http://www.blueidea.co.uk A Conservative-supporting thinking blog. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 08:45:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en This time last year, I wrote a post entitled "eight wishes for 2008". Let's see how I did... 1. To get a permanent job. I achieved this in April. 2. For the Conservatives to consistently poll above 45%. Unfortunately a goal not quite reached. But they still polled consistently above 40% throughout the year. ... http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/eight-for-2008-redux.html Religion now has a new battleground: politics. I've posted before on the battle of the churches being undertaken in the media, and now it appears to have moved into a new politics. First, five Church of England Bishops attack Gordon Brown and his policies for being immoral and now Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, ... http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/battle-of-the-churches-moves-into-politics.html William Hague is trying to justify his role as a part-time Shadow Foreign Secretary by claiming that having outside interests makes him a better politician: You can gain in your effectiveness as a politician from a wide acquaintance with the world and from a degree of independence that having some outside ... http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/being-a-part-time-politician-is-not-a-good-thing.html Now colour me surprised, as researchers have found out in a study that "health campaigns warning of the dangers of alcohol are being ignored by many young people". Fuck me, they paid people to repeat the blindingly obvious - that could have been got for free right here on this ... http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/anti-alcohol-campaigns-ignored-by-yoofs.html When Cameron considers reshuffling his Shadow Cabinet for 2009, there is more than the one question Iain Dale suggests that Cameon should ask. Who will dedicate themselves to their role? Who would Labour least like to be in the Shadow Cabinet? Who would be effective in each position? Who would be able to perform ... http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/camerons-2009-reshuffle.html The Independent on Sunday had a piece on political advertising, and asked advertising agencies to develop posters that could be used by the main parties in an election. The Conservatives got by far the best posters, with both of the ones developed for Labour being really rather weak. One depicted Cameron ... http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/political-advertising.html The UN, Blair, and Sarkozy have failed miserably to broker peace in the Middle East, as Israel has declared all-out war on Hamas, which they will continue "to the bitter end", which will be "widened and deepened as needed". So basically there will be no end to it. Ever. I don't ... http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/all-out-war-to-the-bitter-end.html He's not starring in it though; he's the butt of the panto joke: In the Birmingham Hippodrome’s version of Robin Hood, Maid Marion praises Robin for robbing the rich and giving to the poor. To which the Sheriff of Nottingham replies: “You’re a proper little David Cameron, aren’t you? I prefer ... http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/gordon-brown-panto-joke.html It's official: Christmas is over. I'm back at work. Boo. But at least I'm only back for a few days before New Year's Day and the first weekend of 2009. http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/back-to-work.html Is age-rating the internet: a) impossible, b) impractical. c) pointless, d) censorship, or e) all of the above. The correct answer is of course option (e). Maybe someone should inform Andy Burnham. Image: Beau Bo D'Or http://www.blueidea.co.uk/2008/12/rating-teh-internets.html