tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post5940355362837625765..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Brown Under Fire Over Letter to Soldier's MotherIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15771414868466345552009-11-11T19:39:10.663+00:002009-11-11T19:39:10.663+00:00The likes of Peter Mandelson, Alistair Campbell, J...The likes of Peter Mandelson, Alistair Campbell, Jo Moore, "Dolly" Draper, and hundreds of other Special Advisors have spent the last 11 years living the high life spending <b>TAXPAYERS'</b> money to control the News Media and ensure that their Cultural Marxist lies and half-truths ("Narrative") dominate the headlines peddled by the Lamestream Media, and have been utterly ruthless in defaming and destroying the reputations and character of <b>anyone</b> great or small who has the temerity to insist that something as insignificant as the truth should interfere with their hegemony. <br /><br />They even have a "rapid rebuttal unit" whose staff monitor and post responses on blogs such as your own.<br /><br />And to cap it all, "Lord Voldemort" is apparently to be put in charge of a new "Ministry of Information" (Minitrue from <i>Nineteen Eighty-Four</i>?) in the run-up to the General Election!<br /><br />Remember that to Mandelson <i>et al</i>, the death of 3000 civilians on 9/11 was merely an opportunity to be exploited ("a good day to bury bad news").<br /><br />Well, they have sowed the wind, now they are reaping the whirlwind!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-9844062022874203402009-11-10T15:51:23.900+00:002009-11-10T15:51:23.900+00:00"Brown could choose to get an aide to type up..."Brown could choose to get an aide to type up impersonal word processed letters and just sign a pile of papers before they go out."<br />He could, also have a letter, transcribed from a dictating machine, minus "Dear.." and with a large space between the text and signature. Brown then adds "Dear...." in his own handwriting and, in the space, he writes his reason for the letter having been typed - he wanted to make sure that his sentiments could be clearly read.<br /><br />"Instead, he chooses to compose an individual letter to those who have suffered loss, which I think is admirable even if you disagree with his management of the country.<br />The individual letter could have been written, without errors and with the correct names.<br /><br />"I can't believe the vitriol aimed at him for his poor handwriting- he's blind in one eye for goodness sake. Same old nastiness.<br />I had a friend, who was also blind in one eye. His writing was streets ahead of Brown's - and he didn't harp on about his blindness.<br /><br />"I hope The Sun compensated the lady who lost her son well for being a pawn in their increasingly nasty personal campaign against the PM. Shame on them."<br /><br />As I understand it, she was not paid a penny. She was simply distraught and very, very angry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26076667850000206262009-11-10T10:05:22.801+00:002009-11-10T10:05:22.801+00:00much as i despise gordon brown, i was prepared to ...much as i despise gordon brown, i was prepared to give our worst-ever prime minister the b of the d on this. until i listened to the sun's extraordinary call transcript and heard him wriggling on the hook, being comprehensively kebabbed time and time again by a grieving but well-informed service mum.<br /><br />he's a disgrace to his party, his office and has got to go. and soon.Jules Wrighthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07316327361072587324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73397358454353650332009-11-10T07:41:00.432+00:002009-11-10T07:41:00.432+00:00http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaign...http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/campaigns/our_boys/2722174/Mum-Jacqui-Janes-at-war-PM-is-humbled.html<br /><br />Oh dear...the Sun taped his call and it isn't quite as Downing Street said. They sort of left out the other half of the conversation where the mother complained that he son bled to death because of a lack of Casevac helicopters. Gordo denied the troops were under-equipped.<br /><br />Strange that the PMs press release didn't mention thatCynichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04852867933348403214noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-46910559369780128242009-11-10T00:44:20.036+00:002009-11-10T00:44:20.036+00:00I am amazed at the depths that the Sun and the T...I am amazed at the depths that the Sun and the Tory party supporters have gone too to call Gordon Brown over this matter ,I'm so glad that I am not and never will be associated with them . It just goes to show how desperate to get rid of this Government they are, and will seize on any situation no matter how despicable as using a Soldiers Death and a Mothers Grief to further their own ends, surely much worse than the P.M.'S personally written letter to the Mother, no matter how bad the writing and the mistakes in the letter . What I have been trying to find out ,unsuccessfully ,was when this letter was sent,it seems some while since this Young Man lost his Life ,and I would have thought such a letter would have been sent straight away . Does anyone Know these details?John Hallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00429346002131102792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-63371148453398198682009-11-09T22:20:49.238+00:002009-11-09T22:20:49.238+00:00All those criticising Brown:
Brown could choose t...All those criticising Brown:<br /><br />Brown could choose to get an aide to type up impersonal word processed letters and just sign a pile of papers before they go out.<br /><br />Instead, he chooses to compose an individual letter to those who have suffered loss, which I think is admirable even if you disagree with his management of the country.<br /><br />I can't believe the vitriol aimed at him for his poor handwriting- he's blind in one eye for goodness sake. Same old nastiness.<br /><br />I hope The Sun compensated the lady who lost her son well for being a pawn in their increasingly nasty personal campaign against the PM. Shame on them.<br /><br />And well done Iain on having the decency not to stoop to this level, passing up the opportunity to join the outrage and make political capital out of this. You have gone up in my estimation.supertedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11146513438294620566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47874687763159377682009-11-09T21:44:46.537+00:002009-11-09T21:44:46.537+00:00Good post.
Raw grief from the soldier's famil...Good post.<br /><br />Raw grief from the soldier's family is understandable - but the behaviour of the Sun is tabloid journalism at its dynical, snide worst.<br />Nasty.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-48301382320570660432009-11-09T21:08:19.931+00:002009-11-09T21:08:19.931+00:00Attention to detail is another basic skill which t...<b>Attention to detail</b> is another <i>basic skill</i> which the PM does not seem to possess.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07456462562170192857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-3365364968202962172009-11-09T20:50:37.490+00:002009-11-09T20:50:37.490+00:00He only writes letters, so he doesn't have to ...He only writes letters, so he doesn't have to show his face when the body bags are flown home.<br /><br />If he got my son's name wrong, after sending him ill equipped to die, I'd kick his arse from here to Fife and poke a stick in his one remaining eye for good measure.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10209050791458089475noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84797254982709991102009-11-09T20:36:50.494+00:002009-11-09T20:36:50.494+00:00I am sorry; but he is only the Prime Minister; why...I am sorry; but he is only the Prime Minister; why is he writing these letters; no other PM in history has done this.<br /><br />If any one should write it should be HM Queen Elizabeth to whom the armed forces swear their oath of allegiance; not some politician.<br /><br />He needs the same lesson Blair needs = the Prime Minister of Britain is just another subject not a President.<br /><br />I am as horrified by this posturing of a power crazed government as I am by the arogance shown in his response to the very valid criticismpeter_dtmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13460191996831709814noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-45976242539955242132009-11-09T20:03:20.341+00:002009-11-09T20:03:20.341+00:00@trevorsden, many people have defended Brown here ...@trevorsden, many people have defended Brown here whatever their feelings about him, thanks for making the kind of remark that reminds us why we have come to despise the labour party.King Athelstanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08796189127188811779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49398981073914994992009-11-09T19:52:58.585+00:002009-11-09T19:52:58.585+00:00Mandelson this afternoon used this as an opportuni...Mandelson this afternoon used this as an opportunity to attack the Sun, proving once and for all that Labour has no shame.Tomhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15252054403352395221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-83407193636069208242009-11-09T18:29:44.398+00:002009-11-09T18:29:44.398+00:00The poor man is maladroit. One feels sorry for him...The poor man is maladroit. One feels sorry for him. I shudder to think how I would feel had I done something similar, which I could well have. However, I am not P.M. and he is badly placed in the post.Terry Hamblinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06346629921055055879noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-51409312175275468022009-11-09T18:15:12.403+00:002009-11-09T18:15:12.403+00:00Cut him some slack? No way Iain. This is a shabby ...Cut him some slack? No way Iain. This is a shabby letter from a shabby PM.<br /><br />He's a disgraceful leader of our country and continually heaps shame upon us. <br /><br />Roll on a change of regime.<br /><br />Oh, I hear he'll continue writing condolence letters in his own hand, what a fool.Londonerrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16498416059426800213noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39500159316530426132009-11-09T18:00:12.696+00:002009-11-09T18:00:12.696+00:00If I was applying for a vacancy, I would make sure...If I was applying for a vacancy, I would make sure my spelling and all the relevant information was correct.<br /><br />I would like to think that if I was in the unfortunate position of writing a letter of condolence, I would be even more careful.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00349681254504034184noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-33652406176362884222009-11-09T17:54:52.080+00:002009-11-09T17:54:52.080+00:00Conservatives are entitled to think what they like...Conservatives are entitled to think what they like about this episode but otherwise they should stay out of it and keep quiet.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-30386990039462952812009-11-09T17:41:27.654+00:002009-11-09T17:41:27.654+00:00No, he was wrong and there should be no excuse. Th...No, he was wrong and there should be no excuse. The letter should have been perfect, he and his representatives should not blame the recipient.<br /><br />There have been attempts to score political points, claiming no previous Prime Ministers have written such letters, and now perhaps we know why. Why does he think it's part of his job, along with writing to winners of X-Factor? He doesn't show any other emotion in relation to the armed forces, and has always kept them short of funding.<br /><br />Mr Brown is Prime Minister, every thing he does is a reflection of Britain as a whole.<br /><br />If he's a nervous wreck, as some people say is a fair excuse for his mistakes, then he should stand down - because we don't need a nervous wreck in charge of our governmentMrs Rigbyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06389986110372627649noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43040108650570786722009-11-09T17:39:06.133+00:002009-11-09T17:39:06.133+00:00I don't think anybody can be in any doubt as t...I don't think anybody can be in any doubt as to my utter loathing for the man, however I am deeply uncomfortable with the criticism levelled at him here. (Particularly as my handwriting was once dscribed as resembling a poker dipped in tar.) One new experience I don't need is feeling sorry for Gordon Brown.King Athelstanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08796189127188811779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-44302229376864127352009-11-09T17:28:22.315+00:002009-11-09T17:28:22.315+00:00At least he writes the letter personally, and in f...At least he writes the letter personally, and in fact not getting it checked is a sign of personal connection. I suspect that is more important to the relatives than the mistakes for which he has apologised. I will not say a lot good about Gordon Brown, but credit him here.Doubting Richardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16507892426345836143noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-54145524246874501642009-11-09T17:10:47.786+00:002009-11-09T17:10:47.786+00:00I feel that this story has somewhat backfired. I t...I feel that this story has somewhat backfired. I think people now feel sorry for Mr Brown. You wouldn't have believed it a few days ago - rather like the Question time shambles that amazingly had many people (unprecedented) actually feeling sorry for Nick Griffin.JPThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00796856414981086841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43984676730212008212009-11-09T16:42:33.685+00:002009-11-09T16:42:33.685+00:00Sky may have been leading with the bereaved mother...Sky may have been leading with the bereaved mother's hurt, but the BBC led with Gordon Brown's apology. <br /><br />He telephoned her to apologize. He should write to her again. You can't frame and hang a telephone call.lilithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05011676751221508167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67512586239095681192009-11-09T16:39:12.415+00:002009-11-09T16:39:12.415+00:00In two thoughts about this one. On the one hand, t...In two thoughts about this one. On the one hand, these are some very stupid mistakes he's made on this letter. On the other, it's not the end of the world. And at least he is actually trying to write these letters. Blair never wrote to any of them, nor did Major.<br /><br />As for the video on The Sun's website of the grieving mother, it has all the hallmarks of a woman who has been manipulated by media hacks with an agenda.The Grim Reaperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05543130733645367498noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14266851002357751032009-11-09T16:33:58.082+00:002009-11-09T16:33:58.082+00:00Lack of intent certainly, but the letter was still...Lack of intent certainly, but the letter was still a disgrace. It should have been right, and not added to that poor, bereaved mother's grief.Steve Horganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13689714700049747836noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-41794528668948500602009-11-09T16:32:37.245+00:002009-11-09T16:32:37.245+00:00Sloppy letter, sloppy writing and a sloppy attitud...Sloppy letter, sloppy writing and a sloppy attitude.<br /><br />That apart he has never attended a funeral, underequipped the forces to exact retribution on Blair, appointed Ainsworth to display contempt for position of Defence Secretary and has cosied up to forces only since becoming PM. He and Foot's performances at Cenotaph show where they are coming from. <br /><br />The Butcher's Blood continues to flow. No wonder Brown's arm is tired and his soul black from having to write the letters. He thought it would be one or two.<br /><br />What a shambles. What a wretched example of leadership by a wretched man.<br /><br />Get out.Savonarolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07500688050397705993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-26548233774747428302009-11-09T16:17:04.636+00:002009-11-09T16:17:04.636+00:00It is very sad - and I almost felt sorry for Brown...It is very sad - and I almost felt sorry for Brown over this. However, it illustrates his complete lack of political judgement in two ways. The first, if you do something like this, get it right - get someone, Sara even to proof read it for you.<br />Second, it shows how foolish the NULab reaction was when the Sun offered a less than whole hearted endorsement of David cameron. They should have gritted their teeth and made an obsequious statement saying they believed the Sun was mistaken but they would do their damnedest to win back the Sun's trust. Instead they threw a hissy fit and Mandy called News International's great and good (assuming there are such beasts) c***s.<br />Since then the Sun has gone into attack mode and this is the latest example of it. It's not pretty and I do have sympathy for Brown here but he is paying the price of his own party's bad judgement here.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09377714749848742937noreply@blogger.com