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The Times - Barack Obama: the new Great Redeemer First it was Kennedy… now the US media are prostrating themselves before the saviour, by Gerard Baker

After listing the past half-centuries “Redeemers of a Troubled Planet” (I can’t believe Carter was ever actually on that list):

The alert among you will have noticed by now that […]

Categories: Politics

The Corner - “Why Republicans Lose” by Mark Steyn

John McCain has decided in effect to run for president as an Independent. And, given the assumptions about the diminished appeal of the Republican brand, that might not be a bad idea - at least in terms of his own personal ambition. Maybe I […]

Categories: Politics

Telegraph - Cherie Blair’s memoirs set a bad example, by Mary Riddell

Cherie Blair’s memoir, published today, is “a Cinderella fairytale of an ordinary Liverpudlian schoolgirl who was transformed into a style icon and cover girl”. Sorry, wrong book. That’s the dustjacket blurb for Coleen (Welcome to My World) McLoughlin, the story of the […]

Categories: Politics

So Hamas, amongst others, digs Obama.

But then…

Telegraph Blogs - Holy Smoke - Barack Obama ‘could face Islamic execution’, by Damian Thompson

Barack Obama may be a Christian, but in the eyes of the Islamic world he is a Muslim apostate and could face execution if he is elected president. That’s the view of Edward […]

Categories: Politics

Times Online - Government’s secret fears over housing market exposed by minister gaffe

Gordon Brown’s housing minister exposed the Government’s fears over the falling housing market today when she accidentally left in view a top-secret report as she walked into No 10. Caroline Flint’s briefing note conceded that house prices would […]

Categories: Politics

Telegraph - Boris Johnson welcomes New York mayor Michael Bloomberg Boris Johnson has been picking up tips on running one of the world’s great cities during a meeting with the New York Mayor, Michael Bloomberg.

As the two mayors met at City Hall overlooking the Thames, Mr Johnson gave his American counterpart a novelty shirt […]

Categories: Politics

Cuz Obama’s on the rise!

Just One Minute:

Here is a transcript of his speech: this detail struck me: I trust the American people to understand that it is not weakness, but wisdom to talk not just to our friends, but to our enemies, like Roosevelt did, and […]

Categories: Politics

Poor Hillary.

The Times - Hillary Clinton: it’s over Even this leading Democrat must learn when to quit

Last year the nomination was Mrs Clinton’s to lose, and the US began to contemplate the prospect of its first woman president. She could still be that president, but only if she withdraws now to limit the damage […]

Categories: Politics

Telegraph - New York has lessons for Boris Johnson, by Irwin Stelzer

Rudi Giuliani is too well known to be ignored as a model. Boris has as his top priority making London a safer place. And he seems to understand the Giuliani “broken windows” approach - little things mean a lot. Stop what Rudi […]

Categories: Politics

The Times - Every city should have its own Boris Catalysts for urban renewal: more elected mayors may be the solution to London’s dominance, by Tim Hames

Yet what truly matters is that this was the year when the mayoralty as an institution came of age. It has taken two terms of Ken Livingstone for […]

Categories: Politics

So, he’s already mayor? Lord how fun it would be if we worked that way. You get five days to clear out your office, or your whole house if your gig happens to get a residence to come with it. Anyhoo…

Boris has stated that first on his agenda is tackling crime in London. Hopefully this […]

Categories: Politics

Times Online - Tories claim victory for Boris Johnson

The Conservatives were increasingly confident this afternoon that massive Tory gains in local elections across England and Wales would be capped this evening by victory for Boris Johnson, their colourful candidate for London Mayor.

Hmmm, I don’t know. Outcome of the London vote due at 10pm. […]

Categories: Politics

Jeremiah Wright has made a couple speeches over the past couple of days.

Last year:

“If Barack gets past the primary, he might have to publicly distance himself from me,” Mr. Wright said with a shrug.

And yet:

Frankly, it’s as selfish of a move as we’ve seen in some time. Imagine, for example, if […]

Categories: Politics

The Times - Boris Johnson for London Two terms is enough for Livingstone. Johnson should be allowed his chance

Skipping the recap of Red Ken’s two terms:

There is plainly an element of risk in backing Mr Johnson. Newspapers have fretted about endorsing him precisely because journalists know Mr Johnson, a fellow journalist, so well and […]

Categories: Politics

The Times - Oh no! Groundhog Day… again, by Gerard Baker

You’ll recall that in the iconic 1993 film, Bill Murray plays a weatherman who is condemned to repeat, apparently forever, his tedious day in the cloyingly friendly Pennsylvanian town of Punxsatawney, where a groundhog named Phil pops his head out of a tree […]

Categories: Politics