Bush was right

Over at BULS Brigid Jones, the society’s secretary, has been updating her MP3 Player while writing a piece about Bush Music. Below is a song that I would like to recommend her to downloaded for her MP3 Player…Teehe! :-P

BUCF on Twitter

Gordon Brown’s debt.

Shaping Birmingham’s Transport

From top left: Gregory Yates, Sahar Rezazadeh, Pav Dhande and Mohammad Bilal. Members of the steering group. Photography by David Warren.

Young people use public transport most frequently which means that they rely on the city’s transport system on a daily basis, either to get to school, university or even work. ‘Shaping Birmingham’s Transport’ is a project that aims to get the voices of young people in the city heard by decision-makers and heads of transport. In doing so, we hope to improve public transport services in our city particularly so that they better cater for young people. Initiated in February 2008 by Pav Dhande and Mohammad Bilal, students and local activists, our motivation to improve one of the most important structures of a city has only escalated. Our personal concerns for our world class city and its transport system led us to become deeply encouraged to lead on this with support from Birmingham City Council.

This month, I formally launched the project’s competition which aims to engage other young people from across the city in the project as well as gather ideas and inspiration from them for the future of Birmingham. So I’d like to encourage you all to take part in this competition and have your voice heard about the future of transport in your city by important decision-makers! The Winning Entry will win free bus passes and bicycles for each member of the group!!!

As well as the opportunity to get involved with our project through the competition, you can also join us this April at the Council House where you will have the chance to speak to those in charge of Birmingham’s transport system. The summit promises to be a fantastic day for us to make our mark and have our voices heard. There will be some BIG decision makers present including Councilors most notably Cllr Len Gregory (Cabinet Member for Transportation, Birmingham City Council) , Stephen Rhodes (Director of Bus and Highways, CENTRO) and Martin Hancock (Commercial Director – Bus and Coach, National Express).

So what do the steering group have to say?

“The project really has been a superb experience so far; in our group alone, we have: someone who relies on trains daily to get to school; both on-road and off-road cyclists; someone who categorically refuses to use public transport and someone who was completely oblivious to Birmingham’s Metro system! These are just six individuals though, serving as just a snapshot of how Birmingham’s transport network is utilised.”- Pav Dhande.

“If we want to compete in the tourism industry we must ensure that our transport system is top notch and that means that image is as important as efficiency. Our public transport needs to be appealing too so cleanliness, design, safety should all be on the agenda.”- Sahar Rezazadeh.

Thankfully, it’s not just our views that matter, yours do too so we want to hear from you!

For more information I urge you to visit our website and you can join our Facebook group too.

A bit of fun amidst the credit crunch!

On Thursday London’s Liverpool Street Station unexpectedly came to a standstill of sorts when a vast selection of music and dancing suddenly gripped the concourse. Most passengers were completely unaware this was going to happen and after two minutes of ‘movin and groovin’ (to quote my housemate who was there at the time) the station returned to normal. All in all its good to see in the midst of such doom and gloom the capital could take a minute or two out of everyday life to have a bit of fun!

The Playlist:
1)Lulu – Shout
2)Yazz – The only way is up
3)Pussycat Dolls – Don’t cha
4)Viennese Waltz
5)Kool & the Gang
6)Rainbow – Since you’ve been gone
7)Millie Small – My Boy Lollipop
8)Contours – Do you love me

You call this a Victory!?!

Many, including members of my own family, have questioned why I support Israel so wholeheartedly in recent weeks, but never have been more sure of my support for them than today. The arrogant and abhorrent leadership of Hamas have come out from their ratholes revelling in what they term Israels ‘defeat’ and their ‘victory’. Only such a wicked and barbaric organisation like Hamas could possibly see the death and destruction all around them and proclaim it a victory!

I have heard no such arrogance from Israel. They went in to Gaza to neutralise Hamas, an organisation which refuses to recognise their right to exist and wishes only to inflict murder and terror on their people. When their objective was complete they left. They had no desire to occupy Gaza. No desire to kill its population. Their only desire was to eliminate what is nothing more than a terrorist organisation bent not on peace but war with Israel.

Hamas, as I have mentioned before, delight in the death and destruction of Gaza and its people because it furthers their cause. That is the victory they speak of. They poked the lion and it responded and inflicted massive carnage on the region. However this situation is not a numbers game, the number of deaths and casulties inflicted does not represent ‘the right and wrong’ as many crudely assume. It is the intentions that matter. Israels intention is to protect her people from over 7 years of sustained rockets attacks, numbering thousands, that are intended to kill maim and destory, not its military, but its people and their homes.

However many have died in these rocket attacks is frankly irrelevant. Each one had the potential, and the militants desire, to kill Israeli civilians. 80% of the deaths in Gaza over the last few weeks have been militants which considering the scale of the offesnive is impressive. The militants they killed are the scum of the earth who, given the chance, would have done far worse to the Israelis. That is what we have to keep in mind. Of course the death of civilians is tragic and regrettable. Im sure noone more than the Israelis recognises this having suffered from it for so long. But it is inevitable when your enemy, rather than come out and fight, hides deep within civilian quaters using them as shields to cover their cowardice.  

Im sure many of you will ignore what ive said. Most people just look at the Biased Broadcasting Corporations version of events without using their own initiative and imagination. The media get off on stories like this. Bland stories don’t catch viewers or sell papers. Of course they have to ‘jazz’ it up a bit for the viewers but I ask you to look at the facts not the fiction. Hamas are the wreckers in our midst. Not Israel. They willfully kill civilians not Israel and they want war not Israel.

BREAKING NEWS

Senator Edward Kennedy has collapsed at a lunch for President Barack Obama. Veteran Senator Robert Byrd was also taken ill.

President Barack Obama

Barack Obama has been sworn in as the 44th President of the United States. Despite a rather questionable oath of office the ceremony was enjoyable and showed democracy at its best. On a side note when Aretha Franklin stepped up and sang ‘My Country Tis Of Thee’ I couldn’t help but recognise how similar it is to our own anthem ‘God Save the Queen’, perhaps you will have to judge for yourself…

My Two Cents

 

Today marks a big change for America, and for the world, as George W Bush leaves office and Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the USA. 

It’s been no secret that over the last 6 months I have been one of the few, and one of the most vocal members of the BUCF committee that supported Obama over McCain during the presidential race. I might be a member of the Conservative party, but I am not, and never have been, a Republican and found McCain-Palin’s policies on domestic, social and foreign issues to be at conflict to what I believe. 
So as D O’D said recently, today I must be jumping for joy.

And yes, I suppose I am. I am overjoyed at the end of some of the worst years America has seen. One of the most unpopular Presidents and indeed administrations that the US has seen in its history has come to an end, and in has swept a charismatic young President who promises the hope and change that most of America (who, we shouldn’t forget, lie far more left than the two parties who represent them do) has been craving.

So we don’t have to worry about Roe vs. Wade being overturned any time soon. We can look forward to the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, a war which has been unpopular and unjustified since it’s beginning. And we can wait with bated breath for the liberalisation of certain social issues and perhaps a change in stance from America towards the atrocities currently going on in Gaza.

But I firmly believe while we can hope these things, we have to be cautious and realistic. Yes, Obama will be a far better and more popular president for America than McCain would, and most of the world is waiting with bated breath to see what an Obama administration will bring. (hence Israel ticking things off their ‘fuck it’ list in the last dying days of the Bush administration by throwing all they’ve got at Gaza while Bush turns a blind eye..) But we must be prepared for things to not be as rosy as we hope. 

Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel is a good indicator. He has expressed support of Bush’s position on Iraq. At a 2003 pro-Israel rally, Emanual told marchers that ‘Israel was ready for peace but would not get there until Palestinians turn away from the path of terror’.

Obama’s appointment of Hilary Clinton as his Secretary of State, who has stated she is “an emphatic, unwavering supporter of Israel’s safety and security” is another indication as to how an Obama administration will view International issues. She also voted in favour of the Iraq War Resolution in 2002 to give George Bush authority to invade Iraq. 

Though we can welcome Obama’s Presidency with open arms, with Proposition 8 being passed on the same day as his election victory and being one of the most ridiculous and disgusting pieces of legislature that has been passed in a long time in my opinion, and his choice of administration staff (who’s controversy is not limited to just the two I’ve mentioned here), we can hope for change but we should do so with open eyes.

Bye Bye Bush

George W Bush, the 43rd President of the United States is taking his final bow, but the question on everyones minds is how will history judge Dubya? Many of you will have already made up your minds and no doubt feel it will judge him badly. Depending on your vantage point, what you define as ’success’  may mean something wholly different. The details of Bush and his legacy will be debated for decades to come but among the many uncertainties, one thing is certain – you can’t judge history in the midst of it. Declaring Bush “the worst” president while he’s still in office is an effort in rhetorical futility. Historians know this all too well.

The best prediction one can make was summed up by presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin on “Meet the Press” who claimed: “If Iraq became the model democracy or even just a democracy, and in doing so changed the whole complexion of the Middle East, then obviously that would be the legacy that would justify what Bush did and what our troops did.” And that’s exactly what Mr. Bush is banking on. That is what I believe will occur.

The fact remains, whether we like it or not, 8 years ago the world changed forever with the attacks of 9/11 and the paradigms of the Presidency of George W Bush and international relations as a whole were redefined in ways that will long out live his tenure and ways in which we might not have desired. Bush took tough decisions but, in the end, I believe right ones. For taking these tough decisions it is popular nowadays to trash him: the French do it, the Germans do it, the Brits do it, the Americans do it, the Democrats do it… heck the Republicans do it! Despite the fact that they all offered their overwhelming backing to him when he first set off on his ‘crusade’ against terror. The problem was we went wobbly. He didn’t.

I believe that George Bush deserves considerable credit for some of the bold decisions and great gambles he took that will serve the world well in the years to come. As with all politicians Bush’s legacy will not be based on the evidence of today but by the conditions of tomorrow. In the longer run his arrogance, his gaffes and other such vices will not define his administration as much as they do today, instead it will be Iraq and what comes of it that will mark his place in history. 9/11 saw attrocity and terror not witnessed on such a scale in centuries. It reminded us all too much of the potential wickedness of the human race. Bush’s response was entirely justified and his invasion of Afghanistan totally legitimate. Almost over night he went from the most unpopular to the most popular President in US history. He showed a flair for leadership and he captured the mood of a grieving nation and a outraged world perfectly. We, the wider world, backed him in his quest. So we too must bear the weight of responsibility.

Like leaders such as Thatcher before him, the exact nature of his legacy will be defined by those who love him and those who loathe him. He will inspire both extremes of passion in almost equal measure. However like the Iron Lady his legacy relies almost entirely on the plans he has put in place over the past few years that we will only really be able to understand in hindsight… one, two or 3 years down the line. Plans I believe will serve him and his legacy well. It is true the invasion of Iraq was misguided. He made a mistake, but his biggest mistake was his lack of preparation for the power vaccum that would inevitably emmerge in post Saddam Iraq. 30 years of supressed political and religious emotion blowing up in our face was never going to be pretty.

The Bush administration initially saw Iraq as a quick ‘in and out’ job and its policy represented this arrogant under estimation. However to Bush’s great credit, last year he redefined his approach and secured his long term legacy. Speaking to the American people on Jan 10th 2007, Bush announced a 20,000-strong “surge” in U. S. force levels in Iraq with most of the new troops being used to secure key Baghdad neighbourhoods. The new strategy also would permit American commanders to make local alliances with tribal leaders from the Sunni Awakening movement, something which had been previously dismissed.

Bush’s plan was ridiculed and criticised by almost all sections of society and the military. It also flew in the face of any previous notion that this was going to be a ‘cut and run’ job. As far as George Bush was concerned, and to his great credit, America had made the mess and it was their job to see it through. Bush’s generals and a majority of the American public initially opposed the surge making the idea of any short term political gain being the deciding factor in his decision ludacris. Despite such opposition and no obvious guarentee of success Bush authorized the surge anyway, applying the same type of gut instinct that led him into his earlier, disastrous mistakes. It payed off.

Last year suicide bombings claimed tens if not hundreds of lives daily. This is not the case today . The Iraqi government has had a prolonged and sustained period of respite in which to stabilise themselves and get to grips with the processes of government. It is true to say Bush was a reckless oppourtunist whose personality bordered on arrogance. His unwavering faith in the goodness within human beings and the redemptive power of freedom led him into a catastrophic and unwise war, one that resulted in the slaughter of untold thousands of innocent Iraqis and countless military personelle. Yet that same sense of moral courage also led him to stand by the unfinished project when the lives of millions more hung in the balance. Were it not for his bold leadership in Janurary 2007 god only knows what type of hell hole Iraq would be today. The region and the world are that bit safer for that decisive action.

In the long run, when Iraq finds stability, democracy and peace as it is begining to do, George Bush’s legacy will be re-examined and he will be vindicated. When history is written both sides of the story will be told. We are all farmiliar with the bad but the good side is still being written and will continue to be written long after he leaves office. It is because of the actions of George Bush ‘the Nazi neo con’ that girls and boys of all ages in Afghanistan and Iraq can have access to education, it is because of George Bush that the women of Afghanistan and Iraq have more freedom that at any time in the course of their history, it is because of George Bush that they and their children will grow up free from wicked dictators and oppressive regimes, it is because of George Bush that the formerly oppressed can express their political will freely through the ballot box and it is because of George Bush that many millions of people will be free for centuries to come. He has given hope and freedom to those that knew only despair and oppression. That is a legacy. That is his legacy. We will realise it soon enough.

BUCF Backs Barack

Despite our obvious ideological divisions I offer my, and the society’s, whole hearted support and best wishes as Barack Obama becomes the 44th President of the United States of America. As far as I am concerned the ‘Special Relationship’ must always rise above partisan politics and despite our differences I certainly hope to see a continuation of our close links with Washington under the next administration. Today is truly a historical day and I will be watching with curiosity as America Inaugurates its first African American President.

Ooohh Hell No!

… that was my reaction to news of Ken Clarkes return to the Tory front bench. Now before explaining my reasons as to why I am opposed to his return I want to make a few things clear: First I don’t deny Kens, often inexplicable, popularity with the public. Second I can just about understand Camerons desire to counter Gordon Brown’s Mandelson move by bringing Clarke back. And third I respect Clarke as an important member of the Tory party even though I profoundly disagree with him on almost every issue. But make no mistake of this: Cameron will rue the day he brought Ken Clarke back.

So why do I believe this is a disaster? Well for starters a large number of the Shadow Cabinet have already informed the Daily Telegraph that they are categorically opposed to his comeback which I feel could pose deep problems for cabinet unity in the coming months and years should the Tories win the election. Cabinet unity, or more importantly disunity, as we have seen before could be lethal for a leader.Furthermore I am perplexed as to why Cameron, who prides himself as being a moderniser, would bring back such an obvious relic of our past? He is a memory of by-gone days and not a good one at that. He is a reminder of the bitterness and division that still lingers within the party faithful, particularly on Europe.

Now the BBC is reporting that Cameron and Clarke have agreed to disagree on Europe. This utter tosh. They have agreed to disagree… for now . But what about when we are in power? Can Clarke really be trusted to tow the party line which is currently emphatically opposed to Britain joining the Euro… the same Euro he is a keen proponent of? Can he really be trusted to oppose the Lisbon treaty… the same treaty he has endorsed? Cameron has in one fell swoop exposed one of our most potent of wounds. A wound which had failed to fully heal but wasn’t a major threat to party unity given the partys current Eurosceptic line. This choice risks blowing the wound right open.

Similarly at a time of economic instability and insecurity do we really want someone like Ken around who is so linked with the failures of not just the Thatcher and Major governments but Heath too!?  Now I am not suggesting I believe the Thatcher, Major and Heath governments were economically incompetent, quite the opposite, what I am getting at is public opinion is not all that favourable in regard to certain elements of our economic record. Whether this criticism of our economic record is fair or not is another question, but the reality is public opinion isn’t so favourable and we have to come to terms with that. Bringing Clarke back does not aid us in this task.

Ultimately I feel his return flies in the face of Cameron’s change agenda and is tantamount to bringing in a ticking time bomb to Conservative HQ. Clarke may tow the line for now but will he in the future? And whilst he may be popular with the country he is certainly not with the party. There is a good reason we rejected him 3 times as leader you know! And to make matters worse a number of our most prominent party donors have vowed should Ken return they won’t give another penny to the party. Not wise in the run up to an election.

Therefore as much as I am loathed to admit it, Cameron has handed Gordon Brown a great gift by bringing ‘the beast’ back. The government will now do all they can to push Europe to the fore of the political and expose the deep divisions both within the cabinet and the party at large. They will also ridicule the change agenda and remind everyone of the ‘failures’ in Conservative party history with which Ken is assosciated. Will Cameron be able to keep his cabinet, his party and his country in line when it all starts to unravel? Hell no. Why doesn’t he just bring Thatcher back as Secretary of State for Local Communities?!?! That’ll really go down well…

Oh David.

City Branch Credit Crunch Spectacular!

On Friday BUCF had the pleasure of attending the City Branch Credit Crunch Spectacular with Caroline Spellman MP, Chairman of the Conserative Party(pictured). It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening which saw a good turn out from members of BUCF. It was also great to see so many local supporters, councillors and former members of BUCF including Andy Dunbar, Charlotte Edwards and Dan Cowdrill. It was also enjoyable to be able to chat with Edgbaston PPC Deirdre Alden and Leader of Birmingham City Council Mike Whitby. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable night was had by all and it was particularly good to welcome Joe along to his first event as a member of the BUCF Committee. ….Oh and Barack Obama was outed as a ‘Tory’ by President DO’D….

Obama the Tory?

O

Will They Ever Learn?

 

It will be hard for you to have missed the events that have been going on in the Middle East for the last few weeks, and it came to now surprise to me that Israelis and Palestinians are at loggerheads again. And despite a huge International call for peace, things just don’t seem to get any better, but that is no surprise either, they simply will not so long as things remain the way they are.

Officially, Israel has no problem with the Palestinian people; its focus of this conflict is against Hamas and terrorists who make the repeated attacks on Israeli targets. Understandably, this would annoy the Israeli Government but what they don’t understand that it’s their own behaviour that has let this problem get out of control. The Palestinians have been reduced to the level of second class citizens within their own country, and are in many ways being persecuted by the Israeli Government’s blatant discrimination. Examples of this are the re-housing of Palestinians, the numerous checkpoints and the construction of walls which, in essence, segregate the Palestinians. Ironically, you would have thought that the Israelis would be the last to behaviour in this manner, but unfortunately not. Palestinians are in many ways prisoners in their own country, and Israel’s attitude to them is paramount to ethnic cleansing. And this attitude is not limited to the Government, but many Israelis hold them too, echoing claims that it is their country and that the Palestinians shouldn’t be there.

 

Much of this was brought to light by various Channel 4 programmes, but many still turn a blind eye to this. Israel’s behaviour to Lebanon is very similar, and the lack of consideration is explicit in this conflict too, in both cases Red Cross and UN buildings have been destroyed by Israel. Yet this bullying attitude of Israel continues with only mild criticism, and ineffective UN action is due to, in my view anyway, Israel being an ally of the US. The ‘model’ democracy is utterly hypocritical when it enforces democracy on the people of Iraq, yet refuses to acknowledge the Palestinian’s choice to support Hamas. The fact they do is because of their treatment by Israel. The moderate voices are being drowned out because the only party that seems to be of any help to the Palestinians is Hamas.

 

Israel’s actions in Gaza will be doing nothing to change that either. Even if Hamas was wiped out, the Palestinians would just turn to another: Hezbollah or Al-Qaeda, for example. What is significant is that the Palestinian people, or at least some of them, believe that violence is the only way to change their situation. If Israel or even the rest of the world wants peace in the Middle East then its treatment of the Palestinians has to change, and for the better. Persecution is only making things worse. It is driving young men to violence, to Hamas, just as the War on Terror is pushing young Muslims to extremism. Things will not change until Israel realises this, until then more will die as the rest of the world simply just watches. Will they ever learn?

Raining on the Parade

It is fair to say I am not one of Barack Obama’s biggest fans. It is also fair to say that I am waiting in the wings for him to prove all my previous criticisms of him being all talk and no action correct. However before I ‘rain on the parade’ I want to make a few things clear. First I don’t doubt for a minute that Obama has good intentions. I also don’t doubt for a minute that he is passionate about what he believes in and I am sure the passion, good will and enthusiasm that surrounds him will in many ways restore credibility to the White House and inspire a weary nation.

However, to rain on the parade,  I do believe that Obama like Blair before him will be nothing more than another false dawn. He has quite simply built hopes up too high as such he has a long way to fall and few who will be willing to catch him on the way down. Such is politics. He was elected on a platform of change that progressed and prospered on a whirl of rhetoric. I believe we have seen in the weeks following the election the first glimpse of what an Obama Presidency will be like when George W Bush makes his final bow: Same old, Same old.

The fact is there has been a clear change in Obama’s tone. His criticisms of Bush, which played such a crucial part in his election, have been revised. His ambitious agenda, which inspired a nation and a world, has been moderated. From the minute John McCain conceded the race to Barack Obama all these changes in approach, which stand in stark contrast to his campaign, began to come to light. Indeed even in his victory speech he conceded “we might not get there”. He might not get to that promised land he had pledged, and was elected, to create. A land which, you would think on the basis of his rhetoric, was easy to achieve. Clearly he has realised it isn’t so easy to achieve the promised land he claimed Bush had failed to deliver and as such he has had to change his tone.

Similarly his pledge to pull out of Iraq completely has had a convenient little get out clause added to it: “When the time is right”. George Bush, the man whom he derilled and destroyed verbally so often, is according to Obama “a good guy” after all. In fact he has now conceded that the decisions Bush took were “the best decisions that he could at times under some very difficult circumstances”. Furthermore his silence on the Israeli crisis does not represent a new dawn or a new approach, it represents nothing more than a continuation of the pro Israeli status quo that runs in Washington. Even his choice of cabinet can be summed up in one word: safe. Does all this sound like a new dawn? He hasn’t even been inaugurated yet and the gloss is beginning to come off.

So dear reader in sum, Im sorry to break it to you: Obama will not be the new dawn you hope he will be. He will, like almost all politicians before him, fail to live up to the dreams and ambitions of the people and indeed his own rhetoric. His decisions and retractions in the last week, whilst not neccessarily bad ones, do not symbolise a change in direction. They symbolise nothing more than a mild moderation of the status quo that comes with any transition of government. But don’t get me wrong Im not writing Obama off completely, indeed he could be a good President in time, but what I am getting at is he will not be the new dawn many believe. He will not live up to the high hopes and expections that he himself conspired to construct and he will not be able to escape the burden of a nation and a worlds disappointment that will fall on his shoulders when he fails to live up to their naieve expectations.

Who cares though? For the time being we can dream, we can drink, we can party and tomorrow… we can face the hangover.

Paul Goodman MP Visit

Last Wednesday Paul Goodman MP paid a visit to BUCF for a talk on a number of issues. The issues covered included that ever elusive subject of the relationship between politics and the media, the extent to which David Cameron can be seen as the Heir to Blair/Thatcher and the role of extremism and integration in British immigrant communities. The event was an intimate gathering which was enjoyed by all who attended including YBF’s Christian May, who incidently played a crucial role in bringing Paul to Birmingham. Paul certainly seemed to enjoy himself and our committee dinner event at an Italian restaurant in Selly Oak after the meeting certainly topped the evening off. We look forward to Paul joining us again in the near future and we look forward to seeing YBF here next Wednesday.

All the Presidents Men

Barack Obama now joins the elite club of men that can lay claim to the title ‘President of the United States’. The photograph above, taken a few days ago, I feel is particularly impressive as it shows the incoming and outgoing US Presidents alongside all the other living Presidents. The last such meeting was in 1989 when George HW Bush hosted all living former Presidents in the Oval Office.

Guild Officer

Following the Christmas/New Year festivities it gives me great pleasure to introduce the latest addition to the ever growing BUCF Committee. Joseph Hollywood has been elected as our Guild Officer and will undertake the role with immediate effect. It is the role and responsibility of the Guild Officer to attend Guild Council on behalf of the society and ensure that all relevant society paperwork remains up to date. One of the most fundamental problems BUCF has faced in the course of its history, has been rooted in its inability to keep up to date with Guild Politics and regulations. This has led to bad blood and crossed wires on both sides.

As such, having defeated the derecognition motion put forward at Guild Council last month, I made it a clear priority in the coming months to ensure that BUCF was never placed in such a position again. Enshrining the role of Guild Council on our committee will ensure this happens and in time improve relations with the Guild. It gives me great pleasure to welcome Joe to the committee and I look forward to the contribution and confidence he will bring to the society.

President Obama of the 57 States of America!

A while back you may recall I claimed Barack Obama believed there were 57 states in America. Now whilst I intend to be fully supportive of him the coming week… I have been asked to prove that he did indeed make this remark… So here it is… the next President of the United States claiming he has visited no less than 57 states….

US Theme Week

To mark the upcoming inauguration of President Elect Barack Obama BUCF will be devoting its blogging in the coming days to America. We will look back on the legacy of George W Bush and look forward to the inauguration of the nations 44th President and the challenges he will undoubtedly face. To get you started this video shows the first, Daddy, Bush as he recieves one of the nations highest honours: A ship that bears his name. Now many of you may not know but George HW Bush is a man I hold in enormous regard and I will be blogging on him at points throughout the week…

UK Economy shrinks 1.5%

The BBC is claiming that the UK economy has shrunk 1.5%, its worst performance in 28 years… and we’ve barely entered the recession!

Why the party still loves Maggie…

I have just discovered this video that gives us some indication as to why the majority of the Conservative grass roots remain loyal to Margaret Thatcher. Indeed why Thatcher inspires such affection within our grassroots has perplexed many-a political commentator. One only has to look at the committee page to see that almost each and every one of the committee, without any prompting or advice, identified themselves as Thatcherite in their bios. Just why the youth of the party continue to identify with Thatcher remains a mystery. However we are certainly not alone in our ‘loyalty to the Lady’ which, as the video below shows, it could be argued has been passed instilled in us by the generation that preceeded us, the generation that now makes up the core of the party.

More than 20 years ago, in a time when our parents would have been getting their first taste of politics, Thatcher addressed the Young Conservative movement which now undoubtedly makes up the majority ‘middle age’ of the current Conservative grassroots. The ‘old guard’ of that generation (our grandparents/great grandparents generation) will have largely died off now and it is the youth of that age that now form the main body of Conservative grassroots support and indeed leadership. Maggies loyalest supporters, despite all the rhetoric to the contrary, were the youth of the party which now make up the middle age, heart of the party. She inspired them and set them off on their political journey. 

The youth of yesterday make up the core machinery of the party today and they have brought with them their ‘loyalty to the Lady’. As the video above and much more literature besides shows, the youth of the Conservative party were completely bowled over by Thatcher and their devotion to her was never in question. The reception she recieved upon beginning, delivering and ending her speech was nothing short of  ‘rockstar’. No other leader since has come close to inspiring such affection in the youth of the party. Many of the Young Conservatives of that era will remember that time and that leader with great fondness and great affection. For many that event and that era will have been their first taste of politics. Thatcher, to many, will have been their first leader.

I don’t know about all of you but I will always remember the first time I became interested in politics and I will always respect and admire the figures that made me interested in politics and inspired me through their communicational skills. The fact is you remember, when first dipping your feet in the political pond, whom it was that made the hair on the back of your neck stand to attention, whom it was that gave you your first rabble rousing rush to go out and campaign, whom it was that inspired you to make politics your career and whom it was that made you believe that your future could be better. The youth of yesterday is the party of today, in the same way the youth of today will be the party of tomorrow. For now Thatcher remains the icon of the party grassroots because we haven’t had a leader since who inspires us in quite the same way. Until we do she will always be the icon of the party.

I don’t know about you but as much as I respect and admire the lady I believe it to be about time we had a new icon for a new age. Cameron given time could be that icon and perhaps in twenty or thiry years time people will be looking back on videos of him addressing the young conservative movements of today and say he was the leader that brought them to their feet, he was the leader who inspired them to get out and camapign and he was the leader that took them back to power. Whether you agree with all the opinions expressed in this article or not, Im sure you’ll all agree that this recently discovered video (above) makes for wonderful, if only nostalgic viewing until a new icon comes along…

CF Branch Of The Month

It gives me great pleasure to announce that BUCF has been chosen as the ‘CF Branch of the Month’! What a fantabulous start to the New Year. I hope that we can, together, continue to do some great work throughout 2009 that will be of benefit to our communities regardless of political affiliations. Additionally, this blog has been a great success and has only grown since it was created, I hope that 2009 will be a year of discussions, understanding and informed judgements thanks to this blog!  

Thatcher back in Downing Street

 Daniel Cowdrill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday Dan O’Doherty sent me a link to this contemporary piece by Richard Stone of Margaret Thatcher. Impeccable, upright, and with a glare that conceals the pent-up rage of middle England. This is Thatcher after her defeat of General Galtieri, in her Gloriana Imperatrix days.

Thatcher was a creature of the Tory right. For her and many others in the Conservative party, the post-war ’settlement’ was never properly settled. Mounting concerns about trade unionism, inflation and nationalisation, had been steadily provoking Conservative society. The Right looked back with nostalgia to the otherwise much maligned 1930s, before Macmillan, before Atlee and before the devastation of Churchill’s 1945 defeat.

With the end of the post-war boom in the early 1970s, the failure of the Philips Curve, and levels of strike activity not seen since the General Strike, the Right broke ranks. Keith Joseph was the first senior politician to go over the top, publicly repudiating Conservative policy. Margaret Thatcher challenged Edward Heath and in Powell’s words, “didn’t funk it.” 

When the new Prime Minister quoted St.Francis of Assisi on the steps of downing street, it was only partly a last-minute PR stunt. It was also a perfect evocation of what Thatcherism was about. To Thatcher and her acolytes, agencies of society were failing to function normally. Trade unions were interfering in the political sphere with undemocratic and unjust consequences. Nationalisation was interfering in business decisions to the detriment of competition and productivity. And the State was interfering in the market with damaging consequences for work incentives. Collectivist ideology was destroying conservative society, and Thatcher’s task was to reinstate societal order and harmony.

As such, Milton Freidman was off the mark when he said that Thatcher was not a Tory. On the contrary, Thatcherism was a profound expression of Conservatism. Sharp, erudite, female, and Conservative, Thatcher was the left’s worst enemy. 

It is ironic to say the least that Gordon Brown, a Labour Prime Minister, should pay homage to the Tory right by hanging a personally commissioned portrait of Thatcher in Downing Street. What kind of man, who owes his career to the Labour movement, choses to commission a painting of Margaret Thatcher instead of Harold Wilson or Clement Atlee?

It was the Labour party that paid for Brown’s subscription, Labour activists who campaigned for him, Labour voters who elected him, and the Labour Party that promoted him to public office. Now he poses for the cameras with Margaret Thatcher. 

Thatcher was indeed a ‘conviction politician’. Brown should learn from her example.

Sir Alan Walters Dies

Sir Alan Walters the man credited as being one of the driving forces behind ‘Thatcherism’ has died. A spokesman for Lady Thatcher announced earlier today that he died peacefully at home on Saturday aged 82. For his foresight and formidable mind this party, this country and indeed this world owe him an enormous debt of gratitude.