Friday 11 September 2009

Top 3 stories: Thursday 10 September

These are the stories that have garnered my attention today.

3Republican Represenetative Joe Wilson of South Carolina last night shouted “You Lie!” at President Obama during his special address to Congress.  Today he apologised to the White House, and his apology was accepted.  He should be barred from the chamber for about 3 months or so.  In the UK, calling a politician a liar in the Palace Of Westminster is not allowed.  Offenders get named and shamed, ejected from the chamber, and then barred from returning for a length of time determined by his fellow politicians.  Joe Wilson got away lightly.  South Carolina’s electors should show their displeasure with him at the next election in Nov 2010.

2Another South Carolina Republican is in trouble.  Governor Mark Sanford held another press conference today in order to fight the growing calls for him to resign.  He even stated today that moves to impeach him should wait until an ethics investigation ends.  He will even take legal action to prevent a preliminary report from being given to state legislators.  HE could save all this trouble, and he should.  He should resign.

1The kidnapping of New York Times reporter Stephen Farrell was a story that the paper famous for “all the news that’s fit to print”, didn’t want to print, and didn’t want anybody else to report.  Executive Editor Bill Keller told NPR’s Talk Of The Nation programme that he had conducted a campaign to keep the story out of the news.  This is the first time I’ve heard of this happening.  Usually news organisations bite the bullet and report anyway.  Bill Keller needs to rethink that strategy for the future.

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