Monthly Archives: August 2008

McCain names Sarah Palin

Posted on August 30, 2008 by rogeroffice

I guess I was as gob-smacked as everybody else by John McCain’s choice of Sarah Palin, Governor of Alaska, as the Republican’s VP candidate.  But having slept on it, I think he’s played a blinder.  I loved her comment when … Continue reading →

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Roof falls in on European parliament

Posted on August 27, 2008 by rogeroffice

On August 7th, the roof fell in — literally — at the European parliament in Strasbourg.  The vast space-age debating chamber, known as the “Hemicycle”, was commissioned in 1999, and seats 750 MEPs, plus staff and officials from the Commission … Continue reading →

Posted in Europe | Tagged | 2 Comments

Freedom under threat in Georgia & The politics of Russia’s invasion

Posted on August 19, 2008 by rogeroffice

Let’s be clear about it: what the Russians have been doing in Georgia is perhaps the greatest threat to Freedom since the end of the cold war.  Indeed it could mark the resumption of the Cold War.  A large, powerful … Continue reading →

Posted in International | Tagged , | 11 Comments

A German story

Posted on August 9, 2008 by rogeroffice

At the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) Conference in Chicago last week, I found myself at lunch sitting next to a naturalised American.  He was called Fritz, and he had been born in Germany.  And he had recently been back … Continue reading →

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ETS all hot air?

Posted on August 7, 2008 by rogeroffice

Far-reaching claims have been made for the EU’s Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).  The First Phase of ETS ran from 2005 to 2007, while the second phase started in 2008 and is intended to run to 2012.  Some typical examples of … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate Change | Tagged | 2 Comments

Bringing Europe closer to the people

Posted on August 7, 2008 by rogeroffice

I am indebted to my former staffer Sally McNamara, currently with the Heritage Foundation in Washinton DC,  for the following:   Pierre Lequiller, head of the French National Assembly’s EU Committee, makes four proposals for bringing the EU closer to … Continue reading →

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