Shire Network News is the podcast of Silent Running and this is the first show of 2006. Complaints, lawsuits, child support demands, accusations of vilification and secret Zionist paychecks can be senthere.

The feature interview this week is with right-leaning editorial cartoonists Cox & Forkum who discuss in disturbing detail their innermost feelings about donkeys. Oh, and what it’s like being editorial cartoonists who lean right. In fact, they’re so interesting, next week we continue the discussion.

Andrew Ian Dodge in London discusses the possible political ramifications of George Galloway pretending to be a cat in the Big Brother House and getting stroked by Rula Lenska. God, did I just write that sentence? When did things start getting so goddamn weird? Laurence Simon tees off of allegations of his home town, Houston, being tightfisted and Scrooge-like in its treatment of Katrina refugees from New Orleans.

In Blog News, Democrats Gone Wild! A thread at Democratic Underground talks about how the nomination of Samuel Alito to the US Supreme Court presages purges, prison camps for dissidents, and the suspension of the Constitution. Also, magic sea-going trains to deport activists and dissidents to Cuba! Over to you, Cox & Forkum!

The Jewish and Israeli Blog Award stirs envy. Envy leats to fear. Fear leads to hate. Hate leads to the turnoff to I-85. The I-85 leads to Gatlinburg, hang a left just past the mill, go about yea far down the dirt track past the old McPherson place, you can’t miss it. A “progresive” Jewish blogger is bent out of shape that lots of right wing blogs are getting nominated for the JIBs, which clearly indicates some sort of scandalous vote-rigging in exchange for cash is underway. I mean, it’s the only explaination that makes sense, right? Right? Guys, who’s with me?

Free speech means free speech for all, which is why I (reluctanlty) have to support Sir Iqbal Sacranie of the Muslim Council of Great Britain, whose appearance on a BBC programe and comments about homosexuality is now the subject of a police inquiry under the Public Order Act. I’m particularly proud about the way I avoid the obvious comment that he’s been well and truly hoist by his own petard. Turns out vilification laws can be weilded by gays as well as Muslims? Who could possibly have predicted that kind of blowback? Not me, I stay on the high road. This is a classy podcast.

The President of Iran accuses the West of being medieval.

Yeah, I had to look at that twice to make sure it was right. Sad but true. Harry’s Place asks the obvious question. If we’re medieval, what does that make you? Oh, and a 17 year old Iranian girl who managed to fight off a pair of rapists, killing one in the process, has been sentenced to be hanged. Just, you know, FYI. Teenage girl going to executed for defending herself against being raped. Massive demonstrations by outraged liberals outside Iranian embassies in western capitals have been scheduled for….never.

The Liberal Party of Canada is beginning the realise that their cunning tactic of flailing uselessly might not be delivering the expected massive victory. Andrew Coyne is documenting the Great Liberal Meltdown of 2006 in real time, while David Janes provides us with the chance to create our own insane Liberal Attack Ad.

Will George Galloway be voted out of the Big Brother House? Will Paul Martin hold his own seat when the rest of his party collapses? Will the West actually take the Iranian President at his word and get medieval on his arse? How can Cox & Forkum possibly draw donkeys as deranged as the Democratic Underground members? Will I remember to nominate myself for a Jewish and Israeli Blog Award next time?

None of these question will be answered on the next episode of…Shire Network News!