New Satesman - FatBoy Clarke - Time to end "Just William" Politics.

The article is more a defence of the Blairite politics of opportunism, dressed up in a sort of babbling apparatchik-speak that suggest all are to blame for the current woes, except the author. however, the bit that the UK media have seized upon is the closing apragraph.

Blairism as a concept offers little by way of rescue. It is certainly not a guide to action. Equally, however, it is inaccurate and misleading to dismiss as some kind of Blairite rump those who fear that Labour's current course will lead to utter destruction at the next general election.

Similarly, there is no Blairite plot, despite rumours and persistent newspaper reports. There is, however, a deep and widely shared concern - which does not derive from ideology - that Labour is destined to disaster if we go on as we are, combined with a determination that we will not permit that to happen.

However, there is a response in the Guardian today from Neal Lawson, who heads up  Compass, which is slightly more left wing grouping of MPs who are trying for a more liberal left social democratic politics than we're currently getting.

Guardian - Neal Lawson - To change direction, Labour must first decide where it's going

At least Charles has the benefit of having always been sceptical about the leadership qualities of Gordon Brown and he is right to state that we are heading for disaster. But that is as good as it gets from Charles because he goes on to say we need to change but offers few policy clues about what that change means.

Worse than that he seems to disown ideology as the basis of change. And so we end up with a debate basically about personalities while the underlying politics of the party remain as they were - essentially Blairite. We need to remember that Tony Blair was removed from office because his politics were failing. Brown flourished briefly in the summer of 2007 when he first took over precisely because he looked like a change of direction from Blairism. When he started to adopt some of the worse policies and tactics of New Labour he plummeted in the polls. If we are to change direction we need to know where to, why and how. That requires a clear set of values and an organising framework to enact them - an ideology, if you like.

Sadly the article doesn't really discuss much beyond that observation, valuable though that is in itself. He admits there isn't a credible candidate worth supporting to replace Brown, but believes that only a more radical change in policy direction than Clarke could support will be needed to avert the disaster all now expect.
All of which means that Labour is doomed when it goes to the polls and the wilderness years could be long and bloody while the party re-discovers a purpose beyond the mere messianic politics of personality.

keep to the Fen Causeway

I sometimes knit when I listen to music or talks on the mp3 player, keeps my hands busy.

Local coverage of the RNC protests were as expected - strong attempts to over-dramatize what didn't even qualify as low level rioting, and interviews with the least articulate protesters the media could find.

you are the media you consume.

Wahlumfragen - Saarland

Institut	Quelle	Befragte	Datum		CDU	SPD	GRÜNE	FDP	Sonstige
Forsa	stern	1.001 25.08.-29.08.	03.09.2008		37 %	23 %	5 %	7 %	Die Linke 24 % Sonst. 4 %

(Grüne = Greens, Sonstige = Others [those not in the current regional parliament], Die Linke = Left Party)

2) In Bavaria, the Left Party dithers permanently on the verge of the 5% limit. Erwin Huber, the leader of the Christian Socialists (CSU), the Bavarian sister of the CDU, announced a "crusade" against the Left Party entering the Bavarian regional parliament (elections on 28 September)! He used the standard centre-right tactic I was sooo disgusted with back in the Kohl era two decades ago, equating the hard left with the far-right (the extremist parties of the Republicans, DVU and NPD). However, given the SPD's voes, in polls the CSU still looks to barely retain its absolute majority.

*Traitor*, n.
A benighted individual who perceives an illusory distinction between serving his nation and abetting the criminals who govern it.

Any recommendations how I can fix that?