Petition pissing contest

MPs and other collected non-entities politely requesting something...

On a personal level, I'm dubious about the kind of activism that promotes petitions. Whilst compiling one is often an excellent way to create a mailing list (which is hopefully used properly), the kind of politics that politely request the government to reconsider are not mine.

But you have laugh at how pathetic the Longdendale Siege Committee are. The Bastard children of TMBC, who in days gone by managed to persuade their brother-in-law to fund their 'Highwayman' signs along the 'gateways' to Tameside are falling by the wayside if their latest propaganda effort is anything to go by.

They've raised at petition on Tony Blair's website - with 10 (count 'em), yes 10 signatories. God, I bet they're embarrassed they put their name to this 'mother of all petitions'. Whatever happened to the 8000 - the figure who, they're always keen to point out, signed their petition years ago? That's the one presented to 10 Downing Street, as opposed to the House of Commons, which means there's no public record, and therefore no evidence for its existence.

But you can't hide these figures. Neither can you hide WAIT's rather more impressive roster of 114 on an opposite petition.