John Ward November 10, 2011 hackgate

HACKGATE DAY 301: Why I keep looking for Dean Martin on the CM&S committee

James Murdoch is a copper short of a proper interrogation

Watching James Moretosh give evidence to the CM&S Committee this lunchtime reminded me of long hours in corporate life spent negotiating with Americans. The syntax, the formality, the deadpan expression, the fish eyes…all the telltale signs were present. But as the session proceeded, I had this vague yet nagging memory from the past of somebody with the same voice, and yet a person who had nothing to do with serious business. And then it clicked.

The voice was that of the original Twentieth Century camp nerd, Jerry Lewis.

Except that Jerry Lewis – the Nutty Professor and Jerk from a dozen movies in the 1950s – never in my experience uttered drivel like this:

“Well, eeaar, you know, hmm, you know, I guess I kind of think, you know, it wouldn’t be right, eeaar, it would be inappropriate to prejudice what I know to be a subject for ongoing litigation…eear, I think it would be unwise for me to comment about this madder, I should really wait for our Policy Management Steering Obfuscation Commiddee to report on that in doo course. But whaddI can say is that I would think such behaviour to be quite wrong and unacceptable.”

I have to say, this is the first time I have seen James Murdoch giving ‘evidence’ without using the phrase ‘zero tolerance policy’, so perhaps things are looking up. But I am still unable to grasp why the British policing and legal system hasn’t yet decided to feel Murdoch the Younger’s Brooks Brothers collar. Much as I admire Tom Watson’s thoroughness, the fact that he had to resort to using words like ‘mafia’ to get a reaction out of Lewis Murdoch is really a reflection of the fact that we’re watching a panel of amateurs trying to catch a grinning snake. The frustration is beginning to show through: young Jimbo is taking the piss, and it’s time the proper forces of law and order took over.

If this isn’t going to happen (and I’m beginning to have my doubts) then the least Rupe’s spawn could do is prance about the place in shorts while eating a banana. He is, after all, in the entertainment business; and if I have to listen to this crap, I demand to be entertained.

Closely related: Will James Murdoch make a run for it?

17Comments

Add yours

1

sovereigntea on January 10, 2012 at 7:25 pm

THE MURDOCH GANG CHRISTMAS CARDS

In the first card the people ( sheeple ) are being driven together down the hill by the major networks. FOX ABC, NBC and CBS in an apparent race to the bottom with FOX leading the race. CNN and MSNBC are mocked and watching from the bylines but mostly dear reader. THEY ARE MOCKING YOU !.

The Fox News Business card has one of the foxes blowing on the flames roasting the turkey ( USA / UK ) whilst the sheeple look on passively.

The MURDOCH GANG are specifically TAKING THE PI$$ OUT OF YOU !

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/cutline/fox-news-zings-cnn-msnbc-holiday-card-just-164515834.html

LikeLike
2

Miss B Having on November 21, 2011 at 9:53 pm

ROTFL at the last sentence John. Although, I have more than a passing interest in this developement, and important one at that considering police bribes and serious crimes being commited. I cannot bide watching the circus of MP’s playing at being- whatever they think they are playing at. The Circus, I hated it as a child, I cried at the animals being whipped, and the clowns being scary, the trapeez was too high up it hurt my neck, also I felt as if I were being cheated in some way I could never explain it. I never went back, EVER , so, the Murdock Circus has the same affect. This time I still feel as if I am being cheated, and still can’t explain it. Or maybe I can? Maybe I can empithize with the victims. The animals mistreatment, the abuse of artists, the expectations of a baying demanding public for more daring -more horror- regardless of the cost,AND the ring leader taking ALL the glory for his achievement??? “Media Circus” is an apt name. Someone had the same thoughts as myself?

LikeLike
3

Right Paddock on November 11, 2011 at 11:38 am

“The Commons is full of barristers…”, same thing went through my mind so I had a quick look, couldn’t see any, plenty of solicitors. Couldn’t be bothered reading profiles of 650 MPs

It appears that there were more MP barristers when there were more Irish MPs.

LikeLike
4

Por Wurding on November 11, 2011 at 11:17 am

Whilst watching an earlier hearing with both Father and Son present, I concluded that the Father was an ‘amoral man’, but that that the Son was just a ‘legal entity’, devoid of any opinion other than a legal one. I could relate to the ‘amoral man’ as being human, not so the ‘legal entity’.

LikeLike
5

james c on November 11, 2011 at 10:35 am

Three points.

1 The Commons is full of barristers, so why are their none in the Select Committee?

2 The Murdoch game has begun in earnest. He has put forward his story that he knew nothing. What happens next depends on whether any evidence is produced that contradicts him.

3 As for the Americans, the big deal will be News International bribing the police.

LikeLike
6

John Ward on November 11, 2011 at 9:46 am

Liz
I think Tom blew it in the USA. He made the fatal mistake of assuming that American gives a flying doodah about anything that happens in the UK.
But find ONE case of a 9/11 hacking, and they’ll throw away the key.

LikeLike
7

TheRagingTory on November 11, 2011 at 9:40 am

I remember saying a long time ago, absolutly no where will it be written down that any of the clan new anything.
Nor will there even be evidence like that which will nail Morgan, a few dozen people who were present in the room as he played them a phone tap.

This is just a joke, whip fodder trying to out think even the dimmest Murdoch is still no contest.

The Police cant be brought in, too many high ups took bribes, and are well aware that although James is telling the truth when he say he has never seen the proof, that doesnt mean one of his minders doesnt have the evidence readily available…….

LikeLike
8

MickC on November 11, 2011 at 7:54 am

Because then it wouldn’t be them getting into the headlines-and looking big in front of their electors.

Its rather like Paxman getting some sort of prize for asking Michael Howard the same question 13 times-but not getting an answer! The prize should have gone to Howard.

LikeLike
9

Right Paddock on November 11, 2011 at 4:06 am

I found this : Exactly 20 years ago a different Aussie media tycoon appears before an Australian Senate Committee http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVIOmU3l0Zo

listen carefully at 4:30 – classic aussie vernacular – they don’t make them like this anymore

LikeLike
10

Right Paddock on November 11, 2011 at 1:35 am

What a load of cobblers – of this I have zero tolerance

I’m trying to conjure up what Powell’s rapier would have done to Jimmies brain – meltdown, sautéed with a preserved lemon sauce, shish kebabed.

LikeLike
11

Liz O'Donnell on November 10, 2011 at 9:52 pm

Jamesie boy was very well schooled and clued up like last time on body language. He veered between staring straight ahead then swivelling his eyes from one end of the committee to the other. And like last time his ploy was like old Kinnock, why use a hundred words when a thousand will do to really eke it out? Do the stupid committee not coordinate their questions beforehand? Or do they all just agree it’s showtime? Tom Watson did himself no favours with the ‘Mafia’ reference. It was cheap and reminiscent of a Sun headline. He may be adept at the forensic fact finding, but he and Mensch try to be too ‘showbiz’. A farce. I sincerely hope that the enquiry will be conducted in a much more professional manner, although I fear that Lord Leveson will need a hammer and chisel to get to the truth of the matter.

LikeLike
12

Old Codger on November 10, 2011 at 9:26 pm

He authorised a very significant sum to be paid to an individual. Why, unless phone hacking (and large payments if caught) was company p[olicy, did he not immediately instigate a detailed investigation to ascertain the extent of the problem – how much, or little, he miught be in hock for. That suggest to me that he knew exactly what the situation was, unless he is completely incompetent.

LikeLike
13

oldasiahand on November 10, 2011 at 9:19 pm

We need a circular firing squad. we may be getting it with all the nunderlings turning on Jimmy boy. But Daddy Big bucks will spread his manure around so all the whores are happy.

LikeLike
14

kfc1404 on November 10, 2011 at 9:19 pm

The full force of the law? In the case of the Murdochs, the likelyhood of any serious “collar feeling” by the Old Bill is as likely as turkeys voting for Christmas.
They are all in it up to their rotten necks.

LikeLike
15

Gerry Parker on November 10, 2011 at 8:43 pm

I suppose it gives us a we bit o entertainment in these otherwise bleak times.
I still laugh at the spectacle of that ( allegedly) bent copper’s performance in front of the committee. Who me? Trouser bribes? I protest! How could you think of such a thing!
:)

LikeLike
16

the noblest prospect on November 10, 2011 at 8:29 pm

I can smell the stench from over forty years of buried bodies all the way up here.

The Murdochs know exactly where every one is buried. Why should we be surprised at the way this little circus is being played out?

In a just society, those on both sides of this Committee’s table would now be locked up.

LikeLike
17

Adam Bonkers on November 10, 2011 at 7:50 pm

Parliamentary ‘courts’, by and large, are comprised of failed and wannabe ‘Perry Masons’. Why can’t they just employ someone competent to ask questions instead of entertaining us with their amateur ambitions? Perhaps it’s down to the X Factor psyche.

LikeLike