Category Archives for politics
And A Happy New Year To You Too, Enver Hoxha
Tweet At this time, I always like to relay Enver Hoxha’s encouraging words to the Albanian people on New Year’s Day 1967 (as rendered by the English service of Radio Tirana). “This year will be harder than last year. However, … Continue reading
Afghan cricket and the Taliban
Tweet Extract from letter to Nigel Adams MP, Foreign Office Minister of State with responsibility for Afghanistan and British “soft power”. And cricket-lover. I am writing to urge you to take an interest in the future of Afghan cricket and … Continue reading
Mandelpropisms
Tweet Peter Mandelson planned Labour’s masterly election campaign of 2010. Here is an excerpt from a long email to party supporters explaining its central message. (My comments as recipient at the time). ‘In all this we should remember the power … Continue reading
An Alternative Inauguration Speech
Tweet The speech I offered Joe Biden. “My fellow Americans. I am now your President. I thank all those who voted for me or against me. I thank the officials and volunteers who in conditions of unprecedented difficulty gave them … Continue reading
American democracy: the biggest loser in the election
Tweet full version of article published in the Yorkshire Post (England) November 5. 2020 As I write these lines, it appears that a clear majority of the American people have chosen Joe Biden as their next President. That does not … Continue reading
A message to Donald Trump from the Beatles
Tweet Four years that you’ve been lyingBut soon you will be crying and cryingFor you (oo-who? You-oo-hoo!)Four years that you’ve been cheatingBut now you’re gonna take a beatingPoor you (oo-who? You-oo-hoo!)You thought you were a great big manYou’re just a … Continue reading
Dump Trump
Tweet More free materials for this purpose. Any anti-Trumpers may use as they wish without attribution. Apologies for any repeats, but if they were good before they’re still good now. Some simple narratives for Biden-HarrisTrump is not fit to be … Continue reading
Campaign themes (and jokes) against Trump
Tweet These suggestions are a free resource for the Democratic party and anyone campaigning against the re-election of Donald Trump. Virus The world environment and economy have become a breeding ground for new viruses. It is highly likely that something … Continue reading
A Trump Second Term: should we accept catastrophe in silence?
Tweet Unpublished letter to The Spectator in reply to Sir Christopher Meyer Based on his experience of the 2000 election Sir Christopher Meyer recommends a policy of diplomatic silence to Boris Johnson if, as is now all too likely, the current Presidential … Continue reading
Poor Swift (from my lockdown diary for 28 May)
Tweet In my distant schooldays I read Jonathan Swift for English A Level. I read him again intermittently for pleasure and possible literary larceny, since he is of course out of copyright. Then and now, I would sometimes have to … Continue reading
