The Spectator

Q. A friend of ours went with his nephew to a funeral. The nephew is an absolute maniac driver. They flew up to Scotland and all the way our friend was terrified because the nephew was renting a car at the airport and then proposed to drive 50 miles. What to do? Just as the nephew was paying for the car, our friend asked to be added as a driver because he was thinking of buying the same model and could think of no better time to do a test drive! Problem solved. —D.P., by email A. Indeed. How considerate of you to share this solution with readers. Q. Consanguinity obliges me to extend hospitality to a relative of my wife’s, and thus somewhat reluctantly I include him once a month on our dinner list.

Here is a selection of posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the past week. Fraser Nelson listens to John Humphrys inadvertently make the case for No2AV, and reveals that this week’s Spectator considers life after bin Laden. James Forsyth says that electoral calamity may lead to concessions for Clegg, and explains the significance of this week’s Cabinet bust-up. Peter Hoskin notes that the CIA’s director has blasted Pakistan’s intelligence services, and has kept abreast of the Libyan campaign. David Blackburn interviews Nigel Farage, and explains why there may not be TV debates at the next election. Jonathan Jones has the figures from the recent Canadian election.

….Coffee House carried extensive coverage of the Royal Wedding and the death of Osama bin Laden. In addition to those stories, here are some of the other posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the Bank Holiday weekend. Fraser Nelson believes that a degree of separation will strengthen the coalition. James Forsyth argues that the Gaddafi family are legitimate targets for NATO, and says that the recriminations over the defeat of AV will change the debate over Lords reform. Peter Hoskin catches Chris Huhne courting the left, and ponders James Purnell’s latest intervention in the welfare debate. Jonathan Jones has a brief guide to the Canadian elections. Hamish Macdonell says that Labour is still off course in Scotland.

Rubio for President? Sir: Richard Littlejohn’s idea of a President Rubio (‘Who will fight Obama?’, 16 April) is little more than wishful thinking. The Florida senator is at most a lukewarm conservative, which will become increasingly obvious over his six-year term. (Obama is only the second man in 50 years to go directly from Senate to White House — it’s a difficult path because legislative service forces a politician to commit his views to the record.) Littlejohn is impressed that Rubio could draw a crowd of 5,000 in his home state, yet there are a half-dozen other Republicans with at least as much pull — including figures such as Palin, Bachmann and Trump, whom Littlejohn rightly discounts.

Here are some of the posts that were published on Spectator over the past week: Fraser Nelson makes an appeal for Easter reading suggestions. James Forsyth reveals that Ed Miliband will hire tails for the Royal Wedding, and says that there are more attacks on Clegg to come. Peter Hoskin watches the NHS furore rumble on, and notices Nick Clegg reaffirming the coalition's wedding vows. Peter Hoskin and Jonathan Jones compare Osborne's and Obama's cuts. David Blackburn says that tuition fees are set to spoil the government's summer, and reports on the latest EU budget row. Daniel Korski argues that the Libya intervention needs to be stepped up. Rod Liddle reports on a late conversion.

Welcome to the latest CoffeeHousers' Wall. For those who haven't come across the Wall before, it's a post we put up each Monday, on which – providing your writing isn't libellous, crammed with swearing, or offensive to common decency – you'll be able to say whatever you like in the comments section. There is no topic, so there's no need to stay 'on topic' – which means you'll be able to debate with each other more freely and extensively. There's also no constraint on the length of what you write – so, in effect, you can become Coffee House bloggers. Anything's fair game – from political stories in your local paper, to chat about the latest football results.

Short memories Sir: Matt Cavanagh’s razor-sharp analysis (‘Operation Amnesia’, 9 April) chimes with the anecdotal evidence borne by friends returning from Afghanistan. But it is not just the soldiers who have made mistakes. Their political masters bear primary responsibility for initiating, in the first place, the unfunded strategic overstretch which goes beyond Afghanistan. The result is that our Armed Forces are now unable to respond effectively to new, unexpected (and potentially more serious) crises such as the ones which have erupted recently in the Maghreb and the Middle East — as well as the ones which are surely yet to come. We seem to be suffering from strategic, as well as operational, amnesia.

Here is a selection of posts made at Spectator.co.uk over the last week. CoffeeHousers reveal their choice for Gordon Brown’s greatest mistake. Fraser Nelson urges policy makers to blame the schools system, not Oxford. James Forsyth says that Cameron needs to tread with care, and explains why the Vickers review won’t harm London’s global competitiveness. Peter Hoskin says there is nothing new but plenty to ponder in Cameron’s immigration speech, and argues that the inflation figures are not all that they seem. David Blackburn sees that two flagship coalition reforms clashing in Brent, and examines Europe’s growing immigration problem. Rod Liddle remembers Sidney Lumet, and not unthinkingly.