This is one of those You have to laugh, or you'll cry things. Nadine Dorries MP got rather cross with dear old Michael Portaloo when she watched the most recent episode of my favourite comedy show This Week. She wants to know how he dares speak for her in saying that probably about half of Tory MPs would not vote for the return of the death penalty.

Point 1: "About half wouldn't" necessarily means that about half would, and he didn't place anybody other than himself into either category.

Point 2: The man is HIRED to be a spokesman for the Tory viewpoint. He is doing his job if he elucidates what he thinks that viewpoint is, and he's very careful to point out that others might not agree with him.

So, yes, Nadine is rabidly in favour of the death penalty, and to ram the point home she links approvingly to The Cornerstone Group. They who advocate that you can only be a proper Tory if you worship the family, the faith, and the flag. Not extreme right wing at all. neohippie, you were looking for English Republicans? There they are. Thankfully they are a minority in the Tory party, never mind in the nation as a whole.

At this point you're probably wondering where the irony is, and why I haven't linked to the entry yet...

Well, to get to the entry about how capital punishment is fab and the Cornerstone Group (who think that gays, non-christians and europhiles are less human than they are, and have a long-running campaign to ban video-nasties) are the best thing since sliced bread, you have to scroll past the entry about the horrors of Auschwitz and Berkenau and the solemn quoting of Those that begin by burning books will end by burning men.

Like I said, you have to laugh, or you'd cry.

Right at this moment in time, I am trying to stop myself from trying to reach through the TV screen and kill Jon Gaunt. SHUT UP YOU TWAT!!!!

* aims icon at him *

99% of people who can be arsed voting in a poll in the Murdoch Rag DOES NOT EQUAL 99% of the British public, you fucking misrepresenting arsehole. And Andrew, you should know bloody better than characterising this as a Christian country. YES THERE'S FEAR OUT THERE, JON! YOU'RE CAUSING IT!!!! Bloody Sun "journalists"

Grargh. Best to ignore shit like that. Lets talk about me! I've been quoted all over the place, recently. Not only the lovely innerbrat and my own fiance, but the exalted Unity! Horatio is practically fit to burst!

So, I guess I'd better have some substantive content, hadn't I?

WARNING!! Substantive content follows!

There has been much discussion on Liberal Conspiracy this week about Dave's views on abortion. Even though one of those two articles is written by a member of my own gender, I find it odd that most of the discussion around the subject is conducted by men. I'm not upset by it, I just find it odd. I guess I've been inculcated to think of it as a woman's issue... Never the less, I found that the best article I have seen on this recently - perhaps ever - is written by a man.

George Monbiot's article for the Grauniad (appeared in print Monday) is a searing attack on the establishment's posturing on the issue, and it's only a shame it's Moonbat making the point, because he makes it brilliantly:

Murphy-O'Connor has denounced contraception and abortion many times. That's what he is there for: the primary purpose of most religions is to control women. But while we may disagree with his position, we seldom question either its consistency or its results. It's time we started. The most effective means of preventing the deaths of unborn children is to promote contraception.

[/end substantive content]

YAY QUEEN!

* cough *

Sorry, they used a Queen song on This Week, damn them. Way to get my attention. Heh, and nice ITV crack, Andrew.

* forgives him for the Christian Country thing *

And nice to see that Michael and Diane are still in the Cult of Cable. Not sure they're right about Nick Clegg, though. Lots of Lib Demness in the news recently. I thin k he's doing a lot better than I expected him to...

* grudgingness *

In other news, we watched One of Our Dinosaurs is Missing earlier, which held Shrubby's attention for a while. I love that film. It also made me want to go back to the NHM. Also, I still want Gene Hunt's snakeskin booted babies.

Oh yes, and:

( What I've been journaling about )

Ashes to Ashes: Who'd have thought the old Ray had it in him? Am fast finding this series to be better than its predecessor.
QT: ILU Vince. You rule. And clearly the people of Newcastle agree with me. Also, Alan Duncan is in the wrong party, and Dimbledore skewering Ruth Kelly was wonderous. Was very pleasantly surprised that when the death penalty came up the only speaker in favour was the questioner, and when a guy in the audience said that they shouldn't have hanged Saddam he got a round of applause.
This Week: Peter Hitchens was totally right about the branding of the Tories being soiled, but he was wrong about what they need to do to change that, and he was wrong that it's irreversible.

Didn't see the rest of it. Daughter dramatically worse. Good vibes appreciated.

Via tyrell, though, a .gif that puts everything in perspective:

( cut for your loading pleasure )

ETA: another comforting thing, which the above reminded me of: