Maggie Thatcher death discussion thread - Mod rules in first post

bnt · 17-04-2013 10:52AM

The police are facing the crowd, for what should be fairly obvious reasons. They were talking about this on the BBC earlier. Each officer is expected to "adopt" his portion of the spectators, have a chat with them, get a feel for what they're like, and watch out for anything suspicious. Anyone with a swarthy complexion can expect some extra eyeballs on him or her.

It's quite an efficient military operation, exactly 19 minutes of procession to St. Paul's Cathedral. Can't have the old folks and their bladders sitting around for too long. Someone did throw things at the horses earlier, and they're a bit unnerved, but they aren't going to bolt. (Now that would be something to see ..! :eek: )

Pherekydes · 17-04-2013 10:57AM

bnt wrote: »

The police are facing the crowd, for what should be fairly obvious reasons.

Ah jeez, I was joking.

Why do they persist in showing that note on top of her coffin? Her kids never struck me as being particularly close to her.

Happyman42 · 17-04-2013 10:58AM

Just like Mrs Winsdor's visit to Dublin, this is just proof that you can lock down a city if you throw enough taxpayers money at it.
Protests of any kind where never going to be allowed, I would expect them to come later.

Madam · 17-04-2013 10:59AM

Happyman42 wrote: »

Just like Mrs Winsdor's visit to Dublin, this is just proof that you can lock down a city if you throw enough taxpayers money at it.
Protests of any kind where never going to be allowed, I would expect them to come later.

Britain a free society? My arse!!!!!!

Grandpa Hassan · 17-04-2013 10:59AM

A few boos but overwhelmingly respectful applause. But of a anti Thatcher crowd outside St Pauls, but hardly representative of the whole. (I'm not sure that the guy with a very loud voice outside St Pauls, wasn't a seargeant barking orders)

snubbleste · 17-04-2013 11:00AM

All I hear are the bells chiming Ding Dong

AEDIC · 17-04-2013 11:00AM

I wonder how many of those shouting, jeering and throwing things at a funeral procession would rage in absolute disgust at the Westboro Baptist loonies doing the same thing at the funerals of the armed forces or the gay community in the US.

Madam · 17-04-2013 11:00AM

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

A few boos but overwhelmingly respectful applause. But of a anti Thatcher crowd outside St Pauls, but hardly representative of the whole. (I'm not sure that the guy with a very loud voice outside St Pauls, wasn't a seargeant barking orders)

Riveting telly right enough:p

gobnaitolunacy · 17-04-2013 11:10AM

golfball37 wrote: »

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/thatcher-dubbed-all-irish-liars-mandelson-says-591549.html

Thatcher dubbed all Irish 'liars', Mandelson says

Peter Mandelson said today that the only thing Margaret Thatcher ever told him was that the Irish were “all liars” and not to be trusted.

Why does he wait until she's dead to just release this tidbit???

Rascasse · 17-04-2013 11:10AM

Happyman42 wrote: »

The poster used the words 'definitive proof', which it most certainly ain't.

His story + Thatcher's story + de Klerks story all seem to tally. But frankly there is no point arguing with you. She is your pantomime villain and nothing will convince you otherwise.

Happyman42 wrote: »

Just like Mrs Winsdor's visit to Dublin, this is just proof that you can lock down a city if you throw enough taxpayers money at it.
Protests of any kind where never going to be allowed, I would expect them to come later.

I see on twitter that there have been some boos (but largely drowned out by clapping), and that some have turned their backs (but you can't see them as the tourists and pro thatcher types got to the front first). What do you want? People throwing rocks? Actually, that probably is what you want.

Happyman42 · 17-04-2013 11:14AM

Rascasse wrote: »

His story + Thatcher's story + de Klerks story all seem to tally.

Tally with what? What you 'want' to believe?

I see on twitter that there have been some boos (but largely drowned out by clapping), and that some have turned their backs (but you can't see them as the tourists and pro thatcher types got to the front first). What do you want? People throwing rocks? Actually, that probably is what you want.

The city is in lockdown, look at the police and security presence.

Ash.J.Williams · 17-04-2013 11:15AM

Do we need a Thatcher?

Nodin · 17-04-2013 11:18AM

Ash.J.Williams wrote: »

Do we need a Thatcher?

No, no. Paper targets and the odd hay bail will suffice.

bnt · 17-04-2013 11:24AM

The BBC has a list of who was invited, comparing that to who confirmed their attendance, here.

There appears to be no official representative from the current USA government, apart from the Ambassador (it's assumed - that's pretty much his job). We have Dick Cheney, Ross Perot, Newt Gingrich and Henry Kissinger, but neither Bush Sr. or Jr. Nancy Reagan is too frail to travel.

Still, all living UK PMs are there (Major, Blair, Brown & Cameron), along with the current and former Canadian PMs, and former South African President FW De Klerk. And Jeffrey Archer. :rolleyes:

space_man · 17-04-2013 11:24AM

space_man wrote: »

i 'ld love to know what she made of the Irish.
My guess is she saw us as "white negroes" or savages of some sort. i can just imagine her saying "one can never trust the irish, they are devoid of breeding & intellect".

dos anybody have any references?

golfball37 wrote: »

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/thatcher-dubbed-all-irish-liars-mandelson-says-591549.html

Thatcher dubbed all Irish 'liars', Mandelson says

Peter Mandelson said today that the only thing Margaret Thatcher ever told him was that the Irish were “all liars” and not to be trusted.

The Labour former cabinet minister revealed the 1999 exchange as he explained why he did not want to attend the former premier’s funeral service.

“I didn’t feel I knew her well enough” to apply for the tickets offered to peers, he told BBC Radio 4’s Today.

“It was the day I was appointed Northern Ireland secretary and our paths crossed.

“She came up to me and she said, ’I’ve got one thing to say to you, my boy … you can’t trust the Irish, they are all liars’, she said, ’liars, and that’s what you have to remember, so just don’t forget it’.

“With that she waltzed off and that was my only personal exposure to her.”

most interestin'
i guessed as much.

Hoop66 · 17-04-2013 11:28AM

Has Cthulu showed up at the funeral yet, only I can't see it in work.

Nodin · 17-04-2013 11:31AM

bnt wrote: »

The BBC has a list of who was invited, comparing that to who confirmed their attendance, here.

There appears to be no official representative from the current USA government, apart from the Ambassador (it's assumed - that's pretty much his job). We have Dick Cheney, Ross Perot, Newt Gingrich and Henry Kissinger, but neither Bush Sr. or Jr. Nancy Reagan is too frail to travel.

Still, all living UK PMs are there (Major, Blair, Brown & Cameron), along with the current and former Canadian PMs, and former South African President FW De Klerk. And Jeffrey Archer. :rolleyes:

Ahh Yes. Jeffrey...leader of the Thatcherite Renaissance. A man rumoured to have written more books than he read.

AEDIC · 17-04-2013 11:32AM

space_man wrote: »

most interestin'
i guessed as much.

One person (who is not known for telling the whole truth btw) expresses an unsubtantiated opinion that can not be backed up in any way at all... and thats good enough for you. most interestin' (sic)

Nodin · 17-04-2013 11:33AM

Hoop66 wrote: »

Has Cthulu showed up at the funeral yet, only I can't see it in work.

There's certainly a few on the guest list that make one think that the Unknowable & Unnameable are mourning the Unspeakable.

Lisha · 17-04-2013 11:34AM

I'm sure I saw Sally Bercow there, she had said she would not be accompanying her husband.

Pherekydes · 17-04-2013 11:35AM

So when you die your "essence" is uploaded to the cloud?

Nodin · 17-04-2013 11:35AM

Lisha wrote: »

I'm sure I saw Sally Bercow there, she had said she would not be accompanying her husband.

Maybe he doesn't know she's there....he might have some new PA if ye follow me.

space_man · 17-04-2013 11:36AM

AEDIC wrote: »

One person (who is not known for telling the whole truth btw) expresses an unsubtantiated opinion that can not be backed up in any way at all... and thats good enough for you. most interestin' (sic)

i accept he is a slippery character, but why would he lie about this?

digit1 · 17-04-2013 11:37AM

gobnaitolunacy wrote: »

Why does he wait until she's dead to just release this tidbit???

Ditto................

Lisha · 17-04-2013 11:39AM

Nodin wrote: »

Maybe he doesn't know she's there....he might have some new PA if ye follow me.

Lol no she was beside her husband John

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2308870/Margaret-Thatcher-funeral-Sally-Bercow-snub-invite-I-dont-accompany-husband.html

AEDIC · 17-04-2013 11:39AM

space_man wrote: »

i accept he is a slippery character, but why would he lie about this?

You would have to ask him. I could guess that he had some personal agenda and probably wouldnt be too far off...but what that is, who knows with him.

bnt · 17-04-2013 11:40AM

I knew that Mrs. Thatcher had grandchildren, but didn't realise they were already grown up. Amanda, who gave the first reading at the service, is 19, and flew in from the USA for the service. I expect we'll be seeing more of her after this, a la Pippa Middleton. :cool:

Fratton Fred · 17-04-2013 11:41AM

space_man wrote: »

i accept he is a slippery character, but why would he lie about this?

If he had just sais that the only thing she ever said to him was Hi Mandy, it wouldn't have made the papers?

Fratton Fred · 17-04-2013 11:43AM

Lisha wrote: »

Lol no she was beside her husband John

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2308870/Margaret-Thatcher-funeral-Sally-Bercow-snub-invite-I-dont-accompany-husband.html

I can't imagine Sally Bercow would miss a chance of getting her picture in the Mail.

who the fug · 17-04-2013 11:45AM

space_man wrote: »

i accept he is a slippery character, but why would he lie about this?

Look up the scorpion and the frog story

Maggie Thatcher death discussion thread - Mod rules in first post

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