Unfortunately for Gibbs, President Obama had just finished speaking from the same podium about the need for  bipartisanship, and the need to "transcend petty politics."  Gibbs' joke received  groans.

Maybe Gibbs should write "update resume" on his palm. 

On one level, this issue is being billed as a terrible embarrassment for the Japanese company, but to an extent I find the comprehensive recall of the cars to be a pretty good example, in fact, of how private businesses with a huge brand-name investment have to act when their products have a problem. Can you imagine, say, a government department doing such a massive "recall" of a failed policy? With private business, the penalties for failure are bankruptcy. For government, the consequence of a mess is often more of the same, only with more lumps of taxpayers' money. To put it more technically, there is little in the way of a negative feedback loop when governments are involved.

Indeed, or as someone over here put it (modesty forbids), put into the same position, government would deny, cover up and finally tell taxpayers to get stuffed and take what they're given. Yes, markets contain their own quality control standards.

I see that the Prius - long time greenie motoring standard - is the latest to be recalled, this time because of brake control systems. One wouldn't have guessed brakes were required. In any case, good. Let them be recalled permanently.

Is there similar mocking of the overzealous environmental movement in Europe? 

A direct lobbying link between Peter Robinson and the developer who stumped up £25,000 for his politician wife has been uncovered by the Belfast Telegraph.

Government papers show the top DUP couple became involved in 2006 over a planning application tabled by builder Ken Campbell. A meeting with a direct rule minister was at one stage sought by the two MPs over the Comber scheme, located outside Mr Robinson's constituency. 

Why was Mr Robinson lobbying on behalf of a developer for a scheme OUTSIDE his constituency? What motivated such behaviour? Just how close was Mr Robinson to Mr Campbell? Can Mr Robinson now provide full public details of EVERY property scheme he lobbied on behalf of so the electorate can be reassured all is as it should be?  

Thus far, the money trail seemed to end at the door of Mrs Robinson. But the First Minister must now xplain why he himself lobbied for this developer even though the scheme was outside East Belfast? Another developing story...

What do we make of the news that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, has said that the country was set to deliver a "punch" that will stun world powers during this week's 31st anniversary of the Islamic revolution?

"The Iranian nation, with its unity and God's grace, will punch the arrogance (Western powers) on the 22nd of Bahman (February 11) in a way that will leave them stunned," Khamenei, who is also Iran's commander-in-chief, told a gathering of air force personnel."

Mmm - so how's that nuanced diplomacy thingy working out then, Barack?

And this is Dewsbury in the United Kingdom...........................

It really says at lot about the state of Islam in this country, compared to Islam in traditionally Islamic societies.

Prehistoric, oppressive, pig-ignorant, anti-social and downright dangerous.

Those leaving school realise that there are few jobs so they turn to academia. Those rejected from last year try to enter academia this year. Those who have lost their jobs aim seek solace in academia. And even as this surge hits the admission system - Labour apply savage cuts to university budgets and a freeze in the number of available places. The result of all of this will be growing social tensions, frustrated wannabe students, a mess in short.

Labour has wreaked havoc upon our Education system - from Primary to Tertiary. I feel sorry for all of those kids who now see little hope and all because of the inept Labour Government. Shame on them. Of course the irony is that most students tend to hold left-wing view. They should look upon the works of this left-wing government and despair.  

Voters are deeply pessimistic about the state of Britain today, believing that society is broken and heading in the wrong direction, a Populus poll for The Times has found. Nearly three fifths of voters say that they hardly recognise the country they are living in, while 42 per cent say they would emigrate if they could.

But worries over the pace of social change and dislocation are balanced by the belief that life will get better, according to the survey undertaken at the weekend. It suggests that 70 per cent believe that society is now broken, echoing a Conservative campaign theme of the past two years, while 68 per cent say people who play by the rules get a raw deal and 82 per cent think it is time for a change.

I suggest this is quite accurate. Many decent people CANNOT believe the state of the country in which they live and that is a direct consequence of more than a decade of socialist rule. We have seen morality set aside, our borders opened up to all, our institutions attacked, our sense of Britishness denuded, our tolerance tested - and many of us are sick of this.

However the problem is whether the Conservatives under Cameron are the solution? I think not. I think they may offer more of the same. And unless Cameron becomes much more radical then all we get is one failed political party being replaced by another. Britain may be "broken" but can Cameron fix it?

Mr Bradley knows of which he speaks and readers here should reflect that this is a NATIONALIST opinion, rather than a Unionist one.

"Mr Bradley said that, just over two years since the murder of Paul Quinn, people in south Armagh remained convinced that Provisional IRA members were responsible for his death.

The Newry and Armagh MLA said the politicisation of the murder was necessary and correct because the killing revolved around a denial of reality.“The reality is that we have a functioning murder machine in south Armagh.“It is fairly clear that the army council has prohibited actions such as organised beatings, and it is equally clear the south Armagh Provos don’t give a damn,” added Mr Bradley. “They don’t take orders from Dublin and they don’t take them from Gerry Adams in Belfast either,” he said.

“Even if the Provisional IRA has theoretically been stood down, individual members still have access to its structures, skills and experience. And the group as a whole is still trying to exercise community control – and worst of all it can still draw on political support from Sinn Féin in exercising that control,” said Mr Bradley.

Well, thanks to the Hillsborough Handover, the scum in the South Armagh murder machine can be certain that "sound republicans" (to quote Executive Minister Conor Murphy) will have a guardian angel (or devil) looking after them when the Justice Minister looks into these matters.