Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn has just been shot

[Saint Marcus]

Political assassinations seem to be quite at home on the European continent, even given a cursory look at history. So, I don't really know where the claim that it is either alien to the European experience or "American style" comes into play.

Political assasinations are totally alien in Holland. Name one political assasination in the decade. I can't think of one.

[Eli]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
They don't. and this isn't the time to troll

Interesting. How often do you follow this advice Marcus?

[Locutus]

kass,
Like Stefu implied, he was gay, anti-muslim, very right-wing and often (wrongly) accused of being a racist...

Enough to create a lot of political and other enemies (including yours truly)...

[SlowwHand]

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - Right-wing Dutch politician Pim Fortuyn was shot in the head Monday and seriously wounded, Dutch Radio said.


Police in Hilversum, where the attack reportedly took place, said they had no immediate information and could not confirm the report.

He was founder of Leefbaar Nederland (Livable Netherlands), which stunned the Netherlands in March when it won 35 percent of the vote for city council seats in Rotterdam, the second-largest city.

Fortuyn advocates a ban on immigration and has criticized Islam as a "backward culture." Although he no longer leads the party, polls project that it could win 24 seats in the 150-member parliament in May 15 national elections.

The radio said Fortuyn (pronounced fore-TOWN)was shot at least three times in the head but was still alive. Ambulance was seen at the Hilversum Media Park, where the Dutch national broadcasting company is based. Hilversum is about 10 miles southeast of Amsterdam.

The reported attack against Fortuyn, 53, came nine days before national elections. Opinion polls predicted the flamboyant politician, campaigning on an anti-immigrant platform, would lead one of the largest parties in parliament.

The flamboyant, shaven-headed former academic and columnist leads an openly gay lifestyle, supports personal liberties, and has laid claim to leadership of Holland's perennially vacant political right.

Fortuyn as dictated debate with verbal attacks on the country's growing Muslim population and with an indictment of the shortcomings of what many other Europeans see as one of the most successful countries on the continent.

[Saint Marcus]

hell, it may even have been a rightwinger who was angry cause Fortuyn was moving more towards the cente.

[Zopperoni]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
I'm even considering voting on his party to show my respect, if I'm going to vote at all after this.

Seriously, that makes no sense at all. And about the death of fortuyn, I feel completely indifferent about it really...

[DinoDoc]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
Political assasinations are totally alien in Holland. Name one political assasination in the decade. I can't think of one.

In Holland? The closest I can come up with is an incident in 1977.

[Boris Godunov]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
I agree with Boris Godunov and Locutus. I hated his guts, but this is way too much. I'm even considering voting on his party to show my respect, if I'm going to vote at all after this.

Umm, bad idea. A vote is too precious a thing to be given out of condolences. If you think the party would lead the country in the wrong direction and ultimately hurt people, what then would your vote have accomplished?

[Jon Miller]

Originally posted by Boris Godunov


Umm, bad idea. A vote is too precious a thing to be given out of condolences. If you think the party would lead the country in the wrong direction and ultimately hurt people, what then would your vote have accomplished?

reason why the US system is good

we never do anything quickly

(aren't you glad you live here)

it takes a lot more to mess us up

Jon Miller

[Saint Marcus]

The closest I can come up with is an incident in 1977.

Before I was born even. So I'd say it's totally alien here in Holland, and only the things you see in other countries and on TV.

Umm, bad idea. A vote is too precious a thing to be given out of condolences. If you think the party would lead the country in the wrong direction and ultimately hurt people, what then would your vote have accomplished?

I'm probably not going to vote at all. I have to see how what happeneds in the next few days.

[Oldenbarnevelt]

Originally posted by Saint Marcus
Even Janmaat wasn't shot at....it's a bit too easy to place to blame on Melkert and De Graaf.

Melkert: "Nederland, word wakker!" (Wake up!), as if Fortuyn were some sort of Nazi rather than the leader of just another political party.

De Graaf: mentioning Anne Frank, as if Fortuyn were some sort of Nazi rather than the leader of just another political party.

-

[Kassiopeia]

apolyton and murobbs are far superior to cnn when it comes to news.

Originally posted by Locutus
kass,
Like Stefu implied, he was gay, anti-muslim, very right-wing and often (wrongly) accused of being a racist...

Gay *and* right-wing? An incomprehensible combination, if you ask me.

[SlowwHand]

Man, you really need to vote. Again, seriously.

[Saint Marcus]

in the last interview he gave, a few minutes before the shooting, Fortuyn promised he'd live to see his 87th birthday.

[Jon Miller]

It has not happened in the US recently either (there was in attempt on Reagan though)

Jon Miller