The Guardian against Obama?
Posted by Alan Collins on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at 14:14

Sen. Obama - does The Guardian have a problem with printing his face in their paper? Photo: Barack Obama 2008 - www.BarackObama.com

Many people in the British media are chastising Demorcatic candidate Hilary Clinton for not making herslef available to them.

On the contrary, rival Barack Obama has been very open and approachable, as was demonstrated in The Guardian’s ‘Super Tuesday’ guide today, which included a photograph of Obama surrounded by jorunalists’ dictaphones.

It doesn’t, however, show his face. Nor do the other two photographs from his campaign, whereas Clinton and Republican favourite John mcCain have prime, face-on photos with their supporters behind them.

Is The Guardian more interested in his enthusiastic supporters, diverse in their age and ethnicity, than the policy-less potential threat to ‘homeland’ and international security?

Or do they genuinely admire his sporadic naïvety, and are merely openly declaring precisely how photogenic this unexperiences candidate isn’t?

116 Views | No Comments | Print This Post

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Freedom of Medway to be conferred upon the Royal Engineers
Posted by Alan Collins on Thursday, January 24th, 2008 at 12:13

Medway Council voted unanimously to confer the “honorary freedom of the borough” on the Royal Engineers, at a special meeting last Thursday.

The freedom of the borough is the highest honour a Council can give and all but two of the 55 Medway Councillors were present and voted for the motion, which read:

In pursuance of the power vested in it by virtue of section 249 of the Local Government Act 1972, the Council confers the honorary freedom of the borough on the Corps of Royal Engineers in perpetuity, in the interests of cementing and fostering the close and longstanding bonds of friendship and mutual respect existing between the Corps of Royal Engineers, Medway Council and its predecessor authorities.

In a rare act during the discussion, the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Medway also spoke on the topic, which was dear to the hearts of many of the Councillors assembled.

I for one welcome the move, as a great recognition of the tremendous work that the Royal Engineers do and marking the first ten years of the Medway Unitary Authority.

Continue Reading “Freedom of Medway to be conferred upon the Royal Engineers” »

260 Views | 1 Comment | Print This Post

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“We thank you. We admire you. God bless you all.”
Posted by Alan Collins on Friday, November 23rd, 2007 at 14:27

The heartfelt words of Councillor Nick Brice were greeted with unanimous agreement across the council chamber as they debated Councillor Rodney Chambers’ motion supporting our Armed Forces on Thursday, November 22.

The motion’s text, which was agreed unanimously, as written in the agenda, is as follows: “Our armed forces are acting in the highest traditions of our nation in their conduct of operations overseas. Reservists and regular servicemen and women alike share the burden and risks and they do so in the most difficult of circumstances, with great pressure on manpower and other resources. On behalf of the people of Medway this Council wishes to express admiration at the bravery, endurance and professionalism of our servicemen and women, as well as the fortitude and quiet courage of their families at home in the United Kingdom.”

The response from members was overwhelming, and below I have decided to share as much of it with you as possible, interspersed with my personal opinions on some members’ comments.

Continue Reading ““We thank you. We admire you. God bless you all.”” »

335 Views | 5 Comments | Print This Post

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Assessing the local election in Medway: a sad state of affairs if politics has come to this
Posted by Alan Collins on Sunday, June 3rd, 2007 at 03:52

For some people it is about the party. For others it is about the people. For most it is about not bothering to turn up at all. But for those who do turn out in local elections, it is about voting for candidates to work hard for residents.

Or so I thought. Because whilst my faith in the electorate’s ability to select a suitable candidate on merit isn’t entirely dead yet, one of the little darlings of the RMGS Year 13 darlings decided who he was going to vote for based on the name. Or, to be more precise, the name Crack.

Continue Reading “Assessing the local election in Medway: a sad state of affairs if politics has come to this” »

347 Views | 1 Comment | Print This Post

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -