21st REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen
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Then & NowDATE: 09 November 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
I still buy the Daily Mail nearly every day [see replies 18-20] and consider it to be 1 of the best papers in the market place. However I do agree with the 18th reply that that headline by the paper was over the top, very similar to my views on Mr Trump's outbursts in the American presidential election campaign. Nevertheless despite the extreme language there is definitely a feeling by many, including myself, and not just UKIP, that some of those who supported Remain are hoping to welch on the Referendum result through amending proposals. The main problem would seem to be that David Cameron did not lay down that the Referendum result should be binding on Parliament but only advisory, laying the door open for parliamentary sovereignty to be paramount and a challenge to the prime minister and the rest of the cabinet executive negotiating for the best deal for Britain, even though some of them were in the Remain camp, unlike Kenneth Clarke who says he will not bend to the majority vote but will continue just as before. For myself I continue to refute the views of Stephen Giles and Derek Scudder. I think most Leave supporters, like myself, were not an uneducated mob swayed by lies of some politicians.
22nd REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 09 November 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
It was quite a coincidence that the judges verdict in the High Court regarding the powers of the executive and parliament as a whole came soon after a humorous speech by a past President of the OE Association, David Farrer at the last OE 40 Club lunch. He has been a lawyer for many years both as a barrister, head of a Chambers and as a judge (recorder ). He said that the way so much of the European legislation and related was framed would mean work for his lawyer chums for many months and indeed years to come. Many a true word is spoken in jest.
23rd REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 12 November 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
This week's Moral Maze on channel 4, a programme which discusses moral dilemmas, was centred on whether papers and people generally should make combatitive assertions with extreme language such as calling judges traitors and losers on the losing side [see reply 18 onwards] and calling the winners in e.g the British referendum and the US President's Election uneducated morons. Though some made a case for the former as being allowable press freedom there was disapproval by all in regard to the latter practice. After all, how many of the millions may be desribed as ill-informed uneducated morons compared with the number who really have weighed up the issues and voted accordingly?
Then & NowDATE: 12 November 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Inmate 1956-63
[Re reply 18 onwards], let us not forget that the Daily Mail has long been a strident voice of the far right, from its support for Hitler ("a man of culture") and Mosley and his fascist blackshirts in the 1930s ("HURRAH FOR THE BLACKSHIRTS! The Blackshirts proclaim a fact which politicians will never face - that the new age requires new methods and new men") through its condemnation of the trade unions and particularly the miners in the 1980s, right up to today and their dismissal of our judges as "Enemies of the People ... Whingeing. Contemptuous. Unpatriotic. Damn the Bremoaners and their plot to subvert the will of the British people." No wonder George Orwell was driven to write of the paper: "Its ugliness is part of its essence, for what it is saying is 'Yes, I am ugly, and you daren't laugh at me', like the bully who makes faces at his victim".
DATE: 16 November 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1957-64
The police officer to whom I referred in my earlier post was dead right about the Daily Mail. It really is a awful paper. I see it is in trouble again for inciting hatred against immigrants: so much so that it has been deported from LEGOLAND. If only we had the same powers. On the subject of who voted leave in the referendum, they were a peculiar mixture of people, with a peculiar mixture of reasons. Mostly they were opposed to immigration, with not a thought as to the possible economic consequences. But they were also often very confused. The interviews in the days after the result was declared were quite revealing. They included one person who thought leaving the EU was a good idea because it meant we could get rid of the muslims. Another had the mind boggling notion that he was pleased because we could get back to the good old days of the 1970s before we joined. Unfortunately the remain campaign was shockingly badly run and the lies of the leave campaign carried more weight. What is also being revealed as shocking is the fact that the leave side have little idea what to do and don't even know what they have voted for. The fatuous comment by Theresa May that 'Brexit means Brexit' would have some meaning if she would explain what Brexit is. She plainly hasn't got a clue.
26th REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 18 November 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
Despite the opinions expressed here by others I continue to enjoy reading the Daily Mail and am delighted by what an excellent paper it is. The crosswords and daily puzzles are excellent. The conveying of the facts in relation to politics, sports, medicine, the arts including TV, finance and general news is excellent. The Saturday 'Whats On' guide is easily one of the best on the market and of course cheaper than either the Radio Times or TV Times, its main competitors. The features writers such as Mr Utley, Amanda Platell, Sarah Vine, Stephen Glover, Quentin Letts and Ephraim Hardcastle are brilliant in their comments. Christopher Stevens is a very good TV critic. I speak only of the years I have been reading the papers. I was not of course reading the paper in the days of the Blackshirts and Hitler but neither was Martyn, my contemporary at school. If facts are stated in regard to people there is usually opportunity to get the other person's rebuttal or attempt to rebut such as with claims about Baroness Scotland's so called excessive expenditure at the Commonwealth Office. Other papers are not immune from peddling a particular line. The Sun re Hillsborough is one example of this. In regard to the editorial political opinions of the Daily Mail I have noticed over the years it is not a subservient slave of Conservative governments but often in fact challenges Conservative government ministers views and policies in an open handed manner. Additionally Quentin Letts, the parliamentary commentator as well as now being theatre critic, does not hold back when talking about individuals' characteristics and foibles, as he also does not on Andrew Neal's This Week BBC programme on Thursday nights. It will still be a great newspaper whatever the status of its political editorials but I think this open handed attitude enhances the position of its being a great newspaper rather than taking away from it. In the eyes of some members of the public I do believe it has an unfair reputation and I am often sick of people saying the Daily Mail would say this when in fact it wouldn't. We Daily Mail readers often get unjustified abuse. Nevertheless I personally do have broad shoulders in respect of criticism and can take it in my stride without getting over upset.
27th REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 18 November 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
In regard to recent political developments, I enjoyed listening to Ed Balls on Radio 4's Today programme today, talking mostly about the UK and USA Central Banks policies and position. When asked in connection with his Strictly Come Dancing progress, if someone had a treble vote on Brexit happening, Donald Trump becoming President and Ed Balls winning Strictly what should the punter do? He said if you had such a bet cash it in now. Of course some Leicester City soccer supporters with a bet for them to take the Premiership last season did cash their bet in but those who didn't were even more rewarded. All this reminded me about the old joke of the person who knew the Pope was about to die and urged someone to bet on it. When seen later and asked whether he had cashed in, he said "No. I had a double on the Archbishop of Canterbury."
28th REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 01 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
The judges have now voted off Ed Balls from Strictly. This was inevitable once he was in the dance off. I fear that Robert ("Judge") Rinder O.E., who was the other one in the dance off, may be the next to go unless he pulls a really excellent performance off surpassing the others. Ed Balls was right about cashing in any bets and accumulators on him. I understand his wife Yvette Cooper (no taking of the surname Balls by her) and Jeremy Vine were vocal in urging him to enter the contest in the first place. I for one would like to see Yvette as a competitor too but unlikely is this to happen as a serving politician and Chair of the Home Affairs committee. In the meantime Ed's performance with his partner provided great pleasure for many, including myself. He rightly received congratulations from our ex-PM Mr Cameron and the ex-chancellor Mr Osborne.
29th REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 05 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
BBC's Question Time at the various locations continues to major on the Brexit decision for most of the programme and of course we have not yet started the official leaving process, due to begin next Spring, if Theresa May's promise to do so remains correct. There is much I might say,including comments on the views expressed in this thread but I certainly do not want to monopolise the conversation. Certainly it all remains very uncertain as to what will finally be negotiated, of course, but I do like David Davis's approach to things. Yet another great subject of uncertainty is what actual policies Donald Trump will pursue, when he becomes US President, as against the rhetoric of the campaign, provided he is not assassinated (Heaven forbid!). He has received a lot of criticism on many fronts but I am one of those late night TV watchers, who has often watched The Apprentice USA. I have always liked his attitude to the lady as well as male competitors and have liked the way he consults his family members, including his daughter Ivanka, in regard to the final decisions who to eliminate after the team tasks.
DATE: 12 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1948-1953
I have been reading Brexit: What the Hell Happens Now? by Ian Dunt. He quotes a conclusion of Lord Ashcroft, polling opinion after the Referendum in a report Well, You Did Ask:Above all, whatever was printed on the ballot paper, the question large numbers of voters heard, and the reply they gave, was nothing much to do with the European Union. People tried to wrestle with such facts as were available. But ultimately, the question many saw was: 'Are you happy with the way things are going and the way they seem to be going?'. And the answer was: 'Well, since you ask . . . No'.My reaction to the analysis of what is ahead, which Ian Dunt presents, is another quote. Oliver Hardy to Stan Laurel: "Another fine mess you've got us into."
31st REPLY
NAME: James (Jas) Cowen Then & NowDATE: 21 December 2016
CONNECTION WITH QE: pupil 56-63
The book or pamphlet by Ian Dunt, Alan, sounds interesting but I hope in the final developments we won't really be in too much of a mess in economic terms. I do not believe it will remain as a fine mess but I understand that some would be happy to lose out economically even in order to regain a more independent sovereignty. In regard to the EU I remember the days when De Gaulle was adamantly opposed to GB's joining, as to us not being truly compatible with the aims of France and Germany and I think maybe he was right all along. An earlier example is of our opting out of the euro and retaining our own currency. Talking of another "fine mess you've got me into" I feel a bit for Boris (Alexander Boris de Peffel Johnson PC MP) who has been thrust in the role of Foreign Secretary but told not to make statements against our ally Saudi Arabia. ("This is not government policy"). I appreciate this is not the first time he has had to talk his way out of one fine mess or another. I shall continue to refer to him as Boris against others saying he needs to be addressed as something other such as Foreign Secretary. He himself is happy with this position, as per recent interviews.
DATE: 11 July 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: inmate 1957-64
The funnier side of political jibberish!! "I want to be absolutely clear and more crucially,crucial". May crucially may be more or less crucial in June, but May may not be PM for all of July!!! Is that clear?