[Pokey78]

[dfwgator]

an argument that would be more persuasive if so many of the trouble spots currently requiring America's attention weren't assisted on their path to chronic dysfunctionalism by the wise old birds of British imperialism (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Sudan).

Bears repeating.

[Unam Sanctam]

Now turn to Britain. What does "conservative" mean? There's no religious Right or pro-life groups, not much social conservatism at all, and, if there was, the Tory leadership would recoil from it lest they offend shortlisted gay candidates with safe seats.

Oh for the days of Margaret Thatcher. Her law that government should not promote homosexual activity made perfect sense and was eminently reasonable and objective. The government should be neutral on that topic. A pity is was repealed.

[Janan Ganesh]

Mark Steyn is the geezer. His columns should be syndicated on every publication in the English-speaking world.

[Dog Gone]

The Tories are a bunch of wankers. It's difficult to find many sane "conservative" parties in European politics anymore. I still have hope for the Christian Democrats in Germany, but just consider that Jacques Chirac represents what passes for the "conservative" party in France.

[independentmind]

So were various self-important Brits, on the grounds that the blundering Yanks just don't understand the natives the way we old colonial hands do - an argument that would be more persuasive if so many of the trouble spots currently requiring America's attention weren't assisted on their path to chronic dysfunctionalism by the wise old birds of British imperialism (Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Palestine, Sudan).

Yes, I've noticed that.

[Samwise]

I don't care if he doesn't care if he doesn't know that he doesn't care if he won't see him.

[UnklGene]

But, despite the lively account in the Sun, I very much doubt Karl Rove told Michael Howard: "You can forget about meeting the President full stop." More likely he told him: "You can forget about meeting the President, period."

Pokey, I just finished Lynn Truss's "Eats, Shoots and Leaves" about punctuation. I wouldn't have got this play on words without the read. Thanks again!

[Malesherbes]

I've just read a positive review of Steyn's new book, "From Head to Toe." It points out that he is published in the Atlantic, Spectator, National Review, New York Sun, Irish Times, Washington Times, Western Standard (Canada), the New Criterion, and Wall Street Journal, etc. The guy is (1) amazing, (2) on our side, and (3) his hobby is dog sledding.

[Cuttnhorse]

Ping for mañana

[nothingnew]

I'm not saying he thinks Howard's an unprincipled squish who reads the polls and does a U-turn just so he can join the pointless oppositionism of the Blair-bashing stampede but, if you were Bush, would you want to risk it?

Thanks for the ping Pokey. A day without a FULL Steyn is a day without sardonic laughter.

FMCDH(BITS)

[goldstategop]

New Labour has its loony Left but I hazard a guess the Blair Labourites would have no trouble finding a home in the U.S Republican Party. I just don't see Brits voting for the loonier Democrats, a splinter Lefty faction of Labour or for the In Name Only Tories.

[Ruth A.]

Could I not bump a Steyn post. Hah!

[Deb]

The Tories so botched the Iraq war as an issue, it will be decades before they see another majority. So, so stupid. I couldn't believe what I was seeing during Prime Minister's Questions every week.

William Hague was England's only chance.

[maica]

I have heard that the Tories are dead in the UK, but Steyn, as usual, explains why. What a teacher he is.

BTW, Freepers picked up on "wankers" several years ago, but I cannot remember the context in which it came to fame here. Do you remember?

[RonDog]

From www.nzherald.co.nz:

Michael Howard

White House bans British Opposition leader

30.08.2004

LONDON - British Conservative leader Michael Howard has accused President George W. Bush of trying to protect British Prime Minister Tony Blair in an extraordinary row sparked by news that the Tory leader has been banned from the White House...

[BlueLancer]

"Among the alternative names that Tory modernisers are floating in private are the Democrats, the New Democrats, Progress."

How about "The Standining-in-the-Back-Dressed-Funny-and-Looking-Stupid-Party"?

[SquirrelKing]

BTTT. Thanks, Poke!

[knighthawk]

Ping

[shield]

Mark hits it out of the park again.