One of the problems with the term blogosphere is that it suggests that this corner of the internet is pristine and impermeable, whereas permeability is its most conspicuous attribute. It is a "blogo-sponge" (this term, admittedly, does not have the same ring to it) and - as we now know - is one of those sponges that is regarded as a fertile breeding-ground for corruption of all sorts. There is a perception, in fact, that it is full of plain lies, which is why (a lowly member of) the government was so keen to get into the business.
Since there is a temptation for this to slide into another "all politicians are liars" rant, let us remember one who told the truth. On 17 March 2003 Robin Cook received the peculiar honour of becoming quite possibly the first politician in British history to receive a standing ovation in the Commons for a resignation speech in which he gave what all recognised to be a truthful and compelling account of his analysis of the argument for the Iraq War. It is one of a handful of political speeches in my lifetime that have had any real resonance or significance.
The bitter irony of this speech, however, is that it marked the effective end of Cook's political career, and as time goes by it is becoming largely forgotten. Many of the same MPs who stood for Cook went on to give the second standing ovation of the Commons to Tony Blair, whose policies were Cook's target and who had been shown by the point of his own resignation to be (at best) mistaken in the case he had made for war.
There is no need, therefore, to say that all politicians are liars. All one need say is that the ones who tell the truth will never gain an effective majority over those who prefer (even if they do not utter) the lie.
In recent years, the truth about the murder of Jean Charles de Menezes came to light despite the ardent attempts of all involved to suppress it. It seems likely that the truth about the death of Ian Tomlinson will also come to light. The truth about MPs expenses is so nearly in the light of day that they are furiously calculating a way to feather their nests that can be disguised as a reform.
Lies are beset on all sides by the truth, yet - like some mendacious reworking of the defence of Rorke's Drift - they maintain a valiant defence against seemingly insurmountable odds.
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