“Because the truth is this – we are in a global race today and that means an hour of reckoning for countries like ours. Sink or swim. Do or decline.”
via Cameron speech to warn on economy – UK News – News – WalesOnline.
It’s not quite sink or swim (Britain will not sink beneath the azure waves) but the changing shape of geopolitics is one of the strongest arguments for European integration. Funny sort of place to make that argument, at Conservative conference…
Here’s the Guardian on Teresa May’s rumblings about renegotiating EU Freedom of Movement rules:
It had been thought there was little momentum to review the free movement of EU workers on the basis that it is such a central pillar of the EU’s founding principles. But May believes there are reforms that could be made in part to reverse previous European court of justice judgments that have in effect redefined free movement as available to citizens rather than merely workers.
Sorry, what? Teresa May wants to block people who aren’t working – like Tory-voting retired inhabitants of Spanish coastal resorts – and allow people who are – like Polish plumbers?
Surely (if you believe that Britain is threatened by evil mudbloods) you want to keep the Poles out while letting the Brits go anywhere and do anything, like the rulers of Europe they rightfully are?
The US Government have now nationalised three major institutions in the course of a fortnight, so what could be more pleasurable than going to FreeRepublic, home of right wing nutcases, to hear them wail about how they are now living in a socialist republic?
I find it odd that most media sources said that Thursday's commemoration events for 9/11 were in some way a 'suspension of electioneering'. Sure, the speeches were by George Bush II rather than John McCain or Barack Obama, but this extract from the president's speech at the Pentagon sounds to me like pure propaganda for his 'war on terror' notion:
When our enemies attacked the Pentagon, they pierced the rings of this building. But they could not break the resolve of the United States Armed Forces. Since 9/11, our troops have taken the fight to the terrorists abroad so we do not have to face them here at home. Thanks to the brave men and women, and all those who work to keep us safe, there has not been another attack on our soil in 2,557 days. (Applause.)
For future generations, this memorial will be a place of learning. The day will come when most Americans have no living memory of the events of September the 11th. When they visit this memorial, they will learn that the 21st century began with a great struggle between the forces of freedom and the forces of terror. They will learn that this generation of Americans met its duty — we did not tire, we did not falter, and we did not fail. They will learn that freedom prevailed because the desire for liberty lives in the heart of every man, woman, and child on Earth.
I know that Today is produced by the middle classes for the middle classes but even so I was astonished that the 8.10 slot today was given over to a long grumble by the well-spoken white middle-class sister of an armed gunman who was shot by the police.
I don't doubt that she's grieving, and looking for answers, but her complaints about the police could basically be summarised as "Why did they have to shoot him – it's not like he was black or poor".
I remember Today doing interviews on unarmed people shot by police (Menezes, Harry Stanley) but never when the victim was an armed gunman taking potshots out of his window.
Daily Mail agrees peace deal with Polish Federation of Great Britain |
Media |
guardian.co.uk
.
BBC NEWS | England | Hampshire | Terror campaign postman is jailed.
I posted this over at Metafilter, but it's very much what I've been feeling today, so I thought I post it here too.