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Post by Laura Lyman on Sept 18, 2003 18:35:25 GMT
Thought i'd be the first to post on this new page. I've been following the Hutton Inquiry fairly closely and was quite surprised by Gilligan's revelations that he had had no proof that the government had ordered the 45 min claim be added into the dossier.
Do you think the Hutton Inquiry will be the end for Tony and his cronies or do you think it will damage the BBC's reputation more?
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sig007
White House Intern
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Post by sig007 on Sept 18, 2003 20:54:13 GMT
To be honest i think it should bring down the government, I voted for Labour to bring them in to power but boy did i get that one wrong.
I am supprised that Gilligan admitted to the 45 minute claim, but i still think that as we have no bill of rights giving us free speech that his reporting (and think what has been brought to the fore because of his accusations) is one of the things that has been the shining light in the dark times that has been the conflict in Iraq.
I am never suprised at how Governments get away with doing what the hell they like and then let us foot the bill with extra tax bills.
Mind you after reading Stupid White Men by Michael Moore at least I am glad that the party that won the Election got in to power
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Post by mervale on Sept 18, 2003 21:12:33 GMT
as much as i agree with all that. im not sure about the bringing down the government part.
what is our real alternative......conservatives?
and yes we can at least be thankful we dont have bush.
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sig007
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Post by sig007 on Sept 18, 2003 21:25:06 GMT
To be honest after living through conservative rule before, and the miners strikes in the 80's were no fun for a family in a mining community in the midlands - I would rather eat my own flesh than ever see them in power again............ My problem is of course - that Labour are doing a really bad job, crime and privatisation is up, educationand the NHS are being crippled. so what is the alternative....... I am actually looking at getting involved myself, as i think if your not willing to do something about it then shut the hell up. I will have to start at local level but I am told that this is where the real work is done. Any advise (apart from learn to spell thicko) would be appreciated as i am very new to the whole real world of politics thing. I should hopefully be starting my Open Uni Degree in politics next year (funds permitting) and hopefully move on from there...... Anyway someone elses turn  |
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Post by mervale on Sept 18, 2003 21:48:53 GMT
To be honest after living through conservative rule before, and the miners strikes in the 80's were no fun for a family in a mining community in the midlands - I would rather eat my own flesh than ever see them in power again............ My problem is of course - that Labour are doing a really bad job, crime and privatisation is up, educationand the NHS are being crippled. so what is the alternative....... I am actually looking at getting involved myself, as i think if your not willing to do something about it then shut the hell up. I will have to start at local level but I am told that this is where the real work is done. Any advise (apart from learn to spell thicko) would be appreciated as i am very new to the whole real world of politics thing. I should hopefully be starting my Open Uni Degree in politics next year (funds permitting) and hopefully move on from there...... Anyway someone elses turn yay go you! that is certainly an impressive attitude. theoretically i would love to be involved in politics (in the background though, certainly not as a politician)......but in reality i know i could never hack it! you are right though, nothing is ever going to change with people like me moaning about the current situation while doing nothing to change it. |
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Post by madcap on Sept 18, 2003 22:38:36 GMT
For me the whole Hutton enquiry has lost its' way. The death of Dr. Kelly has become almost irrelevant to what is supposed to be an FAI. All it is now is a cash cow for lawyers, all looking to deflect blame on to someone else. The BBC, Government and wider media all have blood on their hands.
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Post by Admin on Sept 18, 2003 23:19:59 GMT
The whole thing has basically turned into the BBC vs the Government. And you're right, David Kelly now has nothing to do with this other than he was the, as they like to say, 'smoking gun' that has allowed the BBC to stand by their man and his story until High Noon. Upon which he was shot down. Is it just who thinks the BBC should shut up and quick the whinging? I think if they want to keep moaning, then they should first become a commercially funded corporation. This would then mean that only one of the arguing parties (and not both) would be wasting our money on expensive lawyers. Andrew Gilligan's 'it was a slip of the tongue' confession astounds me. There's no way he will stay with the BBC. This is a corporation with the power to inform millions, and this 'slip of the tongue' has cost a man his life. Absolutely shoddy, high school newspaper standard, journalism. Seems to me Gilligan heard what he wanted to hear, not what was said, and jumped straight into the deep end with a sensationalist revelation. He caught the smell of victory over the Government and in an instant became blind to the danger. He shouldn't have said what he wanted the public to think. It is down to the people listening, watching or reading the news to start the game of Chinese whispers. A final note on the BBC, I think they need to seriously watch where they tread. First off they gave us Fame Academy and then really tested the patience of a nation with Fame Academy Bee Gees special  Speaking of Labour. I didn't realise council tax has risen by as much as 70% over the past six years. And I would like Blair to explain why he's all for education when he has gone and made it accessible to the middle classes and above. In years to come there will be really smart young adults working in supermarkets because they couldn't afford to go to university to become a teacher or a doctor. Higher education is becoming the preserve of the rich. But what can we do? |
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Post by lecter on Sept 19, 2003 9:56:05 GMT
I think its all getting a little fustrating for Mr Blair, expect the pressure to be applied, and then the head that everybody has been waiting for will be put on the block to bring a close to this story, after all the back door deals have been done that is.
Geoff Hoon's the man, and its head that will role, leaving Tony squeekyclean, then expect him back in12 months time in a even better job, in there words the pay off for being the fall guy.
Speaking of which, what ever happened to Lee Majors?
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Post by Admin on Sept 19, 2003 12:48:52 GMT
The whole inquiry has moved away from blaming the government into laying blame at the feet of Andrew Gilligan. Blair and Co. could now say they are not the bad people the BBC made them out to be since their journalist fabricated his story.
I honestly think this inquiry will achieve nothing.
Unlike the Lib Dems who took Brent East. A bit of fluke, perhaps, but don't forget, at the last election the Lib Dems made gains. Labour's real problems are not the Hutton inquiry, it's going to be the next election.
As for Geoff Hoon, well, I just don't know. I think he may carry on as Defense Secretary despite whatever we the people may think.
Lee Majors last seen suing Six Million Dollar Man for his, well, pension fund I suppose!
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Post by ave maria on Sept 20, 2003 22:46:17 GMT
Didn't know whether to put this here or start another thread. No comment on the Hutton inquiry, but there is another party to vote for, it's the Lib Dems!!
After all the Liberals were in power, even if it was a long time ago, and the typical Labour voters should really have voted for the breakaway Social Democrats, the left of Labour, but I guess the masses just went with the name.
New Labour are fast heading to the right of the Tories.
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Post by Admin on Sept 20, 2003 23:23:36 GMT
That's true. However, Charles Kennedy as Prime Minister? I'm not so sure. The only time I've been impressed by his performance was when he on Have I Got News For You.
Iain Duncan Smith. Unknown? Well, ever notice how when the news teams and newspapers hits the streets to ask "do you know this man", they tend to ask two particular groups. Young people who by just looking at them you can tell they probably don't even vote, and the elderly who would never dare consider themselves to be a 'floating voter' and always vote for the name of the party because "uw, I've always t'voted for 'em".
I think there comes a point where party loyalty just sucks, plain and simple, it sucks.
The Hutton inquiry has turned into such a farce it's not going to effect anyone other than Andrew Gilligan.
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sig007
White House Intern
Posts: 55
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Post by sig007 on Sept 23, 2003 21:16:22 GMT
I think that the saddest thing for the Hutton inquiry is that although it has shown huge errors for by the Government and massive holes left in the intelligence by the military that no-body will actually get anything more than a slapped wrist I dont care how many sources Gilligan had (although don't you think he looks a bit like Mr Potato head) at least he had one whereas our Tony had actully no sources for the second dossier but a student paper not actual fact...... what double standards our Government never, you may detect a slight pool of sarcasm as it drips from my tongue I think that it is gratefully satisfying that Old Georgey Boy got a bit of a kicking at the UN today by Koffi Anan ( i hope that was spelled correct) although again i think that it will acomlish very little. |
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Post by Laura Lyman on Sept 24, 2003 0:12:27 GMT
The revelation that Alastair Campbell and Geoff Hoon decided to announce that Dr Kelly was gilligan's source because it would f*** Gilligan (Campbell's words not mine) is dreadful. The government is well rid of Alastair Campbell's retributive contributions.
There is not much of an alternative to Labour rule at the moment, the Lib Dems aren't strong enough and the Conservatives seem to have been condemmed to the dustbin of history in recent years. there is on the other hand an alternative to Blairite rule. I think Gordon Brown would be a good alternative.
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Post by DarkHoarse on Sept 25, 2003 13:47:00 GMT
Laura: Watch "The Deal" on Sunday!
Sig007: I wish you the very best with your foray into politics and I too would like nothing less than to see the Tories back in power, and that comes from another product of a mining community in the Midlands...
And I share Mr President's fears that education, which should be "the silver bullet" (S.Seaborn) will become more and more the preserve of the wealthy. And you wouldn't believe how little some of them benefit: why, I have even heard one woman of public school education state that Jeffrey Archer shouldn't have gone to prison because "he's fooled people for so long so he's obviously really clever." There are so many levels of irony in that remark....
As for Hutton, flaws on both sides, bye bye Hoon, Teflon Tony escapes again and everything gets back to normal over the winter...almost seems predetermined. Anyone else reminded of Oliver North and how even that couldn't damage old Teflon Reagan?
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Post by Josh Lyman on Sept 25, 2003 22:56:33 GMT
its all a bloody whitewash from sart to finish . everyone and their dog knows that the iraq dossier was sexed up to provide reasons to go to war , everyone i've talked to about it says exactly the same , and whats going to happen ?? nothing , it's a bloody disgrace !!
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