Re: [A-List] UK state: Hutton aftermath

["Anyutka" <annewilliamson@xxxxxxx>]

And I was sincere when I wrote that I do appreciate your always enlightening
background on various UK political personalities.  I read The Spectator
because I think the writing is so good, and the economy of the articles for
the density of information offered really unique, but I don't know much of
the history of the authors and so I simply look at the piece as written, a
theme resonates with me and that's it, I am unable to connect the personal
details to the piece which might indicate a self-serving effort, as is
apparently the case with Heffer's article.  Admittedly, I think the
publication has really suffered under Conrad Black's ownership, and the
general confusion of conservatives over here and there (thanks to Black,
neoCONs had influence - they even published Michael Ledeen for heaven's
sake! and a lot of terrible, overwrought crap in support of Bush along with
outstanding criticism of the war and his administration) and I am hoping
very much that they find their legs again with Black out of the picture.
But, then, you aren't inundated with shelves of the unreadable crap US
journalism serves up; honestly, at an airport newstand here despite the
endless shelves of magazines and newspapers I really can't find a damn thing
worth reading that is comfortably portable.  But with the perfect-sized
Spectator, I've always got something engaging to read that I can roll up and
stash in my pocket, if necessary.  -A.

----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Keaney" <michael.keaney@xxxxxx>
To: "The A-List" <a-list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, February 13, 2004 4:59 AM
Subject: Re: [A-List] UK state: Hutton aftermath


> Anne writes:
>
>
> Well, I guess that sets me straight:-).
>
> ------
>
> Please don't get me wrong -- my vitriol is reserved solely for the likes
of
> Heffer and other poseurs who would don the mantle of democracy only to
usher
> us back to a non-existent golden age when only those fit to govern
actually
> did govern. Heffer is simply lamenting the passing of a time when his
class
> fraction was part of the hegemonic bloc. He is absolutely right to
identify
> a cross-party convergence away from his political agenda, and that mainly
> concerns the unwritten subtext to his pathetic rant -- Europe. Major,
> despite being a Conservative and Margaret's anointed successor, betrayed
the
> hopes of Heffer and other punk Thatcherites when he continued the process
of
> European integration that Thatcher herself had given such a fillip, by
> signing the Single European Act. His rehabilitation of the dastardly
Michael
> Heseltine was the icing on the cake, since it was Heseltine who triggered
> the downfall of Thatch -- apart from Geoffrey Howe and Nigel Lawson that
is.
> It was the likes of Heffer who spent a full five year parliamentary term
> undermining Major that paved the way for the Blair landslide of 1997,
which
> accelerated the process that Heffer abhors. To add insult to injury,
Blair's
> team is full of people whose blood is rather less than blue, and whose
> fingernails may once have possessed some dirt and grime. Or who, like
> Heseltine before them, actually bought their own furniture.
>
> The effrontery!
>
> Bring back hanging,
>
> Michael
>
>