Sunday, October 11, 2009

Roland White Needs Help

For my money, the Sunday Times Atticus column is one of the besy diary columns around. But I am very worried about the mental health of Roland White, the man who pens it each Sunday. This is from today's column...
On Friday night I dreamt that John Redwood was prime minister, thanks to an administrative error. Iain Dale, the Tory blogger, and I became his makeshift aides. Redwood immediately appointed Angela Knight, the former Tory MP who now runs the British Bankers’ Association, as chancellor of the exchequer (against our advice). What can this all mean? And, more to the point, am I in need of some sort of psychiatric help?

Anyone who dreams about me is indeed in need of psychiatric help. Even I try not to dream about myself.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

As a regular reader of your blog, it has always appeared to me that you are an appalling self-publicist and it smacks a little of desperation! I think your readers are actually more interested in politics - and 'Total Politics' is outstandingly good - than about you.

Walsingham's Ghost said...

"Anyone who dreams about me is indeed in need of psychiatric help."

Surely, that depends on the circumstances, young Iain...

Ivor Biggun said...

Can't stand Angela Knight - what a patronising, smarmy, dissembling apologist for the banks.

Still, I suppose that seems kind of appropriate for a bunch of bankers like we have in Britain.

As for Rowland's dream, total fantasy - John Redwood has more sense than to appoint Knight or our host to any positions of significance. At least I hope so!

James Higham said...

Iain, I'm constantly dreaming of you being the PM.

Paul Halsall said...

It's you and Redwood in the same dream that takes it to a special high of perversion.

Other people would need Acid, Salvia, or too much cough medicine to get that far.

MikeyP said...

I don't know about the rest of the dream, but John Redwood running the country sounds good to me!

Alan Douglas said...

"Psychiatric" and "Help" are two opposed and mutually irreconsilable words.

NO ONE is even in need of it. Help yes, but look at their actual statistics and results ....

Alan Douglas

Dick the Prick said...

Dreaming about John Redwood as PM is a right wingers' wet dream. How cool would that be? Ah Bernard, to sleep, perchance to dream, ay, there's the rub etc etc.

To be fair Iain, primary notwithstanding, but someone should hopefully be chatting to you about strategic interwebby communications after the next election. It's all very well the Power commission blithering on about democracy being distant but participation levels are poor. These bloggy things should be had by every Tory assoc or administration in the country as a matter of principle really.

Pete said...

Anonymong @ 12.29

"As a regular reader of your blog..."

'Reader'? I think you mean shit-stirrer, don't you?

Anonymous said...

Oh dear, Pete: unless we adulate Iain we are "shit stirrers". That sounds a little bit totalitarian to me...

Are you one of Iain's obsequious followers - the sort for whom he Tweets his every move? As I said at 12.29 pm today, it would be more authentic for Iain to blog about politics and not about himself and his media schedules, particularly if actually hopes to be selected this time around. Less of the 'personality' and more of the substance, please!

Iain Dale said...

Lovely, these anonymous commenters aren't they? I might actually take some notice if they gave a name. When I need to take advice on how to run a successful blog and retain readers I will be sure and ask Anonymous. :)

Robert Eve said...

Redwood for PM - yes please!!!

Andy JS said...

I apologise for posting off-topic:

Can anyone help with a question I have: there used to be a think tank called Consult with a website called Consult-Interactive, but I'm wondering whether this think tank is still active - their website is still running but it doesn't seem to be being updated. To make matters more confusing, they don't seem to put any dates on any of the pages on their website. Are they still operational?

If anyone could help, I'd appreciate it.
Andy

Pete said...

"Are you one of Iain's obsequious followers - the sort for whom he Tweets his every move?

No,I am not a twatterer.

As I said at 12.29 pm today, it would be more authentic for Iain to blog about politics and not about himself and his media schedules"

And who set you up as the master of authenticity?

I read blogs which *I* like.

Tell you what - have a refund and piss off.

Pete said...

Just Dollybots, Iain - offer them their money back & tell 'em where to go.

verity's lovechild said...

Not as bad as a dream I had last night in which Glenn Beck was trying to force me to put on a swine flu prevention mask.

THAT was weird.

Anonymous said...

Redwood has some good ideas but his body language is all wrong and so I don't tend to dream about him, Yasmin is the WORST paper reviewer in the whole of media land, get some sleep

Ivor Biggun said...

Iain D.: "Lovely, these anonymous commenters aren't they?"

I don't see what's wrong with the opinion of anonymous, though I can see why you'd disagree with him/her. However, s/he's not nearly as bad as this charmer:

Pete: "Anonymong @ 12.29 'As a regular reader of your blog...' 'Reader'? I think you mean shit-stirrer, don't you?"

and:

Pete: "Tell you what - have a refund and piss off"

However much you might welcome his support, I don't think it serves you well to have a gauleiter like that as part of your self-appointed praetorian guard.

Anonymous said...

Lovely? What do you mean, Iain? What does it matter if my name is 'Anonymous'? Good luck in Bracknell! Ian

Pete said...

"Pete: "Anonymong @ 12.29 'As a regular reader of your blog...' 'Reader'? I think you mean shit-stirrer, don't you?"

and:

Pete: "Tell you what - have a refund and piss off"

However much you might welcome his support, I don't think it serves you well to have a gauleiter like that as part of your self-appointed praetorian guard."

Hahahahahahahaha

...and you post as 'Ivor Biggun'

Sorry to have offended your sensibilities...

DespairingLiberal said...

The really glaring one here is Angela Knight. I take it this was a nightmare?

Knight has achieved the impossible - as spokesperson for the bankers - made us loath them even more than we thought was possible.

Every time her smug, oozing superiority appears on the radio, you steel yourself for a tirade of drivelling lies, obfuscations, distortions, half-truths, apologias and arrogant dismissals.

Her Big Lie is that all is well and the banks are happily lending to business again, which is utter b*ll*cks.

BritishBankers said...

British Bankers' Association here. A comment on comments rather than Iain's post. We have to endure a sizeable amount of name calling but we cannot let pass the accusation that we lie for the industry. No we don't. Not ever. You may disagree with what we say, but that doesn't mean it isn't true.

happiness said...

Lately Iain has been blogging more about himself than politics. For that reason I have been reading more Guy Fawkes and politicalbetting. I understand that ID's broadcasting commitments and trying to become the Conservative candidate for Bracknell have left him with less time. But there is no denying that the political content of this blog has shrunk in the past weeks. Recognising that fact should not be an excuse for abuse unless, of course, any excuse will do.

Quietzapple said...

Sue.