All those lefties who were so quick to slag off Boris for his four letter rant at Keith Vaz last week [yes, Alastair Campbell, I can see you hiding at the back] will no doubt be looking at their shoes, sticking their fingers in their ears and singing la, la, la this evening, for it's happened to one of their own. Peter Mandelson was caught on camera saying "Who the f*** is he?" when he overheard Harold Schultz (chairman of Starbucks) describe the British economy as being in a "spiral of decline".
Mandy reckoned Schultz was talking Britain down. I don't blame him for reacting angrily. I rather admire him for his 'my country right or wrong' attitude.
But the trouble is, Mr Schultz was right. What is it they say about the truth hurting?
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ReplyDeleteDo you know something, I can't think of the last time Labour had a good news day. Isn't is lovely :)
ReplyDeleteAnd Messrs Draper and Hilton have kissed and made friends too, subtext is it was Dolly afterall and the price was to erase the whole spat *bleugh*
"Mandy reckoned Schultz was talking Britain down. I don't blame him for reacting angrily. I rather admire him for his 'my country right or wrong' attitude. "
ReplyDeleteYou don't seriously think that was the reason for the outburst, do you...?
What is a cabinet minister supposed to do? Say, 'Good heavens', (FM) he is right. Wish I'd thought of that'?
ReplyDeleteWe'd love him then wouldn't we? A cabinet minister says, we're in really deep shit here. I'd pack it in if I were you and just get pissed.
How we would praise him then.
You are right not to blame Mandelson.
Iain, come on! It's self-evidently not my country right or wrong. It's my party right or wrong.
ReplyDeleteMandy is no more interested in the fate of Britain than MacManiac is.
Mandy needs to secure his Euro pension, Gordo his place in the history books.
Everything else – and I mean this literally – is unimportant to them.
We are no more than drones on their march to immortality.
Clams Linguini said...
ReplyDeleteWhat is a cabinet minister supposed to do? Say, 'Good heavens', (FM) he is right. Wish I'd thought of that'?
We'd love him then wouldn't we?
-------------------------
Yes to the first question and no to the second. Unelected PM and Trade Secretary. Bunch of charlatans.
I was actually glad to see Mandy stick up for Britain. Give em hell Mandy!
ReplyDeleteWord Verification: STFU Harold Schutlz
Old Nightie,
ReplyDeleteChurchill was unlected, except as an MP, as were Anthony Eden, Harold Macmillan, Alec Douglas Home, James Callaghan John Major.
A few more besides.
What does Schultz now about the British economy?
ReplyDeleteAll he knows is that Starbucks here isn't doing as well as he'd like and that their profits in Sterling aren't worth as much as it was - so yeah, maybe Starbucks UK is in a spiral. It's not exactly doing well in the US either.
Maybe people have realised that being overcharged for coffee that's not so special isn't really on in the current economic climate.
Better value to be had supporting your local cafe rather than this huge corporate that's passed its peak.
A bit of a Java jibe
ReplyDeleteYou can get a good cup of coffee in Brazil!!!
This is spin. Labour have been doing the "don't talk Britain down" meme for a while, I wonder who thought it up.
ReplyDeleteIts a bit like the crew of the Titanic complaining about escaping passengers doing the ship down.
Predictably the Corporation laid into Boris with grave interviews on Today asking if his swearing had damaged him (even though this was a private phone call and we only had Vaz's word for what took place). But on tonight's six o'clock news Mandy's public outburst was treated with a mild bit of shoulder shrugging from Ms.Beeb. Perhaps Mandy should mind his language in public, she said in a 'what's the fuss about?' kind of way. You can always rely on auntie - at least for consistent double standards.
ReplyDeleteI thought he was great when he did the Peanuts cartoons........
ReplyDeletePlato said: And Messrs Draper and Hilton have kissed and made friends too, subtext is it was Dolly afterall and the price was to erase the whole spat *bleugh*
ReplyDeleteI'm not so sure...
According to a Director Search website, there is a Derek Draper who has:
6 Dissolved Directorships
and
4 Previous Directorships
And another Derek Draper who has:
3 Trading Directorships
and
2 Trading Shareholdings.
If they are both him he would have been a bit foolish to shout at Mr. Hilton for being un-Labourlike.
At least Schultz is a wealth creator. Whatever you think of his coffee - his firm has created thousands of jobs and paid millions in taxes. Mandy is a wealth taker and has never had to exist in the 'real' world. Big difference. I'd listen to Schultz over Mandy any day...
ReplyDeleteI'll try one more time. I may be a failure but I am a trier.
ReplyDeleteWhat is the government supposed to say? The situation is disatrous beyond belief? So, let's work on? Can you imagine Churchill saying in 1940 that the Nazi forces are immensely superior but with a bit of luck they'll attack the Soviet Union next year?
Darling did say that, pretty much, and got carpeted for it. Not in the same way that Brown likes a bit of carpet. See? I don't like him either.
Mandelson is good value. Again.
ReplyDeleteOh Mr Gareth
ReplyDeleteThat is some sleuthing. May I call you Sherlock?
There are according my Google knowledge only two Derek Drapers that have had lives interesting enough to have been noted.
One is a footballer and the other is Mr Toad.
Perhaps Mr Fawkes would like to see the shoe on the other foot? Or indeed Mr Hilton?
wv fises - 'nuff said!
Clams Linguini said...
ReplyDelete"What is the government supposed to say?"
It would have been so much better if he'd said f*** all. It's not as if the UK is in better financial shape than Starbucks is it, so a bit of humility might have been in order?
As if.
How dare a bloody foreigner run down the UK?! Doesn't he know there is a queue of locals waiting to do it already? Get in line mate.
ReplyDeleteI'm amazed the Tories aren't making more capital out of Mandy's "Lady Antoinette" moment a few weeks ago, to be honest.
ReplyDeleteAnton Howes said...
ReplyDelete"...but who actually is Schultz?"
He is a billion dollars more than you and Mandy put together.
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ReplyDelete@Clams Linguini
ReplyDeleteWe believed in Churchill's spin, he predicted that the Nazi's would attack, 10 years before it happened
Mandelson is right to stick up for the UK - but let's be honest Schultz is correct - The UK is the "weak link in the global economy".
ReplyDeleteBrown and Labour have a lot to be contrite to the voters about.
Iain, twittering this or that has no relevance.
ReplyDeleteWe're into helicoptering and golden parachutes yet half the nation is still on Facebook and Twitter.
Plato
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed and delighted that someone remembers the original Derek Draper. I saw him play many times. Used to have his autograph. Now I feel old!
Wtf does Mandy know about business anyway? This career parasite disgusts never created an honest £ in his life.
ReplyDeleteDarling...
ReplyDeleteI was so very very angry that I had to spill the beans, gedit? Beans... coffee. Do keep up Iain.
http://lordofmarrakech.blogspot.com/2009/02/who-fuck-is-fucking-shultz.html
@clams
ReplyDeleteOne thing Churchill never did was to shy away from saying it how it was. "The news from France is very bad" for example. These days it would be "the news from France, seasonally adjusted over the whole cycle, is excellent for the 60 millionth successive quarter". People respected the truth no matter how bad. Brown and Mandelson's problem unlike WC's was that tehy have helped create the unfolding UK economic disaster in the first place
"Mandy can't Bear the truth Because it Hurts"
ReplyDeleteI have noticed that the Truth and Socialists (all the left) are indeed VERY STRANGE bedfellows, and unknown to each other, ALWAYS!!
It's Howard Schultz. He's chairman and CEO of Starbucks (and founder). Do we think PM's outburst was spontaneous or calculated?
ReplyDeleteFor all my support of Boris, loathing of Zazz and contempt for Mandy, I think this is a bit piss-weak. No tirade.
ReplyDeleteBetter to keep the power dry than waste it on this particular element of the sideshow IMHO.
Two completely different matters: Boris is a Conservative and therefore must behave within the bounds of the acceptable, Mandy is a Labour grandee and can do and say whatever he likes.
ReplyDeleteThe problem with "my country right or wrong" is that it means you can never do anything to make it better. We & in particular the government should face the fact that we are in a mess & do something about it - mainly cutting the £200 billion real rise in government spending, the vastly destructive regulatory system that makes large building projects (bridges, tunnels, Domes) 13 times more expensive than in other countries & allow the free market to develop new technologies (nuclear power & GM).
ReplyDeleteThat would make the country better, in a few years the best in the world.