the BBC has bee nterrified of having an opinion for years. After all, they have some guys who are incredibly knowledgeable and nuanced about politics, yet they never allow them to venture beyond "he said, she said". whenver they're required to actually say who's lying, they're careful to quote somebody else, they never say what they think. That's why they have the rise of the phone-in on the BBC, which has no need of them. they allow the public to be quoted saying those things they can't.

Even stating things we consider to be facts about Bush's record would be attacked as partisan, so they stick to the most limp and tepid description of his policies, downgraade the bad, upgrade the ... not so bad. Equally there is a real groupthink going on, especially over america where I suspect the hidden hand of Justin Webb has had an affect on most commentary.

keep to the Fen Causeway