’t take my word for it. Ask the redoubtable Ms Penny herself. Contemplating the “lesson” of the anti-war protests a decade ago, she writes: Tony Blair’s decision to take Britain… Continue reading
51 Comments
Correction of the Year - Spectator Blogs
Courtesy of Time magazine: This article has been changed. An earlier version stated that Oxford University accepted “only one black Caribbean student” in 2009, when in fact the university accepted… Continue reading
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Lance Armstrong, the Greatest Cheat in the History of Sport, Prepares to Admit His Sins - Spectator Blogs
The news, reported by the New York Times, that Lance Armstrong is preparing to confess his sins reminds me of this passage from the Book of Daniel: Thou, O king,… Continue reading
22 CommentsIs Sir Simon Jenkins the Worst Columnist in Britain?
I know that this must seem a large claim while so many other rotters still breathe but at least, as questions go, it makes more sense than the one bold… Continue reading
13 CommentsToday in Stupidity: Salmond is Hitler & the Economist is Racist
David Starkey’s declne from competent historian to reactionary nitwit has been a sad business. I’m afraid it shows no sign of abating either. The Huffington Post has this: Historian Dr… Continue reading
31 CommentsToday in Stupidity: Who Lost Syria?
Perhaps I should apologise to Leon Wieseltier? His recent column is not a patch on Jennifer Rubin’s latest screed which may be the most stupid and contemptible thing I’ve yet… Continue reading
6 CommentsWar Games: Syria & Iran Edition
The past is always a different, better place and never more so than when commentators dip into American history to salvage some justification for their favoured approach to any contemporary… Continue reading
3 CommentsShocker! Cameron Snubs Republicans!
Nile Gardiner is always good for a laugh and his latest contribution to the Telegraph is no exception. Apparently David Cameron, visiting the US this week, will rue the day… Continue reading
6 CommentsThe John Wilkes Society is Reborn
John Wilkes was radical and wrong; his latter-day equivalents are merely stupid and wrong. To buttress this notion, I submit the cases* of Simon Heffer and Melanie Phillips. We are… Continue reading
45 CommentsSay what you will about North Korea, at least they’re authentically Korean
Drivel, of course, and the kind of thing you’d expect to find in the Guardian. One expects rather more from the Times but, nay, here is a piece of Simon… Continue reading
26 CommentsHow To Lose An Argument: Jim Murphy Edition
Meanwhile, in more examples of sloppy Labour arguments here’s a tweet Jim Murphy sent this afternoon: Oh dear. Murphy is usually better than this. I know and everyone else who… Continue reading
5 CommentsWhen FIFA Meets the Bilderbergs*
Via Norm, Verso are publishing a very silly book by Marc Perelman titled Barbaric Sport: A Global Plague. Norm reports what the publishers promise: Marc Perelman pulls no punches in… Continue reading
3 CommentsNo, Barack Obama is not the Second Coming of George McGovern
On the other hand, Rich Lowry – editor of National Review and therefore a man who should know better – offers this pithy analysis of American under Obama: [N]one of… Continue reading
2 CommentsThree Cheers for the House of Lords
As a general rule complaints that the opposition are too beastly for words should not be taken too seriously. They reflect a sense of entitlement on the part of the… Continue reading
5 CommentsAn Irish Recovery?
I think it’s tiresome the way countries in desperate economic trouble are treated as lab rats by pundits far away whose sole interest in their travails lies in their providing… Continue reading
4 CommentsAnnals of Self-Awareness: Cristina Odone Edition
I don’t think "squeezed middle" means what the lovely Mrs Odone thinks it means: For the past decade, our parental angst, which had my husband tossing and turning at night… Continue reading
16 CommentsForeign Policy Hogwash
As a general rule any time you read an article asking that foreign policy be recalibrated to take greater account of the "national interest" you can be sure that you’re… Continue reading
8 CommentsAdam Curtis Is At It Again
The great story-teller’s latest piece is a rum business indeed. Apparently: The guiding idea at the heart of today’s political system is freedom of choice. The belief that if… Continue reading
8 CommentsPresident Tin Cup
It’s August so you could be forgiven for thinking Thomas Friedman’s latest column offering pony-in-the-sky advice to Barack Obama is a parody or, perhaps, written by some Friedman-bot while the… Continue reading
7 CommentsAbusing Winston
Whenever an American conservative uses Winston Churchill to make a cheap political point you can be sure there’s nincompoopery on the way. Hats off to Peter Kirsanow for this contribution… Continue reading
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