[sunday roundup] around the blogs

Chris Dillow argues on political parties and their necessity:

1. They restrict debate. Parties reduce our political choices to a tiny range of (similar) options.
2. They debase debate.
3. They perpetuate the myth that hierarchy is the only feasible organizational form
He concludes: I reckon these bads outweigh any external benefits.

Clive Davis has an endearing piece on Brian Vine:

Straight out of a Waugh novel... The Telegraph's obituary of Fleet Street irregular, Brian Vine:
A rotund, Wodehousian figure with a booming voice and rubicund complexion, "Vino", as Vine was known to his colleagues, wore Savile Row suits, sported a monocle ("for opthalmic reasons", though the glass was obviously plain) and conveyed the general impression of being an escapee from the dustier benches of the Upper House...

Cllr Gavin Ayling states what many believe:

Jeremy Clarkson makes the licence fee worth complaining about less. He regular says “Due to the unique way the BBC is funded…” which is enough for me: I’m already laughing without knowing which punchline or reason for his outburst.

Iain Dale has his usual blockbuster about Tony Blair [and it’s not for me here to spoil it]:

Mr Blair joined Rebekah Wade, editor of The Sun and a close friend of [Matthew] Freud, for a cosy supper at Cecconi's restaurant in Mayfair. Seems there was far more than met the eye.

Devil’s Kitchen has a proposal for fellow bloggers:

Following Tom Paine's comment, I suddenly thought that a weekly Swearblogger Roundup might be quite fun. Perhaps do it on a Saturday evening to get a link from the Britblog Roundup?

Dymphna’s partner, the Baron, on their very slow loading blog, says:

Russia is the most reliable partner of the Islamic world and most faithful defender of its interests, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in Chechnya’s capital Grozny.

Johnathan Pearce writes of Iain Dale’s 18 Doughty Street:

I wish these guys all the very best of luck in breaking the lock of the mainstream media on broadcast television in Britain and political coverage in particular. I am not sure if this outfit is going to feature a lot in my viewing habits, though.

Melanie Phillips, in her peerless manner, cuts to the chase:

lan Dershowitz and others have recently suggested that Iran should be ejected from the United Nations. This seems to me to be the wrong way round. All civilised countries should now eject themselves from the UN.

Minette Marrin’s post is now a little old but she says:

It is often said that the more you learn about something, the more right wing you come to feel about it. That may not always be so but it seems to be true of the monarchy, judging from Stephen Frears’s dazzling new film about the Queen.

Mr Eugenides exposes the access for money scandal:

Exclusive access to Cabinet ministers and other senior Labour politicans is being offered for thousands of pounds at next week’s party conference.

Norman Geras, as usual, is right on the pulse of the nation with:

So while I wouldn't care to say which is the best album ever recorded by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, the one I'd take to a desert island is Moanin'. Norman, in this blogger’s humble opinion, has life’s priorities all sorted out.

Oliver Kamm this week got into John Pilger:

Yet Pilger’s documentaries are full of falsehoods. They operate by misdirection, simultaneously denouncing one form of injustice while ignoring or denying others.

The Pedant-General is in rip-roaring form just now:

Blears on the party of Government wanting to dip its hands into the pot specifically marked for funding of opposition parties: it’s what the people want [or some such]. His reaction is predictable and unmissable.

Reactionary Snob gets down to the seamier side of the government and I warn you – you need a strong stomach for this:

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse (see the Devil's Carnival of Hazel kicking) it turns out the Labour Cabinet intend to pimp themselves for a few more pennies.

Serf has his Open Letter to John Reid, of course:

We downtrodden Serfs, are watching with trepidation as members of her majesty’s Government are meeting with their counterparts in Brussels. It is being reported that our government, will be asked to give up veto power over issues of justice.

Tim Worstall gives a very long list of quangoes and asks:

So, which ones should we simply abolish? Arts Council, Equality Commission, Department of Trade and Industry, Regional Assemblies (which aren't necessarily on this list), sure we know they have to go.

Vox is not doing so much posting of late and refers to the NFL:

I was speaking to a publisher this week when I learned the funniest news I've heard in a long time. It seems a certain NFL star will soon be publishing a children's book, one dedicated to the worthwhile topic of teaching children how to share.

All the others are either away, not posting or celebrating Jewish New Year. Have a pleasant Sunday, go to it rightly and may scallops rock your tadger.

Late note: Stephen Pollard's back and is writing about Dalrymple's critique of Gove:

Dalrymple also shows that he doesn't even get the very basis of his attack on Gove right: None of this would matter if Gove were still ring-fenced within his op-ed-page padded cell; horrifyingly, however, he now sits in the Conservative shadow cabinet... Would that he did. Michael Gove is shadow Housing Spokesman.