C'EST LA VIE!

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Today's Dateline panel consisted of left-wing French journalist Agnes Poirier of La Vie (pictured!); Isabel Hilton, even-further-left-wing journalist/broadcaster (chinadialogue/The Guardian/Observer/openDemocracy.net (etc)); so-far-left-he-could-soon-come-out-the-other-side-as-extreme-right Abdel Bari Atwan of Al Quds (yet again); and Tom Fenton, a veteran American broadcaster who worked for CBS News. A typical panel then.
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Bankers were duly bashed and Obama duly praised. Agnes had a go at Sarkozy, laissez-faire and Boris Johnson. Isabel also had a dig at Boris, and savaged U.S. foreign policy throughout history. Atwan slagged off U.S. foreign policy, and even condemned them over their response to the hellish situation in Haiti. He was, though, with Obama on domestic policy and the bankers ("I'm really with Obama on these steps", he said.) Mr Fenton agreed, calling Obama's latest action on bankers' bonuses"a very clever move by the president."
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As ever, presenter Gavin Esler couldn't resist commentating as well as presenting. He said that the one-off tax on bankers' bonuses may be "self-defeating" but it was "somehow satisfying" - and with that he folded his arms and laughed with satisfaction. How many times do I have to tell you Gavin, keep your opinions to yourself!!
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