NationStates Jolt Archive

Ken Livingstone has been criticised for a proposed deal to get cheap Venezuelan oil for London's buses, in return for consultancy services.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/5342298.stm

Is it wrong for the Mayor of London to be in talks with the Venezuelan's for cheap oil? After all, all Chavez has done is oppose President Bush; hardly a Crime Against Humanity.

EDIT: Ken is on the radio now. He says he wants to help the poorest Venezuelan's by providing them with this expertise, but is not legally allowed to do so. Therefore, he is 'part exchanging' it for this oil, to make it all above board.

EDIT 2: "There are no worse human rights abuses in Venezuela than in America with Guantanamo". (Sorry I can't link any of this...you'll just have to take my word for it.)

Red Ken.. isn't that his nickname?

Trilby63;11679845']Red Ken.. isn't that his nickname?
[Ken Livingstone voice]

Yaeeeesss

[/Ken Livingstone voice]

I don't see why not. It's not like the majority of people in the UK likes Bush or gives a crap about whatever issues there are between Venezuala and the US.

Trilby63;11679845']Red Ken.. isn't that his nickname?

Yup. But looks like a good deal nonetheless. Save money for a bunch of people, offer expertise to help a poor country develop. Good call Ken.
Mind you, Chavez is hard left, so Bush may draw a beard on him and declare him a friend of Osama soon, which could in turn lead to Bush nuking London. But Blair lives in London, and Bush is Blairs friend, so Bush would then have to invade and bomb Washington. The only safe place to be now is a desert or Antarctica or similar. aaarrg

Damn! GLC madness here we come! LOL

Not sure how this will work...but I sorta like the idea of swapping services for resources...its sorta like bartering on a global scale....

/Of course as a petrol head I am outraged

I quite like the title....

Red Ken & Hugo 'Oil Boi' Chavez - Sexy GLC Shenanigans or Proto Libertarian Plot?

What is the betting that Bush's poodle tries to stop this?

What is the betting that Bush's poodle tries to stop this?

He'd try anyway as it's a clever Red Ken idea, that might work and is fairly socialist. Blair hates Ken still for embarrassing him in that election for London years ago.

What is the betting that Bush's poodle tries to stop this?
Americans support Chavez everytime they fill up at a Citgo gas station. What is the big deal about this?

Hugo Chavez to Drive London Buses !nice :D

If you live in london.. Would you plz take a picture.. and have it Authographed.. I am kind-of a fan.

Americans support Chavez everytime they fill up at a Citgo gas station. What is the big deal about this?

Blair and Livingstone have a very antagonistic relationship.

Chavez doesn't particularly bother me. The squabbles between Bush and Chavez are of no concern to Britain. If Red Ken wants to suck up to him then he's more than welcome.

nice :D

If you live in london.. Would you plz take a picture.. and have it Authographed.. I am kind-of a fan.

Why does that not surprise me? :rolleyes:

EDIT 2: "There are no worse human rights abuses in Venezuela than in America with Guantanamo". (Sorry I can't link any of this...you'll just have to take my word for it.)

The USA violates human rights in Guantánamo.

Chávez violates human rights in Venezuela.

Which one is worst? No idea.

Noone has the complete information about the violations in the two places, so it is hardly easy to compare.

Nice part about the Chávez fanatic, he is the same poster that always complains about "fascism", and "totalitarism". Misinformation seems to be the latest trend.

The USA violates human rights in Guantánamo.

Chávez violates human rights in Venezuela.

Which one is worst? No idea.

Noone has the complete information about the violations in the two places, so it is hardly easy to compare.

Nice part about the Chávez fanatic, he is the same poster that always complains about "fascism", and "totalitarism". Misinformation seems to be the latest trend.

I'm waiting for perennial shameless self-promoter Chavez to announce that he's going to jump a motorcycle over the Grand Canyon.

No, I don't believe he's a complete fanatic. Nor is he the world's biggest abuser of human rights.

But, I do believe that he's really dedicated to putting himself in the news, largely through stunts, and accusations that the US has a (non-existent) carrier group a few miles offshore of Venezuela, almost ready to invade.

Hugo Chavez to Drive London Buses

Damn! Too bad you lied in the title. I'd enjoy seeing al' Hugo step down to drive a bus and give Venezuela a break.

Damn! Too bad you lied in the title. I'd enjoy seeing al' Hugo step down to drive a bus and give Venezuela a break.

Well, it's not really a lie, just a play on words. I meant 'drive' as in to 'provide the driving force', if you see what I mean.

I quite like the title....

Red Ken & Hugo 'Oil Boi' Chavez - Sexy GLC Shenanigans or Proto Libertarian Plot?

Maybe a libertarian plot, but not a Libertarian one...

Well, it's not really a lie, just a play on words. I meant 'drive' as in to 'provide the driving force', if you see what I mean.

Lied as in mislead. If you tell me old Hugo's going to be driving London buses, gosh darnit, I want to see him behind the wheel of one of those old red double deckers (gone from the scene or soon to be, IIRC), not driving them into the ground through old dead failed socialist economic policies. ;)

Lied as in mislead. If you tell me old Hugo's going to be driving London buses, gosh darnit, I want to see him behind the wheel of one of those old red double deckers (gone from the scene or soon to be, IIRC), not driving them into the ground through old dead failed socialist economic policies. ;)

I want to see him jump one over the Grand Canyon.

, I want to see him behind the wheel of one of those old red double deckers (gone from the scene or soon to be, IIRC)
Aye, the old Routemasters have gone now, although there are newer double deckers in service.

I want one for my wedding next year, but my fianceé is taking some convincing. :p

I want to see him jump one over the Grand Canyon.

LOL

Evil Knievel (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evel_Knievel) step aside, tonight we gots Evil Chavez and the Red Bus of DOOOOOMMM!!!!

Aye, the old Routemasters have gone now, although there are newer double deckers in service.

I want one for my wedding next year, but my fianceé is taking some convincing. :p

Damn. I thought I remembered that, but I hoped it was a false memory. :( Are the new ones as cool?

Damn. I thought I remembered that, but I hoped it was a false memory. :( Are the new ones as cool?

No. They have doors, so you can't launch yourself at the back if it's pulling away. And the cheerful conductor walking about for tickets is gone forever. :(

EDIT 2: "There are no worse human rights abuses in Venezuela than in America with Guantanamo". (Sorry I can't link any of this...you'll just have to take my word for it.)
Does this mean that collaboration with the US is OK in Ken's eyes?

Chavez should be working to increase his oil production before he gives it away...that would help a lot more poor people than handouts every few months. However, the Russians would love to keep selling him oil to meet his badly missed OPEC quotas, especially if he gives it away and doesn't sell it on the market.

Chavez should be working to increase his oil production before he gives it away...that would help a lot more poor people than handouts every few months. However, the Russians would love to keep selling him oil to meet his badly missed OPEC quotas, especially if he gives it away and doesn't sell it on the market.

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003257679_oilconsumers14.html

Might be a bad time to increase oil production...

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003257679_oilconsumers14.html

Might be a bad time to increase oil production...

Well, not if you have the wellbeing of the poor at heart, right? Surely Chavez's compassion runs deep enough to allow a significant drop in oil prices?

Even so, most oil producers would prefer a slightly lower price for crude. A stable $40-60 range would be perfect for both producers and consumers. If prices reach too high they will stand to lose more in the longer term from slower economies, reduced demand and alternatives.

That's why Saudi Arabia and other OPEC producers are so afraid of nutjobs like Ahmadinejad or loose cannons like Chavez...they're willing to sacrifice market stability to achieve their ends, and that's a very bad thing for the rest of OPEC,

I want to see him jump one over the Grand Canyon.

I would saboutage that bus, Chávez is perhaps able to pull the stunt. It would be my first and last criminal act in this world, and I would turn myself in and suffer the consequences of my actions. It would be worth, in any case.

I would saboutage that bus, Chávez is perhaps able to pull the stunt. It would be my first and last criminal act in this world, and I would turn myself in and suffer the consequences of my actions. It would be worth, in any case.

I will fund your legal team. We both would be famous. ;)