To Cameron's credit...

[theclaud]

(I'm not likely to say that often so I thought it might as well be the title)... he has refused to support the Dorries amendment on abortion counselling. It's being debated at the moment. It's even arguable that there is a point, at last, to Nick Clegg. I think it's a big deal - for once the Today programme managed to get someone with a bit of gumption on to pit against the dreadful Cristina Odone.

I'm putting this in the Cafe because the glacial pace of The Crank Arms isn't up to it. Mods will doubtless move it if they disagree. But there's not a lot going on in there. P&L would have been all over the ban on this as well. Where's Unkers when you need him?

 

[asterix]

The glacial pace of the Crank Arms?

Hello?
Is there anybody in there?
Just nod if you can hear me.
Is there anyone at home?
Come on, now,
I hear you're feeling down.
Well I can ease your pain
And get you on your feet again.
Relax.
I need some information first.
Just the basic facts
Can you show me where it hurts?

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
When I was a child I had a fever
My hands felt just like two balloons.
Now I've got that feeling once again
I can't explain you would not understand
This is not how I am.
I have become comfortably numb.

(solo)

I have become comfortably numb.

O. K.
Just a little pin prick.
There'll be no more AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
But you may feel a little sick.
Can you stand up?
I do believe its working. Good.
That'll keep you going through the show
Come on it's time to go.

There is no pain you are receding
A distant ship, smoke on the horizon.
You are only coming through in waves.
Your lips move but I can't hear what you're saying.
When I was a child
I caught a fleeting glimpse
Out of the corner of my eye
I turned to look but it was gone
I cannot put my finger on it now
The child is grown,
The dream is gone.
I have become comfortably numb.

 

[srw]

What is there to say? Dorries is wrong and a numpty. She's backed by some awfully unpleasant and secretive people. Cameron's got more than half an eye on Chipping Norton mummies with teenagers who go with bad boys.

And the phones4u ad is tasteless but quite entertaining - and the people who complained probably wear sandals with socks. Or rosaries with twinsets.

 

[dellzeqq]

as I write this Nadine Dorries is droning on in the House of Commons. Her speech is not really about abortion. It's really about Nadine Dorries. She's feeling quite sorry for herself. She reckons she's been savaged by the Guardian. I imagine that being savaged by the Guardian is a bit like being licked to death by a bloodhound with no teeth.

She's been undone by her own cleverness, cleverness of a distinctly Apollonian variety - that's to say the cleverness exhibited by people who are thick. She's trying to stop abortions by delaying the point at which women can obtain them (and, perversely, increasing the number of late abortions) and subjecting them to harassment (for it's little more than that) from cranky organisations that tell you that abortion leads to sterility or possession by devils, or, worse still, not being picked for netball. As opposed to bringing up a child that you didn't at any time want, which leads to poverty, resentment and, yes, the gratitude of Nadine Dorries. In the US you can get away with this kind of schtick, but here politicians have a modicum of self-respect, and, as TC wisely says (for she is always wise) Cameron has pulled the rug from under her feet.

Those of you who listened to PMQs would have heard La Dorries ask a question of such fantastic arsiness that Cameron had no option but to laugh in her face. I think she's done women a service. It's perfectly possible to oppose abortion on principled grounds, but it is going to be very difficult for anybody to resurrect the kind of ticky-tacky back-door harassment of women that characterises the US anti-abortion campaigning.

That's not to say it's all plain sailing. Protesters line up outside abortion clinics in the UK with pictures of foetuses and shouts of 'murderer'. Again, nobody would deny people the right to protest, but there's something a bit odd about missionaries from Omaha and Salt Lake City picketing abortion clinics in Birmingham.

Where are the Scientologists when you need the m?

 

[Wobblers]

I think you're being far to nice to that weasel Cameron.

After all, he was originally in favour of Dorries. Presumably he was prevailed upon to consider this was not exactly a vote winner. Which is hardily a principled stand, is it?

As for removing removing abortion counselling? FFS, how small minded, spiteful, petty and vindictive can you get? Which Cameron was quite happy to support originally. Nice. It occurs to me that perhaps the best contribution Dorries could make to society be one of silence.

 

[theclaud]

I think you're being far to nice to that weasel Cameron.

After all, he was originally in favour of Dorries. Presumably he was prevailed upon to consider this was not exactly a vote winner. Which is hardily a principled stand, is it?

As for removing removing abortion counselling? FFS, how small minded, spiteful, petty and vindictive can you get? It occurs to me that perhaps the best contribution Dorries could make to society be one of silence.

I couldn't care less. I just want the Dorries amendment to fail.

 

[Crackle]

I've watched this with a certain fascinated horror as it gathered pace. Echoes of the US were foremost in my mind. I've not followed it the last few days but I'm very pleased to hear Cameron has taken against it and it's come unstuck.

 

[Glow worm]

What is there to say? Dorries is wrong and a numpty. She's backed by some awfully unpleasant and secretive people. Cameron's got more than half an eye on Chipping Norton mummies with teenagers who go with bad boys.

Doesn't Clarkson live there?

Yes Dorries is wrong and a numpty, but at least she's a woman. I do get irritated by the tedious old men (normally in frocks) telling women what they should or should not be doing with their bodies.

 

[theclaud]

She's been undone by her own cleverness, cleverness of a distinctly Apollonian variety - that's to say the cleverness exhibited by people who are thick.

One for my Dualities thread! Not to mention a half-decent sig line...

 

[dellzeqq]

I'm sure Cameron put a finger up to see which way the wind was blowing, but, in fairness (sets fire to keyboard), he's got a decent record when it comes to gender and race. He took a lot on when he saw to it that the Conservatives had a more diverse slate before the last election, and nobody thanked him for it. My own guess is that he moved decisively when he thought it propitious to do so.

As for Cbristine Odone - I'd love to hear the Davywalnutwhips line on that one!

 

[theclaud]

Doesn't Clarkson live there?

Yes Dorries is wrong and a numpty, but at least she's a woman. I do get irritated by the tedious old men (normally in frocks) telling women what they should or should not be doing with their bodies.

My car broke down there once *shudder*. I reckon it's just as irritating if it's a woman, but if it helps, she's got Frank Field in tow...

 

[srw]

Doesn't Clarkson live there?

So does Cameron.

Yes Dorries is wrong and a numpty, but at least she's a woman. I do get irritated by the tedious old men (normally in frocks) telling women what they should or should not be doing with their bodies.

I get irritated by people telling people what they should or should not be doing with their bodies and with their minds. Whether the people wear frocks, twinsets, rosaries or "I'm an atheist" badges is utterly irrelevant.

 

[dellzeqq]

Doesn't Clarkson live there?

Yes Dorries is wrong and a numpty, but at least she's a woman. I do get irritated by the tedious old men (normally in frocks) telling women what they should or should not be doing with their bodies.

So it's ok for Dorries to tell women what to do with their bodies?

 

[srw]

My car broke down there once *shudder*.

Chippy is actually quite a nice little town - a typically unpretentious country market town on an old coaching/trading route. It's got a bad name because a number of well-connected numpties have chosen to live there.

 

[threebikesmcginty]

Chippy is actually quite a nice little town - a typically unpretentious country market town on an old coaching/trading route. It's got a bad name because a number of well-connected numpties have chosen to live there.

Some of us give it a bad reputation even though we're un-connected numpties!