George Galloway

[darkboong]

I also reckon we have Labour to thank for trying to wreck the E.U. at the behest of the neo-cons. The reason the French wouldn't endorse the constitution is they quite correctly understood Labour was trying to smuggle a sweat shop system of economics into France and the Continent.
Now I always believed the French would never allow their own working-classes to be down-trodden, afraid to strike, and agreeing to low benefits, low pensions and working till 70 years old.
Good for the French, I say! Unless we adopt the Franco/German economic model in Europe then it's up to the French and Dutch to drop the constitution and not let Blair (who whinged over the E.U. from the beginning) ruin things with his neo-Thatcher policies.

You are deluded if you think the Conservatives would have done anything different in that regard. Quite frankly I don't think that Labour or the Conservatives in any way represent their voters. They appear to promote the policies and do the bidding of an entirely different constituency. What that constituency is I don't know, although I suspect that it is the multinationals or at least the relatively small inbred clique that run them.

There is very little evidence that markets are A) free or that B) free-markets are inherently good. It's a fallacy, have you ever tried asking a politician or a pundit to explain in concrete terms why free-markets are beneficial to all mankind ? I have, as have many others and they really don't have any answer. They blather a bit like Zapper, do some character assassination then they repeat their mantra without once explaining exactly what the benefits are and why they happen (again much like Flappy). The only reasonable conclusion to draw is that they either don't know or they are trying to hide the real answers.

Ordinary folks seem to be waking up to this con-job as their jobs get out-sourced and their money doesn't go as far as it used to. The USA is in a really wierd position at the moment, it has a small but extremely wealthy minority who call the shots and therefore get all the tax-breaks, out-sourcing and massive trade deficeit that they demand. OTOH there is a powerful "**** you" force building that is anti-globalisation that is driving the USA towards isolating itself from the rest of the world much like the Iron Curtain did. If things carry on as they are, the "**** you" force will win out and the big money will simply move out of the US over the next decade.

 

[darkboong]

You forget people mellow and change. I mean, take a look at Micheal Portillo today compared with how he was under Thatcher. The guy has become a BBC liberal. Howard has also mellowed and did you know Howard forwarded more Asian and black Tory candidates than Labour or the Liberals?

No, but he still has a particularly nasty track record and what he was pushing in that election was pretty damn odious. I don't think we need to rehash that stuff and I doubt we'll ever see eye to eye on that one. Besides, he's a leader of a party and I haven't noticed the Conservative party changing much behind him. Portillo was barely tolerated within the party last I heard, he did an interesting bunch of programs after his failed leadership campaign. Sure, my attitude towards him softened a little, but you have to judge people on their actions not their words in the end.

As it stands, Blair was grinning when he won the election yet again and time will prove me right, nothing will change. He'll do his utmost to wreck the E.U., oppose European worker social rights and be a continual lapdog to the neo-cons.

The Tories have set themselves up as the "Anti-Europe" party. That has been the case since Margaret Thatcher came in and it has been a slogan they've been punting ever louder, ever since. The majority of the party faithful have consistently selected "Euroskeptic" leaders, even though the leaders themselves have tried to project a concillatory image (none have succeeded in this regard IMO).

The Tories need to learn from their mistakes but they have changed and mellowed with the times. They just need younger people and a new attitude to Europe.

So does Labour. I say give them both a miss and give the Liberals an Election, see what they can do. Let's face it : the Tories and Labour stole most of their policies off them in the first place, so it won't be a huge jolt to the system.

 

[Carrera]

Now the discussion is moving in a different direction and we're gonna be getting into the sphere of marxism, capitalism, communism, socialism e.t.c.
My own view is that the fall of the USSR was a very bad thing in itself and I could pick this argument up from the point where Gorbachev took over the USSR and started reform.
Personally I think he should have reformed and modified communism rather than allow the USSR to break up, fragment and adopt capitalism and free markets. I was, in fact, a student in the USSR when it was still communist and I can only say there was something about it that I liked, despite all the pitfalls, queues for food, poor flats e.t.c. For a start, Russian people at that time had a better education than anywhere in Europe and education standards were very high. Sports facilities were truly outstanding and crime was virtually unknown. I know as I was there right through the period of change.
I'm not saying Russians haven't gained from capitalism and don't deny they enjoy their new freedoms but I think we all lost something from the fall of the USSR, now that the leaders of the globe are motivated by industry, profit and greed. It would have been nice to see the USSR reform more slowly than they did and merge capitalism and socialism together somehow.
As for Blair, if I thought he had gone to war in Iraq simply due to pressure from America and that he acted purely in the interests of the Transatlantic, alliance, I'd have been more sympathetic. But it seemed to me somehow that Blair encouraged Bush to invade Iraq and that the higher echelons of New Labour grovelled and flattered Bush. This is what bugged me.

You are deluded if you think the Conservatives would have done anything different in that regard. Quite frankly I don't think that Labour or the Conservatives in any way represent their voters. They appear to promote the policies and do the bidding of an entirely different constituency. What that constituency is I don't know, although I suspect that it is the multinationals or at least the relatively small inbred clique that run them.

There is very little evidence that markets are A) free or that B) free-markets are inherently good. It's a fallacy, have you ever tried asking a politician or a pundit to explain in concrete terms why free-markets are beneficial to all mankind ? I have, as have many others and they really don't have any answer. They blather a bit like Zapper, do some character assassination then they repeat their mantra without once explaining exactly what the benefits are and why they happen (again much like Flappy). The only reasonable conclusion to draw is that they either don't know or they are trying to hide the real answers.

Ordinary folks seem to be waking up to this con-job as their jobs get out-sourced and their money doesn't go as far as it used to. The USA is in a really wierd position at the moment, it has a small but extremely wealthy minority who call the shots and therefore get all the tax-breaks, out-sourcing and massive trade deficeit that they demand. OTOH there is a powerful "**** you" force building that is anti-globalisation that is driving the USA towards isolating itself from the rest of the world much like the Iron Curtain did. If things carry on as they are, the "**** you" force will win out and the big money will simply move out of the US over the next decade.

 

[darkboong]

Now the discussion is moving in a different direction and we're gonna be getting into the sphere of marxism, capitalism, communism, socialism e.t.c.
My own view is that the fall of the USSR was a very bad thing in itself and I could pick this argument up from the point where Gorbachev took over the USSR and started reform.
Personally I think he should have reformed and modified communism rather than allow the USSR to break up, fragment and adopt capitalism and free markets.

I really don't think Gorbachev had much choice in the matter. As it happens I think he did a very difficult job pretty well, it was never going to be pretty. AFAICT Yeltsin was a really bizarre Western plant, and definitely more vegetable than human being. There can be no way that that guy was competant enough to survive more than 2 seconds without a cadre of top-notch advisors and bodyguards to run the country and keep him away from the vodka cabinet long enough to stand up. He was blatantly a stooge.

I was, in fact, a student in the USSR when it was still communist and I can only say there was something about it that I liked, despite all the pitfalls,

That may explain why you have such a "unique" view of the Conservatives.

As for Blair, if I thought he had gone to war in Iraq simply due to pressure from America and that he acted purely in the interests of the Transatlantic, alliance, I'd have been more sympathetic. But it seemed to me somehow that Blair encouraged Bush to invade Iraq and that the higher echelons of New Labour grovelled and flattered Bush. This is what bugged me.

In my heart of hearts I really don't think Bush and Blair are much more than figureheads. They clearly don't make decisions based on what their people *really* want.

 

[FredC]

I was told that various chameleons appeared in week 3 and the ESMB went awol

Do you think they'll get the id and password business sorted ?

Yes FP told me the other day that it's on test this coming weekend in Germany.

 

[FredC]

Sarge, the US taxpayer ain't funding me, but they pay your wages and internet charges, sarge.

They pay for the fuel in the motor pool too.
And the chair you're sittin' on - and everything else around you there at Fort
Bragg.

I wonder is Colonel Hall dawdling on the 'net ?

I must have been watching something else. I thought it was Fort Baxter.

 

[FredC]

Nope, I stuck to my principles and I didn't vote for Labour. Why? Because I consider Blair didn't simply react to political pressure from the neo cons but actively encouraged the war in Iraq and used the war as a platform to court favour with right-wing conservatives.
What I said at the time was you can't criticize Americans who voted Bush in and then go and vote in Labour as you apparently did.
That disqualifies you as a liberal, I might add.
Again I didn't say vote Conservative because I'm Conservative but seeing as it was a tactical option to break the cycle of corruption in the Labour Party. 5 years of the Tories would have had Blair and co in tears and more willing to listen to what people were saying over Iraq and other issues.
I sat up and watched the election and it was disappointing. Aznar lied to the Spanish over ETA and the war and the Spanish kicked him out. Blair lied through his teeth to the Brits and they let him get away with it.
I like Kennedy but he's too liberal over immigration and illegal migrant rackets and people smugglers need tough laws as seen in Holland, France and Germany (or even the U.S.)

Absolute trash again, you must think that posters on this section are bonkers. You categoriclly stated that you were voting Conservative because you managed to get a place in University, as you call it. To me this is not a bone of contention as to the establishment, nor to its contrived name. It is patently obvious that whatever you achieved, or did not, has made your progression in life not of any great value in the monetary stakes. The End.
I understand the demise of the traditional industrial in all parts of our country during that period, and how eternally grateful you were for the opportunity to better yourself somewhat. Do not however bend your long held beliefs over a period of one calendar month to fit in with other fanciful personal mental contrivances in tandem with selective amnesia.
BTW I didn't say I was a Liberal, I said I voted Liberal because down here in Surrey Labour have no chance, and I don't like the Conservative set-up. Anyway they had no policies.

 

[davidmc]

There's nothing worse.
The carbon frames are very expensive (as are Titanium).

Steel is one of the "few" frame materials that flexes, hence a more comfortable ride. Aluminum-no-flex, Carbon-flex BUT at a price. There are still nice steel frames produced like the Fuji Roubaix Pro 04' & the Jamis Eclipse (sweeet ) made w/ Reynolds 820 steel.

 

[davidmc]

Absolute bollox... Now look, admit it, you're a complete unmitigated asshole. Everyone on here knows that.

Don't mince your word's FredC. Come on out & say it .

 

[davidmc]

"I'm honored to shake the hand of a brave Iraqi citizen who had his hand cut off by Saddam Hussein." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., May 25, 2004

"The ambassador and the general were briefing me on the — the vast majority of Iraqis want to live in a peaceful, free world. And we will find these people and we will bring them to justice." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Oct. 27, 2003"

"People say, how can I help on this war against terror? How can I fight evil? You can do so by mentoring a child; by going into a shut-in's house and say I love you." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Sept. 19, 2002

"We're still being challenged in Iraq and the reason why is a free Iraq will be a major defeat in the cause of freedom." —George W. Bush, Charlotte, N.C., April 5, 2004

"See, free nations are peaceful nations. Free nations don't attack each other. Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction." —George W. Bush, Milwaukee, Wis., Oct. 3, 2003

"We had a chance to visit with Teresa Nelson who's a parent, and a mom or a dad." —George W. Bush, Jacksonville, Florida, Sept. 9, 2003

"I'm the master of low expectations." —George W. Bush, aboard Air Force One, June 4, 2003

"I think the American people — I hope the American — I don't think, let me — I hope the American people trust me." —George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., Dec. 18, 2002

"These people don't have tanks. They don't have ships. They hide in caves. They send suiciders out." —George W. Bush, speaking about terrorists, Portsmouth, N.H., Nov. 1, 2002

Thank you from the bottom of my heart & the hearts of the other 49% of the voting public, over here in "Jesusland" .

 

[davidmc]

Laptops, soldering irons, multimeters, oscilloscopes, books and datasheets if I am working. If I am touring I pack some casual clothes, change of cycling gear, camera, neat shoes, lunch, choccy bar, spare water, tools, spare spokes, chain tool, spoke tool, crank remover, pump, multi-tool, WD40, light grease and an oily rag. Probably some more stuff that I've forgotten about.

I like to change into clean clothes at the end of ride, and to have clean clothes for the next day's ride. I know what it's like to have busted spokes on a Sunday 15 miles from the nearest bike shop (which is closed) in Brittany, hence the overkill on the bike tools, CXP33 rims and spokes.

Why don't you just put it in a car & drive the car around

 

[davidmc]

No offense but your posts are total agony.

Gotta agree w/ you there CR. Brevity Carerra, brevity .

 

[davidmc]

You spend your day posting **** that you cannot back up, making false accusations and sucking up to liberal, tree hugging, weed smoking losers..Oh, and picking your ass up off the floor when you fall down...

BTW, my rank is higher than SGT...So, if you are going to address me in that fashion, be correct will you. Just give me a freaking salute and stand at attention...that would suffice....if you can stand...

Plenty of our boy's in 'Nam smoked & shot dope & I assure you they would've wiped the floor w/ your back-side Zap. Don't go around making broad generalizations about people who use drug's, choir-boy I have some biker's I'd like you to meet & THEY DON'T ride bicycles. Get my meaning No offense intended of course

 

[MountainPro]

I over-stepped my bounds, Monsieur MountainPro. My apologies

no, you misunderstand...at least you have a Y-22, thats okay, i spose.

the lads on those skinny big wheeled bikes complain too much, i mean those lovely frenchies build you a nice smooth tarmac path up the mountain along the lines of the the gentlest gradients and the same on the way down...

may as well just hail a bloody taxi...

 

[MountainPro]

Once small change...you left out Mountain Pro hanging out at the "electrical store" lookin for a new ipod

..


i only hope its isnt snowing at the summit....it wil be the first piece of 'real' bad weather Zap has ever encountered....

strange how the '*****' pack has adopted such a name stateside...when they are worn by people like Zap and his Merkin friends its such an appropriate name.

 

[MountainPro]

Cyclists use carbon frames or aluminium frames.
Some use titanium frames.

A while back Zapper told us that he needs a steel frame, 'cause he's too fat.
(that's what he told us - although he'll try to deny that as well).

i have heard that 853 steel has excellent fatigue resistant charateristics...just as well..

 

[darkboong]

Why don't you just put it in a car & drive the car around

Why bother ? Owning a car in London wipes out a substantial chunk of your wages and it ain't necessarily any easier. Besides I beat my car driving housemate into work on the bike and back everytime.

 

[darkboong]

..


i only hope its isnt snowing at the summit....it wil be the first piece of 'real' bad weather Zap has ever encountered....

strange how the '*****' pack has adopted such a name stateside...when they are worn by people like Zap and his Merkin friends its such an appropriate name.

Did you notice that our spelling genius signed off "Clem" a few posts back. He must have meant "Bearded Clam".

 

[limerickman]

i have heard that 853 steel has excellent fatigue resistant charateristics...just as well..

it's also known for it's corrosive properties...........especially good as waffle repellent.

 

[limerickman]

I must have been watching something else. I thought it was Fort Baxter.

Bragg ? I probably had the verb - brag - in mind, when writing about Zapper and his colleagues down in the motorpool.