Politics Lulz, "Bradford Spring"

[Scouse]

Love him or hate him, this result in the Bradford West by-election is astonishing.

56% of the vote, thoroughly trashing a safe labour seat. I'd also agree that the result is a "total rejection" of the three major parties.

With the asian population being as high as it is in Bradford you'd expect his anti-war stance to be very popular, but even given that this is still an amazing turnaround.


Now, I think Mr Galloway's a bit of a dick, but prime ministers questions are going to be be significantly more interesting from now on 'cause we'll have a guy in there who's going to stand up and call all of the major parties dicks for the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq and who'll stand up and support the Palestinians, who are being proper fucked over by Israel.

And I'm fine with that.

 

[Raven]

He is a clown and I don't think anyone will take him seriously even if he is allowed to spout his insanity in parliament.

 

[Scouse]

I've missed all this insanity. I've never really followed his career but when I've seen videos of him I've seen him have a pop at the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (good) and have a pop at Israel for human rights violations (also good).

Where's the insane bit in that?

Plus, that result is pretty darn amazing for Bradford. I used to live in that constituency and it's been fucked over by Labour for years but their vote has never wavered.

 

[Tom]

The people of Bradford West perhaps don't know that Galloway is one of the least active politicians in Parliament. So they'll receive little to no representation there.

 

[Scouse]

Aye. To be fair though Tom, the politicians in Bradford have fucked the city over for years. It's been the archetypal "banana republic". Corrupt, despicable family-owned politics.

Galloway's indifference to Bradford would still be a step up for them.

 

[Wij]

Bradford West has been a Mirpuri family business for 40 years. The local politics is all back-scratching with no thought given to the wider community. However, this was a rejection of the central Labour party, not the local one; but it's a rejection of Labour in a very regional way and should not be treated as though it's a general trend. George Galloway doesn't have to tone his message down to appeal to the rest of the country. He targets his campaign to appeal to 'disaffected' Muslims. I can't really think of anything good about this whole thing.

 

[Scouse]

I can't really think of anything good about this whole thing.

If he gets to stand up in parliament and say Iraq was a disgrace, Afghanistan is a disgrace and our lack of pressure against Israel whilst they run a palestinian concentration-camp is a disgrace, then at least some good will come of it - and Bradford will be no worse off.

Bradford might even gain a little - because I bet Galloway won't be siphoning funds off to line his own and his mates pockets like the current lot were doing.

 

[Embattle]

If he gets to stand up in parliament and say Iraq was a disgrace, Afghanistan is a disgrace and our lack of pressure against Israel whilst they run a palestinian concentration-camp is a disgrace, then at least some good will come of it - and Bradford will be no worse off.

Bradford might even gain a little - because I bet Galloway won't be siphoning funds off to line his own and his mates pockets like the current lot were doing.

Not really, no body of any importance will take much notice.

 

[Scouse]

Lets just pack up and not bother having a parliament then eh?

It goes on the record and some of the public may get to hear a dissenter's voice - which is healthy.

Yep, it's not much of a good thing, but it's more of a contribution to British politics than any Bradford politician will have made in a long long time.

 

[Wij]

If he gets to stand up in parliament and say Iraq was a disgrace, Afghanistan is a disgrace and our lack of pressure against Israel whilst they run a palestinian concentration-camp is a disgrace, then at least some good will come of it - and Bradford will be no worse off.

Bradford might even gain a little - because I bet Galloway won't be siphoning funds off to line his own and his mates pockets like the current lot were doing.

If George follows the example of Ken he will just start funding his own group of cronies with public money

And his views on Afghanistan and Iraq will be ignored because, whether you agree with them or not, everyone knows that it's just a big ego-trip for him.

 

[Wij]

http://hurryupharry.org/2012/03/30/the-return-of-galloway-the-return-of-sectarian-britain/

 

[Wij]

Don't normally agree with Cranmer but this is funny

http://archbishop-cranmer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/bradford-west-by-election-vote-george.html

 

[Scouse]

Nice article by "Lucy Lips" there.

However, accurate or not I don't disagree with much of it. That falls nicely into my arguments against religion (Turamber should sit up and take notice - christians fall for exactly the same sort of obvious bullshit).

Either way - do I care enough to think that I'm not pleased with the opportunity it presents? Nobody is standing up and saying what needs to be said about the wars of agression that we're involved in and the policies that we pursue. If Cunty McKintass is the only ego-tripper big enough to get himself elected and say it, then, in the absence of anyone else saying it, I have to take it.


Edit: That second article does gloss over the fact that Imran Hussein is a thief and a liar and runs campains that are very similar to George Galloways in content and structure.

I know from first-hand experience - Galloway's "literature" is insubstantially different from Imran's, so perhaps I'm not as shocked as the rest of white-Britain at the tactics being used - I saw the same arguments being used by the opposition at every election that was held whilst I lived there.

Also -

[George Galloway] is matey with Hamas and rants on fanatically about Palestinian genocide while denying the crimes of the real terrorists

The "real terrorists" are Israel, in this case. So the article is dead wrong there...

 

[Wij]

I think the point is that this is nothing to do with Old vs New Labour or a rejection of mainstream parties by the UK. This is about a small party setting itself up as the Islamic party and winning a seat with a largely Islamic populace. An anomoly on the political landscape. Nothing more.

 

[ECA]

I love George Galloway.

Even if he's an asshole, he's a wholly entertaining one - and someone who will burn the PM in opposition is never a bad thing.

 

[Scouse]

I think the point is that this is nothing to do with Old vs New Labour or a rejection of mainstream parties by the UK. This is about a small party setting itself up as the Islamic party and winning a seat with a largely Islamic populace. An anomoly on the political landscape. Nothing more.

I don't think the win is as simple as that. It'd be nice to paint it as a muslim win but the 56% vote total is massive.

Bradford is ~70% white. Asians make up about 20% of the total population (though more than that in Bradford West) - and that includes a very large Indian population. (Detailed Figures)

I don't think Bradford West itself is majority muslim so even if every single muslim in Bradford West voted for Galloway it wouldn't explain the 56%.

To say it was an election won by Islam is a lie.

 

[Wij]

Twaddle. The argument doesn't require Galloway's votes to ONLY come from Muslims or any other variety of scenarios. It's quite plain though that the Muslim vote did the heavy lifting. The white and Indian populations mainly stayed at home as is typical in by-elections.

 

[Job]

He is a very clever man and telling the truth always outrages those with simplistic principles, i have never heard him say a thing that isnt the abseloute truth and banished into the political wilderness is what you get for that, my hero ever since he eent ober and stuck s bih fat one up the senate, they just werent prepared for someone who wasnt trying to protect their careerand they couldnt silence with consequences.
Parliament has just improved 1000%

 

[Embattle]

Lets just pack up and not bother having a parliament then eh?

It goes on the record and some of the public may get to hear a dissenter's voice - which is healthy.

Yep, it's not much of a good thing, but it's more of a contribution to British politics than any Bradford politician will have made in a long long time.

That is what is happening any way.

 

[megadave]

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4euhw038vw

 

[throdgrain]

George Galloway got in at Bradford because he aims his "policies" at immigrants, particularly Muslims. Thats why he was in at London and why he's in now.

In another generation or two I expect there will be quite a few more people doing that too, as we, the English natives will become outnumbered.

 

[Tom]

Well seeing that about 83% of England is composed of White British (not including other white groups) I think that'll be a very long way off Throddy. In the order of centuries, if ever.

 

[throdgrain]

When it's too late, it will be too late

 

[Job]

Everyone mentions his madcap ideas, exactly what are they, could anyone give me an example.
Hopefully they're not referring to the fact that he doesn't talk, 'non threatening, everybody friendly'evado speak.
The immigrants will become the new britsh, with a mish mash of their culture and ours, as has always happened, even when it's violent takeover, the new will absorb the old.
Trying to prevent it is just as valid as letting it happen, in fact getting the majority to take to arms , start a civil war and win is just another day at the office for world affairs.

 

[ileks]

I fucking hate that shouting taxi driver

 

[ECA]

I fucking hate that shouting taxi driver

Agreed, he needs to fuck off right quick. Ignorant cunt shouting into a microphone.

If I wanted to listen to an annoying cunt I'd turn on a 24/7 news channel.

 

[Scouse]

In another generation or two I expect there will be quite a few more people doing that too, as we, the English natives will become outnumbered.

z0mg! racist0rz!

Yer wrong, of course. Even Bradford is 75% white "native" British. We'll not be outnumbered.

Everyone mentions his madcap ideas, exactly what are they, could anyone give me an example.

This tbfh. Yes he uses standard dirty politician tricks, but the things he's saying I happen to agree with.

We shouldn't have been at war with Iraq. We shouldn't be at war in Afghanistan. We shouldn't be supporting Israel and the stupid two-state solution.

 

[Hawkwind]

I've missed all this insanity. I've never really followed his career but when I've seen videos of him I've seen him have a pop at the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan (good) and have a pop at Israel for human rights violations (also good).

Where's the insane bit in that?

Where do you start, the man is bonkers. His meetings with Saddam Hussain and antics in the House of Commons showed what an idiot he is. I doubt little has changed. Just go read his party's newsletter, although on second thoughts you'd probably agree with most of it

 

[Hawkwind]

Everyone mentions his madcap ideas, exactly what are they, could anyone give me an example.
Hopefully they're not referring to the fact that he doesn't talk, 'non threatening, everybody friendly'evado speak.
The immigrants will become the new britsh, with a mish mash of their culture and ours, as has always happened, even when it's violent takeover, the new will absorb the old.
Trying to prevent it is just as valid as letting it happen, in fact getting the majority to take to arms , start a civil war and win is just another day at the office for world affairs.

Respect party Manifesto


Reads great, more money in schools, hospitals. Council housing building program. Compulsory equal pay for women.....

But how will they pay for it?

• Windfall taxes on banks - they will move the profit centers abroad/offshore
• Increase of Capital Gains Tax
• 50% tax on 100K+ earners
• Robin Hood tax on Bank trading - This will kill the City of London and would likely move to Paris/Frankfurt. Financial services account for a big percentage of the GDP so this would be huge issue

Personal opinion - like most socialist agendas it looks good until you get into how they will pay for everything and quite simply it does not add up. labour put the country into to massive debt paying for services they had no money for. This would be far worse and in the long term be detrimental to the UK economy.

 

[Job]

I don't see anything there that hasn't been either seriously considered or actually implemented by the mainstream parties, I'd hardly call their manifesto crackpot, unrealistic maybe id you're happy to let
the big money dictate with the threat of fucking off if they don't get their way.
I don't want to live in a world where people can't get rich by any legal means , but history tells us once the gap between the rich and the poor get's out of hand, then it's guillotine time, because 40 million poor turn up at the door with the army on their side.