NationStates Jolt Archive

So ken livingstone's been suspended for comparing a Jewish journalist to a Nazi concentration camp guard. Red Ken strikes again. To be fair though the journalist was leading thousands to their death by horrific mass murder... oh wait.

From Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_Livingstone
'Ken Livingstone was publically criticised in February 2005 when he compared Oliver Finegold, a Jewish Evening Standard reporter, to a concentration camp guard after the reporter had tried to interview him following a reception marking the 20th anniversary of Chris Smith's coming out. Livingstone told the reporter to "work for a paper that doesn't have a record of supporting fascism" - a reference to the Standard's sister paper, the Daily Mail, which endorsed Oswald Mosley's fascists in 1934. Livingstone also claimed the Standard was guilty of "harassment of a predominantly lesbian and gay event"[9]. The gay rights group called OutRage! stated that the gay community did not need Livingstone's support if that meant resorting to abuse.[10] Outrage also used that statement to further attack the Muslim Cleric Yusuf al-Qaradawi.

After listening to a recording of the attempted interview with Mr. Finegold, the London Assembly voted unanimously for Livingstone to apologise. Livingstone responded by saying "the form of words I have used are right. I have nothing to apologise for"[11]. Deputy mayor Nicky Gavron, herself the daughter of a Holocaust survivor, said of Livingstone: "These were inappropriate words and very offensive, both to the individual and to Jews in London". The Standards Board for England, the body responsible for English local government standards, has referred the case against Livingstone to the Adjudication Panel for England, which could result in sanctions ranging from a censure to a five-year ban from public office. The Adjudication Panel for England addressed this matter over two days on the 13 & 14 December 2005 [12][13][14], and adjourned the hearing for two months. On 24 February 2006, Ken Livingstone was found guilty of bringing his office into disrepute and suspended from office for four weeks. The ban will begin on 1 March 2006. [15]'

Look, Ken is basically there for our enjoyment and entertainment... get over that, and you'll be much happier.

From what i understand he's a relatively good politician, its just a shame he had to cock up so publicly.

Liasia']From what i understand he's a relatively good politician, its just a shame he had to cock up so publicly.
Relatively being an important term, here. He is a relatively good politician if compared to, say, Gorgeous George or Orange Kilroy-Silk. Compared to the mainstream though? No.

Galloway was also quite a good politician, with some good left-wing prospects. Unfortunately, he is a complete and utter asshat.

This whole mess is pathetic. There really is a conspiracy against him, and it's not the first time people have tried to smear him. Depressing.

Liasia']Galloway was also quite a good politician, with some good left-wing prospects. Unfortunately, he is a complete and utter asshat.
Galloway is simply an arse. He insults people rather than debating with them. He got elected as his party's sole MP and went into Big Brother House. He is scum.

Tactical Grace, there is a conspiracy against Ken. Its Ken being Ken, no more. He simply needs to think before opening his mouth.

This whole mess is pathetic. There really is a conspiracy against him, and it's not the first time people have tried to smear him. Depressing.

It seems politics in this country is run by the media. The evening standard takes a disliking to you, and youre fucked. David Blunkett and many other politcians were forced into resignation by the newspapers. My god i hate the Sun.

Liasia']It seems politics in this country is run by the media. The evening standard takes a disliking to you, and youre fucked. David Blunkett and many other politcians were forced into resignation by the newspapers. My god i hate the Sun.
Yeah, it's all about manufacturing images for entertainment and profit. Ken can be quite flamboyant and controversial, but the campaign against him is pure malice. The same for everyone with an exciting character. You can't be yourself in politics or business without being used.

Liasia']It seems politics in this country is run by the media. The evening standard takes a disliking to you, and youre fucked. David Blunkett and many other politcians were forced into resignation by the newspapers. My god i hate the Sun.
PR is the new god of the politicians universally, across the world. The people aren't interested enough or involved enough to disbelieve what they are told. Its depressing and sad, but true.
Oh, and its Murdoch specifically, not the press, who decide elections...

Galloway is simply an arse. He insults people rather than debating with them. He got elected as his party's sole MP and went into Big Brother House. He is scum.

Meh. I think he honestly had good intentions on going into BB, apparently when he came out he was a bit shocked that people were so annoyed at him. And to be fair, his party's electoral performance can't be expected to match that of the parties running more candidates.

PR is the new god of the politicians universally, across the world.
Oh, and its Murdoch specifically, not the press, who decide elections...

Thats one of the reasons for Blair's success, Murdoch likes him and hes good at PR. Like the way he exposes his kids to the press to gain popularity, a smart move.

Yeah, it's all about manufacturing images for entertainment and profit. Ken can be quite flamboyant and controversial, but the campaign against him is pure malice. The same for everyone with an exciting character. You can't be yourself in politics or business without being used.

Like Kennedy. I thought he was a nice, quite effective Liberal leader. I sure would've voted for him above Cmaeron- but apparently hes not good enough, according to the media.

How can a representative of the people stop representing that people for personal publicity? GG has never had a good intention in the last few years, and BB was simply further evidence of his hypocrisy.

Liasia']Like Kennedy. I thought he was a nice, quite effective Liberal leader. I sure would've voted for him above Cmaeron- but apparently hes not good enough, according to the media.
Cameron is too normal, that's the problem. The media can't write a story, or sell it, about an ordinary management figure. So not only do they go after anyone with a distinctive identity, but they try to kill the success of anyone who doesn't display the showmanship they need. :(

How can a representative of the people stop representing that people for personal publicity? GG has never had a good intention in the last few years, and BB was simply further evidence of his hypocrisy.

If it helps to enhance his representation of those people by getting their message out... mebbe if channel 4 weren't a-political would have seen a different Galloway. Although it is hard to like a man who was so ready to lick Saddam's ass.

Cameron is too normal, that's the problem. The media can't write a story, or sell it, about an ordinary management figure. So not only do they go after anyone with a distinctive identity, but they try to kill the success of anyone who doesn't display the showmanship they need. :(

Cameron is scary, merely because he is Conservative. If they ever get back in, im jumping ship. Off to Holland i go.

Liasia']If it helps to enhance his representation of those people by getting their message out... mebbe if channel 4 weren't a-political would have seen a different Galloway. Although it is hard to like a man who was so ready to lick Saddam's ass.
Actually GG doesn't represent them, and especially not if he isn't attending votes or doing what they employ him to do and chose him to do. He is their MP not their PR man!

Though I do agree on the Conservatives....

I read somewhere that Galloway missed a vote on the racial hatred bill, when he was elected on a Muslim ticket. Nice one, george.

Liasia']I read somewhere that Galloway missed a vote on the racial hatred bill, when he was elected on a Muslim ticket. Nice one, george.
Like I say. GG is a crap politician, a crap representative, and an all-round arsehole.

Like I say. GG is a crap politician, a crap representative, and an all-round arsehole.

He did a good job facing down that senate committe tho, i felt a bit like cheering him (even tho he probably DID fiddle with oil)

Liasia']He did a good job facing down that senate committe tho, i felt a bit like cheering him (even tho he probably DID fiddle with oil)
He made a good job of lying through his teeth. I'm a British socialist, so I'm all-for leftwingers, but that ain't GG. GG is a rightwinger in leftwing clothes.

There are hardly any leftwingers in mainstream British politics anymore. If you want to be elected, it looks like centre-right is the place to be. Vote legalise cannabis alliance, people.

Liasia']There are hardly any leftwingers in mainstream British politics anymore. If you want to be elected, it looks like centre-right is the place to be. Vote legalise cannabis alliance, people.
Why not Socialist Alliance? Or the Green Party? But yes, politics today is all about the centre right....

Why not Socialist Alliance? Or the Green Party? But yes, politics today is all about the centre right....

I didn't know the Green party were leftwing... i thought they were sortof centre with extreme left environmental policy. And who are the socialist alliance??

Liasia']I didn't know the Green party were leftwing... i thought they were sortof centre with extreme left environmental policy. And who are the socialist alliance??
The Green Party now have a full platform covering all the issues (I read their manifesto before the last election). They are socialist, for EU reform, and environmentalist. Hey, fits me down to the ground.
The Socialist Alliance are basically a fringe group, extreme socialists. They only fight about three constituencies in the country.

Huh. Shame neither of em are ever gonna see power without PR. Mebbe when Brown comes to power he'll shift the Lab party to the left a smidge.

Liasia']Huh. Shame neither of em are ever gonna see power without PR. Mebbe when Brown comes to power he'll shift the Lab party to the left a smidge.
That would not be hard. However I'm not sure a) that he will come to power or that b) he'll shift it left if he does....

That would not be hard. However I'm not sure a) that he will come to power or that b) he'll shift it left if he does....

What other possibility is there BUT he will come to power? Though i agree the leftward shift is questionable.

Liasia']What other possibility is there BUT he will come to power? Though i agree the leftward shift is questionable.
Simple: The alternative is that Tony Blair hangs on so unconscionably long that Brown quits in disgust.

Simple: The alternative is that Tony Blair hangs on so unconscionably long that Brown quits in disgust.

If he's hung on this long and worked this hard, i doubt hed quit just like that. Mebbe its time for Brown to 'pop a cap' in Tony. Surreptitiously, of course.

Liasia']If he's hung on this long and worked this hard, i doubt hed quit just like that. Mebbe its time for Brown to 'pop a cap' in Tony. Surreptitiously, of course.
Please god yes! Tony is a curse for our country. Two wars in two years and both on highly dubious grounds, to tag along after president Bush. Why won't the bastard step down?

Please god yes! Tony is a curse for our country. Two wars in two years and both on highly dubious grounds, to tag along after president Bush. Why won't the bastard step down?

'Absoloute power corupts absoloutely'. He can't last much longer. He made a public promise to do so before the next election- so its gotta be before then. Besides, hes hardly a curse. Blemish would be more like it.

Liasia']'Absoloute power corupts absoloutely'. He can't last much longer. He made a public promise to do so before the next election- so its gotta be before then. Besides, hes hardly a curse. Blemish would be more like it.
A blemish doesn't have such negative effects.
He promised he'd stand down and he has kept pushing the when back. He likes the (non-absolute) ower he has too much to let it go.

A blemish doesn't have such negative effects.
He promised he'd stand down and he has kept pushing the when back. He likes the (non-absolute) ower he has too much to let it go.

His power is huge. The checks and balances in our system are more limited than even the American's. Short of a vote of no confidence, there is nothing really binding the house of commons can do to damadge him. He dominates the cabinet (except for Brown) so they pose no threat.

Liasia']His power is huge. The checks and balances in our system are more limited than even the American's. Short of a vote of no confidence, there is nothing really binding the house of commons can do to damadge him. He dominates the cabinet (except for Brown) so they pose no threat.
Actually, Commons can screw him by a backbench rebellion. His measures don't pass, he screwed.

Actually, Commons can screw him by a backbench rebellion. His measures don't pass, he screwed.

But those only ever happen as long as gaybo Tony keeps pulling out Conservative policies. If he were to propose something appealing to the left-wingers and the more central Lab people he could pass anything.

Liasia']But those only ever happen as long as gaybo Tony keeps pulling out Conservative policies. If he were to propose something appealing to the left-wingers and the more central Lab people he could pass anything.
Yes, but then I wouldn't care as much anyway!;)

Yes, but then I wouldn't care as much anyway!;)

Fair enuff. Lol i just noticed this thread is still on the top board and its just us talking. Thats the power of socialism, my friend.