George Galloway.

SamHarris

So I was reading some pieces on Al Jazeera earlier and came across this particular gem. As I read it I was shocked by the tone - even for al Jazeera it was anti-Western in the extreme, too the point of supporting directly any group or country, based purely on its stance to the West (again not uncommon on al Jazeera but certainly taken to a new level here).

When I got to the end of the article I was stunned (though perhaps not as surprised as Id like to be given the mans track record) to see an elected member of a Western democracy be so staunch in his support for both Saddam and Syria.

What does everyone else think of him? Does he get enough attention for his views? Should he be called to task more, or supported more in your opinion? Is there any similiar characters in Western democracies that you are aware of? Perhaps Richard Boyd Barret.

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/08/20118159535828664.html the article in question.

mikemac

SamHarris wrote: »

What does everyone else think of him? D

I can't take him seriously

He can write an articulate piece with strong opinions yet I saw the thread title and remembered him on Big Brother pretending to be a cat

Turned himself into a laughing stock and a joke

Edit, just to check he was an MP at the time
Even Bertie waited until he was out of office before embarrassing himself with NOTW

LeixlipRed

SamHarris wrote: »

Perhaps Richard Boyd Barret.

Eh, what? RBB is neither a supporter of Saddam or Syria. What are you going on about?

Chuck Stone

Seems okay to me.

SamHarris

LeixlipRed wrote: »

Eh, what? RBB is neither a supporter of Saddam or Syria. What are you going on about?

Your right he is not as extreme as George at all, however he was chair of an organistation that invited a Hezzbollah speaker, and has a similiar extreme view on the West. Though, again, not to the same level at all and I doubt Barret would embarass himself to the same extent by actively saying it was / is "possible to judge Syria by the nature of its enemies" rather than how they treat their own citizens and others.

SamHarris

Chuck Stone wrote: »

Seems okay to me.

You honeslty dont see the problem with an elected representative of a Western nation describing his own county and others as " The enemies of the Palestinians and of all the Arabs "? That is an explicitly racial call to arms from a representative of another nation.

Similarly, whatever your feelings on the Iraq war, describing the men killing British soldiers in Iraq as "freedom fighters", when in his postition is at best dismissive of the feelings of those families effected, at worst it is a direct endorsement of the killing of those he is voted in to help lead. I certainly do not beleive he should be curtailed in any way, but how is this level of extremism conducive to any debate on the matter?

Regardless, it was not a question about the article per se but about the man and his actions/ opinions.

Dirk Gently

SamHarris wrote: »

to see an elected member of a Western democracy be so staunch in his support for both Saddam and Syria.

http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/opinion/2011/08/20118159535828664.html the article in question.

In fairness that piece is hardly staunch support of the syrian regime, in fact it looks like an attack on the Syrian ruling party to me. While he was against the wars in Iraq I don't remember him being a staunch supporter of Saddam either.

KeithAFC

I don't remember him being a staunch supporter of Saddam either.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzWNXEtwHUc

The guy is a dick head.

LeixlipRed

SamHarris wrote: »

Your right he is not as extreme as George at all, however he was chair of an organistation that invited a Hezzbollah speaker, and has a similiar extreme view on the West. Though, again, not to the same level at all and I doubt Barret would embarass himself to the same extent by actively saying it was / is "possible to judge Syria by the nature of its enemies" rather than how they treat their own citizens and others.

RBB is a socialist, he stands for the rights of all oppressed peoples against the oppressors. Hence in the case of Syria he stands firmly against the regime. Just like he's opposed to the oppression of Palestine. You're implying that opposition to imperialism is implicit support for some dictatorial regime. Socialists would generally believe that in situations like Libya, Iraq, Syria, etc, that western intervention is unwarranted and for selfish reasons and the only people who can overthrow these regimes are the peoples of those countries.

Broxi_Bear_Eire

Galloway is nothing but a small minded bigot who's views seem somewhat ludicrous at times plus how can a man who dressed up as a cat be taken seriously

Coillte_Bhoy

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Galloway is nothing but a small minded bigot who's views seem somewhat ludicrous at times plus how can a man who dressed up as a cat be taken seriously

Why is he a bigot? Not surprised you dont like him, considering your club, but why are you calling him a bigot??

Coillte_Bhoy

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Galloway is nothing but a small minded bigot who's views seem somewhat ludicrous at times plus how can a man who dressed up as a cat be taken seriously

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znlTkHdiBXM

here we are, fairly gives it your lot:)

Broxi_Bear_Eire

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=znlTkHdiBXM

here we are, fairly gives it your lot:)

He also said he had been attacked by Rangers fans in Glasgow airport when cctv proved it didn't happen
No time for the man at all. He was also my MP when I was younger and the guy was and still is more interested in promoting himself than helping his constituents Though he doesn't have any just now does he

KeithAFC

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Why is he a bigot? Not surprised you dont like him, considering your club, but why are you calling him a bigot??

Oh god almighty. :rolleyes:

mike65

The guy is a preening self publicist who proved a rather negligent MP for some east London constituency preferring to pretend to be a cat on celebrity Big Brother. I'm not going put up the vid.

Coillte_Bhoy

KeithAFC wrote: »

Oh god almighty. :rolleyes:

Well thats the kind of an answer i'd expect from you anyway.

Coillte_Bhoy

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

He also said he had been attacked by Rangers fans in Glasgow airport when cctv proved it didn't happen
No time for the man at all. He was also my MP when I was younger and the guy was and still is more interested in promoting himself than helping his constituents Though he doesn't have any just now does he

Didnt know about the airport thing. fair enough, you obv know him and dont like him but seriously why is he a bigot??? Seems to be an insult thrown around in Scotland far too easily and i include some Celtic fans in that as well.

Broxi_Bear_Eire

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Didnt know about the airport thing. fair enough, you obv know him and dont like him but seriously why is he a bigot??? Seems to be an insult thrown around in Scotland far too easily and i include some Celtic fans in that as well.

Because he has accused Rangers fans of Sectarian singing which he was right to do but the same man has been recorded calling Protestants orange bastards etc.

Really though what has the club I support got to do with anything theres lots of people I could say I don't like who follow my club I have never ever said I don't like someone because they support a football ream

Oh and I am not in Scotland

SamHarris

LeixlipRed wrote: »

RBB is a socialist, he stands for the rights of all oppressed peoples against the oppressors. Hence in the case of Syria he stands firmly against the regime. Just like he's opposed to the oppression of Palestine. You're implying that opposition to imperialism is implicit support for some dictatorial regime. Socialists would generally believe that in situations like Libya, Iraq, Syria, etc, that western intervention is unwarranted and for selfish reasons and the only people who can overthrow these regimes are the peoples of those countries.

Directly endorsing Hezzbollah is svery different from supporting Palestinians, regardless of his ideology. Regardless this thread concerns Galloway, there is already a thread about Richard somehwere.

However I would point out you are wrong, he is a declared Trotskiest - which firmly supports dictatorship, if it pushes the right agendas.

SamHarris

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Didnt know about the airport thing. fair enough, you obv know him and dont like him but seriously why is he a bigot??? Seems to be an insult thrown around in Scotland far too easily and i include some Celtic fans in that as well.

Not only is he biggoted but he is very racially charged - repeatedly calling for Arab unity in a war against the West including - "Iraq is fighting for all the Arabs. Where are the Arab armies?" amoungst others. If he said the same about White people in any context there would be uproar. He seems more fascist than anything really.

He is convinced of Jewish conspiracies against him, and that the media is controlled by Jews, which makes him an anti semite, or at the very least borederline schizophrenic.

Denerick

Galloway is a demagogue of the left, comparable to Nick Griffin in the sense that he is incapable of listening to an opposing or dissenting viewpoint without it resorting to polemics. No, scratch that, at least when Griffin appears on a public broadcast he does his best to seem 'reasonable' (Its always a pathetic failure though)

I enjoy his occasionally odd rants. He is insightful for what he is but at the end of the day he will remain a man of anger, not a man of reason.

A Dub in Glasgo

Voted for him a while ago when he was an MP in Glasgow. A great orator to boot

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuzlwFXeW3A

A Dub in Glasgo

KeithAFC wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzWNXEtwHUc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUPb-3zkh0c

Both of these guys were in administrations that killed and maimed hundreds of thousands of people. GG was not

Coillte_Bhoy

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Because he has accused Rangers fans of Sectarian singing which he was right to do but the same man has been recorded calling Protestants orange bastards etc.{/quote]

Has he? link?

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Really though what has the club I support got to do with anything theres lots of people I could say I don't like who follow my club I have never ever said I don't like someone because they support a football ream

He has called your teams fans up on many occasions for their behaviour so would be a fair reason not to like him

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Oh and I am not in Scotland

Eh, i know that

Broxi_Bear_Eire

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Broxi_Bear_Eire wrote: »

Because he has accused Rangers fans of Sectarian singing which he was right to do but the same man has been recorded calling Protestants orange bastards etc.{/quote]

Has he? link?



He has called your teams fans up on many occasions for their behaviour so would be a fair reason not to like him



Eh, i know that

He has every right to have a go at fans if they misbehave he has no right to call all Rangers fans sectarian
Give me a while I will find the link

getzls

I share his socialist thinking, but the man is a bigot. On his show if a Unionist/ protestant comes on he will pick up on it and his atitude changes to them.

Jelle1880

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiPonzAslFQ

This sums him up pretty well.
A bigot, who thinks supporting the fundamentalist muslims out there means he's a good socialist.

As for his remarks about Rangers:
Constantly using arguments which have long been disproven shows that he would rather lie to get a point across.

JustinDee

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

Voted for him a while ago when he was an MP in Glasgow. A great orator to boot

lol
Many a hedonist who likes the sound of their own sanctimonious voice has been considered a "great orator", even this gerrymanderer.

RandomName2

I would have more respect for Albert Speer or Goebbels than Galloway. At least they had some sort of loyalty. Galloway is only motivated by an antagonism with the West. He had nothing against any genocidal dictator that might prove useful in undermining the West, but would be willing to throw said dictators under a train if it suited his immediate purposes.

Coillte_Bhoy

Jelle1880 wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiPonzAslFQ

This sums him up pretty well.
A bigot, who thinks supporting the fundamentalist muslims out there means he's a good socialist.

As for his remarks about Rangers:
Constantly using arguments which have long been disproven shows that he would rather lie to get a point across.

Long disproven? Oh ffs what planet are you on? No doubt UEFA just make it up about yere singing then? Oh no wait it must be timmy conspirators surely.:rolleyes:

Monty Burnz

LeixlipRed wrote: »

RBB is a socialist, he stands for the rights of all oppressed peoples against the oppressors.

Presumably he stood and stands for the rights of all those victims of every socialist government ever seen in that case?

JustinDee

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Long disproven? Oh ffs what planet are you on? No doubt UEFA just make it up about yere singing then? Oh no wait it must be timmy conspirators surely.:rolleyes:

Despite being a sidetrack, the irony is very apparent when one of the only two teams in the Scottish joke of a soccer league gets feisty and calls the other a 'bigot'.
Both sets of fans are with their myopic delusions on being righteous and the 'good guys'. The amount of money wasted on matches between these two for security is obscene. The fans are not mature enough to not only stop the confrontations but unwilling to do so.

Complete waste of time and money. Just like Galloway.
Just flip a coin in August and be done with it.

Jelle1880

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Long disproven? Oh ffs what planet are you on? No doubt UEFA just make it up about yere singing then? Oh no wait it must be timmy conspirators surely.:rolleyes:

So when he literally keeps claiming that MoJo was the first Catholic ever to sign for Rangers, that's not a lie ?

It sums him up tbh, despite knowing he's wrong he keeps using arguments which have long since been disproven.
And that's why he's a joke.

Coillte_Bhoy

JustinDee wrote: »

Despite being a sidetrack, the irony is very apparent when one of the only two teams in the Scottish joke of a soccer league gets feisty and calls the other a 'bigot'.
Both sets of fans are with their myopic delusions on being righteous and the 'good guys'. The amount of money wasted on matches between these two for security is obscene. The fans are not mature enough to not only stop the confrontations but unwilling to do so.

Complete waste of time and money. Just like Galloway.
Just flip a coin in August and be done with it.

You follow the SPL? Again you make the common mistake of lumping both sets of fans in the one boat. Celtic fans certainly do not see themselves as righteous but you dont have a clue what i am referring to obviously. What confrontations by the way?

How much are the the security cost for their meetings and how does it compare to derby games in England? Say Sheff Utd V Wednesday, Birmingham V Villa and lets add in other rivalries like Utd V Liverpool etc? I'm sure you have the figures to hand.

JustinDee

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

You follow the SPL? Again you make the common mistake of lumping both sets of fans in the one boat. Celtic fans certainly do not see themselves as righteous but you dont have a clue what i am referring to obviously. What confrontations by the way?

How much are the the security cost for their meetings and how does it compare to derby games in England? Say Sheff Utd V Wednesday, Birmingham V Villa and lets add in other rivalries like Utd V Liverpool etc? I'm sure you have the figures to hand.

I know plenty about this utterly dumb form of tribalism, thanks.
The moral relativist line about the game in England and Wales doesn't justify the blinkered idiocy in Scotland either.

KeithAFC

getzls wrote: »

I share his socialist thinking, but the man is a bigot. On his show if a Unionist/ protestant comes on he will pick up on it and his atitude changes to them.

He is no friend to the Ulster Protestant people.

Coillte_Bhoy

KeithAFC wrote: »

He is no friend to the Ulster Protestant people.

Who the hell are they? Surely you're referring to the loyalist people of n ireland? The protestant people of the 9 counties of ulster are far from the homogenous group you like to think. Thats like saying the catholic population of Leinster, what does that mean?

KeithAFC

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

Who the hell are they? Surely you're referring to the loyalist people of n ireland? The protestant people of the 9 counties of ulster are far from the homogenous group you like to think. Thats like saying the catholic population of Leinster, what does that mean?

The Ulster Protestant people. The majority of which support the Union.

Coillte_Bhoy

KeithAFC wrote: »

The Ulster Protestant people. The majority of which support the Union.

So if you cant or dont understand a question juts keep repeating the same line. Of course the majority support the union, i'm not disputing that but you you cannot ascribe a certain belief to a body of people that numbers what? 1.2 million approx. Among that group you will have republcians, socialist etc. You are not an homogenous group and you have some neck to speak for residents of Cavn, Donegal and Monaghan.

KeithAFC

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

So if you cant or dont understand a question juts keep repeating the same line. Of course the majority support the union, i'm not disputing that but you you cannot ascribe a certain belief to a body of people that numbers what? 1.2 million approx. Among that group you will have republcians, socialist etc. You are not an homogenous group and you have some neck to speak for residents of Cavn, Donegal and Monaghan.

Many of them live in all those 3 counties too. So I think I can.

Broxi_Bear_Eire

JustinDee wrote: »

Despite being a sidetrack, the irony is very apparent when one of the only two teams in the Scottish joke of a soccer league gets feisty and calls the other a 'bigot'.
Both sets of fans are with their myopic delusions on being righteous and the 'good guys'. The amount of money wasted on matches between these two for security is obscene. The fans are not mature enough to not only stop the confrontations but unwilling to do so.

Complete waste of time and money. Just like Galloway.
Just flip a coin in August and be done with it.

You know nothing about Rangers or Celtic fans if you class them all as bigots many of us support one or the other for purely footballing reasons it really astounds me when people like you go on about things you so obviously no nothing about

Coillte_Bhoy

KeithAFC wrote: »

Many of them live in all those 3 counties too. So I think I can.

So you can speak for 1.2 milion people based purely on their general religious persuasion. Ok, good lad.

irishh_bob

SamHarris wrote: »

Not only is he biggoted but he is very racially charged - repeatedly calling for Arab unity in a war against the West including - "Iraq is fighting for all the Arabs. Where are the Arab armies?" amoungst others. If he said the same about White people in any context there would be uproar. He seems more fascist than anything really.

He is convinced of Jewish conspiracies against him, and that the media is controlled by Jews, which makes him an anti semite, or at the very least borederline schizophrenic.

you dont need to be mentally ill to be of the view that people of the jewish faith have a disproportionate level of representation in particular areas , wall st , hollywood , washington etc , israel is a sacred cow amongst the political class and media in america , you dont need to be a far left demagogue like george galloway to know that

KeithAFC

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

So you can speak for 1.2 milion people based purely on their general religious persuasion. Ok, good lad.

The majority of them are Unionist, so yes. They would be no friends of George Galloway.

Coillte_Bhoy

KeithAFC wrote: »

The majority of them are Unionist, so yes. They would be no friends of George Galloway.

But thats now what you said. You siad the 'protestant people of Ulster'. Big difference.

KeithAFC

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

But thats now what you said. You siad the 'protestant people of Ulster'. Big difference.

Take it in the context it was said and who said it.:)

Het-Field

A nasty man, who is an apologist for nasty political systems.

His 2005 campaign was one of the most disgusting in modern times. His use of language in his particular constituency was astounding, and a clear attempt to exploit strong feelings for his own benefit.

Delighted that he is a double loser in England and Scotland!

mikeyboy

KeithAFC wrote: »

Many of them live in all those 3 counties too. So I think I can.

Guess again, you are not the Protestant Pope of Ulster.
Agree that Galloway is an ass though

Richard

Coillte_Bhoy wrote: »

But thats now what you said. You siad the 'protestant people of Ulster'. Big difference.

To be honest, although he would claim to be on the side of Ulster's Catholics, however homogenous they may or may not be, I'd say a fair few of them don't have any time for him either.

porsche959

I see Galloway now wants to ban Israeli tourists from visiting Bradford.

As one wag had it, it is doubtful whether many need change travel plans.

I asked a London Jew what side he reckoned Galloway would be on if he was around during the time of the Battle of Cable Street.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Cable_Street

You can probably guess the answer.

A Dub in Glasgo

porsche959 wrote: »

I asked a London Jew what side he reckoned Galloway would be on if he was around during the time of the Battle of Cable Street.

So you asked a Londoner, what difference does it make the religion of said person?