Michelle Malkin really is a gift for the left. Observe her latest enraged spewings: on how wearing a black and white chequered scarf makes you a terrorist (terrist?).

This has, of course, been thoroughly debunked. The simple point that if Malkin’s illogic were to be explaned elsewhere, the fact that both Hitler and Malkin wore underwear (we hope…) would make Malkin a deranged Austrian fascist. And she isn’t Austrian…

What the episode demonstated was how crazed Malkin and the sections of the right are, discrediting them as much as they usually do. The only people who’d seriously believe this drivel are the sort that will require brain surgery to stop believing.

Meanwhile, anyone centrewards of slightly demented sees arguments like this, sees them refuted, and stops voting for those associated with her - so right-wing Republicans. Who won’t complain, as they agree with her, but will merely blame the electorate for wearing headscarfs and being seduced by evil, evil lefto-fascists.

If only Simon Heffer had a wider audience over here. He could destroy the Tory party…

Is Boris making a habit of these? Perhaps, if this snippet on Dave Hill’s blog is anything to go by:

Following last Sunday’s announcement of the end of the Chavez oil deal I asked the mayor’s office to confirm that no new system of discounts for income support claimants would be brought in to replace the old one, as seemed to be the case. I was provided with the following statement:

“The Mayor is absolutely committed to ensuring the capital’s transport network is accessible for every Londoner, as well as making it safer and more convenient. And Transport for London will honour the current discount scheme for Londoners on income support for its full duration. However the Mayor feels deeply uncomfortable about buses in London being funded by the citizens of another country, especially one where many people live in extreme poverty. His first priority is the citizens of London and making sure transport is affordable for everyone. But he has asked officials from Transport for London to consider whether there may be alternative ways of providing this support.” [my emphasis]

Oversight or climbdown? Discuss.

I can’t help but think it’s a very weak concession. The only firm commitment is to maintaining the cheap fares until the contract runs out in August - one already in place.

Boris hasn’t said that he’ll actively seek a replacement for the fare subsidies - only “consider” whether even that would be justified. Presumably, at least until press attention begins to disappate a little…

I’d welcome any plan to maintain the subsidies, gladly. But I’ll believe it when I see it…

Perhaps Boris doesn’t have a copy of his manifesto with him out there in Turkey. Those with better ememories may remember a pledge to put a statue of Sir Keith Park on Trafalgar Square’s 4th plinth. Not so any more:

Boris Johnson has made a U-turn over his support for a statue to military hero Sir Keith Park on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth.

Despite backing the campaign to honour the Second World War hero during his election campaign, the new mayor has now said he has to withdraw his support for the scheme.

He will continue the existing rolling programme of contemporary sculptures. But he has promised to talk with the campaigners who want to honour Sir Keith to find an alternative position for a permanent memorial.

Now, I can’t object to this particular U-Turn - I liked the idea of a rotating, modern exhibition. Boris’ own supporters, though, are mortified. From the cultural dullards at the New Culture Forum:

In what some are calling his first blunder as mayor, Boris Johnson has made a U-turn over his support for a statue to military hero Sir Keith Park on Trafalgar Square’s Fourth Plinth.

Despite backing the campaign to honour the Second World War hero during his election campaign, the Evening Standard reports that the new mayor has now said he has to withdraw his support for the scheme.

It gets angrier:

Johnson has now acknowledged broad public backing for the plinth art over the last nine years. He said: “I recognise that this revolving programme has proved very popular and I welcome the important contribution it has made in shaping public debate about contemporary art.

Precisely what ‘broad backing backing’? What ‘public debate’?

From his statement, it seems that the mayor has not just withrawn support specifically from the Keith Park proposal, but from the whole idea of a more widely chosen, permenant fixture on the fourth plinth.

The name of the next artist to win the commission for the Fourth Plinth is due to be announced within weeks. The shortlist includes Tracey Emin, Antony Gormley and Anish Kapoor. Great.

Boris has managed to alienate those willing to put up with him. The snobs are furious, and the patriotic brigade will be up in arms, no doubt. How will Boris’ Sun and Standard reading supporters react when they hear that, “RAF hero snubbed as Boris keeps plinth art”?

A good policy kept, and the cultural conservatives furious. If all of Boris’ U-turns work this well, I might begin to like the man…