±«Óătv

±«Óătv BLOGS - Newsnight: From the web team
« Previous | Main | Next »

Thursday 18 November 2010

Sarah McDermott | 11:54 UK time, Thursday, 18 November 2010

Here's Emily with news of tonight's programme:

Something extraordinary happened in Alaska last night. A candidate who didn't even appear on the ballot paper - won the senate seat. What's even more extraordinary was that her name was Lisa Murkowski - a name voters had to be able to spell themselves if they wanted to write her in.

How did she pull it off? Bracelets. She handed out a zillion wristbands with "M U R K O W S K I" clearly visible, as a kind of aide-memoire.

But this is not just a Spelling Bee exclusive - the political relevance of this is that she beat the favoured Tea Party candidate, parachuted in by one Sarah Palin. And Alaska, of course, is Palin's political home.

Tonight, in a British TV first, we ask Michele Bachmann, congresswoman and leading member of the Tea Party, about the fight that's splitting the Republicans in two.

First though, we're looking at the subject of Fat Cat pay. Why are some council bosses refusing to cut their own pay - sometimes double or more than that of the prime minister - when they're about to cut tens of thousands of jobs within local government?

We'll bring you the very latest on Ireland as the country admits it will accept help in the form of tens of billions of euros from the international community.

And a special report from Mark Urban ahead of the Nato summit in Lisbon. How prepared is Afghanistan to take over security of its own country?

Plus as The Sun's Page 3 celebrates 40 years, we'll ask if it's offensive in this day and age, or not.

Join me at 10.30pm on ±«Óătv2.

Emily

----------------------------------------------------------------------
From earlier:

Nine years after the ousting of the Taliban, security in Afghanistan - where it exists - is still predominantly down to Nato. The US has reportedly spent more than $25bn training and equipping Afghan army and police forces since 2001- but to little effect. Many troops have failed to meet required standards or have simply deserted.

Now a new, expanded recruitment and training programme is underway and the US is ploughing in another $14bn in the hope of meeting the 2014 security target - when President Hamid Karzai believes that Afghan forces can take over security of the country.

But is at all realistic? Our Diplomatic editor Mark Urban reports later.

Then we have an interview with the conservative congresswoman Michele Bachmann, heroine of the Tea Party movement and arch-rival of Sarah Palin.

And as The Sun's Page 3 celebrates 40 years, we'll ask if it's offensive in this day and age, or not.

More details later.

Comments

  • Comment number 1.

    I predict viewing figures will be UP tonight - 40th anniversary of Page 3. Will you be interviewing Page 3 girls of the past and present with illustrations?
    ;o)

  • Comment number 2.

    Those civilian terrorist court cases ain't gonna work. They seem to be showing symptons of that nasty non-reversal auto-immune deficiency disease, also known as Liberalism..God help America!..are prayers are with you.

  • Comment number 3.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 4.

    #37

    How many times have you actually crashed on the iPlayer
    And waiting for improvement have you said a prayer?

  • Comment number 5.

    sarah.. go for it..purleese. then the Democrats will walk it....

  • Comment number 6.

    Ousting of the Taliban?

    Are you being serious?

  • Comment number 7.

    Whoever's cooled up i'n the first place the trap
    Which seems nothing but a stupid 'huge' crap
    Was it a tart or was it a f...?
    And why are so many helping at that?

  • Comment number 8.

    #7 addendum

    It is most sad that good proletariat of heart
    Got themselves entwined in the trap.

  • Comment number 9.

    @ Mim #3 - You have a very vivid imagination! You do realise that remarks such as yours are libellous, don't you?

  • Comment number 10.

    ...Chinese National Pleads Guilty to Stealing Ford Trade Secrets...



    in a zero sum game you can only get rich by making others poor.

  • Comment number 11.

    1

    "feminism is a poison"

  • Comment number 12.

    #9

    I can't complain, Mistress76uk, of lack of imagination but when I get back to my laptop, I shall check whether I can find the testimony of what I said earlier which was 't i'n ant way judgemental of you and whenever you speak positively about Jeremy I always side with you, as you must have noticed.

    mim

  • Comment number 13.

    jaunty

    Feminism is only a 'poison' to those blokes who do not respect women. Personally, I do not even consider myself as one and I suppose my claim to independence and freedom comes from how I grew and was brought up with by and large mutual respect between the sexes within my own and extended family.

  • Comment number 14.

    Governments going into the banks that seem to expect to continue indefinitely to be provided with unlimited liquidity is like governments going into countries [like afghanistan] that then expect indefinite security?

    banks are like failed states that support the 'terrorism' of bad investment and the 'warlords' of bond and share holders who want no moral hazard.

  • Comment number 15.

    13

    ..is only a 'poison' to those blokes who do not respect women...

    i forgot you don't watch NN so won't know who said it last night.

  • Comment number 16.

    #2kev

    “Those civilian terrorist court cases ain't gonna work.”

    "

    The log posted beneath your link says it even more bluntly:

    "I feel sorry for all the Japanese we killed on Iwo Jima who did not get a trial like this terrorist got. We should have tried to arrest all 21,000 Japanese for war crimes violations, given them 65,000 defense counsel and let the justice system treat them "fairly." Using flame throwers was so mean, wasn't it? "

    In more modest terms, the problem is that we are still trying to use principles of law that are no longer applicable in an age of terrorism.

    How can ‘Innocent until Proven Guilty’ be the principal tenet of law in dealing with persons hell-bent on killing themselves and brainwashed to believe in a martyr’s REWARD not PUNISHMENT for murdering innocent men, women and children?

    And where our security forces know that a person has been attending a terrorist training camp or exposed to preaching of hatred against our way of life, and may have information about plots to kill and maim others, should they simply just politely question them, or are other means justified IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MANY?

    We must shift the focus away from the Human Rights of the INDIVIDUAL to those of SOCIETY. And shift the balance of concern back to the potential victims of crime, rather than those who will not conform or co-operate, including criminals - and suspects.

    Perhaps we should also be funding research and development of drugs that will be more reliable than brutality in revealing whether suspects are lying or not?

    Paying huge sums of compensation to suspects sends the wrong message of Reward not Punishment for crime, whether plotted or actually committed.

  • Comment number 17.

    #15

    No, I did not. Who was it that said it? I know it wasn't Paxo as he seemed to be off rom presenting the programme and although he may ponder on the current state of affairs between the sexes, I can't imagine JP saying something as poisonous as this.

    Besides, which one of you is in prison spreading all the poison
    affecting the soul of this nation as well as abroad? It'll be good to find out the sake of the heart and release back to freedom the part that's forced to act as a trap.

  • Comment number 18.

    Liz, further to previous #32 and your link:-
    I did start to watch the ‘big’ live debate on Immigration in Parliament today. The acres of empty green benches with less than 20 MP’s present spoke volumes! I’m not sure how many of the 600+ MPs are backbenchers (not being Ministers or shadow ministers) but obviously most of our Representatives have nothing to contribute or learn about our concerns.
    It would surely have been a different debate had PR been in effect as I observed in May:
    “The ‘radical’ parties that stood for the preservation of English culture (as opposed to the ‘big 3’ that welcomed ‘diversity’ and jointly oversaw this non-integrated multicultural mess) were denied all 33 MPs that their 1.55 million votes would have been elected under PR.”

    Whether or not we support their policies or methods, there is clearly a need for some RADICAL members to get our views across in a Parliament based on too much (here it comes) Tolerance, Apathy, Lethargy and Complacency (TALC). I suspect most MPs were busy watching Camoron’s appearance or doing their Christmas shopping? I shall write and ask my MP why he wasn’t in on the debate, which most admit was a major issue during their doorstep canvassing last May and has, in fact, got WORSE since then.

  • Comment number 19.

    17

    so you admit you don't watch NN and just come here to wildly rant [what's all that prison stuff?] at other posters who do watch it and thus disrupt ?

    which fits this description?

    ....In Internet slang, a troll is someone who posts inflammatory, extraneous, or off-topic messages in an online community, such as an online discussion forum, chat room, or blog, with the primary intent of provoking other users into a desired emotional response[1] or of otherwise disrupting normal on-topic discussion.....

    29

  • Comment number 20.

    #19

    I do watch Newsnight sometimes and quite often, if I do not, I watch clips whenever I find the time. In fact, I need to catch up a bit, and I'm particularly keen to see the one with Suu. Besides, do not forget I've been to dinner with quite a few journalists and other contributors to the programme and feel.theneed to communicate with them, as well as amortised who might be interested in what I have to say and my hope is the way I express myself.

  • Comment number 21.

    #18 Ah Indi I think I need a gold star for endurance! I watched most of it, but was called away for an hour or so for family duties.

    You are right there were very few MPs there! Quite astonishingly so, when you consider this was the first time the question of mass immigration had been debated. I was particularly impressed with Frank Field, what a clear and level headed speaker. Much to my surprise two of our local MPs spoke up, one Julian Brazier, the other (Mary?) Crouch, they spoke very eloquently and to me very astutely about the position in Kent. Brazier was correct in his statements about Kent, most of which I've already posted on here. And Crouch spoke about eastern europeans in the Chatham area, again very true, the girls my daughter teaches say they have to run the gauntlet of their crude remarks, gestures, and touching, I know that things are very difficult there, in a deprived area.

    But of course NN would not bother reporting on this unusual event, they would sooner bable on about the tea party. Although I do think Ireland is a very important subject, as we will be going the same way soon!

  • Comment number 22.

    COMMERCE TURNS RAW MATERIALS INTO JUNK. IMPORTED LABOUR DOES IT CHEAPER. DEBT FACILITATES ITS FASTER GROWTH. WE CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS. (#21)

    I didn't watch it Lizzy. But I bet they were concerned with 'getting it right' rather than pronouncing it FUNDAMENTALLY wrong.

    A poignant parallel, is the assertion (just heard on Radio 4) that nations have to combine to beat terrorist bombs on planes. Meanwhile, France and Britain unite, the better to attack Johnnie Foreigner, not to plan peace.

    As I have posted before: we have to stop the world being led into madness by madmen. We could start by psychologically profiling all those who pull levers in higher governance.

    We love to laugh at the 'antics' of very foreign leaders. But look at Thatcher, Blair, Brown, Cameron/Clegg, with THE SAME 'EYES' - they are all living their deluded dream - and our nightmare. The difference between us an tin-pot nations, is that WE rain our lunacy (that of our leaders) down on foreign lands, for their own good!

    Destiny Dave (The Jingo Kid) is not going to raise THAT in Parliament.

    Let's just have a royal wedding holiday and then get back to madness-as-usual.





  • Comment number 23.

    I used to like Max but as it turns out that he is apparently fully backing the Climate Change Scammers,perhaps what he says about trying to clean up the stock market is less than genuine ?

  • Comment number 24.

  • Comment number 25.

    #22
    May I suggest, singie, that you start with your own body and soul? There'a good chap.

  • Comment number 26.

    What a result! Think that's the first time I've seen a Page 3 Girl's picture on Newsnight. And even better - we do have a former Page 3 Girl as a guest :o)
    High ratings tonight!

  • Comment number 27.

    The sad thing is that page 3 girls have more dignity and integrity than that disgusting excuse for a politician Bachman. What on earth are the ±«Óătv thinking bringing this woman on? I realise that right-wing nutjob females are 'in' at the moment, but do we need to bring them here? Shame on you ±«Óătv!

  • Comment number 28.

    #26

    I haven't got back to you yet as by the time I've unpacked, baked wild sage Paxo stuffing which we all got at the Media Society Gala organised for Jeremy in April last year in the Landmark Hotel i'n Mayfair and some exercises to a live concert of the Vitalic, as well to Yasmin Levy's songs, I'm now too tired to even open my laptop but will try get back to you as soon as possible.

    mim

  • Comment number 29.

    Apparently, the sight of a ''Page 3' lovely' causes violent misogyny to break out. There's a proven causal link, don't you know?

    Apparently, despite most northern European nations having rates of crime that are a fraction of those, here, alongside lower rates of teenage pregnancy, underage sex, etc., whilst allowing much more explicit media (available on a wider scale), this isn't in any way determined by their far superior education and upbringing. They have some unknown power to resist all those bare breasts and everything else, which is too rude to mention here.

  • Comment number 30.

    Photos of Page 3 Girls over the last 40 years set to "Venus in Furs" by The Velvet Underground - Newsnight you are spoiling us ;o)
    Excellent debate by Emily with Todd & Bagshawe tonight. Probably the best debate all week!

  • Comment number 31.

    This is pure madness

  • Comment number 32.

    @ Strugglingtostaycalm #29 - you're right :o) Just look at The Netherlands and most Scandinavian countries.

  • Comment number 33.

    I DOUBT IT WILL AFFECT DAVE (#31)

    I remember Dave saying how wonderful the NHS is. He offered, as evidence, that they always gave his family full care and attention, any time of day or night. I suppose the call centre will somehow call Dave!

    I recently moved surgery, and was made to feel very much at ease through 'human exchanges' with the ladies on the front desk.

    Ironic that Dave is going to test our happiness while, clearly, doing all he can to make us angry. You wouldn't expect that from a pathetic poseur who needs to be photographed by a dedicated team - would you? He is, without doubt, a very sensitive man.

    WE HAVE GOT OURSELVES ANOTHER ONE.

  • Comment number 34.

    As your, static, attacks are systematic
    You are being paid in systematic kind
    As you seem to be lacking in heart.
    I realise that you think you do seem to possess one
    But it’s only for the satisfaction to have financially won
    Mixed together with the most twisted of prides.
    I’m on a path to turn you into an ‘actor’ or a media ‘presenter’
    With the world’s lights beaming you straight in the face.
    It’ll be interesting to see what of it you make.
    Will you have any excuses to present to the globe
    Or will you come up with some ‘innovative scientifically’ fob?
    I would suggest that you quickly withdraw
    To ease the pain of at least your kids and those in your fold.
    As for myself, I’ve lost completely any interest in you
    If you don’t see it, you must be a f
!
    ‘You can fool all the people some of the time,
    And some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.’

    The last couple of lines are Abraham Lincoln’s and were used by Bob Marley, with whom, him having been an Aquarian, you probably ‘identify’, but I shouldn’t think you have the slightest chance to match him in any way as from what I know about the singer, he was not into making a misery of people’s lives. On the contrary. When he sang about ‘One Love’, he was not using any needles, brushes or any other tools, but for his own voice, his guitar and his fellow musicians facing the stage or studio floodlights.


  • Comment number 35.

    This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

  • Comment number 36.

    #22 But I bet they were concerned with 'getting it right' rather than pronouncing it FUNDAMENTALLY wrong

    Ah very true Barrie, they were very, very careful in what they said, and I also felt they were playing to their constituents. Many discussed their local situation and asylum seekers who came to them for help.

  • Comment number 37.

    'First though, we're looking at the subject of Fat Cat pay. Why are some council bosses refusing to cut their own pay - sometimes double or more than that of the prime minister'

    Excellent precedent. Those funded by the public purse so grotesquely remunerated should be taken to task.

    The very idea, fees extorted from those barely scraping by to go to salaries and (often hotly defended) pensions in the ÂŁ400kpa+ bracket.

    Of course, council bosses are still subject to the whims of the ballot.

    Where others are more... unique. Hence avoiding looking in mirrors to be avoided. One might not like what one chooses not to see.

  • Comment number 38.

    #33 I am amazed by this suggestion as well Barrie. Our receptionists are always working non stop, can you imagine ringing up for a blood test result, look at the opportunity for error.

    And as for the elderly, mayhem!

    My sister already has to ring up a central phone board in Sussex, it's also an expensive number one phones, she's often on there ages, so a nice little earner for someone!

    The 600million saved would soon be lost on ambulance call outs and emergency hospital visits, because people won't know what else to do. And what is 600 million very little in the NHS budget, that's around 6 days money used, and I think well worth it for the interaction between patient and surgery.

    Dave doesn't really care about society does he, I can think of nothing more unfriendly and bound to cause enormous confusion.

  • Comment number 39.

    I'M WORRIED ABOUT DAVE (#38)

    Yesterday I was discussing 'class' (much in the news) with a very astute friend. We concluded it is SENSED and (like charisma) not definable. Royalty cannot but KNOW that we are an inferior lot (hence all that pointing they do). 'Quality Folk' like Dave and his ilk, by the same token, CANNOT KNOW our sorrows and vulnerabilities. And there is at least one more tier (tear) of incomprehension before we 'hit bottom'.

    But coming from quality does not confer a quality mentality. Quality kids are generally put through hell (boarding school etc) such that, behind that aura of competence, is GNAWING NEED. Put that in charge of a nation, ironically backed by an even more dysfunctional monarchy, AND YOU GET WHAT'S DESERVED. In short - you win a Tony.

    We really MUST pay more attention to the psychological profiles of aspiring (desperate/wannabe) leaders. If you vote ROSETTE you get what you get! Think RADICAL - vote INDEPENDENT - SPOILPARTYGAMES.

  • Comment number 40.

    @ Ecolizzy #38 - Excellent news - most receptionists are a waste of space and money and lack any social skills. Good for the government in saving ÂŁ600million. Just think how many nurses you could get for ÂŁ600million.......

  • Comment number 41.

    #30 M76UK

    I have to disagree about the quality of the debate on 'The Sun' Page 3 girls.

    First, they referred to the Sun as a newspaper. I beg to differ in terms of definition.

    Secondly, there was so much fence sitting, umming and ahhing and oh no brown nosing, so afraid of nailing any colours to any mast that all three are doubtless still picking the splinters out of their bottoms.

    For what it's worth, as a female whose 'bits' are still in pretty good nick, I think that with all such bits are best kept relatively well covered except in appropriate situations and with appropriate people. I do not think a national 'newspaper' (and I use that term advisedly) is the place.

    But neither do I think Page 3 is the source of all ill in society.

    And I have never minded being wolf whistled - an appreciation of looking nice with all my kit on makes me smile inside.

  • Comment number 42.

    #31 EcoLizzy

    Good link. I want to take such nonsense to my MP and my GP.

    I dislike use of personal anecdote in such a place as this, but there is every chance that my 19 year old son could have died of peritonitis had it not been for a face to face approach to GP via receptionist.

    In the previous 24 hours he had been failed miserably by a pharmacist and NHS 24.

  • Comment number 43.

    My ditty of #7 should read as follows:

    Whoever's cooked up in the first place the trap
    Which seems nothing but a stupid 'huge' crap
    Was it a tart or was it a f...?
    And why are so many helping at that?

    It was a rather unfortuate typo.

  • Comment number 44.

    Addendum to 42

    I suspect much money could be saved in other ways by the NHS.

    Take 19 year old's week in hospital.
    - Their delay in getting him to surgery resulted in 6 days in hospital instead of 24 hours
    - The volumes of food wasted because he was encouraged to order food he was never going to be able to consume. ON ward of 4 adults, over 6 days each ordered three meals a day of which I saw about three meals actually consumed properly. Just do the sums for every ward in every hospital.
    - The drugs he was issued with on discharge were virtually all thrown away (returned to my GP for disposal) as they were given 'just in case'. This included one pain killer (Tramadol) that caused such vile hallucinations we renamed it Tripadol. We told the hospital he would never take any of them again but still issued with several packets.
    - Turning the heating down 1 deg would still mean the over heated bug loving wards.


    I am sure that some non urgent, follow up appointments could be handled without people involved but surely we need more people in work, not more automation.

  • Comment number 45.

    I do know, tablation, you’re into simulation
    Resulting, I should imagine, in mutilation,
    Leading eventually to loss of your legs.
    Funny’s the song of talented Sir Harris
    About the peg who three of them had.
    It must have been difficult to walk on them in Paris.

  • Comment number 46.

    Mistress76uk

    I did find several websites on the internet under the name of Mistress76uk, though one of them had a photo of a blue eyed man with a doggy in his arms which could be, in fact, you, blogger, posting under a stolen identity name.

    Whoever you are in real life, for the benefit of those who like ladies dressed in or adorned by furs, why not check the images of the Polish singer, Violetta Villas? She is really into all that but she also has another side, a most talented one with a really fantastic voice extending across several octaves. She has also written great lyrics and music for some of her songs. On top of all this, she does have, as she sings, tender palms and a tender heart. The song's name is 'A Doll' which I have posted the translation of the other day.

  • Comment number 47.

    It would be good if one you, tonight's presenters, could ask a NATO interviewee, should you be speaking to one, whether they could do anything to stop the 'game'. How about you, Mr Esler? I appreciate you can't ask the man who 'feeds' you, i.e. the ±«Óătv DG, but why not anybody else who you do not depend on?

  • Comment number 48.

    #47 addendum

    I am not joking, Mr Esler, otherwise you will all be considered as accomplices in the most vile of sexual crimes. Should you be worried about me, I am not scared if whoever is responsible for the 'game' is threatening to finish me off.

    Monika

  • Comment number 49.

    #40 It appears mistress that you have been very unlucky with your Doctors receptionists, over the last 60 years the majority of mine have been excellent. Saved my parents lives on several occasions and even my young son of 19. And what about all those mothers with desparately ill children, a helpful and friendly voice is vital when you think your child has meningitus. All I can say is don't get old, you won't be able to understand yet all the effort it takes to just phone the local dr let alone a call centre, when you're in your eighties or nineties.

    #42 & 44 Yes I'm afraid I'm guilty of mentioning personal things too often! :/ But you must have been talking of my son, at 19 he had exactly the same, yes a long delay for surgery, and many days in hospital exactly as you describe. This son also had a quinsey, quite an unusual illness these days. My drs receptionist phoned the hospital and made arrangements to see the consultant that afternoon, he almost couldn't breath. And he had 4 antibiotics by drip at once, guess what they offered him the next day for lunch, a hard crusted cheese roll. If he hadn't been so ill he'd have screamed.

    Apologies for personal annecdotes, luckily tab isn't around! ; )












  • Comment number 50.

    IN THE LIGHT OF EXPERIENCE

    I use personal experience to validate a personal stance.

    Lizzy: I don't think Tab had any personal experience. He simply observed his own responses, as elicited from his life-form, by stimuli received.

  • Comment number 51.

    mim there are some brilliant therapists around you know....

  • Comment number 52.

    #50

    tab is around, singie, but with him sending the stimuli from tables, cars, pedestrians, almost anybody he sees through the satellites, getting back a repelling reaction of which he doesn't seem to take any notice. He's also able to see through a 'bird's' eyes, 'acting' on it in his usual way. Quite a task it must be for him which is not to going to give him either any satisfaction in the long run nor any happiness, that I can guarantee.

  • Comment number 53.

    #51

    What, you and your mates?

Ìę

±«Óătv iD

±«Óătv navigation

±«Óătv © 2014 The ±«Óătv is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read more.

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.