大象传媒

All quiet on the political front then is it?

"If you're at a loose end..."

We could discuss Harriet Harperson threatening to ride roughshod over the rule of law in a personal vendetta against one man.

Thanks Nick.

Didn't get the Bee Gee treatment then?

I'm intrigued as to just how we are going to work out which way the mods are going to jump on this thread - as to what is on and off topic....

So, has El Gordo got a target amongst previous PM's? Somebody that he can be ranked as being better than them as a PM?

Now that would be an interesting conversation to have with him.

Nick,

so why exactly are you going on the wasted trip to America. is this some sort of reward for failure.

In the court of public opinion I think that the 大象传媒 is wasting an awful lot of money. For example is there not already an American team who could cover what Brown sys. Actually the whole fiasco is doomed to failure. I mean the man, Brown, will do anything to avoid having to answer questions during PMQs.

I just cannot believe what has been going on, will for example the PM ask Obama what exactly has happened to the many detainees who have been handed over by the British to the American forces.

Is the PM going to tell the President that enough is enough and that we will be withdrawing from Afghanistan by the end of the year. Nothing is being achieved there is a terrible loss of life, and we are not winning any hearts and minds.

Tell the President that we all now agree that we were lied to over the war against Iraq and that unless action is taken now we will still be in Iraq and Afghanistan for years to come.

So Nick, I hope to have reports from your journey that it was nothing other than a PR stunt, and that Obama cannot wait until he
can have a new relationship with a new PM.

I wonder if public opinion will have any sway at all, the PM is nothing but a fraud, I mean, yah boo hiss Goodwin is getting a pension that most other people can only dream about, and what can Gordon do, nothing, absolutley nothing. I mean Gordon who exactly has voted for you in England. Nobody!

Why are the 大象传媒 wasting our liscene fee by sending you to the States.

You won't even ask proper questions, rather pander to whatever Mandleson or Campbell tell you to ask the PM

All Brown will do is to act like a hero and try to get some sort of endorsement of his (reckless) spending plans.

Brown is finished and the sooner we have an election the better

"Gordon Brown has said he is looking "every possible avenue" legally to reduce former RBS chief Sir Fred Goodwin's 拢16m pension deal. "

How much governmental time and effort will be spent of this slight of hand rather than working on solving the Country's problems?

Well, Lots going on in the world any you post this.

Why is it noone in the 大象传媒 including Andrew Marr prepared to ask Harman the key question about why Fred the shred's pension was signed off and Why Lord Myners has not resigned. Of course there is the 325 billion yes thats right 325 BILLION Gordo has just burned over RBS and it hardly gets a mention.


And then there's the case of the civil servant rant that still doesnt seem to have been reported anywhere on the 大象传媒. Not when I searcherd for it at any rate. Why not>????

But then of course the 大象传媒 is absolutely impartial isnt it,??

Yes, please ask Crash about this Harriet out burst yesterday

Is he really going to be so Draconian or is it really really political and Harriet is demonstrating just how outside the box Crash's policy is?

Hence by doing so she has effectively held him up as a person of derision and scorn, is that what she wanted to do?

She really does want the top job then when Crash is booted out

Watching the footage of BO and GB last year, did anyone else think that "he's just not that into you" was relevant?

Nick
Lets turn this into a suggested questions for the PMQ. You Nick can pretend you are Leader of the Opposition rather than a fully briefed first question from the Labour benches.

Question to the PM

Both the Governor of the BofE and Lord Turner suggested that you Mr Brown should take the blame for the busted economy. When are you going to apologize to the British taxpayers?

Brown-word bingo for the speech to congress;

Global crisis 2/1
Work together 5/2
Special relationship 10/1
Support for banks 15/1

It was all my fault 100000/1

What a waste of our license fee.

Philip Stevens (FT) reported (and I quote)that Mark Thompson has "subtly recast" the license fee bargain, arguing that the tax is justified not so much by the quality of programming, but by its "reach". Once reach becomes the test, the 大象传媒 has a "mandate" to dumb down its output to compete for viewers with commercial broadcasters. It has, in effect, become "publicly financed rather than a public service broadcaster". A proposed alternative - to share the license fee among those willing to reclaim the 大象传媒's original mission - has been all but abandoned, leaving us with a 大象传媒 that "exists essentially to serve, well, the 大象传媒".

Can you refute this, Nick?

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

I'd simply assume that the 大象传媒 will report Brown's trip by saying that Brown has been teaching Obama about economics (following Brown teaching the EU about what they should do, now it's the american's turn to be taught by the master), and that Obama is going to continue to do everything that Brown tells him to do.

"Brown saved Europe at the latest EU meeting, and now he's saving america. Obama hangs on his every word." will be the 大象传媒 headlines.

No time for a novice, right nick? In which case the 大象传媒 logic should mean that Obama is the worst person possible to be the u.s. president, seeing as he hadn't been president before, and thank goodness that Brown is there to save/teach him.

But then again, if you've actually listened to Obama's recent speeches since he became president, you'll have heard that he doesn't actually agree with anything that Brown's done at all, and he states clear reasons as to why Brown's whole approach is mad and doomed to failure.

Obama's playing hard-ball with their banks; "If you don't lend to viable customers/business, then you don't get tax payers money; you fall on your own with no help from us because this is not your money, it's tax payers' money." says Obama. Meanwhile Brown couldn't even be bothered to read the multi-billion dollar contracts he signed with our banks.

Spot the difference.

I wish I was an American right now, at least they have hope. With Brown/Labour in charge there is absolutely no hope here.

2 Questions:

What is Brown doing swanning off to see Obama when he has a whole host of household chores to do in the UK?

Secondly and possible more pertinent, what the dickens are you doing going with him?

Waste, waste, waste. The public servants' mantra!

So you dont think that yesterdays comments by a Government minister which show complete disregard for the rule of Law are worth commenting on Nick ?



I dont know what is more scary a Minister saying these things or a media ignoring them.

2. At 11:35am on 02 Mar 2009, yellowbelly1959

When the going gets tough, those who keep saying 'tough'... selectively... leave the country? Though, it seems, we pay.

Had myself a little bet on what would make it on Aunty's screens and pages today, and what would not... by way of 'omissions' under the 'enhanced narrative', 'emerging truth', 'could have been better phrased' school of reporting that suits the agenda du jour.

Looks like I win. Sadly, it's in pounds.

Hope Mess(ers) Brown & Robinson have no need of the national currency whilst pursuing vital national interests elsewhere.

I knew the law was an ass. Now it looks like it is one that may be led by the nose wherever venal pols and lawyers may wish to direct it. Ably supported by some in the media. Sigh.

Nicholas, I heard the Sir Robert Walpole one last night on the Carolyn Quinn programme, Westminster Hour. Nice and informative.

I chuckled.

Walpole didn't so much as take the job of "Prime Minster" as steal it. For l;onger than Blair and Thatcher combined you said?

Any danger to him - allegedly - Jacobites to the right of him - Jacobites to the - er - right of him again perhaps? lol

There is nothing new in politics is there?

Now there is a thought, PM Gordon Brown.

We have taken our eye of the Jacobite ball aint we?

Suggestion of a danger from that quarter - must be good for at least two more years in Number 10 - allegedly.

It seems like Harperson is being hung out to dry, after her positioning of herself yesterday to be the next leader of the Labour party.

===

"Harriet Harman's Cabinet colleagues conspicuously refused today to back her assertion that Sir Fred Goodwin will not be allowed to claim his 拢693,000 pension even if he is lawfully entitled to it.

The Labour deputy leader created a stir yesterday when she said that the former RBS chief, forced into early retirement last October ahead of a Government bailout of the banking group, could not expect to keep drawing his pension because "the court of public opinion" would not allow it. She even hinted that the Government could pass a law to claw back the cash.

鈥淭he Prime Minister has said it is not acceptable and therefore it will not be accepted,鈥� Ms Harman told the 大象传媒.

But asked about her comments today, Gordon Brown refused to repeat the assertion, although he told talkSport radio that the Government was investigating 鈥渆very possible avenue鈥� legally to reduce Sir Fred鈥檚 pension.

Ms Harman was also cut adrift by Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, who similarly refused to endorse her declaration that Sir Fred would not be allowed to keep his full pension come what may.

鈥淭he Prime Minister has been adamant that there should not be, in the banking system and more widely, reward for failure,鈥� the Home Secretary told Sky News. 鈥淚 hope that (Sir Fred) will respond to, as Harriet described it, the court of public opinion as well as the strict legalities of the situation.鈥�

Nick Robinson:
I will be waiting for you reportage about the trip to the United States...

~Dennis Junior~

Nick,

can I indicate a response which was actually made in parliament with regard to prisoners detained by UK forces and handed over to the Americans:

'In areas outside multinational division south east, UK forces have undertaken operations to capture individuals who were subsequently detained by the United States. These individuals do not feature in the data that I have set out today, but I want to reassure the House that the review has concluded that UK forces have exercised appropriately their responsibilities towards all captured personnel handed to US custody, whether in Multi-national Division (South East) or elsewhere, and that it has uncovered no evidence of mistreatment'. Now this answer is in Hansard Column 394 on 26 February 2009.

He continued 'our detention operations in Iraq and Afghanistan are underpinned by arrangements with our international partners. We have a memorandum of understanding in place with the government of Afghanistan signed on 23 April 2006, covering the treatment of individuals detained by UK forces and transferred to Afghan custody. We also have a memorandum of understanding with Iraq, agreed on 8 November 2004, on the treatment of detainees transferred to Iraqi custody. Iraqi Interior, Justice and Defence Ministers have confirmed to us that Iraqi detention procedures remain consistent with the principles set out in that memorandum of understanding'.

Now read the above with great care but check the dates as to when these came into operation and what has been done to ensure that the above comments are still valid or were valid at the time that our soldiers were detaining people. Exactly what has happened to all the people we detained, where are they now? Will the government dare to put into the public domain the various agreements and memorandi as refrred to by the new Minister.

I wonder if Gordon Brown will dare to ask that confirmation of this comment will be given in public by the new President. If he can then he should otherwise we will know that the statement made by Hutton was just so much waffle, and half truth.

the soundtrack to the movie of life continues
LOOSE ENDS HANGING ON A STRING LYRICS

Post 13.

I very much doubt Gordon the Gollum will blame it all on the American's like he does in the UK.

Nick: Questions to ask Brown

Who elected you as Prime Minister?

Why are you our Prime Minister?

Why have you burdened every person in the UK with 拢33,000 worth of debt?

Why don't you just give the 拢300,000,000,000 bailout money to the general public directly? Why are you giving it to the same people who have stolen millions of pounds?

Why do you privitise profits and nationalise losses?

When will you resign for the sake of this country's future?

More interesting were the comments by a lawyer interviewed on 大象传媒 news who said if this government were to try to bring new laws in on pensions retrospectively then there would be no law.

What is going on here?

We need answers and fast,

Gordon Brown has dessimated our pensions enough already.

Is Fred Goodwin only part of his tactics to dessimate them even more.

After all Harriet Harmin was careful enough to quote Gordon Brown yesterday.

Does he also realise that any laws brought in could work against him and Blair retrospectively?

Are they all clowns in number 10?

In the court of public opinion brown is complete lame duck (possibly crossed with a headless chicken).

The only thing of any interest at all about him going to the USA is that it may slow the rate of damage he is doing to the UK.

Oh maybe a second thing of interest - seeing how he weasles and squirms as he *doesnt* tell obama that it is all americas fault.

You will push him on that won't you? He keeps telling us it is the USAs fault - he won't let him get away with changing his story for obama will you?

There is I believe a way that Sir Freds pension could be scythed back to a more reasonable level. I write this as a former Trustee of a pension fund but I an not aware of the situation within the RBS Pension fund.

Benefits from a fund are approved by the Trustees based on the rules of the fund. If a member leaves early to take a pension it has to be approved and he normally suffers an actuarial reduction of say 7% a year, in this case 70%.

The RBS Chairman and directors agreed with Sir Fred that he could go early but they are not the Trustees. As the pension fund is in deficit to the tune of 2bn there aren't sufficient funds available to pay this improved pension unless additional money is paid into the fund by the Company. As the fund is in deficit and the company is looking decidedly dodgy it would be quite within the rights of the Trustees for them to decline to pay Sir Fred unless all the 2bn was paid into the fund first.

It would be interesting to read exactly what went on in the Trustees meeting, indeed have they approved the pension?

Dear Nick,

Will you ask Brown if he has the bottle to deploy his - 'it's all America's fault' - line, when he addresses the U.S Congress?

After all - Brown wrote the book when it come's to courage. So surely, he'll let the Yank's know whose to blame. And since the whole world knows that it's Washington's fault (well that's what the nice Mr. Brown has told me - anyway) perhaps he'd ask the U.S taxpayer to foot the bill for our bank bailouts. I'm mean, it's not if our reglatory system was in any way deficent - is it?

Actually Nick - I don't care what you ask Brown; as long as for once, you demand a real and truthful answer.

Gordon Brown and the Labour party are planning riots this summer so that he can declare a state of emergency and no longer be required to call a general election in 2010

Nick

Enjoy the US.

Remember: "Global problems require global solutions."

Can you ask Barak whether he can get rid of Gordon Brown for us in the UK? Surely the UN can pass a resolution for regime change!

By using the expression 'court of public opinion', rather than the conventional 'pressure of public opinion', Harman was obviously attempting to give the impression that the widespread views on Goodwin's pension arrangements carried some sort of legal validity.

It was a typical political ploy to mislead the gullible. She should be castigated for such calculated dishonesty.

During the flight there must be a spare minute to ask Brown about the subletting of his constituency office.

The Badloss pension fuss was convenient to bury that subletting in. Well done again Campbell!

Nick

I used to have a job where I travelled around the worls. Unfortunately, I had to do some free thinking work when I went to them and not just do as I was told. Sat hello to Alastair for me.

If it is on message, could you please ask our PM why, if it is a Global problem, is our currency doing so bad against the dollar and euro?

Try and bring me some duty free back before the prices go up.

#30 - that's a very good point.

Brown has been very keen to tell us that this crisis is all down to the Americans - it's all their fault. He's also, recently, been preaching to us that people must be held accountable for this crisis, and that those who have made mistakes should not be rewarded and must pay financially...

So, Brown will be asking Obama for several billion pounds then? After all, if this crisis is all down to them, the least they can do is foot the bill.

I look forward to our courageous PM demanding the Americans settle their dues.....

I fear that the Deputy Prime Minister has opened a can of worms.... indicating that the government will take account of the "court of public opinion鈥�

Shall we start a list of where governments (in the last 25 years - in an act of fairness) have gone counter to that court and have ploughed on with their policies regardless....

Let me start

1. The Iraq war

2. Where 60% of the price of a litre of fuel is paid to the government in tax/duty (though it鈥檚 those thieving oil companies fault really)

3. The Poll Tax...

4. My least favourite but its still true - the majority of the public in the UK want to see the death penalty reinstated.

I imagine the spin doctors in Number 10 have having a great time working out how to tell us all that "You are misquoting her, thats not what she meant to say . what she really meant was...",

Oh no, not Brown making a *** of himself in the US again... why can he not get a grip of the tide of change and exit like Bush.

He'll scare the living daylights out of Obama with his strange facial contortions that he passes off as smiles and then come back declaring the trip a wild success.

He probably hasn't noticed that his mates in the EU are all at each others throats as the European project flounders due to cash shortages.

Protectionism is not a foul word, it refers rightly to survival and rebuilding of strength rather than the squander and fritter ways of G brown and his pals.

Why are all the bolggers jumping ship and leaving the UK this week.... Do you and Robert know something we dont...


Oh by the way dont get snowed in in the north east cost of the states.

Nick,

As you have invited input, I hope you are going to respond to that input, not just dismiss it as 'bloggers ire'.

The comments you receive are largely negative of Brown and the 大象传媒 in pretty much equal measure.

This can of course be dismissed as the rantings of the blogosphere, but suppose for a minute you and the 大象传媒 give it the sort of credence that you give, ooh I don't know, whatever No. 10 announces?

So, we are going to take the displeasure expressed here (and elsewhere) as the possible indicators of dissatisfaction with the current Government, and the free ride they get from the 大象传媒. Right? Good.

Now ask Brown some proper searching journalistic questions about how it all went so wrong and how he can claim he had nothing to do with it.

Then ask if he's going to look for some sort of Obama bounce and call an election.

Then ask what happened to the Adrian Green investigation, or the Labour Peers troughing inquiry, or Mandy's sailing exploits, or his mortgage. Then ask about Jaqui's expenses, and Tony's coining it and Prescott's hypocritical pension (one point six million) and the gerrymandering Papal invitation. And maybe throw one in on the public debt?


Then talk to whoever edits this site and ask if they are going to take off their Red Rose tinted spectacles and give the British public what they deserve, and pay for, and have some objective reporting.

Or maybe just enjoy your junket....

Nick
Ask Gordon Brown what he thinks of Tony Blair getting there first. I saw that charlatan on some programme yesterday: Is he wearing a wig these days? He's got these 'elder statesman grey' temples and a Frankie Howard type of ginger thing on the top! Bizarre!

Nick,

At their Joint Press Conference, please can you ask President Obama if he agrees with Gordon Brown's analysis that the Global downturn started in America and was Washington's fault.

A simple question. And one that is bound to make the news. Furthermore, aren't journalists supposed to ask tough questions - so how about it Nick?

Remember Brown's be saying it's America's fault for eighteen months - now we could find out if our PM has the courage to say it to their faces...

Well it's great news that Gordon Brown has finally decided to go to America where all this problem started.

After all, it's the Americans fault all this mess happened and I jolly well hope Gordon Brown will take no time telling all the Americans how it is just so.

Then I presume he will come back with an answer from the Americans telling how to sort it all out.

But then again; pigs might fly.

Gordon Brown os a discredited fool and the Americans know it; the sooner they sen him packing with his tail between his legs the sooner we can;

Call an election

Nick,

I wonder who will handle PMQs this week. Whoever it is will they read out the names of the dead soldiers this week or will they say that Hutton has already read them out. This is a national disgrace, if they adjourn for the death of a baby, the son of the leader of the oppiosition then they can adjourn for the death of a soldier, or is he not the son of anybody important.

Also, it has been pointed out the the soldiers are suffering terribly from stress disorers, mostly from having seen things I don't think anybody should see, and also that they now know that they have been following illegal orders, which is conformed if you read the Hutton speech last week.

I can only imagine that Harriet Harman is now desperately trying to persuade Jacqui Smith to hand back the 拢116,000 in housing expenses she claimed.... After all, that may have been 'within the rules' but seemingly the 'Court of Public Opinion' has overriding jurisdiction in these matters.

Is Harman, in her new role of 'Champion of the Public Opinion', also proposing retrospective legislation to stop MPs misappropriating out taxes?? She'd better be prepared for the fall-out after putting a few of her colleagues' noses out of joint if she is...

How both houses of congress can seriously listen to GB lecture them on the economy, when GB is a major player in the cause of the current "difficulties" I don't know.

He certainly won't be saying "It started in America...." instead will be gushing on about how cooperation will lead to a quick recovery, how the USA can lead the recovery and why BO is his best friend. Soundbites.

Global this , global that. Hasn't there been a global economy for thousands of years?

Protectionism is bound to happen, its only natural to try and protect your own workers from unemployment. Germany etc are bound to be affected as they significantly export more than the UK. Why shouldn't Sarkozy protect French car manufacturer jobs if he can?

Its time everyone associated with the crash is relieved of office, bankers, GB, the lot. They've dragged every country down with them allowing the banks to be reckless and being party to the phoniest boom in history. They took the credit for the boom.

*37
===============================
Shall we start a list of where governments (in the last 25 years - in an act of fairness) have gone counter to that court and have ploughed on with their policies regardless....

Let me start

1. The Iraq war

2. Where 60% of the price of a litre of fuel is paid to the government in tax/duty (though it?s those thieving oil companies fault really)

3. The Poll Tax...

4. My least favourite but its still true - the majority of the public in the UK want to see the death penalty reinstated.
===============================

5. Referendum on the EU Lisbon Treaty

6. Unlimited immigration

7. ID Cards

Mr Robinson,

I do not want to pretend I'm very clever, but I do think I can already suggest you a question to ask Brown on the way back:

Over the past 6 months or so you (i.e. Brown) and Mandy have said quite a few times that it ALL STARTED IN THE US. So why didn't you in your speech in Congress (funny word that, by the way) say that the US forced UK banks to sell 125%plus UK mortgages to UK customers? And why didn't you say that the US forced you to run a budget deficit when the economy was growing above trend despite warnings from the IMF?

Happy flight back!

What I find a little more than ironic is that our Prime Minister gets invited first to see the President presumably because our soldiers and sailors [yes the Royal Marines] are dying in Helmand and that we are doing our bit for the Global War on Terror. yet he is so disinterested in our servicemen and women that he cannot sign off the MoD budget or find the vital resources for a few more battlefield helicopters in Afghanistan. There for me is the irony. He gets the invite but shows not interest, apart from photo-shoots, in really getting involved in helping provide the resources so needed to save lives and help mount operations in Afghanistan. Others would say its hypocracy, I am perhaps being generous.

America, you say? That will be interesting.

Nice ad, by the way.

ngodinhdiem @42wrote:

Nick,

At their Joint Press Conference, please can you ask President Obama if he agrees with Gordon Brown's analysis that the Global downturn started in America and was Washington's fault.


Brilliant!

Do it, Nick! If you've an ounce of journalistic courage you'll ask the question.

So what if your 大象传媒 bosses will have a coronary.... You'll attain immortality!

ONLY ON NICK'S BLOG:

Live from Washington:

The delegations meet in a clasp of handshakes.

Obama to Brown: Hello! Nice to see you

Brown to Obama (clutching Obama's hand with all his might and not letting go): Novice!

Obama (aside) to aide: Who is this guy?

Aide to Obama (whispers): He's Gordo Broon, the British Prime Minister, Mr President

Obama to aide: Oh yeah... the one who's going to lose the next election, right?

Aide to Obama: Yes sir, Mr President.

Obama to Brown: Welcome to America, Mr Broon.

Brown (ranting): America! America! It's all America's fault! And I'm very angry!

Obama (pulling his hand free) to aide: Jeeez... ugh! I've seen on uTube where those stubby fingers have been! Get this guy outta here as quickly as possible...

Aide: Yessir, Mr President!

Obama in relief turns to greet someone else.

Brown is lead away muttering: I'm not psychologically flawed... I'm not...

An interesting link about the USA is attached below. What really worries me though, is the news contained within it, that from April 6, of this year babies born by IVF here in the UK can have a woman declared as the father on the birth certificate. Heaven forbid, I should be classed as a homophobe, a heinous crime in our modern-day society, but suppose a lady wishes to name her dog as the father? To deny this, surely negates her freedom of choice, and damns the objectors as caninephobics!

Nick, can we stop it with the references to your other work

I'm beginning to think that you have to hype it because not many folk listened to it

Can't really say I'll be waiting with baited breath for the second episode.

Make sure you ask about Harriet's outburst

While you're whiling away the hours during your tedious flight, why not ask Duff Gordon why he "did a Lisbon" at yesterday's ? Did he just turn up late out of boorishness or was he no longer on speaking terms with Sarko when they took the "family photo", perhaps?

Could he be planning a "Gordy vanishes" act for Congress or their new pres?

Post or reactive moderation for all except CBeebies, please!

40

Well said - a "Court of Bloggers Opinion" is what we need !

Island Doctor

What I find a little more than ironic is that our Prime Minister gets invited first to see the President presumably because our soldiers and sailors [yes the Royal Marines] are dying in Helmand and that we are doing our bit for the Global War on Terror. yet he is so disinterested in our servicemen and women that he cannot sign off the MoD budget or find the vital resources for a few more battlefield helicopters in Afghanistan. There for me is the irony. He gets the invite but shows not interest, apart from photo-shoots, in really getting involved in helping provide the resources so needed to save lives and help mount operations in Afghanistan. Others would say its hypocracy, I am perhaps being generous.

........................................

I think you're quite right.

The irony for me, is that such a huge amount of money was found so quickly to bail out the banks in their hour of need, when Gordon's been telling us for years that there was no money in the
kitty to supply our forces with a pair of decent boots and regulation bullet-proof jackets, never mind the 6 or so badly needed extra helicopters, which are gathering dust in a hangar somwehere because Geoff Hoon couldn't get his act together.

Yes - it is hypocrisy, in its purest form.

Dear Sellingout,

Many thanks for the support, I really do get quite angry about the current situation with our armed forces. All that money as you say and he cannot find 拢2B to square the MoD budget which has been raped so many times over to invest on his altar of social mobility. It really is a disgrace.

And the point of that was?
Can't wait for more inciteful comment on El Gordo's visit. Not!!!!

ngodinhdiem @42wrote:

Nick,

At their Joint Press Conference, please can you ask President Obama if he agrees with Gordon Brown's analysis that the Global downturn started in America and was Washington's fault.

Excellent!

Maybe you can say it for Comic Relief