The amazing ongoing hideousness of Michael Howard (Part XXXIV)

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

You lost me there.

[Dauphin]

"Those Gypsies paid for that land?!?!?"

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

Yup. That's the sickening part. They're being evicted from their own land, and that's very far from being an isolated case.

[MikeH]

Imagine if he suggested black people should be evicted from their homes because they caused social problems.

[Agathon]

It's bull****, Sava. Racial or ethnic descent does not make people criminals.

'cept in 'stralia.

[child of Thor]

I really like the impression of Michael Howard that Rory Bremner does

and i won't be voting for the torries - even in a protest vote over Blair

What can the gypsies do? getting rid of their agreed sites was a mistake that has created more problems than it solved i think. Do you get the impression that M.Howard had a bad childhood experience with gypsies? maybe they read his tea-leaves wrong?

[Sava]

How did this become a racism/ethnic issue? AFAIK, travelers in America come from all sorts of ethnic backgrounds.

And as I said, don't twist my statements into generalizations, but that's what you morons have done.

I'm done with this thread.

[Alexander's Horse]

Originally posted by MikeH
He's gone for abortion, now travellers.

Anyone want to predict where he's going to go next?

Yes, they are following the Australia tory formula - so expect attacks on immigrants, welfare recipients, abortion, gay rights, medical research, big government, the NHS, unions, left wing local councils, universities, progressive social commentators, sentences for criminal offences, schools and teachers, especially on discipline issues, school uniforms, law and order - the police need more powers etc. etc.

[Provost Harrison]

Originally posted by Alexander's Horse


Yes, they are following the Australia tory formula - so expect attacks on immigrants, welfare recipients, abortion, gay rights, big government, the NHS, unions, left wing local councils, universities, progressive social commentators, sentences for criminal offences, schools and teachers, especially on discipline issues, school uniforms, law and order - the police need more powers etc. etc.

John Howard, Michael Howard...no coincidence methinks

John Howard could give Hitler a run for his money...

[Stefu]

Okay, serious question time. Is hatin' the gypsies considered more socially accepted in the Anglo-American countries than in Europe? Because I've seen anti-gypsy opinions thrown about by completely regular posters here at Apolyton about gypsies that would be considered pretty damn racist here in Finland. (Which doesn't stop some people here from holding them, of course.)

[child of Thor]

with your general 'Sun' reader(Fox viewer in usa?), yes; hating gypsies is ok. It swings around from one pet hate to the next depending on where the people are lead.

[Imran Siddiqui]

When talking to Americans on this issue, remember we have no clue that gypsies are an actual ethnicity. Sava did not seem to know it, and I had no clue either until reading posts about it here.

[Alexander's Horse]

Gypsies are really the perfect target for the kind of tactics they use - a small powerless group with few friends.

Expect to hear a lot about "the mainstream" and "ordinary Britons" - its code for whitey. In this case, "people who pay their taxes".

If you have talkback radio expect the tories to push a lot of divisive hot button issues thinly disguised but really around race and class - in terms of social jealousy - someone is getting something I don't. Appeal to people's worst instincts, their xenophobia, insecurity and fears....

Its called "wedge politics" - divide the community and side with the wedge with the most votes. Label them "the mainstream" or the "silent majority" and you're on an electoral winner. Appear to champion their causes, which you have in fact manufactured through careful media manipulation.

Sadly politics are going to start getting a whole lot uglier for you.

Ah yes, its all too familiar, and very successful, because the average punter is lazy, selfish and a bit dim.

You'll find the tories allying with the rightwing and Murdoch press, Star TV and the like. Tony Blair and Labour will gradually be blackened over time. They'll end up portrayed like the devil incarnate. They'll target extremist or eccentric Labour MPs like Tony Benn and paint all Labour MPs as cut from the same cloth.

The tories will present Britain, and its "traditional values" - more heavy code there, as going to the dogs - and only the tories can save you.

[child of Thor]

sounds a little like what happened in the USA elections(preying on peoples fears etc)? Anyway its cheap, and i dont think it will help the tories win over here.

[Alexander's Horse]

yes it will be interesting to see if Britons are smarter.