Meanwhile in Lilliput
Posted November 5th, 2008 by quarsan
Hazel Blears has been applying her first rate mind to the question of why electoral turnout in Britain is falling.
Have a guess who's responsible.
No, not the corrupt, spin obsessed New Labour. Not a party full of its own hubris. Not a cloying dash to the undefined centre.
No. Its us. Political bloggers.
"Perhaps because of the nature of the technology, there is a tendency for political blogs to have a 'Samizdat' style. The most popular blogs are rightwing, ranging from the considered Tory views of Iain Dale, to the vicious nihilism of Guido Fawkes. Perhaps this is simply anti-establishment. Blogs have only existed under a Labour government. Perhaps if there was a Tory government, all the leading blogs would be left-of-centre? "
But mostly, political blogs are written by people with disdain for the political system and politicians, who see their function as unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy.
"Until political blogging 'adds value' to our political culture, by allowing new voices, ideas and legitimate protest and challenge, and until the mainstream media reports politics in a calmer, more responsible manner, it will continue to fuel a culture of cynicism and despair."
But mostly, political blogs are written by people with disdain for the political system and politicians, who see their function as unearthing scandals, conspiracies and perceived hypocrisy.
"Until political blogging 'adds value' to our political culture, by allowing new voices, ideas and legitimate protest and challenge, and until the mainstream media reports politics in a calmer, more responsible manner, it will continue to fuel a culture of cynicism and despair."
Bless.
You are a despicable
You are a despicable patronising *******. By all means disagree with Blears in your wonderful "witty" way but don't patronise........
I suppose you'll just do the same to me now.
BTW, I agree with your overall sentiment that New Labour has become full of its own hubris but that doesn't justify your attitude. You should be ashamed of yourself.
If this gets deleted, it'll really show you for what you are - a bully who just wants to shout the loudest, not a commentator with anything valuable to say.
Wow! Talk about cliche'd. If
Wow! Talk about cliche'd. If you don't like the message, shoot the messenger! And she probably thinks that she is being so original. 'Bless' indeed.
/ikh
Oh anon, come come. This
Oh anon, come come. This isn't Blairwatch patrononising at it's best, just a little dig at the latest bile to issue from the hypno imp.
Perhaps you would like this better?
... is your comment serious?
... is your comment serious?
The sarcasm is not very well done and so it seems as if you're defending an out-of-touch luddite with millions of pounds of powerful PR such as Blears over an independant blogger. Oh, and you're calling the blogger a bully?
Dear oh dear.
I was dismayed by Blears'
I was dismayed by Blears' comment on bloggers. Most newspapers have now realised the value of blogging - I suppose she did include Comment is Free in her diatribe, or was it only independents she had it in for?
In fact of course she's right, only she didn't take it far enough.
It's VOTERS who ruin the system. They should do what they're told, instead of trying to think independently or maintain their own opinions. We have professional politicians to do their thinking for them. Democracy means doing what you're told...
Okay, some political blogs are parti pris and a bit crap all round. But it's another layer of oversight, thank the Lord (or Lady), and with many local papers in particular giving up on investigative journalism, we need all the oversight we can get.
'Cos if we don't watch those buggers, they ain't gonna be accountable.
Nihilistic New Media by
Nihilistic New Media by Hazel was great fun with some fine writing at CIF --
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/05/blogging-politics?commentid=bbbd9f95-378b-4cea-aac6-5b5ed1eca072
On sunday the Observer CIF had Gordon Brown ( or rather some PR hack ) settting himself up as a target.
America Has Embraced the Values of Progress
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/nov/09/barack-obama-gordon-brown?commentid=4c6ce630-62a5-4185-855b-75eee907280f
The amusing bit occurred on monday am, when this popular piece was off the front page of Top Ten CIF Favourites.
Then the moderators started deleting ,with their little message, and even removing without trace .
So they kept the total comments down to 300 odd.
Regards from
frog
In defence of Ms.Blears,
In defence of Ms.Blears, Guido Fawkes is an ass.
To distill his entire blog into one easily digestible sentence;
"It works for Andrew Gilligan, therefore it must work for me."
Marvellous
Marvellous stuff.
Really.
I love the idea that political culture is yet to 'allow new voices, ideas and legitimate protest and challenge' into the political system.
Sure, people without a party line writing stuff lini=king to verifiable sources, what a pox on debate that is.
Also one to marvel at is the underlying belief that professional politicians are somehow not involved in any dirty tricks, vitriolic vendettas or petty point-scoring. I must've been dreaming all those Prime Miniters Question Times then.
full of informations. nice
full of informations. nice articel and good to read
"vicious nihilism" Well, she
"vicious nihilism"
Well, she should know.