One of the few TV shows that I make an effort to catch is FOX News Sunday. If I’m busy I’ll record it and watch it later. The interviews are first-rate but what really makes it great is its roundtable discussion in the second half of the show. It’s invariably interesting and thoughtful.

Also entertaining. Witness this exchange between Washington managing editor Brit Hume and National Public Radio’s Juan Williams. They were discussing the Nevada Democrat Party’s boycott of a candidates’ debate sponsored by FOX:

WILLIAMS: Well, you know, there’s just no question, we live in an era of niche journalism. And in niche journalism, Fox is more conservative. And so what you have is a situation here where Fox is the new guy on the block. We’re 10 years old.

And you have people then coming along saying, “Well, Fox is practicing a kind of journalism that is preferential towards Republicans or the White House.” And I think it’s more conservative and contrarian than anything. But that’s all true.

But then it comes to the point where—so what are you going to do? You don’t like the kind of broadcasting that Fox does, although it’s quite successful, has a legitimate audience—people are listening and being informed on the basis of Fox journalism, and then you’re going to say, “We’re not going to play ball with them.”

To my mind, that is contrary to the principles that should be advocated by anybody who says they’re liberal or progressive—whatever kind of language they want—in this country. You want open and full- fledged, full-throated debate. That’s what you want.

And nobody said that this wasn’t going to be a legitimate debate with real questions that would put candidates in a position to offer real answers. They would be given time.

[moderator Chris] WALLACE: You’re fired up.

WILLIAMS: Well, I think it’s crazy that you tell the people [to] shut up. I mean, I sometimes have this argument with Brit Hume. I think he’s trying to shut me up. But I think it should be liberals who are flying the flag for open and full-throated debate, you know?

HUME: Shut up, Juan.

WILLIAMS: Thank you, man.

(LAUGHTER)

I don’t know if it really comes across in black and white; but let me assure you, it was hilarious enough that I paid the painful price of shooting hot coffee out of my nose.

Hume has impeccable comic timing. Unfortunately nobody—FOX, YouTube or Google—seems to have the video up.

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And for once I am not talking the political kind but the real thing in the form of reef flip flops. Take a look at these great flip flops and tell your friends about the site. I know there are places where it seems that spring is just never coming but summer really isn’t that far off. You know you need a decent pair so why not get it now? This post is sponsored.

Mostly the idea has been bandied about on the blogosphere. A number of conservative blogs picked up the idea and ran with it, including mine (scroll down to the next to the last paragraph). More than a few people I’ve talked to about the idea said it was a non-starter, that it was too late to get involved. Even one of the local radio shows on which I appear as a guest from time to time thought it wasn’t all that great an idea. But now the MSM is taking notice and maybe the idea isn’t as crazy as some folks first thought. What is this idea?

Fred Thompson running for President.

Some of you may ask Who the hell is Fred Thompson?

He was a US Senator, representing Tennessee. He was also a US Attorney prior to becoming a Senator. At present he is an actor, playing New York District Attorney Arthur Branch on NBC’s Law & Order. He also fills in from time to time for Paul Harvey on his radio show. He may also be the last best hope for the GOP in 2008.

Not enough “star” power for Fred Thompson in a GOP presidential field that includes some of his friends? Whatever the case, the actor and former Tennessee senator is considering getting into the 2008 race.

Thompson, who plays district attorney Arthur Branch on NBC’s drama “Law & Order,” said Sunday, “I’m giving some thought to it, going to leave the door open” and decide in the coming months. “It’s not really a reflection on the current field at all,” he said.

Thompson, 64, said he was pondering a run after former Senate Majority Leader Howard Baker and other Tennessee Republicans began drumming up support for his possible GOP candidacy, citing his conservative credentials.

Even though he hasn’t decided whether he will run, it appears he has a lot of people pulling for him. In my opinion, should he decide to run, funding for his campaign may not be as difficult to find as has been the case with some candidates from either political party.

Some of you may be thinking What the hell does an actor know about being President? Need I remind you that one of our greatest Presidents in the latter half of the 20^th Century was an actor?

The next few months are going to be interesting.

With increasing taxes and lots of regulation more and more Britons are heading off to Spain. Now with Davey wanting to stop people going on holiday it might be a good time to consider buying property like an Apartment in Costa Azahar. Why get charged through the nose to takes several trips to Spain when you can just live their permanently? I think there will be a surge in property buying in Spain as the pound is strong and its getting increasingly unpleasant to live in the UK.

Next time you hear some anti-Israeli cretin going on about the poor Palestinian children with their rocks against tanks and armour make em’ watch this video.

Those are sure shiny rocks they are holding as well. They seem to be rocks called AK, HR and AR.

What the hell? Yesterday was a pretty bizarre day because of all the late emails as a result of the daft time bug on PCs. It ended with me being lectured by some “well meaning” person over at PPP forum, in private, because I have objection to the proven rubbish Alexa ranking system. You know the type all carrying and sharing but basically insulting? I was polite until the person said the following:

You really are arrogant, although for the life of me I can’t figure out why.

To which I replied with a few home truths about this blog and why it has a PR6. It seems I am arrogant to not accept the advice. Of course quite why this person is qualified to offer unasked for advice is beyond me. I should have said she can stuff her advice where the sun don’t shine, but I was polite and I got the above reply. There are some in the PPP lot who are rather pleased with the whole change in emphasis and just tell us to “change our blogs.” They also get snitty if anyone so much as criticises PPP who is a postie. The forums seemed to be infested with housewives with far too much time on their hands who need to lecture people.

Then this morning I got an even more bizarre email from Rob Halford’s PR team telling me my review of his latest offering is “idiotic”. Now read the Halford bit of my latest column. I get called idiotic for writing a positive review of something by the reviewed person’s PR? Would they have prefered a bad one?

There is a lot of talk about money these days whether it be about interest and its affect on Mortgages and other loans. Or the affect on the interest on credit Cards of the recent interest rate hikes. There are a lot of people in need of serious Debt Advice who need help getting their current accounts in order. There was at least one tale on the telly about someone who had forgotten to get their home insurance which was a pity as their house burnt down.

There are going to be some people in serious trouble in the next few years in the UK as the economy takes a bit of tumble for a while. Gordon’s ole’ end to boom and bust is a load of cobblers but a lot of people actually bought it. It won’t be pretty for some that is for sure. This post was sponsored.