Posted on 02/15/2005 1:31:56 PM PST by quidnunc
Unlike their American peers, British bloggers are yet to take a major political scalp, but there are signs that the growing community of amateur online pundits is becoming an influential force.
Eason Jordan, the chief news executive of the American television channel, CNN, resigned last week following intense blog pressure after he had made remarks about US troops in Iraq killing journalists.
A study of British political blogs carried out by the Hansard Society last year criticised the UKs main sites for pandering to "internet connoisseurs rather than ordinary members of the public".
"Political blogging in the UK is much more embryonic and exclusive than in the US," said Ross Ferguson, the new media manager at the Hansard Society.
"UK bloggers have yet to decide whether blogging is a means to promote transparency in politics or another tool for party campaigning."
In contrast, American bloggers have latched on to deeply emotive issues.
Mr Jordan's professional demise follows that of Dan Rather, the veteran CBS news presenter, who came under attack after levelling accusations over President George W Bush's military service. The subsequent probe by the channel, triggered by blog reports, led to the departure of four high-level executives from the network.
-snip-
(Excerpt) Read more at business.timesonline.co.uk ...
If there is to be any meeting of the minds it must be based upon each side having a clear understanding of the other.
But I'm afraid American conservatives have a starry-eyed vision of Britons these days.
The stiff-upper-lip mindset of Dunkirk and The Blitz appears to me to have gone the way of the wooly mammoth and the dodo bird.
So I am engaged in an endeavor to inform as many Americans as possible the degree to which our British conservatives are or aren't our ideological soulmates.
Sad to say, the answer seems to mostly be "aren't".
I attempted to bring some degree of understanding to Brits on ST, but they weren't having any of it.
When I observe Brits howling like turpentines dogs over criticism of of their country, Shakespeare's line from Hamlet namely, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." comes to mind.
It is blatantly obvious to anyone reading this thread that you are carrying a grudge you obtained on one site and transformed it into a one man campaign against Britain as a whole.
I don't know where to begin in expressing my disgust at this. If you have problems with someone on one site, then criticism of that one site is perfectly just. Turning into a personal vendetta against the whole United Kingdom just makes you look petty, spiteful and vindictive.
Ivan
Your criticism is duly noted and filed away in an appropriate place.
My observations confirmed by some people from other parts of the commonwealth, by the way has left me with the inescapable conclusion that too may Brits are completely blind to the pathologies afoot in your society.
Furthermore, it is my conclusion that Britain has become an emotionally-hinged nation where anti-social behavior is becoming the norm.
How convenient for you to come to this observation, since it serves your vendetta so well.
Furthermore, it is my conclusion that Britain has become an emotionally-hinged nation where anti-social behavior is becoming the norm.
Again, how convenient for you. It's clear from your running battles with this thread that you're carrying on a battle from another site onto here. It's difficult to see how you could be considered a fair, impartial or unbiased observer. Frankly, you're anything but - you got irritated and decided to vomit forth your irritation on another board, in the hopes you could recruit others in your personal vendetta.
Is this justice? Is this honour? Obviously not. But do keep talking - the next time you go on about Britain, this thread will provide the proper context: that of a bitter, twisted person who obviously has a "burr under their saddle" and as such, whose postings should be taken with a good tonne of salt.
Ivan
Bump
Squidnuts is a touch heavy handed and opinionated, while jayjay is quite out of touch with Americans having stayed too long in NYC and both MadIvan and Sterling Times have exceptionally strange ideas about what a conservative is all about.
So, as an objective observer of the liberal persuasion I will assure y'all that Winston Churchill was more like President Bush than FDR and that Dame Maggie more like Harry Truman than RReagan and how Tony Blair ever was able to smile while in the presence of Bill Clinton is only evidence of his great skill as a politician and gentleman.
In other words trying to compare British and American Conservatives is akin to comparing United Way to CitiBank.
it's been quite some time, harrowup.
And to be honest, I'd rather read quid's torpedoes than the "I agree, BTTT" crap which most of the Stepford Freepers seem to spew out each day.
It is getting harder and harder for me to flame him because I find myself agreeing with him more than 50% of the time.
There's no justification for you getting downright insulting.
It is getting harder and harder for me to flame him because I find myself agreeing with him more than 50% of the time.
Did it ever occur to you that some American conservatism has rubbed off ou you?
Crap; my invitation to your marriage must have been lost in the fire...
Mellowed?
If this is the mellowed version he must have been a real bigot before.
Unfairly?
What would be the reaction if someone had run a similar anti-American campaign on this forum?
Would they have still been here?
Talk about being damned by faint praise! Maybe I am trying to kill you with kindness.
Subject ot Citizen?
Cousins, I think you misunderatand the status of "subject", and imagine it to be in some way inferior to that of "citizen".
To be a subject of the British Crown is to be a person possessed of inalienable rights guaranteed by Common Law and the Bill of Rights. To be a "citizen" is to be one whose rights are the subject of a contract between government and governed.
It has generally been the view (here!) that to be a British Subject is far the best gift that a generous providence may bestow upon a man!
lol
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