They’re having a bit of a nightmare over at Political Scrapbook towers this afternoon. Borrowing a quote from the Racing Post, the lefty blog ran a story that David Cameron had snubbed a phone call with Barack Obama because he was playing tennis with Rebekah Brooks’ husband, Charlie. Funny they weren’t so vocal about Gordon Brown pathetically begging Obama five times for a fifteen minute meeting in a kitchen, or Tony Blair bombing countries on the whim of an American president. In terms of the special relationship, a stand-up-for-yourself Hugh Grant-style approach should surely be cheered…

In any case, it looks like the story has little foundation anyway:

No10 'baffled' by claim Cameron snubbed Obama call for tennis game. No calls from president during 3 weekends Brooks stayed at Chequers—
James Chapman (Mail) (@jameschappers) September 27, 2012

No10 source: 'Calls between PM and president are scheduled by officials, there's an agenda. This story simply can't be true.'—
James Chapman (Mail) (@jameschappers) September 27, 2012

Doh!

UPDATE: King of spin Damian McBride has another explanation:

I'm guessing Obama wasn't really on the phone & that's just the pre-agreed 'out' the clerks always give Cam once a meeting has run an hour.—
Damian McBride (@DPMcBride) September 27, 2012

Ol’ Blue Eyes Andy Williams has died at age 84. Guido will leave you with some of his final public words. About President Obama:

“Don’t like him at all, I think he wants to create a socialist country. The people he associates with are very left-wing. One is registered as a Communist. Obama is following Marxist theory. He’s taken over the banks and the car industry. He wants the country to fail.”

Rest in peace, oh speaker of truth…

Do ya feel lucky?

The boy done good.

This is a bit of fun for fans of US politics – the respected Pew Research Center has a quick survey to place you on the Democrat-Republican spectrum. Guido scored as below:

Elsewhere Stateside Fox News has classified our own media-leftist-luvvie Owen Jones as a “creep” and “braying jackal”. Jones is lovin’ the attention…

UPDATE: Video ripped by our friends at The Commentator

Mitt Romney has picked Congressman Paul Ryan, an ideological proponent of tax and spending cuts, to be his vice-presidential running mate. Romney at a stroke has squared the restless Republican right-wing and tea partiers. The election moves from being a referendum on Obama – “are you better off now than you were 4 years ago” – to a choice about the kind of future America the voters want. A socialised European-style America or a low tax, free enterprise America.

Rep. Paul Ryan first came on to Guido’s radar in 2011 when as chairman of the House Budget Committee he launched this 3-minute video

He should kick Biden’s ass in the televised VP Debates…

That irritating Gotye song as you’ve never heard it before…

Dave looks like the supplicant in Downing Street. When will a British PM give that Hugh Grant speech?

It would be a hugely popular move…

Hat-tip: Ian Katz