Will we ever have REAL democracy?

[Sarah Kelly]

mmmmm, a degree od accountability? Now theres a novel proposal!

[RoddersUK]

!cool!

You are mistaken on this. Paddy wasn't a piss head, Charlie Kennedy was the boozer who was hounded out.
Paddy just couldn't keep his cock in his pants.

[Muffinman]

Couldn't care less about Ashdown's sex life. What's important is that once given the powers of a dictator by the UN, he didn't give a flying fuck about democracy for the people he ruled over in Bosnia/Herzegovina.

A couple of years ago, the BBC reported that Ashdown had been offered, and rejected, the Cabinet post of Northern Ireland Secretary by Gordon Brown. He obviously knows enough not to work for New Labour, but equally obviously was considered by those at the top as being the vain, undemocratic, opportunist that he is, and thus worth asking.

The politicians of Northern Ireland would have seen through his arrogant pose in a second - do you think Martin McGuinness would be intimidated by his action-man image?

Despite the pompous pontifications, he is the most establishment of figures - Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG). That's the gong for ambassadors and top Foreign Office civil servants.

In Yes Minister, Jim Hacker MP is told by his Private Secretary Bernard Woolley what the various post-nominals stand for.

Woolley: In the service, CMG stands for "Call Me God". And KCMG for "Kindly Call Me God".

Hacker: What does GCMG stand for?

Woolley: "God Calls Me God".

[max_tranmere]

I dont think Northern Ireland politicians would have have too much of a problem with Ashdown as NI Secretary. They had Peter Mandelson before don't forget.

[Sarah Kelly]

Mandelson...as slippery as a bag of lubed up eels..........

[Muffinman]

I'd forgotten about him. But, the difference is that Mandelson's vanity and pomposity are widely known, and he has to accept that that is his public image. In fact, he is quite funny when he shows that he does accept it.

Ashdown, on the other hand, seems to have convinced a few people here that he is some kind of a hero, with natural leadership ability and a democratic outlook.

To me, he is nothing more than a former licensed thug for the British state, whose smooth diplomatic skills (a diplomat - someone sent abroad to lie for his country) give way to bullying when he doesn't get his way. His time in Bosnia is testament to his arrogance and anti-democratic attitude - and to his manipulation of the media to disguise his vanity and self-importance.

By the way, a chum of his in Bosnia was Martin Bell, a self-important prick-in-a-white-suit. To see through his media image, try www.guardianlies.com where a real journalist exposes Bells' ignorance and opportunism.

[Sarah Kelly]

As duly noted,its Blair for El Presidente now(im sure he promised me a vote on the referendum?)...So ,fuck the lot of us basically....Our votes ,opinions and views, all worthless...... in fact, the only people that are listening,to varying degrees, are the supporters of this here forum! !drink!

[stefano romantico]

NEVER .

[Sarah Kelly]

Ah Romantico / Sadistiko... you are just Too Romantic..too Sadistik !wink!

[Trumpton]

Only if we have a fair voting system - proportional representation. Have an elected (via PR) upper chamber, the removal of all privileges whether gained by accident of birth, or via spivery (con-artists and rip-off merchants).