politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » And on the day that the Saudi King died here’s Marf

IMO, the mistake Cameron is now making is not just coming out and saying yes they now look fair, as long as we get the format of how a 7 way debate to be such that isn't a bun fight....his silence allows him to painted as still ducking them, when we all know he has probably got a better deal than having to have just 3 other parties and that ultimately he has to do them.

It is really hard to lose a 7 way debate, and if he really is frightened of Ed Miliband head to head, well he doesn't really deserve a second term.

I know the Tories think that they hindered their campaign last time, but that was because it wasn't him vs Brown, it was him vs Clegg and Brown, and Clegg was able to stand in the middle and say hey I'm normal and sound reasonable.

FPT @ foxinsox.

Nah. You snidely insinuated another poster was homophobic. It's your false baseless supposition that's offensive. In today's day and age, that is both harmful to the individual's reputation, and deeply corrosive to future free expression. Just in case you, or someone like you, does it again.

Most accused won't take the risk again. But the accuser generally gets away it, but with a meaty sense of self-importance and a warm hearty glow.

You owe Cyclefree an apology.

Watching Cameron and Blair fawning over the Saudi Royal family makes any civilized person want to retch. How could anyone criticize Galloway for his antics in front of Saddam when we are forced to watch this. Iraq was never nearly as odious as Saudi and I've worked for both.

Btw, if anyone wants to back a labour majority/minority/coalition government headed by EdM, betfair's "Prime minister after the general election" market seems to offer slightly better odds than available elsewhere for some reason.

http://www.betfair.com/exchange/politics/market?id=1.116758783

Roger said:

Watching Cameron and Blair fawning over the Saudi Royal family makes any civilized person want to retch. How could anyone criticize Galloway for his antics in front of Saddam when we are forced to watch this. Iraq was never nearly as odious as Saudi and I've worked for both.

Roger: I agree with you.

I shall repeat what I put on the previous post. WARNING: it contains an analogy which may or may not refer to prohibited activities or sharia punishments or indeed anything else which your imagination may dream up.

"Can I just say that the general brown-nosing today towards the dead king of Saudi Arabia is really quite sickening. A short statement expressing sympathy with the people of SA would have been more than sufficient.

But all this guff is quite revolting. And for Westminster Abbey to have a flag at half mast in honour of the leader of a country where being a Christian is punishable by death is beyond disgraceful.

With apologies for the image - but the West's approach to this sordid country is to bend over and hold its ankles. And it's long past the time for this to stop.

Roger said:

Watching Cameron and Blair fawning over the Saudi Royal family makes any civilized person want to retch. How could anyone criticize Galloway for his antics in front of Saddam when we are forced to watch this. Iraq was never nearly as odious as Saudi and I've worked for both.

AndyJS said:

I've never felt so disgusted in my life as I am today by the this:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/23/king-abdullah-half-mast-flag-tribute-mps

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2923527/Flags-half-mast-fawning-praise-King-loved-people-sparks-furious-public-backlash.html

What must the blogger facing 20 lashes a week be thinking?

I echo these sentiments entirely.

AndyJS said:

I've never felt so disgusted in my life as I am today by the this:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/23/king-abdullah-half-mast-flag-tribute-mps

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2923527/Flags-half-mast-fawning-praise-King-loved-people-sparks-furious-public-backlash.html

What must the blogger facing 20 lashes a week be thinking?

Compare and contrast with Leon Brittan statement from Cameron....

Pulpstar said:

Cyclefree said:

Pulpstar said:

Roger said:

Watching Cameron and Blair fawning over the Saudi Royal family makes any civilized person want to retch. How could anyone criticize Galloway for his antics in front of Saddam when we are forced to watch this. Iraq was never nearly as odious as Saudi and I've worked for both.

“He was loved by his people and will be deeply missed.”

Don't you think that Blair rather wishes that is what we'll all write when he's gone?

That sentence just sums up everything about St Tony.

No wonder Miliband is distancing himself from it all lol.

In a straight choice of voting for Dave or Blair i would have to spoil my ballot paper

https://twitter.com/RuthDavidsonMSP/status/558632159423250432

In 2006 I was shooting a Pantene commercial for the Middle East. My American client who worked in an office on the third floor of what was known as 'chop chop square' in Riyadh told me about something he had witnessed the previous Friday.

After prayers hundreds of men women and children assembled in the square. A coach arrived carrying twelve men and one woman who were assembled in a line. They were then made to kneel down and were blindfolded........

A man with a large curved sword prodded each in turn which made them involuntarily lift their head which was then chopped off in one swipe. This was repeated thirteen times. Each time the crowd cheered wildly and the heads rolled down into a custom made gutter......

When our Prime Minister chooses to genuflect in front of this crowd is it any wonder that there are those in our midst who are struggling to know what 'British values' are.....

Theuniondivvie said:

AndyJS said:

I've never felt so disgusted in my life as I am today by the this:

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/jan/23/king-abdullah-half-mast-flag-tribute-mps

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2923527/Flags-half-mast-fawning-praise-King-loved-people-sparks-furious-public-backlash.html

What must the blogger facing 20 lashes a week be thinking?

And the rest, 100 per week I think? Postponed again this week 'cos he hasn't sufficiently recovered from the first dose.

50 lashes per week apparently.

Some decent folk putting their backs where their mouths are.

'Princeton professor joins group of US intellectuals offering to take 100 lashes each for Saudi blogger punished over criticism of country’s clerics'

http://tinyurl.com/kesulwl

Roger said:

In 2006 I was shooting a Pantene commercial for the Middle East. My American client who worked in an office on the third floor of what was known as 'chop chop square' in Riyadh told me about something he had witnessed the previous Friday.

After prayers hundreds of men women and children assembled in the square. A coach arrived carrying twelve men and one woman who were assembled in a line. They were then made to kneel down and were blindfolded........

A man with a large curved sword prodded each in turn which made them involuntarily lift their head which was then chopped off in one swipe. This was repeated thirteen times. Each time the crowd cheered wildly and the heads rolled down into a custom made gutter......

When our Prime Minister chooses to genuflect in front of this crowd is it any wonder that there are those in our midst who are struggling to know what 'British values' are.....

Public executions used to draw large crowds at Tyburn, and in Paris too.

I have to say imo lowering flags etc and Cameron apparently going to "pay respects" seems way OTT. I've no problem with some dignified private respect for the deceased but lowering flags just sends a weird signal. No wonder many women ( in particular) are angry at this. I don't blame them.

We can't change the world so everyone's like Denmark or Norway and we're going to have to deal with the reality as it presents itself to us in a measured manner ( trade, security etc) but pretending we approve of their ways when I've no doubt the overwhelming majority of us don't is just misreading the mood big style.

foxinsoxuk said:

Roger said:

In 2006 I was shooting a Pantene commercial for the Middle East. My American client who worked in an office on the third floor of what was known as 'chop chop square' in Riyadh told me about something he had witnessed the previous Friday.

After prayers hundreds of men women and children assembled in the square. A coach arrived carrying twelve men and one woman who were assembled in a line. They were then made to kneel down and were blindfolded........

A man with a large curved sword prodded each in turn which made them involuntarily lift their head which was then chopped off in one swipe. This was repeated thirteen times. Each time the crowd cheered wildly and the heads rolled down into a custom made gutter......

When our Prime Minister chooses to genuflect in front of this crowd is it any wonder that there are those in our midst who are struggling to know what 'British values' are.....

Public executions used to draw large crowds at Tyburn, and in Paris too.

And those large crowds would attract pick-pockets, even if it was a pick-pocket being executed.

@Roger

'In 2006 I was shooting a Pantene commercial for the Middle East. My American client who worked in an office on the third floor of what was known as 'chop chop square' in Riyadh told me about something he had witnessed the previous Friday.

After prayers hundreds of men women and children assembled in the square.'

That's strange Friday is the Saudi weekend and offices are empty,did the men rush back home after prayers to pick up their families or did the women defy Saudi law and drive to the event?

Your American client must have been pissed off at losing so many customers.

Roger said:

Watching Cameron and Blair fawning over the Saudi Royal family makes any civilized person want to retch. How could anyone criticize Galloway for his antics in front of Saddam when we are forced to watch this. Iraq was never nearly as odious as Saudi and I've worked for both.

Well said. Cameron and Blair are a couple of rotten peas in the pod. I'm reminded of the disgust I felt when Cameron led a standing ovation for Blair at the latter's final PMQs. A pair of shits.

welshowl said:

I have to say imo lowering flags etc and Cameron apparently going to "pay respects" seems way OTT. I've no problem with some dignified private respect for the deceased but lowering flags just sends a weird signal. No wonder many women ( in particular) are angry at this. I don't blame them.

We can't change the world so everyone's like Denmark or Norway and we're going to have to deal with the reality as it presents itself to us in a measured manner ( trade, security etc) but pretending we approve of their ways when I've no doubt the overwhelming majority of us don't is just misreading the mood big style.

Just to avoid confusion caused by Ms Davidson: the flags being lowered are NOT in Scotland, but in the rest of the glorious Union to which she normally wishes us to be tied (I dunno about NI and Wales).

The Scottish position is more a general policy of not grovelling to foreign royalty than anything to do specifically with Saudi.

Edit: UK Gmt buildings in Scotland may have the things at halfmast, I haven't had a peek at Edinburgh Castle or any barracks to check.

Carnyx said:

welshowl said:

I have to say imo lowering flags etc and Cameron apparently going to "pay respects" seems way OTT. I've no problem with some dignified private respect for the deceased but lowering flags just sends a weird signal. No wonder many women ( in particular) are angry at this. I don't blame them.

We can't change the world so everyone's like Denmark or Norway and we're going to have to deal with the reality as it presents itself to us in a measured manner ( trade, security etc) but pretending we approve of their ways when I've no doubt the overwhelming majority of us don't is just misreading the mood big style.

Just to avoid confusion caused by Ms Davidson: the flags being lowered are NOT in Scotland, but in the rest of the glorious Union to which she normally wishes us to be tied (I dunno about NI and Wales).

The Scottish position is more a general policy of not grovelling to foreign royalty than anything to do specifically with Saudi.

Dear Sir Rupert
Dear Sir Fred
Dear Donald
STFU Carnyx

MonikerDiCanio said:

Carnyx said:

welshowl said:

I have to say imo lowering flags etc and Cameron apparently going to "pay respects" seems way OTT. I've no problem with some dignified private respect for the deceased but lowering flags just sends a weird signal. No wonder many women ( in particular) are angry at this. I don't blame them.

We can't change the world so everyone's like Denmark or Norway and we're going to have to deal with the reality as it presents itself to us in a measured manner ( trade, security etc) but pretending we approve of their ways when I've no doubt the overwhelming majority of us don't is just misreading the mood big style.

Just to avoid confusion caused by Ms Davidson: the flags being lowered are NOT in Scotland, but in the rest of the glorious Union to which she normally wishes us to be tied (I dunno about NI and Wales).

The Scottish position is more a general policy of not grovelling to foreign royalty than anything to do specifically with Saudi.

Dear Sir Rupert
Dear Sir Fred
Dear Donald
STFU Carnyx

Charming.

All knighted by London.

Carnyx said:

MonikerDiCanio said:

Carnyx said:

welshowl said:

I have to say imo lowering flags etc and Cameron apparently going to "pay respects" seems way OTT. I've no problem with some dignified private respect for the deceased but lowering flags just sends a weird signal. No wonder many women ( in particular) are angry at this. I don't blame them.

We can't change the world so everyone's like Denmark or Norway and we're going to have to deal with the reality as it presents itself to us in a measured manner ( trade, security etc) but pretending we approve of their ways when I've no doubt the overwhelming majority of us don't is just misreading the mood big style.

Just to avoid confusion caused by Ms Davidson: the flags being lowered are NOT in Scotland, but in the rest of the glorious Union to which she normally wishes us to be tied (I dunno about NI and Wales).

The Scottish position is more a general policy of not grovelling to foreign royalty than anything to do specifically with Saudi.

Dear Sir Rupert
Dear Sir Fred
Dear Donald
STFU Carnyx

Charming.

All knighted by London.

Murdoch's knighthood was strictly in Salmond's toady imagination.

Ishmael_X said:

rcs1000 said:

What! Is no one going to stand up for a medieval theocracy?

Surely Socrates is at least going to point out that they have sensibly harsh punishments for criminals.

What I think you did there was: you thought you'd indulge in a bit of what you probably term islamophobia on the grounds that you want to, and that it's ok in this context because the Saudis are, by definition, not immigrants. But in case it's not OK, you would propitiate the gods of multiculti PC tossery by crowbarring a far-fetched sneer at - of all people - Socrates. Just to show that detecting faults in Islamic societies is tickety-boo when it's the bien-pensant doing the detecting, but not when Socrates does it, even if he's right.

Could you confirm or correct my understanding?

I was making a joke.

Carnyx said:

MonikerDiCanio said:

Carnyx said:

MonikerDiCanio said:

Carnyx said:

welshowl said:

I have to say imo lowering flags etc and Cameron apparently going to "pay respects" seems way OTT. I've no problem with some dignified private respect for the deceased but lowering flags just sends a weird signal. No wonder many women ( in particular) are angry at this. I don't blame them.

We can't change the world so everyone's like Denmark or Norway and we're going to have to deal with the reality as it presents itself to us in a measured manner ( trade, security etc) but pretending we approve of their ways when I've no doubt the overwhelming majority of us don't is just misreading the mood big style.

Just to avoid confusion caused by Ms Davidson: the flags being lowered are NOT in Scotland, but in the rest of the glorious Union to which she normally wishes us to be tied (I dunno about NI and Wales).

The Scottish position is more a general policy of not grovelling to foreign royalty than anything to do specifically with Saudi.

Dear Sir Rupert
Dear Sir Fred
Dear Donald
STFU Carnyx

Charming.

All knighted by London.

Murdoch's knighthood was strictly in Salmond's toady imagination.

If you can construct such a confabulation about a secretary's silly error, in just one letter (that was all the DT could find, I've checked), then you can equally construct a confabulation in which Donald Trump and Alex Salmond are best friends. You really need to stop reading the DT and try the National for a change (or at least read both of them).

When I was a boy scout (no relation to Bobajob), if we swore, we had a pint mug of [edit] cold water poured down our shirt sleeves. I recommend that remedy for you.

God, did Salmond blame some poor secretary for his sycophantic ignorance ? No class slob.

@Neil FPT

Those aren't bankers, they're investment bankers

Carnyx said:

Ishmael_X said:

Carnyx said:

welshowl said:

I have to say imo lowering flags etc and Cameron apparently going to "pay respects" seems way OTT. I've no problem with some dignified private respect for the deceased but lowering flags just sends a weird signal. No wonder many women ( in particular) are angry at this. I don't blame them.

We can't change the world so everyone's like Denmark or Norway and we're going to have to deal with the reality as it presents itself to us in a measured manner ( trade, security etc) but pretending we approve of their ways when I've no doubt the overwhelming majority of us don't is just misreading the mood big style.

Just to avoid confusion caused by Ms Davidson: the flags being lowered are NOT in Scotland, but in the rest of the glorious Union to which she normally wishes us to be tied (I dunno about NI and Wales).

The Scottish position is more a general policy of not grovelling to foreign royalty than anything to do specifically with Saudi.

Edit: UK Gmt buildings in Scotland may have the things at halfmast, I haven't had a peek at Edinburgh Castle or any barracks to check.

Quiet, you'll bring the trolls out.

And they'll probably ask awkward questions about whether Gaddafi wasn't de facto royalty, or whether grovelling to him was ok cos he was still alive.

Too late: it's already like the Dungeons and Dragons shop in Edinburgh.

They do seem rattled for some reason, can't think what.

But I won't mention Gaddafi either. Thanks for the warning.

Tony Blair treated old Mu’ammar like royalty.

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/jan/23/-sp-blair-gaddafi-letter-thanks-spy-cooperation-libya-uk-dissidents

Wodger may clown about the Saudi royal inbreds. What Wodger ignores is how his own, near, Edinborough inbred owes his place in Westminster thanks to a Scots-Labour arms deal to sell Tiffies to King Salman.

But no-one has ever not recognised Wodger but for fool he is and chooses to portray....

:clown-shoes:

Don't know if this has been reported:

TNS (New methodology):

CON 31 (+3)
LAB 31 (-4)
UKIP 16 (-2)
LD 8 (+2)
GRN 7 (+2)

twitter.com/NCPoliticsUK/status/558335877999775744

Charles said:

@Neil FPT

Those aren't bankers, they're investment bankers

Now, now: you know what they say about the narcissism of small differences.....

Ishmael_X said:

Cyclefree said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Fenster said:

Gotta keep the Saudis sweet.

That way they'll keep the oil prices nice and low and ruin Putin's economy,

I appreciate that there need to be diplomatic niceties, but we should not neglect to mention the strong links between the house of Saud and Whabbist ideology.

Quite. Is it only a fortnight since Cameron and others were marching against the evil which is perpetrated by that self-same ideology?

15 out of 19 9/11 bombers Saudi citizens...

The House of Saud has fought against Wahabbist terrorists itself, and the fall of Saudi to IS would be quite possible. But it is a bit like supporting Mussolini as a bulwark against the Nazis.

Ishmael_X said:

Cyclefree said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Fenster said:

Gotta keep the Saudis sweet.

That way they'll keep the oil prices nice and low and ruin Putin's economy,

I appreciate that there need to be diplomatic niceties, but we should not neglect to mention the strong links between the house of Saud and Whabbist ideology.

Quite. Is it only a fortnight since Cameron and others were marching against the evil which is perpetrated by that self-same ideology?

15 out of 19 9/11 bombers Saudi citizens...

And the Trojan Horse schools were being taught Saudi values.

Saudi Arabia is not our friend. If we have to sup with her, it should be with the longest of spoons.

david_herdson said:

Carnyx said:

MonikerDiCanio said:

Carnyx said:

welshowl said:

I have to say imo lowering flags etc and Cameron apparently going to "pay respects" seems way OTT. I've no problem with some dignified private respect for the deceased but lowering flags just sends a weird signal. No wonder many women ( in particular) are angry at this. I don't blame them.

We can't change the world so everyone's like Denmark or Norway and we're going to have to deal with the reality as it presents itself to us in a measured manner ( trade, security etc) but pretending we approve of their ways when I've no doubt the overwhelming majority of us don't is just misreading the mood big style.

Just to avoid confusion caused by Ms Davidson: the flags being lowered are NOT in Scotland, but in the rest of the glorious Union to which she normally wishes us to be tied (I dunno about NI and Wales).

The Scottish position is more a general policy of not grovelling to foreign royalty than anything to do specifically with Saudi.

Dear Sir Rupert
Dear Sir Fred
Dear Donald
STFU Carnyx

Charming.

All knighted by London.

How does a city knight someone?

Point taken. Westminster.

foxinsoxuk said:

Ishmael_X said:

Cyclefree said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Fenster said:

Gotta keep the Saudis sweet.

That way they'll keep the oil prices nice and low and ruin Putin's economy,

I appreciate that there need to be diplomatic niceties, but we should not neglect to mention the strong links between the house of Saud and Whabbist ideology.

Quite. Is it only a fortnight since Cameron and others were marching against the evil which is perpetrated by that self-same ideology?

15 out of 19 9/11 bombers Saudi citizens...

The House of Saud has fought against Wahabbist terrorists itself, and the fall of Saudi to IS would be quite possible. But it is a bit like supporting Mussolini as a bulwark against the Nazis.

But they have also funded those terrorists provided their activities didn't threaten the House of Saud.

IS, Wahhabis, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram: all examples of the same revolting ideology.

De Valera's signature in a book of condolence for Adolf Hitler was perhaps not one of his wiser moves.

Saw a sticker on the back of a car today. It read "Nervous woman driver. Please show some consideration."

The other thing I saw that I'd not seen before was one of the motorway roadside signs displaying: "Don't hog the middle lane."

dr_spyn said:

De Valera's signature in a book of condolence for Adolf Hitler was perhaps not one of his wiser moves.

The Irish were pro-German, until the euro crisis and the bailout of death that is.
Though they still prefer rule from Berlin than rule from London.

Cyclefree said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Ishmael_X said:

Cyclefree said:

foxinsoxuk said:

Fenster said:

Gotta keep the Saudis sweet.

That way they'll keep the oil prices nice and low and ruin Putin's economy,

I appreciate that there need to be diplomatic niceties, but we should not neglect to mention the strong links between the house of Saud and Whabbist ideology.

Quite. Is it only a fortnight since Cameron and others were marching against the evil which is perpetrated by that self-same ideology?

15 out of 19 9/11 bombers Saudi citizens...

The House of Saud has fought against Wahabbist terrorists itself, and the fall of Saudi to IS would be quite possible. But it is a bit like supporting Mussolini as a bulwark against the Nazis.

But they have also funded those terrorists provided their activities didn't threaten the House of Saud.

IS, Wahhabis, Al Qaeda, Boko Haram: all examples of the same revolting ideology.

& Bashar Al Assad the Joseph Stalin of the Middle East ?

MikeK said:

As I said on the previous thread, the TV debates look dead:

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-01-23/farage-you-cant-debate-with-seven-on-the-podium/

Is there a possibility that only the SNP, PC and the Greens agree on the 7-party debates?
In that case the broadcasters need to change tactics again.

MikeK said:

As I said on the previous thread, the TV debates look dead:

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-01-23/farage-you-cant-debate-with-seven-on-the-podium/

And if you are going to have seven, you have got to have the Northern Irish DUP, they are after all the fourth biggest party in Parliament.

UKIP & DUP look more and more like they'll come together as part of any Conservative coalition package.

Speedy said:

dr_spyn said:

De Valera's signature in a book of condolence for Adolf Hitler was perhaps not one of his wiser moves.

The Irish were pro-German, until the euro crisis and the bailout of death that is.
Though they still prefer rule from Berlin than rule from London.

Only the Southern backsliders, the Northerners performed heroically in the great days.

According the DCMS statement, it's normal practice to fly government building flags at half mast following the death of a foreign monarch.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/half-masting-of-flags-following-the-death-of-king-abdullah-bin-abdulaziz-king-of-saudi-Arabia

Presumably, this is to avoid the diplomatic sensitivities of who has the honour and who doesn't. To my mind, this sort of automaticity for foreign royals should have gone long ago, not least because it leads to the sort of nonsense we're seeing today. It has at root a pre-20th century view of the world where there's a royal club above and beyond nationality.

david_herdson said:

According the DCMS statement, it's normal practice to fly government building flags at half mast following the death of a foreign monarch.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/half-masting-of-flags-following-the-death-of-king-abdullah-bin-abdulaziz-king-of-saudi-Arabia

Presumably, this is to avoid the diplomatic sensitivities of who has the honour and who doesn't. To my mind, this sort of automaticity for foreign royals should have gone long ago, not least because it leads to the sort of nonsense we're seeing today. It has at root a pre-20th century view of the world where there's a royal club above and beyond nationality.

Since when was Westminster Abbey a government building?

Morris_Dancer said:

Mr. Me, might the Thai King be older? He has been reigning longer, I think.

Recent history is not your strong point I guess...?

Pulpstar said:

Speedy said:

MikeK said:

As I said on the previous thread, the TV debates look dead:

http://www.itv.com/news/update/2015-01-23/farage-you-cant-debate-with-seven-on-the-podium/

Is there a possibility that only the SNP, PC and the Greens agree on the 7-party debates?
In that case the broadcasters need to change tactics again.

Labour has signed up.

I think with no other major party it's pretty safe that in the end it will be pointless for them to participate.

Mr. Thoughts, modern history, as is known, is not my strong point, but I'm not sure what you're getting at.

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

Tim_B said:

As DeflateGate rolls on, the tabloid papers have had some dubiously great headlines -

Brady: My balls are perfect

Brady: I never played with my balls


Personally I think it's blown up out of all proportion....

?

RodCrosby said:

dr_spyn said:

De Valera's signature in a book of condolence for Adolf Hitler was perhaps not one of his wiser moves.

A brave one, a formality, and more a thank-you for the German Ambassador, Hempel, who had always behaved correctly.

I thought only cowards kicked a man when he was down?

I wonder how many other Heads of State, or Heads of Government copied De Valera's action in 1945?