tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post7000132627685235033..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Bustin' and Dronin' on Question TimeIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-67905130215830033382008-01-27T18:54:00.000+00:002008-01-27T18:54:00.000+00:00Oh I don't know - I thought it served as a timely ...Oh I don't know - I thought it served as a timely reminder to our 'yoof' of what a few years doing sex, drugs and rock and roll can do to you.<BR/><BR/>Interesting that after years of promoting everything at variance with middle class values, he is now a sheep farmer in Gloucestershire!<BR/><BR/>Guess puberty hit him late!<BR/><BR/>Bet his kids won;t be allowed to live their formative lives as he did.<BR/><BR/>They should have you on Iain!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-44178361445262333342008-01-26T18:33:00.000+00:002008-01-26T18:33:00.000+00:00Bragg is at least the "milkman of human kindness" ...Bragg is at least the "milkman of human kindness" - Alex James is just a cheesemaker. And a minor member of a great 90s Britpop band. Why not give Ringo a gig on QT? He has been quite articulate lately on life in Liverpool 8.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-38270800751528688632008-01-26T15:28:00.000+00:002008-01-26T15:28:00.000+00:00At least my barb at David Lammy MP about North Kor...At least my barb at David Lammy MP about North Korea was entertainingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-84715101138930806472008-01-26T03:27:00.000+00:002008-01-26T03:27:00.000+00:00Why does the BBC think that second rate entertaine...Why does the BBC think that second rate entertainers like Alex James, the talentless Davina McCall and Billy Bragg are any better informed than the rest of us?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29348477659913742032008-01-26T01:58:00.000+00:002008-01-26T01:58:00.000+00:00Alex James. What a tool.Alex James. What a tool.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-6777222574261583042008-01-25T21:17:00.000+00:002008-01-25T21:17:00.000+00:00Davina McCall and Heather Mills were worse.Davina McCall and Heather Mills were worse.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23247926594569856952008-01-25T20:40:00.000+00:002008-01-25T20:40:00.000+00:00Yes he's obviously a twat but it shouldn't stop th...Yes he's obviously a twat but it shouldn't stop the programme from trying out celebrity guests in future panels.<BR/><BR/>Occasionally it will work but we may have to suffer a few pillocks along the way.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-61105018371917493402008-01-25T19:58:00.000+00:002008-01-25T19:58:00.000+00:00He was indeed terrible but unlike Davina McCall wa...He was indeed terrible but unlike Davina McCall was not full of himself and spouting ill thought-through pseudo-opinions.<BR/><BR/>So Alex James was the second worst guest ever on QT after McCall.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72374451447259372112008-01-25T17:56:00.000+00:002008-01-25T17:56:00.000+00:00I expect as a pop singer he could be expected to b...I expect as a pop singer he could be expected to be generally suportive of the BBC/liberal/socialist views.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-13038766223682233872008-01-25T17:55:00.000+00:002008-01-25T17:55:00.000+00:00As Alistair Campbell once said about someone else ...As Alistair Campbell once said about someone else "he seems strangely detached" (from reality).Twighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16698620636313191152noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-18784106365549947572008-01-25T17:29:00.000+00:002008-01-25T17:29:00.000+00:00Le pigeon makes an interesting observation about T...Le pigeon makes an interesting observation about Tories not putting up "big hitters" to twat Labour.<BR/><BR/>This is clearly a deliberate ploy. To avoid the nasty party tag. And to save the gaffers from embarrassment too. Did Cameron ever do it?<BR/><BR/>Grayling is an excellent choice for a spokesman because he is so mild mannered yet quietly assertive and impressively clear. No sign of swivel eyes, knee jerks or hamming about.Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-51738470639090009842008-01-25T14:57:00.000+00:002008-01-25T14:57:00.000+00:00I didn't see Alex James. Can he really be even wor...I didn't see Alex James. Can he really be even worse than Billy Bragg?Little Black Sambohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16699227938165106710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24252296002227564062008-01-25T14:18:00.000+00:002008-01-25T14:18:00.000+00:00"Can anyone name me a more inane Question Time pan..."Can anyone name me a more inane Question Time panellist than the former Blur band member Alex James?"<BR/><BR/>Let's wait to paass judgment on this one until they've invited you on, eh, Iain?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72931617300255840892008-01-25T13:21:00.000+00:002008-01-25T13:21:00.000+00:00I was really disappointed by Alex James last night...I was really disappointed by Alex James last night. The columns that he writes in The Speccy and other places are typically quite good (as was his book), it's just a shame he couldn't articulate for toffee last night.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-11752709283104576252008-01-25T13:05:00.000+00:002008-01-25T13:05:00.000+00:00Actually I thought that while he was clearly not u...Actually I thought that while he was clearly not used to public speaking he brought a few useful points from outside politics into the debate (for example that £250,000 is, in some circumstances, a small publicity budget).<BR/><BR/>On the other hand I thought Oliver Letwin not only stuck to cliches but delivered them hesitantly.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-7657987445877536452008-01-25T12:49:00.000+00:002008-01-25T12:49:00.000+00:00Try reading Alex James' autobiography, "bit of of ...Try reading Alex James' autobiography, "bit of of a blur".<BR/><BR/>He is reasonably bright, in a plodding sort of way, and candid about his time with Blur. Unfortunately, he comes across as an utter wanker, out of touch with reality.<BR/><BR/>Up against professional toadies and used car salesmen masquerading as our leaders, he did not look good; if there was a group dynamic he was not in it. <BR/><BR/>He is used to being treated like a guru, but spouts the kind of homespun drivel last seen leaving the lips of Danny the hippy in Withnail and I.<BR/><BR/>The "autobiography" reveals a dearth of self-awareness. That much was obvious from his bizarre stint on Question Time.Wrinkled Weaselhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05291551539649118631noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-57297937835715954572008-01-25T12:32:00.000+00:002008-01-25T12:32:00.000+00:00iain just wants a go himself. but he's right, that...iain just wants a go himself. but he's right, that alex james was awfulAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-22678645772775763112008-01-25T12:25:00.000+00:002008-01-25T12:25:00.000+00:00This Week have had guests from the entertainment i...This Week have had guests from the entertainment industry who have been very articulate so I would not write them all off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-8933133189301311502008-01-25T12:14:00.000+00:002008-01-25T12:14:00.000+00:00Oh, Andy (1:09am) is right - that Tory PPC was aby...Oh, Andy (1:09am) is right - that Tory PPC was abysmal, but at least she could be bothered to string coherent sentences together. <BR/><BR/>I must add that when Alex James said something to the effect that ratification of the Constitution was a 'gift from the government' I nearly choked.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-8870222485971547852008-01-25T12:10:00.000+00:002008-01-25T12:10:00.000+00:00Quite right, he was awful Iain. I didn't notice a ...Quite right, he was awful Iain. I didn't notice a single comment with any substance from the man.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-21558242838588935302008-01-25T11:36:00.000+00:002008-01-25T11:36:00.000+00:00I also feel this lack of really sticking the knife...I also feel this lack of really sticking the knife in is counterproductive... you can see that the British people at large are sick of the incompetence, they are sick of the sleaze, they are angry at the fact they are not given a referendum on the EU constitution/treaty, and yet they don't see the Conservatives reflecting their anger, properly holding the government to account on their mismanagement. I watch PMQs every week. Brown goes on about hating ‘punch and judy politics’ and yet he stops any real debate from happening by constantly refusing to answer even the simplest of questions. This is bad enough, but it is the Conservatives who should be fully attacking him on this. I’m bored of Cameron’s style at PMQs, every week he does the same old thing, asking straight questions which Brown just swats away, and then getting very excited in his concluding question. Can you imagine if Blair was fighting someone like Brown in his current state? He would make mincemeat of him. The Conservative front bench are too nice, too interested in towing the line of the way politicians ‘should’ act… when in reality, they should be asking the questions the British public are screaming at the tv every week…PMQs is a time when the PM is meant to be held to account, its not a press conference, and frankly it’s a completely pointless exercise if the PM refuses to answer any question. But the Conservatives should highlight that. I’m sick of seeing this government think they are above criticism & the law, and get away with it!Le pigeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627203791238709880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-80198108098710054812008-01-25T11:29:00.000+00:002008-01-25T11:29:00.000+00:00Alex is a pig farmer and is used to dealing with p...Alex is a pig farmer and is used to dealing with pigs. That's why he fitted in nicely last night. I agree that his appearance was questionable. He is clearly politically unaware, poor chap. I only caught a wee bit of Guido on Newsnight, but at least he was much more articulate than Mr. James.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-29518546529522436162008-01-25T11:17:00.000+00:002008-01-25T11:17:00.000+00:00I have to agree with your comments about Alex Jame...I have to agree with your comments about Alex James. The bbc hyped him up as 'now a writer and broadcaster, and a columnist for the Independent, the Observer and the Spectator'... but when he got in the programme he seemed to have nothing whatsoever to say. I agree it was embarrassing.<BR/><BR/>I have another point to raise, something I have never heard raised. It seems really obvious to me. Does the Conservative party take Questiontime seriously? It is one of the bbc's main political programmes, and yet the Conservative party continues to put forward their weakest members, at a time when they should really be putting the knife into a Labour party on the rocks. Oliver Letwin may be an intelligent guy, but he couldn't fight his way out of a paper bag. I heard Chris Grayling described as 'a tory attack dog' yesterday on the bbc... and yet every time I see him, he seems mild and hardly threatening to anyone. Why don't the Conservative party put the big hitters forward? people who could make a convincing argument (when was the last time William Hague was on?). There is an open goal here, and nobody seems motivated to step forward and take advantage of it. People who don't just stumble over their words when the Labour drones repeat time after time the excuse that the Hain/Alexander/Harman ‘donorgate’ law breaking is just a symptom of a larger problem in British politics? The Conservative party has an opportunity to make real concrete moves in the public eye as an alternative to the incompetence of this Labour administration, and yet they continue to fudge the issue. Can you imagine the bile coming out of Labour mouths if the tables were turned and this was a tory problem? I am all for constructive politics, but when the government makes mistakes, the opposition shouldn't be so nice about it, they should swat away the constant excuses made by Labour MPs fully illustrate their incompetence to the public... isn't that the duty of the opposition?Le pigeonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04627203791238709880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-24814630954418801112008-01-25T11:08:00.000+00:002008-01-25T11:08:00.000+00:00Only caught the end of it as the train crash on BB...Only caught the end of it as the train crash on BBC2 was compulsory. Did GuF break Hain? No he didn't make must difference at all. Looked rough as hell also. Silly soundbite about dithering like a donkey.<BR/><BR/>As anonymous 12:39am said: "Guido Fawkes??"<BR/><BR/>James was a bit odd it's true. But I rather liked his reducing to absurdity attitude to some dim points from elsewhere.<BR/><BR/>Why blether 400 words in two minutes like a Letwin when you can say in 10 seconds and 30 words - no need for a refenrendum this is a service provided by MPs to stop us having to engage with such crap.<BR/><BR/>Or asking the obvious question of whether anyone was actually offended by the three little pigs story. Letwin was brilliant on that - pointing out that he and Howard took no offence whatsoever from the famous pigs might fly non-advert.<BR/><BR/>Unusual James, but less of a car crash than GuF. Because James does not think he's the bee's knees.Chris Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15679067503215414300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-65599408265136384262008-01-25T10:57:00.000+00:002008-01-25T10:57:00.000+00:00It was all a bit of a blur to him.I think they sho...It was all a bit of a blur to him.<BR/><BR/>I think they should have a guest Chair and put Dimbleby on the panel.anthonynorthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06680944720744601697noreply@blogger.com