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The BBC goes clubbing

A little bit of light relief with this oldie from Bill Bailey.

Have your say on Brown's star quality

So, Gordon Brown was on American Idol last night. Alas, he was not belting out karaoke classics; he was promoting an anti-malaria drive. But, what with the tan, the teeth and the smiles, the performance did have something of the game-show host to it. Stick with this clip through the advertisments and see for yourself:

And while we're basking in the bottled charisma that is Brown on the box, let's remind ourselves of last November's spontaneous outpouring of delight that Countdown had been on television for 20 years:

Well, what do you think?

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Lights, Camera, Action. Cue Fred Thompson

Fred Thompson made his big debate entrance on the Republican stage last night. But what happened next? Jon Stewart analyses the actor-turned-presidential-candidate's performance.

Alice Fishburn

Anything you can do

The primary battle neatly and wittily summarised:

Check it

Clive Davis has found a video of Ali G interviewing "Norman" Chomsky. Watch it here.

What Lib Dems should tell Ming

Footage to accompany my article on Sir Menzies Campbell:

Cigarettes are good for you!

But only if smoked in their "normal amount", ten to forty a day...

Murad Ahmed

(Hat Tip: VideoSift)

Jew kills Mickey Mouse

The good news - Hamas children's TV has finally dispensed with Farfour, its Islamist Mickey Mouse.

The bad news - here's how they did it:

The gut reaction on Hillary

Andrew Sullivan has posted a Hillary campaign video (see it below) and is soliciting opinions on it.

So here are mine - unexceptional, uninteresting, professional, not an election winner, not an election loser, soft, doesn't raise any issues which might make anyone change their vote one way or another, won't be remembered within moments of being screened. It was a front runner's, play safe video.

But then here is Andrew's:

It made me gag. Sorry, she just does it to me.

Viewed from this side of the Atlantic, Hillary seems to have it all - a terribly unpopular Republican President, a strong Democratic opponent who isn't strong enough, the advantage of being the first woman with a serious shot at the White House, the Clinton name, the Clinton machine, the Clinton money, the sense to know where to pitch herself in order to win.

But you come back and back to comments like Andrew's.

The brain says Hillary, but the gut...

Jihad - The Musical: less fallout than a Danish cartoon

Jihad – The Musical is causing an uproar I really didn’t predict when I posted this video a couple of weeks back. In that time I’ve heard a number of heated discussions about it on radio phone-in shows. The existence of a petition on the Downing Street website denouncing the musical is used as evidence of deep-seated rage.

The petition fulminates that:

The idea of making light of muslim extremism is extremely offensive, most especially for its victims. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival promotes such 'artistic license' without due consideration for those parties who may be offended by this 'musical.'

So incensed is the petition creator, he refuses to recognise the show as part of the genre - putting the word musical in quotation marks. A bit like the way Saudi Arabia doesn't recognise Israel as a state. It's that level of anger.

But as Joanna Sugden reports over at the ever-readable Faith Central:

The 25 people protesting against Jihad - The Musical include "Osama Bin Laden", "Abu Hamsa" "The Prophet Mohammad", "Ayman al-Zawahiri",  "Mahmoud Ahmadinejad" and "Osama Bin Laden's goat"

Some of the other signatories, I should warn you, are even more offensive. I know I shouldn’t laugh but...

Murad Ahmed

Tell us your facebook absurdities

This video from the funny guys at CollegeHumor.com perfectly encapsulates the unintended silliness of facebook that I loathe so much.

If you’ve also stumbled across your own facebook absurdities – like the guy who broke up with his girlfriend by breaking their “in a relationship with” link on facebook – do let us know in the comments section of this post.

Murad Ahmed

Take your pick

a. This is a brilliant idea, providing an unknown candidate with a cut-through gimmick that helps him be remembered. The campaign strategist is a genius.

b. This is a lamentable idea, making a no-hope candidate look ridiculous, diminish his effectiveness as a Senator and reduce the chances of the only hope he has - that he might make VP on someone's else's ticket. The campaign strategist is a buffoon.

It's b for me.

Our favourite videos # 6

Summing up the mood of a nation.

Our favourite videos # 5

John Edwards feels pretty. And witty...

Our favourite videos # 4

Somebody should have said that this was not a good idea.

Our favourite videos # 3

A superb sketch from those funny people at Saturday Night Live.

Our favourite videos # 2

So how would Microsoft market the iPod? This is a video produced by the packaging people at Microsoft satirising what the marketing department would probably make them do.

Our favourite videos # 1

While we're away, Comment Central will be posting some of our favourite videos from the past few months.

For starters, here's an Iranian professor revealing the link between Tom and Jerry and the international Jewish conspiracy...

(Incidentally, Tom and Jerry wasn’t made by Walt Disney.)

Another thing you wouldn't see on the BBC

American journalists are revolting. First, MSNBC's Mika Brzezinski refused to report Paris Hilton's release from jail. Now, CNN's Jack Cafferty has refused to report Lindsay Lohan's recent run-in with the police.

Why does the Shilpa Shetty incident spring to mind?

Murad Ahmed

A who's who of who cares?

Another clever/funny Onion video: Time Releases Annual List Of Least Influential Americans

And by the way, their headline to this "story" is also inspired:

Bomb Squad Member Takes 7 Hours To Open Birthday Present

Murad Ahmed

A political gaffe, served up Belgian style

So let’s now turn to Belgian politics. But only for a laugh – because as political gaffes go, this one is pretty serious:

Yves Leterme (the new Prime Minister of Belgium) has not yet been officially sworn in but has already lost the confidence of half his country after reciting the opening lines of the Marseillaise - the French anthem - when asked if he knew the words to his country’s national song.

Belgium’s francophone newspapers today likened the gaffe to Nicolas Sarkozy, the French President, breaking into “God Save the Queen” on Bastille Day.

Watch it below. And just, just in case you are interested in the delicate Belgian sensibilities on this matter, The Economist’s Charlemagne column explains further:

Brussels has played host to many lost causes over the years. Charlemagne's favourite is the harmlessly dotty rattachiste movement, which seeks to split Belgium into two — a Dutch-speaking north and a French-speaking south  and then ask France to absorb the second as an extension of its territory. It is a doomed campaign, not least because France shows no enthusiasm for it. Yet over 26,000 Belgians voted for the main rattachiste party in last month's general election. This makes no sense, until one realises that those voters do not really believe they will be joining France any time soon. Their vote is rather a Francophone bellow of frustration at the dominance of Dutch-speakers in an increasingly divided country.

And for those who remain interested, here are the words of “Brabaçonne”, the Belgian national anthem.

After centuries in slavery,
The Belgian coming out of the tomb
Reconquered through his courage
His name, his rights and his flag.
And your sovereign and proud hand,
Now, undaunted people,
Engraved on your old banner:
The King, the Law, the Freedom!
Engraved on your old banner:
The King, the Law, the Freedom!
The King, the Law, the Freedom

The short presidency of Dick Cheney

America got a new President over the weekend, didn't you notice?

Well, it was only for a couple of hours as President Bush temporarily handed over power to (shudder) President Cheney while George W. was having a colonoscopy.

The Daily Show cover the story in typical style. See the President as you've never seen him before, as their report comes complete with keyhole camera footage from inside Bush's body. A great way to start your morning.

Murad Ahmed

Dinner with Barack

This is a fascinating video. Not for what it's in it really. No, it's just fascinating for what it is.

One of the most common refrains in politics is this - "If you could only meet him, you'd be blown away". There is a gap between a politician's public image and his personality that is so hard to bridge, something that many a campaign manager would simply love to be able to do.

This video comes as close as I've seen to achieving this, giving you a close look at what Barack Obama is like to meet.

It consists of four donors dining with the candidate and engaging in the sort of low key, slightly rambling discussion that you have. It is boring and riveting at the same time. And a breakthrough form of political communication.

If you want to watch the internet change politics, tune in.

(via Real Clear Politics)

Jihad - the musical

This is un-Islamic in so many ways.

Murad Ahmed

(Hat Tip: Hugo Rifkind)

UPDATE: If, like me, you're into tasteless musical comedy, you can see Jihad - the musical at the Edinburgh Fringe.

The internet is down

And pressing Ctrl-Alt-Del won't help. What next?

Murad Ahmed

Urban poetry for the politically incorrect

While I’m on the subject of political incorrectness, a colleague told me over lunch that she likes to perform Mel Brooks’s Nazi rap for a friend to cheer him up every once in a while. If you’ve never seen it before, watch it below.

This reminded me of the time I met a very old childhood friend of mine for the first time in years. Without prompting, he started performing a jihadist rap (much like this one). If you’ve ever seen anyone spontaneously rap, you’ll know the first few seconds are amusing, but once someone moves onto the third verse it starts to get a little uncomfortable. Listening to a full jihadi rap made me want to blow myself up.

Only kidding.

Murad Ahmed

Out of the mouths of babes

You wouldn't see this on the BBC

Schama and Blair's tour around Downing Street

Have you seen this? Simon Schama and Tony “missing you already” Blair give us a tour around Downing Street.

Now I had my suspicions over what seems to be a government-commissioned documentary – my propaganda radar is on high alert - but this is genuinely interesting.

The alpha-male interaction between Schama and Blair made me chuckle. Schama clearly thinks he can teach the PM a thing or two about his predecessors, but Blair’s having none of it. It’s all very David Brent and Gareth from The Office, only with higher brows.

Have a watch. And if you like it, you can also watch part 2, part 3 and part 4 too.

Murad Ahmed

What should Brown say on his big day?

Here's Margaret Thatcher entering Downing Street.

And here's Tony Blair entering Downing Street.

Has anyone got the perfect little speech for Gordon Brown when he goes through the front door?

John Edwards's people

Joe Trippi, senior campaign adviser to John Edwards, is in London this morning taking about the impact the internet will make on politics. He was the man behind Howard Dean's extraordinary netroots campaign last time round.

I was debating with him this morning. He talked about this John Edwards campaign video entitled "We, the people", where you can send in a clip of yourself and get cut into the video. Trippi called this "moving". I'm not sure I'd go quite that far.

Bush: victim of crime

Just in case you've missed this story. Keep an eye on Bush's left wrist. It all happens very quickly.

Refreshing appearance

It's amazing the effect that Diet Coke can have

Those good ol' smokin' days

Brink Lindsey has written an interesting book, The Age of Abundance, about how mass affluence (thanks be to capitalism) has transformed the way we live. He regularly disinters ads of the past on his blog to show how American social attitudes have dramatically changed. Ciggie adverts like the one below are fun: unlike this early example of health-obsession.

Robbie Millen

Are you a half-Jew that wants to join the Ku Klux Klan?

Bang goes my chance of becoming a Grand Dragon.

Are you a genius?

Belgian humour you should take seriously

Who would have thought the Flemish Alan Patridge was funny. Well it is.

Big Brother for your benefit

If you're paranoid, look behind you. If you're not, look at this. It's Stephen Colbert's guide to the benefits of living in a police state.

Murad Ahmed

Demonising the rich won't help the poor

Got £10,000 burning a whole in your pocket? Well Harriet Harman, speaking on last night’s Newsnight debate on the Labour deputy leadership, has some spending tips for you.

We are not just worried about where the bottom is in terms of poverty. We are worried about the gap with rich and poor. You can’t have proper equality of opportunity with a huge gap between rich and poor. Do we want to be a divided society where some people struggle and others spend £10,000 on a handbag?

Now I have to profess to being something of a soft-left, surrender-monkey, bleeding-heart, namby-pamby liberal – but even I think this kind of rhetoric against the rich is ridiculous.

Can we have a look in your wardrobe, Harriet? Maybe you could have spent a bit less on that nice ministerial suit? Do you really need that many pairs of shoes? While we’re at it, maybe we should trawl through the spending of poor people too? You know, you could have got two tops from Primark for the cost of that nice one you got at M&S, don’t you? Oh, I forgot, it’s not OK to tell poor people how they spend their cash. But we can get all moral about the wasteful rich.

Really now, so what if someone spends £10,000 on a handbag? Whatever you tax people there will always be people that can afford to spend £10,000 on a handbag. Suggesting that rich people, heaven forbid, actually spending their money is wrong is pathetic.

There are political and economic arguments either way on whether we should raise (or indeed lower) the top rate of income tax – fine. Last night, Jon Cruddas was honest about it.

At some stage, we’re going to have to square up to whether we have enough finance to carry on this progress over the next ten years, and at some stage we’re going to have to get back to whether all people should make a valuable contribution based on their ability to contribute.

He admitted that the “David Beckham’s of this world” would have to pay more for increased spending. It’s redistributive politics. His leftist credentials are there for all to see. But unlike Harman he didn’t resort to the politics of envy.

The Institute of Fiscal Studies says that the 22 per cent of the revenue raised by income tax comes from the wealthiest one per cent of taxpayers. When the super-rich are already contributing such a high proportion to the public purse compared to the rest of us, it’s distateful to tell them how terrible they are for spending so much, especially when you’re essentially asking the rich to give up more of their earnings. It’s like taking their money with one hand, and slapping them in the face with the other.

Harriet Harman, an alumna of St Paul's Girls School, should know better than play to the crowd. Maybe it's because the polls show she’s well behind Benn, Johnson and Cruddas who for various reasons (the Benn name, an ex-trade unionist and a bona-fide Left-winger) have a lock on Left-leaning grass-roots of the Labour party.

As Tim Hames wrote, anybody but Harriet, please.

Murad Ahmed

A West Wing time out

Time for a clip from The West Wing

No comment

My children prefer Scooby Doo

Why the Surge is scuppering John McCain's presidential bid

Whatever you think of the Iraq War, you just have to be impressed by John McCain’s cojones by going on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, in front of a vehemently anti-war crowd and host, to argue in favour of the Surge.

You should watch the interview in full by clicking on the two videos below. It’ll give you a good understanding of why he’s already in trouble in the race for the 2008 presidential election.

His stance means he’s being bashed by both sides over Iraq. Twack - Democrats attack McCain for supporting the War. Twack - Republicans attack him for then criticising the Bush Administration’s mismanagement of the War. Twack – Democrats bash him again for supporting the Surge, as that identifies him with the Bush Administration.

McCain’s noble attempt to keep a principled middle course on the War has meant that he’s seen on the wrong side of the argument by almost everyone.

McCain argues, like this article on the Foreign Policy website, that now the Surge has begun, it has to work, and setting a withdrawal date (as the Democrats are currently trying to do) would undermine it. After reading Bob Woodward’s excellent book, State of Denial, my own feeling is that this conflict was lost by the mistakes made in the first year of the invasion – and that the Surge may be too little too late. I hope I’m wrong.

Murad Ahmed

A couple of cheap shots at Hilary Benn

Hilary Benn, our International Development Secretary, went to the most developed country in the world on Monday to inform them:

In the UK, we do not use the "War on Terror"

As Hugo Rifkind reported, the Home Office Minister Tony McNulty said in response:

I have never said "War on Terror"... but I don't have to go all the way to America to boast about it

Ouch. Cheap shot. I like it. I liked this bit of faux-shock-jockery from Stephen Colbert better though:

Gee, I wonder how a man called Hilary became so obsessed with names

Double ouch. You can watch the rest of his hilarious rant below.

Murad Ahmed

A short lesson on rock music management

This is great fun.

Do you by any chance remember The Turtles? The sixties rock group that produced Happy Together?

Whether you do or not (I do, but only barely), you'll enjoy this hilarious short video (with a great punchline at the end) in which two member rehearse their history.

As The Underwire correctly observes, it's like Spinal Tap.

More nonsense

This woman is a much fêted media psychic.

Ted Nugent Medal entry: Let's Make Lots of Money

This is a nomination by Graeme Archer. He writes:

If you ignore the clearly intended irony, Pet Shop Boys's Let's Make Lots Of Money might make it into an 80's compilation, perhaps in a doubly-ironic uber-cool fashion? i.e. you were mocking us, but we won, so now we sing your mocking song in celebration of the defeat of socialism. It made my teenage body bounce around the living room in sheer giddy optimistic joy anyway, which is a far sight from the gloomfest of the Coldplay-U2 axis we are now lumbered with.

Hmm, not sure I buy it. But it's a great song.

Labour: just can't get the staffers these days

I want you to consider three things.

First, the lame response of the Brown team to The Times's pension story. This included Ed Balls misrepresenting the position of the CBI. The best construction you can put on this error (and one I am inclined to accept, actually) is that he was winging it and forgot the CBI's position. This was not very professional.

Second, Des Browne allowing the sailors to sell their stories. Can you imagine Alastair Campbell having allowed that to happen? When he was in charge, he took control of such stories from the outset. It would have been him dealing directly with the tabloids, parcelling out the hostage story in exchange for political favours, including warm coverage of the Prime Minister's role. The alternative? Not very professional.

Third, look at the one minute long introduction by Tony Blair to the Labour Party's new YouTube site. How rubbish is this?

Contrast this downbeat performance in front of some old box files, with Cameron's kick-off to his webcameron. Labour used to do these things with such panache. Now? Not very professional.

Take this together and it is obvious that, aside from their political difficulties, Labour has a serious staffing problem. Where they have talent they don't have a grip, and those who have a grip haven't the talent.

Who's that behind the bushes?

Does he look sinister or just forlorn? Wonkette has posted this slightly surreal video of Dick Cheney lurking in some bushes.

What strange set of circumstances led him to be there? Keep it clean folks...

Robbie Millen

Ted Nugent Medal entry - Taxman by George Harrison

Our search for centre right songs and rockers continues with this excellent entry: Taxman by George Harrison.

The video below is Harrison performing the song with Eric Clapton.

Have you got any better suggestions?

Showdown in Crisisland

Here's how The Daily Show's repo