Thatcher Dies

[Alf Bentley]

"Now it's over to our live reporter at Thatcher's funeral....So who are the VIP mourners in attendance? Is President Obama there? Close friend Nancy Reagan? Mikhail Gorbachev, the man with whom she famously "could do business"? Her old sparring partner, Neil Kinnock?"

"No, none of them could make it, unfortunately, but there's Dick Cheney over there, promoter of the Iraq War and VP to the discredited right-wing failure George Dubya - and there's FW De Klerk, President of the racist apartheid regime in South Africa. I'm sure the murderous Chilean dictator General Pinochet would have loved to have been here for his friend, too".

"British politicians and celebrities are out in force, too: there's Norman "On yer bike" Tebbit, Lord "Shag 'em and leave 'em" Parkinson, oozing oil as ever, and the jailed criminal Lord Archer, Then, there's the millionaire crud purveyor Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael "Ooh, Betty!" Crawford, Jeremy "Parp! Parp!" Clarkson and former "The Stud", "The Bitch" and "Dynasty" actress Joan Collins".

"Still, it is the family that matter most on a day like this - and there's her son Mark, recently convicted of illegal arms sales and the attempted overthrow of an African government, and his sister Carol, famous for winning 'I'm not a celebrity, leave me in here' "

"But who's that, behind the vulpine figure bedecked in medals? What a commotion! First he was slavering at the mouth and muttering something about Irish American bomb victims, but now he's rolling in the gutter fighting with a white Rasta! ...It isn't the globetrotting millionaire businessman MattP, is it? Oh, how distasteful on a day like this! Still, it's all about legacy...."

On a different note, here's a happy 50th to my mate, Guy! Sorry that Bristol City had to go down on the eve of the big day, but still, a good memory from the 80s....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L618BOO3xpg

[purpleronnie]

"Now it's over to our live reporter at Thatcher's funeral....So who are the VIP mourners in attendance? Is President Obama there? Close friend Nancy Reagan? Mikhail Gorbachev, the man with whom she famously "could do business"? Her old sparring partner, Neil Kinnock?"

"No, none of them could make it, unfortunately, but there's Dick Cheney over there, promoter of the Iraq War and VP to the discredited right-wing failure George Dubya - and there's FW De Klerk, President of the racist apartheid regime in South Africa. I'm sure the murderous Chilean dictator General Pinochet would have loved to have been here for his friend, too".

"British politicians and celebrities are out in force, too: there's Norman "On yer bike" Tebbit, Lord "Shag 'em and leave 'em" Parkinson, oozing oil as ever, and the jailed criminal Lord Archer, Then, there's the millionaire crud purveyor Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael "Ooh, Betty!" Crawford, Jeremy "Parp! Parp!" Clarkson and former "The Stud", "The Bitch" and "Dynasty" actress Joan Collins".

"Still, it is the family that matter most on a day like this - and there's her son Mark, recently convicted of illegal arms sales and the attempted overthrow of an African government, and his sister Carol, famous for winning 'I'm not a celebrity, leave me in here' "

"But who's that, behind the vulpine figure bedecked in medals? What a commotion! First he was slavering at the mouth and muttering something about Irish American bomb victims, but now he's rolling in the gutter fighting with a white Rasta! ...It isn't the globetrotting millionaire businessman MattP, is it? Oh, how distasteful on a day like this! Still, it's all about legacy...."

On a different note, here's a happy 50th to my mate, Guy! Sorry that Bristol City had to go down on the eve of the big day, but still, a good memory from the 80s....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L618BOO3xpg

[flowwolf]

As long as it stopped bombs going off and people getting shot on a regular basis...jaw-jaw is better than war-war.

Ah but it hasn't has it ? The members of the so called " real " I.R.A were all released from prison under the good Friday agreement. The minute they were out they split from the Provisionals and planted the bomb in Omagh and continue to carry out terrorist attacks and are still doing so. So appeasement has failed once more.

[leicsmac]

Sorry but are you equating a democratically elected government that we have with two men who murdered their way to a barganing table with the threat of going back to murdering unless they got what they wanted ?

If so what is the point of democracy ?

Apologies, I should have made my point clearer. I'm saying that they are hardly the first, nor the last group to use violence as a means to attain a political objective. In an ideal world the rule of freedom of choice and the idea of everyone having an equal say would rule supreme, but sadly human nature means that there will always be those willing to oppress and even kill others in order to seek power themselves. No nation or group has a completely squeaky-clean past.

However I also believe continued death just for the sake of appearing strong is utterly senseless. Yes, there are times when negotiation is clearly not an option - and then you pound the bastards until it is - but negotiation and seeking an end to the fighting should always be the overall end product that is sought.

[flowwolf]

"Now it's over to our live reporter at Thatcher's funeral....So who are the VIP mourners in attendance? Is President Obama there? Close friend Nancy Reagan? Mikhail Gorbachev, the man with whom she famously "could do business"? Her old sparring partner, Neil Kinnock?"

"No, none of them could make it, unfortunately, but there's Dick Cheney over there, promoter of the Iraq War and VP to the discredited right-wing failure George Dubya - and there's FW De Klerk, President of the racist apartheid regime in South Africa. I'm sure the murderous Chilean dictator General Pinochet would have loved to have been here for his friend, too".

"British politicians and celebrities are out in force, too: there's Norman "On yer bike" Tebbit, Lord "Shag 'em and leave 'em" Parkinson, oozing oil as ever, and the jailed criminal Lord Archer, Then, there's the millionaire crud purveyor Andrew Lloyd Webber, Michael "Ooh, Betty!" Crawford, Jeremy "Parp! Parp!" Clarkson and former "The Stud", "The Bitch" and "Dynasty" actress Joan Collins".

"Still, it is the family that matter most on a day like this - and there's her son Mark, recently convicted of illegal arms sales and the attempted overthrow of an African government, and his sister Carol, famous for winning 'I'm not a celebrity, leave me in here' "

"But who's that, behind the vulpine figure bedecked in medals? What a commotion! First he was slavering at the mouth and muttering something about Irish American bomb victims, but now he's rolling in the gutter fighting with a white Rasta! ...It isn't the globetrotting millionaire businessman MattP, is it? Oh, how distasteful on a day like this! Still, it's all about legacy...."

On a different note, here's a happy 50th to my mate, Guy! Sorry that Bristol City had to go down on the eve of the big day, but still, a good memory from the 80s....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L618BOO3xpg

You are a very bitter little man. You must be so frustrated that you have made no mark on the world like the people you have just used your cheap vitriol on. Your claim to fame is what to come on here and spew you sad little left wing views on someones funeral day? The word pathetic does not quite cover it but it will do.

[leicsmac]

Ah but it hasn't has it ? The members of the so called " real " I.R.A were all released from prison under the good Friday agreement. The minute they were out they split from the Provisionals and planted the bomb in Omagh and continue to carry out terrorist attacks and are still doing so. So appeasement has failed once more.

The RIRA aren't nearly as much a threat as the old PIRA were. They seem to be caught up in drug wars rather than any actual terrorist action now, but that's not to downplay the threat they still possess. There is an argument to say that they shouldn't have been released in the first place, but if doing so shut down or reduced the vastly bigger threat of the PIRA...splintering these groups in this fashion is good because it has the overall effect of reducing them.

[flowwolf]

Apologies, I should have made my point clearer. I'm saying that they are hardly the first, nor the last group to use violence as a means to attain a political objective. In an ideal world the rule of freedom of choice and the idea of everyone having an equal say would rule supreme, but sadly human nature means that there will always be those willing to oppress and even kill others in order to seek power themselves. No nation or group has a completely squeaky-clean past.

However I also believe continued death just for the sake of appearing strong is utterly senseless. Yes, there are times when negotiation is clearly not an option - and then you pound the bastards until it is - but negotiation and seeking an end to the fighting should always be the overall end product that is sought.

I completly agree and if the Good Friday agreement had achieved that end it would have been worth the sacrifice but it clearly has not. The only way to end the violence in N.Ireland is to see it's unity with the south all the good Friday agreement did was paper over the cracks.

[Guest MattP]

It's really got to some hasn't it?

Must have been painful to see Mrs Thatcher paraded like that to applause from the silent majority. A few boos of a coffin, is that a new low for the left?

Just always remember guys, a few today may have turned their backs on the coffin, but the majority turned their backs on Socialism.

[flowwolf]

The RIRA aren't nearly as much a threat as the old PIRA were. They seem to be caught up in drug wars rather than any actual terrorist action now, but that's not to downplay the threat they still possess. There is an argument to say that they shouldn't have been released in the first place, but if doing so shut down or reduced the vastly bigger threat of the PIRA...splintering these groups in this fashion is good because it has the overall effect of reducing them.

Yes but the good Friday was nothing more than a sticking plaster it has not changed the fundemental problems that still beset the people of N.Ireland.

[flowwolf]

It's really got to some hasn't it?

Must have been painful to see Mrs Thatcher paraded like that to applause from the silent majority. A few boos of a coffin, is that a new low for the left?

Just always remember guys, a few today may have turned their backs on the coffin, but the majority turned their backs on Socialism.

Absolutey true. Mind you the average person woke up to what the left are capable of doing with the riots in London with Winston Churchills statue being besmirched and scum swinging off the union Jack at the cenotaph. They are so stupid they can't see the damage their own purile acts have on people who sit in the middle ground.

[leicsmac]

I completly agree and if the Good Friday agreement had achieved that end it would have been worth the sacrifice but it clearly has not. The only way to end the violence in N.Ireland is to see it's unity with the south all the good Friday agreement did was paper over the cracks.

Yes but the good Friday was nothing more than a sticking plaster it has not changed the fundemental problems that still beset the people of N.Ireland.

That's true enough. But what is the solution? What's going to overcome hundreds of years of stupid, political hatred? I honestly don't know.

It's really got to some hasn't it?

Must have been painful to see Mrs Thatcher paraded like that to applause from the silent majority. A few boos of a coffin, is that a new low for the left?

Just always remember guys, a few today may have turned their backs on the coffin, but the majority turned their backs on Socialism.

You can't deny she was divisive though, Matt. Her brand of political absolutism was always going to be so.

[leicsmac]

Absolutey true. Mind you the average person woke up to what the left are capable of doing with the riots in London with Winston Churchills statue being besmirched and scum swinging off the union Jack at the cenotaph. They are so stupid they can't see the damage their own purile acts have on people who sit in the middle ground.

Come of Wolfy, don't generalise. The riots were generated by self-entitled idiots with no political agenda. And they were a minority. Should we judge the right-wing by the minority of those who break the law through continuing to fox-hunt and taking ridiculous gambles with other peoples money?

It's not all black and white.

[Guest MattP]

You can't deny she was divisive though, Matt. Her brand of political absolutism was always going to be so.

Nope, never have.

Good to see all the people out today she did so much good for though.

Also fantastic to hear the cheers for Lord Tebbit and to see Prince Phillip looking so well.

[Captain...]

Come of Wolfy, don't generalise. The riots were generated by self-entitled idiots with no political agenda. And they were a minority. Should we judge the right-wing by the minority of those who break the law through continuing to fox-hunt and taking ridiculous gambles with other peoples money?

It's not all black and white.

The "left" for some on here is just a catch all term for everything they don't like, you even see it on the main forum blaming Konchesky for everything because he's on the left, and clamouring for Knocky to be switched over to the right, it is just pathetic...

[leicsmac]

Nope, never have.

Good to see all the people out today she did so much good for though.

Also fantastic to hear the cheers for Lord Tebbit and to see Prince Phillip looking so well.

Two men well-renowned for foot-in-mouth syndrome (cricket team citizenship test, anyone? ). Funny blokes, though.

[Alf Bentley]

You are a very bitter little man. You must be so frustrated that you have made no mark on the world like the people you have just used your cheap vitriol on. Your claim to fame is what to come on here and spew you sad little left wing views on someones funeral day? The word pathetic does not quite cover it but it will do.

"Ooh, look! I've caught a wolf fish!"

Bitter, moi, Wolfy? The only "bitter" associated with me comes in a pint glass! In fact, I'm in a great mood today after last night's performance down at the Kung Po Stadium - and am quite content with the little that I've achieved in life; I might even add to it in the future!

In all seriousness, though, I wouldn't want anyone to do anything distasteful at anyone's funeral - or to upset those who had a deep personal connection with the old witch, such as her children. I just loathe almost everything she did and the values she stood for - and believe that she should have had a dignified, private funeral, not a taxpayer-funded, military-oriented, royal-endorsed public parade. There are those with every justification for bitterness against her, but I'm not one of them; I have a very nice life, thanks very much, and City won last night!

As for "cheap vitriol" against others, I just wanted to point out that you can judge people by the company they choose, or put more poetically....

It was the first of May

A lovely warm spring day

I was strolling down the street in drunken pride,

But my knees were all a-flutter,

And I landed in the gutter

And a pig came up and lay down by my side.

Yes, I lay there in the gutter

Thinking thoughts I could not utter

When a lady passing by did softly say

'You can tell a man who boozes

By the company he chooses' — And the pig got up and slowly walked away.

"The Pig" by Anonymous. Public domain.

[flowwolf]

Come of Wolfy, don't generalise. The riots were generated by self-entitled idiots with no political agenda. And they were a minority. Should we judge the right-wing by the minority of those who break the law through continuing to fox-hunt and taking ridiculous gambles with other peoples money?

It's not all black and white.

Fair enough you got me on that.

[flowwolf]

"Ooh, look! I've caught a wolf fish!"

Bitter, moi, Wolfy? The only "bitter" associated with me comes in a pint glass! In fact, I'm in a great mood today after last night's performance down at the Kung Po Stadium - and am quite content with the little that I've achieved in life; I might even add to it in the future!

In all seriousness, though, I wouldn't want anyone to do anything distasteful at anyone's funeral - or to upset those who had a deep personal connection with the old witch, such as her children. I just loathe almost everything she did and the values she stood for - and believe that she should have had a dignified, private funeral, not a taxpayer-funded, military-oriented, royal-endorsed public parade. There are those with every justification for bitterness against her, but I'm not one of them; I have a very nice life, thanks very much, and City won last night!

As for "cheap vitriol" against others, I just wanted to point out that you can judge people by the company they choose, or put more poetically....

It was the first of May

A lovely warm spring day

I was strolling down the street in drunken pride,

But my knees were all a-flutter,

And I landed in the gutter

And a pig came up and lay down by my side.

Yes, I lay there in the gutter

Thinking thoughts I could not utter

When a lady passing by did softly say

'You can tell a man who boozes

By the company he chooses' — And the pig got up and slowly walked away.

"The Pig" by Anonymous. Public domain.

Oh ok I fell for that one fair play

[Alf Bentley]

Oh ok I fell for that one fair play

No hard feelings! It's a lovely day and we're in the play-offs!

[flowwolf]

No hard feelings! It's a lovely day and we're in the play-offs!

Alf I never have hard feelings on here I give as good as I get ( and lets face it I do deserve some shit at times ) but I never take it serious even if it's meant. This is just a web site I don't know anyone on her personally so all is fair game

If only Maggie had lived to see last nights game she would have died happy.

[Babylon]

I can only presume the other side says "but too cowardly to show my face".

[Bellend Sebastian]

I can only presume the other side says "but too cowardly to show my face".

That's a shit sign

[Burmesefox]

Couldn't stand Thatcher or what she stood for. She did some good when this country needed firm leadership but a huge amount of bad. She ripped apart communities that subsiquently led to social unrest and unpheaval, of which we still see the results of in poor social and personal morality today. Our manufacturing base was crushed, our assets sold, and a few capitalised quite handsomely whilst the most vulnerable lost out. With her spin she deemed financial input into the socially owned industries as subsidisation yet it was investment when talking about privately owned industries. Some called it progression - well if that means more money in the pockets of some but a wider gap between the rich and the poor whilst also lower standard of goodwill and citizenship then I call it regression. She taught self preservation and greed rather than bonhomie - perhaps if she had read the New Testament she may have been a little different. She was very fortunate with the Falklands/Malvinas and very fortunate with a general upturn in the western world economy (just as, conversely, Labour were unfortunate with inflation and OPEC quadrupling the price of oil in the early 70's).

I'm sure she believed she was doing what was right for the good of the country but I believe she placed the greed of those with the most influence/power/money above the needs of the majority.

For many,Thatcher stands with a strong image of Britishness right wing - she would have protected our borders, rid us of "dole scum", reduced "benefit scroungers", however, the reality was that she changed the mechanism of calculting those unemployed some 21 times in her first few years of power. "Labour isn't working" she said - so she used "lies, damn lies, and statistics" (coing a phrase) to reassure a confused voting audience. As for the borders , well this goes hand in hand with the EU and economically we would have been left behind without our partneship in the old EEC. EDL types with staffies will champion her through rose tinted glasses but they are the hoodwinked disenfranchised all too eager to vent their frustration without the will or inteligence to question. They are like dogs seated at the feet of their masters and feeding off the crumbs that fall from the table yet fiercefully loyal to a master that breed inequallty. Being proud of your nation or patriotic doesn't go hand in hand with Thatcher, The Union Flag , or The Queen; it goes with a celebration of the people of our county and its diversities; it is the people that make a nation.

I am glad that Thatcher no longer has a politcal platform and I take no interest in the overreaction and pomp of her funeral BUT I will certainly not celebrate her death or protest. She has families and friends and respect still needs to be shown in a dignified manner. I hope that today passes without problem and with some dignity and that way there will less attention to Thatcher and we can move on.

[flowwolf]

I can only presume the other side says "but too cowardly to show my face".

Is the one on the right a muslim ?

[Guest MattP]

So happy it all went off without incident.

Eyes of the World were on that and it would have looked terrible had we seen things being thrown etc.

Instead it was thousands upon thousands of people applauding and three cheers when the coffin came out, perfect way to go.

I'm out the thread now.

RIP Mrs Thatcher, thank you for everything you did for my family and everything you did for my country.