Condoleeza Rice And Jack Straw Visiting This Old Brit's Hometown On Friday...

This Friday, 31st March 2006, should live in all decent, Liverpudlian scouser's memories for many years yet to come -- as a date they'd rather never be reminded of.

And before we go any further, we'd like to make it perfectly plain than no apologies for any amount of spelling errors which may be found in today's post, will be forthcoming. The fact is that the most glaringly obvious ones at least, are entirely intentional.

Now to today's local and national level news of two spews in the news.

Our lovely home city of Liverpool is set to be landed with what's possibly one of the most pathetic pair of pathological lying prats, imaginable. In our old eyes, at any rate.

Thanks to Tony-the liar-Blair's fanatically faithful follower, Jack-the whore-Straw -- his mad 'Murhkan mate Condom-eater Rice and his sold-out, two faced self are forcing themselves on our fair city, on Friday.

And oooh, woe! Woe, be we.

Wait a minute -- why should we suddenly break the habit of a lifetime by becoming mild mannered now? Understatements are NOT us -- and never have been -- as regular readers already realise.

So please now read our previously pronounced 'woe' -- as a great big, WWXX sized double 'woe' -- at the very least.

Seriously though, we truly do have to wonder what the hell it is these twin-twits hope to find here on Merseyside. A warm welcome? Well, we'll just have to wait and see, eh?

Since from what's already seeped out via MSM, things are certainly not going entirely to plan.

Aaawrh! What a pity, eh?

Yeah, and we don't think.

Right. Rambling preamble ends rather abruptly, right here.

Now, read on -- and revel in the level of the 'Kiss my ass, Condi' sentiment so far sent out by some of our sweet city's sincerest celebrities.

When we natives of these parts say something about " .... not even if you paid me ..." -- we really mean it. And you'd better believe it, baby -- for you're about to find out

So be sure to say thanks to BLAIRWATCH as you head over there for the full Monty, low down on Condi and her equally cretinous compatriot's fast approaching arrival, right here in Liverpool.

Ironically, the wicked witch of the west is set to land at the airport named in honour of that great anti-war, home born son of our fair city, and later adopted son of the US. We speak of course of the late ( and great), John Lennon.

An A.W.O.L. Apology ...

We're sorry we've not seen much of each other over the last several days. And we mean that most sincerely. Really. We've missed you all - and we only hope you've missed us, even half as much.

Maybe we should have said something before we went, but whatever -- we took an unannounced leave of absence. However, at least our particular AWOL has elicited an apology, albeit belatedly. Which is a lot more than anyone ever had from another infamous AWOLer -- who shall remain nameless -- well, for a while at any rate.

Within the next 24 hours we should both be back in the business of bringing our regular news and views to those who seek to see the same, from a pair of Old Brits such as we.

Anyway, a combination of a couple or so things conspired to lead up to us hiding our collective light of late.

One reason we unashamedly admit was sheer, shattering exhaustion of the cumulative kind. What between blogging, back & forthing between clinics, doctors and dentists, and filling in reams of [invariably, unbelievably unfathomable] flaming forms -- we were, for want of more fitting and refined phraseology, flipping well f*cked. Remember, we're no chickens: not in any sense of the word.

Another reason, though it may sound sorta corny and more than a little over used these days, was "... to spend more time with our family." Leastways, with our lovely and loving daughter. And since here in the UK it was Mothering Sunday yesterday, the missus & me spent the weekend sharing it with her.


Papers, magazines, TV, radio and even the web have all taken a back seat for four or five days. But now we believe our Old Brit batteries are fully re-charged -- or almost. So like we said, within the next 24 hours normal service should be resumed. Or at any rate a reasonable facsimile thereof.


So, as short and sweet as this post may seem, it's already bye-bye & ta-ta for now -- see you again soon. And we do mean soon -- real soon. Honestly.

** UPDATE: While you're waiting, have a look at this. LA and Paris aren't the only places where the people are showing our dear leaders how pissed off they are. This strike here in the UK today seems set to be the biggest since the historical General Strike, 80 years ago in 1926. (Note for our American readers: 'council' workers are equivalent to your 'city' workers.)

Below is a quick BBC clip & paste quote. You can read the rest right here.

Big council pension strike begins

The council workers' strike follows a long-term disputeUp to 1.5m UK council workers have begun a 24-hour strike over pensions.

Hundreds of schools, libraries and sports centres are shut, with services including transport, courts and refuse collection also hit.

Unison, the biggest of several unions involved, said early indications were of "solid" support for the walkout.

The strike is over plans to scrap a rule allowing some people to retire on a full pension at 60, which the government says is discriminatory.

The unions say it could be the biggest stoppage in the UK since the General Strike in 1926.

Boston Legal Bites Bush-Ass --- Big Time

Well, we wouldn't have believed it our bloomin' selves before now, but both This Old Brit and Richard are -- for the first time ever -- begging you to watch a bit more telly, instead of a lot less. Temporarily, naturally.

Since for once, somebody seems to have sussed that standing up and saying publicly (to several million souls, simultaneously), what so many of the more worldly wise among us have always advocated, is something well worth doing. A type of televisual variation on the old 'Publish and be damned' theme, one might say.

All of which brings we two twittering old bloggers - eventually - to the point.

There's a fantastic five minute video clip from the well known & widely watched American TV series 'Boston Legal' now available on ye olde, worlde-wide-webe. (Aawrh, ain't poetic license absolutely awesome?)

But back to business. Boy, does Boston Legal bite Bush-ass. And how.

So, swiftly sidle along to see what Tom Rushing 'heads upped' us to, at his first class 'Current Era' blog.

Then, once there, simply mouse-slap the on-screen arrow: what you'll see on screen and soon hear said, should be music to your ears.

Enjoy. Savour every single syllable. We wouldn't want anyone to miss a word -- since this super script was written specially -- for all of us.

War Is A Racket: General Smedley Butler - United States Marine Corps ...

Pictured above is the late, Major General Smedley Darlington Butler of the United States Marine Corps, a double recipient of the coverted Congressional Medal of Honor.


As startling as it may seem to those whose history lessons have hidden him from them, in 1935 this true American patriot proved for the umpteenth time how perfectly patriotic he really was, in many more ways than one, when he lay it on the line what he'd learned in over 33 years US military service:

" War is just a racket."

But while it's now some 71 years since Smedley Butler spilled the beans on something surely now so self evident -- sadly, some still can't [or won't] accept what Smedley strove so sterlingly, and in all sincerity, to show them.

Such as:

"A racket is best described, I believe, as something that is not what it seems to the majority of people. Only a small inside group knows what it is about. It is conducted for the benefit of the very few at the expense of the masses."

Witness what else he said, and wonder as we two do, why in the world it's not yet as plain to see as the General's super-plain speaking should have assured it should be. In spite of Iraq - plus perhaps Iran - and possibly Syria - and maybe North Korea - and Venezuela - or Cuba - and/or ... ?

We could carry on. But we won't. So read on.

"I believe in adequate defense at the coastline and nothing else. If a nation comes over here to fight, then we'll fight. The trouble with America is that when the dollar only earns 6 percent over here, then it gets restless and goes overseas to get 100 percent. Then the flag follows the dollar and the soldiers follow the flag."

Then the General went on:

"I wouldn't go to war again as I have done to protect some lousy investment of the bankers. There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights."

And he added:

"War for any other reason is simply a racket."

(snip)

There isn't a trick in the racketeering bag that the military gang is blind to. It has its 'finger men' to point out enemies, its 'muscle men' to destroy enemies, its 'brain men' to plan war preparations, and a 'Big Boss' -- Super-Nationalistic-Capitalism."

Learned anything yet that your history teacher didn't tell you? Though to be fair, their own may not have told them -- nor, in all honesty, ever even have known. Such is the stateside system, education-wise.


Well, now you can learn lots more, by reading General Butler's revealingly relevant speech in it's entirety, right here.


Then please pay this brave, honest and true US military patriot a fitting tribute by paying a visit to THE SMEDLEY BUTLER SOCIETY.

What Will It Take For Blair And Blair To Bow Out ?

Well, we don't understand it either -- so we're blaming Blogger.

Our latest blog-post - headlined: "What Will It Take Before Blair And Blair Bow Out?" has published beneath the one published previously.

In other words, for reasons we don't understand, you'll need to scroll back down past the blog-post below.

Clear? Comprendo? We certainly hope so - since we're still somewhat confused ourselves.

( Yeah, we know -- what's new?! )

US Launches Major Iraq Air Assault ...

In the middle of putting together a piece for today's blog -- this news breaks.

No doubt this story will be changing by the hour as the day - and days go by. Especially as the spin machine begins lying and changing bad news into good, falsifying figures, facts, etc and the most sensitive stuff slowly disappears for ever down the memory hole.

Therefore I'm merely going to give you the BBC header and link, for now.

Perhaps this thread may grow into a cross between a record/archive of the news as & when it comes in from different sources, contributers, etc - and one of those 'open threads' so many of the big-boy bloggers seem to increasingly use.

Also, those who do pray may want to say some special prayers right now. Others may 'hold in the light'. Whatever -- I'm sure you all have your own ways of wishing ... and wanting ... and hoping ..... and wishing ....... etc.


US launches 'major Iraq assault'


The US military says it has launched its biggest air offensive in Iraq since the 2003 invasion, targeting insurgents near the central city of Samarra.

More than 50 aircraft and 1,500 Iraqi and US troops have been deployed in the operation, a military statement says.

A bomb attack on the al-Askari shrine in Samarra, 100km (60 miles) north of Baghdad, last month sparked widespread sectarian violence.

There are no independent reports of Thursday's offensive so far.

The US military said the assault, dubbed Operation Swarmer, was intended to "clear a suspected insurgent operating area" north-east of Samarra.

The operation is expected to last several days......

More here at the BBC.

What Will It Take For Blair And Blair To Bow Out ?

So where do we want to start today ?

What about this bit of [yet another] Blair related, financial-funny-business bombshell?

British Prime Minister Tony Blair is defending Downing Street for not letting on to the Labour Party that millions of pounds had been loaned - to said Labour Party itself - by several certain people planning on being elevated to the peerage and thus becoming Lords of our land.

Well, we wouldn't want to publicly label anyone a liar (libel & all that, y'know) but we will say this; we don't believe a bloody word Tony Blair says any more, and we haven't for a long time. Nor have many millions of others, both at home and abroad. And rightly so, we say.

Why the hell should we? The man lost all credibility a long time ago - yet still he won't bite the bullet and go.

Once upon a time - in the not too distant past - honourable politicians did the honourable thing whenever - thanks to them - their particular 'stuff' turned to shit. They used to fall on their swords and then eff off, fast. But nowadays these buggers are brazen; as bold as bloody brass.

Call their serial, seriously dubious claims connected with everything, anything you want to. Borrow from some past pitiful attempts by politicians to play around with words if you like.

For instance; remember those seedy and obviously 'spun' terms being churned out, such as "Economical with the truth" ? Eh? This Old Brit bloomin' well does - only too damned well. And what about "Terminological inexactitudes" ? Ha. What a bloomin' beauty that one was.

Surely, the increasingly inescapable truths appertaining to Blair's government's veritable plethora of prick-like, phony-cronies must now be dawning on those with even the bare minimum of working brain cells. Because, the truths of the untruths trailing right through practically everything remotely related to Tony Blair's 'rule,' are getting more glaringly obvious with each tick of one's time-piece .

From the illegal invasion and ensuing [ and ever escalating ] US/UK led, blood-bath of an occupation of Iraq -- to the damned indefensible defence of that poorest of professional performers - the 'pudding' posing as our country's premier policeman, Sir Ian Blair -- and then right through to the latest 'nice little earner' cum 'brown bag' type, titles-for-sale, scandal.

Have they no shame? How much shit should have to shower upon a fan before this band of bums are unceremoniously, flat buggered off? And buggered off for good. Permanently. Period.

When the official Treasurer himself, of Blair's New Labour Party speaks out publicly to air his concerns over the millions in cash coming into the party's coffers -- without his knowledge, -- we say the stink is now too strong for anyone to stomach. What's worse, the best explanation the Bliar can come up with is to say that only donations needed to be declared - not loans. And surprise, surprise -- the 'on the q-t' cash in question -- of course, came in as loans. All £14 million of it.

Yeah, we're sure it did. While the band played 'Believe me if you like'.

Anthony Blair, an honourable man? Well, read these reports and then you tell us two.

Here are the bones of it all --- then there's more here -- and still more here, including the latest, almost laughable load of crap.

Cindy Sheehan Speaks Out About Her Arrest-Sustained Injuries

What a wonderful world the world-wide-web is, eh? Well, wouldn't you say so?

First off, many thanks must go to our good friend in Texas, Pokey Anderson for her original heads-up. For those who haven't heard her yet, Pokey is co-host of KPFT 90.1 FM Radio's 'Sunday Monitor' programme - 6 to 7pm E.S.T.

Via her connections within the internationally acclaimed & well respected Code Pink- Women For Peace group, Pokey was pleased to point we old pair to the wonderful web site of the widely supported, throughout the United States Gold Star Families For Peace.

Once there, we found what follows. It comes straight from Cindy Sheehan herself as she lays recovering from injuries, in her bed -- just another victim of the needless and inexcusable, wanton brutality of - to use Cindy's own words " .. a federal agent and the NYPD .. ".

We were tempted to call this cowardly & callous act yet another clear case of man's inhumanity to woman. But we won't. Instead we'll simply sit back and see how many of you can resist the same temptation. That way there's no danger of us being branded just a biased bunch of Old Brits.
Erm ...... is there ?

So here's today's hook -- in case anyone already reading here needs hooking.

There Are Criminals, and Then There Are CRIMINALS

by Cindy Sheehan

March 10th, 2006

As I lie here in bed recuperating from the injuries that I received from a federal agent and the NYPD in front of the US Mission to the UN (USUN) the other day, I have had time to reflect on the experience, the state of our union and its descent into a fascist state.

When the four of us. Missy Beattie, Rev. Patricia Ackerman, Medea Benjamin, and I, were arrested the other day, I was singled out for federal police brutality.

The other three ladies were picked up, noth gingerly, though, and I was dragged across the pavement and treated very, very roughly—having both arms wrenched out from beneath me. I looked to my doctor as if I had been beaten.

My daughter, Janey, asked if I had been resisting arrest, I told her if one considers going into a fetal position and saying, "Please don't hurt me anymore!" resisting, then I guess I was.

So, as This Old Brit & Richard shut up and shuffle off to sip a cup of tea - or more like two or three - you can see for yourself what else Cindy Sheehan said.

Well, by now, we all know that you all know, it's time to hit

this hot-link here.

Statement Against The Continuation Of The War ...

Statement against the continuation of the War.

Issued By A British Officer And Gentleman.

“I am making this statement as an act of wilful defiance of military authority, because I believe that the War is being deliberately prolonged by those who have the power to end it.

I am a soldier, convinced that I am acting on behalf of soldiers. I believe that this War, on which I entered as a war of defence and liberation, has now become a war of aggression and conquest.

I believe that the purpose for which I and my fellow soldiers entered upon this war should have been so clearly stated as to have made it impossible to change them, and that, had this been done, the objects which actuated us would now be attainable by negotiation.

I have seen and endured the sufferings of the troops, and I can no longer be a party to prolong these sufferings for ends which I believe to be evil and unjust. I am not protesting against the conduct of the war, but against the political errors and insincerities for which the fighting men are being sacrificed.

On behalf of those who are suffering now I make this protest against the deception which is being practised on them; also I believe that I may help to destroy the callous complacency with which the majority of those at home regard the contrivance of agonies which they do not, and which they have not sufficient imagination to realize”.

** The hero who was brave enough to stand up and say this, is now dead. Mown down by machine guns.

When will we ever learn ?

Just As George Bush Did - Now Tony Blair Blames God ...

If any of us were ever heard to say we could hear God telling us to start a war and send some mother's sons somewhere thousands of miles away to kill and/or be killed, in bogus battles brought about largely for the benefit of billionaires, and we also said we shared secret conversations with the Saviour -- you can bet your bottom dollar we'd no longer be free to blog.

Nor free to do much of anything else for that matter. Since nowadays there are special secure places for folk making such completely crazy claims. More than likely including claims concerning one on one clandestine conversations conducted with the creator. And on that score we're inclined to intone in unison -- 'Quite right too. Off with all these nutters. Take 'em all to the nut house'.

But, already regularly caught red-bloody-handed, belligerent bomb-happy bastards like Bush -- and now his best buddy Blair -- can quite calmly come right out with such shockingly scary shit in public. Even in front of millions of more-sane-than-they-are, television watching witnesses -- and it seems still stay out of strapped up tight, strait jackets.

What's worse, is that such self evidently second rate homo sapien specimens - cerebrally speaking - should seek to suffer some lesser mortals to 'come unto them' - and their wantonly wicked war-waging ways.

So, In case anyone's been away visiting alien relatives abroad in any alternative universes -- or isn't often sober enough to stand or sit in front of a television and/or radio for at least several seconds or so, and therefore isn't aware -- here's the latest low down, low down.

Apparently God is both jointly responsible and to blame, for our pathetic Premier Blair sending our soldiers to kill and die in Iraq. Because according the cowardly cretin who never wore any uniform other than his old school one, the decision to tag along on the coat tails of mad King George of America was taken jointly -- by both Mr Blair himself and his close associate-cum-adviser, God.

Ah, well that makes all the difference then. Now we understand. So you cannot tell a lie Tone, eh? It was you AND God 'what dunnit guv'. Great. Good. Case closed.

No doubt the war dead are delighted.

Tony - you're a twisted little turd-like twerp. That's just the kind of super-stupid script reading we all needed. You know, in case any Muslims hadn't remembered well enough the rabid, Rambo running America right now [almost into the ground incidentally], cheerily churning out his crackpot cringe creating Crusade chants. Eh? So now little big-brother Tony chooses a prime time television programme to remind them all. Eh?

Bravo. Brilliant. Bloody marvelous. And effing well fantastic too. And we DON'T think. You thick, dim witted twit posing as proper prime minister. Premier wise, we'll wager you'd be shown to be worth no more than minus one on a scale of ten, should any sort of related scientific survey be instigated. And what's more mister, we two both believe we're being much more than generous with our marking.

Meanwhile, while the world waits with baited breath to see what further furor - and perhaps far worse - follows this latest load of faeces, when it proverbially hits the already bloodied blades of the proverbial effing fan ....................... you can read these relevant BBC, Blair interview reports ---- then view these video clips.

BUSH, KATRINA, VIDEOTAPE AND LIES - SEE THE SMOKING GUN YOURSELF - AND SEE IT RIGHT NOW !

See for yourself how George W. Bush lied to the American people and the rest of the world about the hurricane Katrina horror story.

Watch this damning video with your own eyes, then write today's This Old Brit's missing copy for yourself, and for any friends who haven't yet heard the latest on the liar-in-chief.

And it goes without saying -- please, please, please pass this on. And do it without delay.

That is all.

Click here to see the actual smoking-gun video.

Bush Go Home: Millions Of Americans Are Hungry ...

As George Bush bumbles & stumbles his way around Afghanistan and India -- as audaciously as always, lying his lying arse off -- several million semi-starving citizens of his own United States are saying they would be better served by him if he heeded the messages of regular people - both at home and abroad - rather than those of his [aptly named] 'puppet leader' partners in crime, and buggered off back home to put his own house in order. Peferably, pronto.

Anyone around who wants to know why?

Well, whatever. Like it or not we're going to give you at least one good reason; one extremely good reason.

There's an almost unbelievable number of American citizens going hungry.

Yep. Right now. This very day. Even as you read.

What a super-duper, super-power, eh? One appearing powerless even to provide many of it's own uber-patriotic people with enough food to fill their dinner plate. At the very least it certainly seems like a super-power patently lacking the will and strength of character and apparently the common compassion, community spirit, social conscience and/or just plain old down-home, heavens to Betsy, honest to God, none-counterfeit, Christian charity.

Perhaps George Bush really wants these unfortunate folk to simply sit down, shut the f*ck up and just be thankful for all the famous "freedoms" he's made avaiable for them to feast their faces on, eh?

Fat flaming chance of getting fat, eating "freedoms," eh? Fried or not.

But for the next few moments, forget This Old Brit's & Richard's rants, and feast you eyes on this terrible trifle -- dished up direct by our friend Tom Rushing who writes & runs the highly recommended, Current Era blog.

... but the most alarming news was in the growing number of people in Bush's fine economy who are hungry.

The Second Harvest report, using figures compiled before hurricanes Katrina and Rita, showed that 25 million Americans had been forced to get food from the organisation's network of food banks, soup kitchens and shelters in 2005, up 9 per cent from 2001.

Would you ever have imagined it? In 21st century, compassionate conservative, home of the brave and land of the free, Bushamerica?

And yes, you read it right. That sickening set of 'soup kitchen & shelters' statistics has shot up by a shameful 9 per cent, in the surprisingly short space of time elapsed since the year of our [ born-again Bush's] Lord, 2001.

And no, that increase does not include any extra, exceptional and/or extraordinary [evil or otherwise] events -- such as those horrendous hurricanes called Katrina and Rita.

What's even worse, included in Hidden Harvest's frightening figures are these.

The hungry included 9 million children (aged under 18) and 3 million elderly people.

God help them all -- poor souls.

These are human beings. They're citizens of the United States.

What form of god forsaken government gives this type of treatment out to it's own kith & kin? Moreover, to those of it's own who are most at risk and most vulnerable? Not to mention most needy. Are the pitiful plights of poor American people such as these simply part & parcel of the fabled 'American Way'? Eh?

Well, right now we'd say fabled sounds about right.

Furthermore, we two elderly English examples of humanity will tell you this, Mr President George Walker Bush -- and we'll tell you it for free. If it is The American Way, then you're welcome to it. You can keep it. Or, in the style of the old Anglo Saxon swear-word venacular -- you can stick it -- you can shove it where the sun don't shine -- sideways! With bloody big bells on, if you like.

And we don't say that lightly, since we have innumerable, assorted very good American friends.

Moy, moy bien amigos. Comprendo, el Pretzeldente?

But for now, lets get back briefly to some of the bitter nitty-gritties of such a stupendously, sickening & shameful 21st century scandal.

So, hands up who's recently read this sort of shocking snippet anywhere ? Anyone? In America?

... more than 38 million Americans lived in hungry or "food insecure" households -- an increase of 5 million since 2000.

Second Harvest questioned about 30,000 food distribution agencies as part of its survey. More than 40 per cent of them said funding problems threatened their future work.

But the statistic that stood out most was the one that said 36 per cent of people who came seeking food lived in households where at least one person worked.

It means increasing numbers of working people in the US don't earn enough for their families to eat properly.

In the fine economy of George W. Bush, that is serious food for thought.

So, our rant has run it's course for today -- which happens to be Ash Wednesday, in case anyone wasn't already aware. The US being such a caring kind'a Christian country & all, dontchya know?

Regardless; get thee gone, right now. Go on over to Tom for more, including an attached Australian article.