Leading candidate for House of Commons speaker describes Colombian govt as "odious regime"

dwmte7 says on Jun 11, 2009, 13:05:

there's undoubtedly some colombians who would concur.

patriarch

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theflatline says on Jun 11, 2009, 13:33:

Colombia is a lot better than it was 20 years ago, and certainly much better than ten. Even, better than it was in 2000.

Legaleez for Complete Morons - A book for gringos in Colombia for who think they understand the nature of the law in a country where they cannot speak the language.

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tasco66 says on Jun 11, 2009, 13:39:

Just another one of those hypocritical Euro lefties:

"Following the defection of Conservative MP Quentin Davies to the Labour Party on 26 June 2007, persistent Westminster rumours[7] named Bercow as the next most likely candidate for defection to the Labour Party."

"Expenses

Bercow has consistently been one of the most expensive members of the House of Commons, in terms of claims on the additional costs allowance.

In the financial years 2007-8, 2006-7, 2004-5 and 2002-3 he had the distinction of occupying joint first position in a league table of most expensive members of the House of Commons, while in 2003-4 he was the joint third most expensive Member"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bercow

The trouble with free elections is, you never know who is going to win (Leonid Brezhnev)

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ConorC says on Jun 11, 2009, 14:54:

Euro lefties?

Even if he was expected to defect to the Labour Party, last time I checked, the present state of the Labour Party isn't exactly veering towards communism.

Some would argue that there is very little difference in fundamental ideology between Labour and Conservatives with the abolition of Clause 4 in the early 90's.

And as for the expenses, well to cite someone for having high additional costs allowances is simply ridiculous if you don't understand the context. For example, Iris Robinson and Lady Hermon have ridiculous expenses but there is a reason for this and a quite ligitmate reason and those who actually understand the politics of a nation will understand this rather than jumping to conclusions from a summary on Wikipedia.

End rant.

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dwmte7 says on Jun 11, 2009, 15:16:

thanks, conor...nothing like a little civil, well articulated posturing here. it's become pretty rare.

patriarch

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Pappassito (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 11, 2009, 16:17:

ConorC says on Jun 11, 2009, 16:32:

I've actually gone back and checked the "source" of the claims on Wikipedia and it appears to be a blog entry from some website called Order Order.

Now, if you actually did some research, you would be aware that the additional cost allowances is essentially for those MPs living outside London to be able to rent a place in London so they are able to perform their duties in an effective and efficient manner. Mr Bercow is from Buckinghamshire, which is a fair old commute from London on a daily basis so I'd forgive him for spending an extra few squid to stay in London overnight. The ones you should be more worried about are those who have charging the taxpayer 88p to replace a bathtub plug.

Anyway, back to the original point, the honourable member does appear to be a bit silly in his remark regarding Colombia.

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phillyguy says on Jun 11, 2009, 16:38:

It is probably true that "there is very little difference in fundamental ideology between Labour and Conservatives", but that is only because virtually the entire british ruling class has been indoctrinated with leftist nonsense.

Nobody can admit to being a commie any more, now that the truth about Stalin and Mao is common knowledge, but the ultimate goals have not changed that much. Slogans may change (replace "from each according to his ability, to each according to his need" with "social justice", but the general program remains the same - keep expanding the power of government, add more and more clients to welfare state, put all under servaillence, and criminalize dissenting speech.

Orwell's 1984 is here. It is just a few decades late.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 11, 2009, 16:42:

getting better says on Jun 11, 2009, 16:48:

So it is fair or useful to describe the government of "Columbia" as an "odious regime"?
Is your government conniving in the homicides or trying to stop them?
Is the situation Colombia better than it was a few years ago and is it wise to kick one of our best allies in the teeth?
Do JB's comments suggest he is a wise and fair man or not?
I am asking this question as we in Britain genuinely want to know the answer.
We have lost confidence in our politicians and our parliament and desperately need someone wise and fair .
Is this the right person?
One of his specialist subjects is Colombia so let’s hear the answer.

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JohnEvans says on Jun 11, 2009, 17:02:

If there is an answer, you're certainly not going to find it here.

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Haddeman says on Jun 11, 2009, 17:52:

Bercow was my MP when I lived in the UK so I shall be taking up his ridiculous,populist,Darloupian remarks.

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dwmte7 says on Jun 11, 2009, 18:11:

if the rest of the guys are like me--girls, too--we don't have a clue what you britons are dealing with. however, the above mentioned seems to have a pretty good sense of smell. he knows what's going on in colombia without even being there

patriarch

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Morrongo says on Jun 11, 2009, 18:19:

If he knows so much about Colombia , it would help if he could spell the frigging name right?

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dwmte7 says on Jun 11, 2009, 19:03:

you gotta point, morrongo. but he's been relying on his nose

patriarch

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 11, 2009, 20:29:

Robert Jorge says on Jun 11, 2009, 22:42:

Makopp5, you are German, Deutsch, Aleman - correct?

"You can not take the barrio out of the girl you really can't." Oneforamillion

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 12, 2009, 04:24:

El Expatriado says on Jun 12, 2009, 04:41:

How many of those Euro Lefties have even been to Colombia, or Latin America, or even speak Spanish? If they have, they were probably invited on a fact finding mission by the Bolivarioan Revolutionary Ant-Globalization Peoples Workers Organization, or aome other unbiased group, in a private car, taken to orchestrated interviews.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 12, 2009, 04:43:

Londoner says on Jun 12, 2009, 11:44:

It,s obvious that this MP does,nt know Colombia.He should keep his mouth shut and concentrate on completing his expense claims correctly.

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Simon says on Jun 12, 2009, 13:41:

I would tell this John Bercow that he is an ignorant piece of shit and that at least we aren't ruled by kings or queens as if we were still in the middle ages!

"Just an honest, decent Colombian trying to do the right thing."--Simon

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billyb says on Jun 12, 2009, 13:47:

This from MPs who are soaking the British people? Even down to expensing porn on their accounts? I would consider it an honour being called odious by a PsOS like that.

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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manINred says on Jun 12, 2009, 14:30:

He raises a point, albeit in a really poor and frankly odious way. There have been issues, as most of us know, about the freedom of journalists and trade union leaders in Colombia. It is a problem that is getting better, and it is disingenuous of him to

a) label the Uribe administration that way and
b) not point out there is more freedom now for both groups than there has been in the past.

But come on people, he is certainly no "european leftie". Conservatives are as right-leaning as the Uribe admin. or perhaps even the republican party of the States.

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manINred says on Jun 12, 2009, 14:34:

"I would consider it an honour being called odious by a PsOS like that."

You're right BillyB. Surely, as an MP, you would think he would have the foresight to understand that such comments would be considered odious... and he wouldn't use odious in a denegrating way if he knew that he made odious statements himself, otherwise he'd be a hypocrite.

Therefore, i can only conclude that he meant odious in a positive way. In fact, he was actually complimenting Colombia :)

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Man Tequila says on Jun 12, 2009, 15:19:

Yeah, since a politician could never be a hypocrite, as we all know.

Aunque no me creas/ si me lo propongo/ lograre olvidarte/ porque a fin de cuentas/ no soy tan cobarde./ Y termino todo una de estas tardes/ no sera dificil buscar algún sitio donde refugiarme/ donde nunca mas vuelvas a encontrarme. (Polo Montañez)

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billyb says on Jun 12, 2009, 21:16:

"John Bercow, the Conservative MP who has declared himself a candidate in the race to become the next speaker, is to pay more than £6,500 to HM Revenue & Customs after he confirmed that he had not paid capital gains tax when he sold two properties in 2003. "

Shocker! WTF Johnny, is England starting to make SA look like the land of "clean government"?

"All I want to know is where I'm going to die, so I never go there" Unkown (at least to me) wise man.

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makopp5 (☼Travelguide writer) says on Jun 13, 2009, 03:50:

Londoner says on Jun 13, 2009, 09:33:

These MP,s have lost the right to call themselves Honorable Members.They should call an election and clean the lot out.Besides,John Bercow lives in Buckinghamshire ,and claims for a flat in London also.There ain,t no part of Buckinghamshire that,s much more than 1 hour from London by free train or late night car.Why should these people claim expenses that are more than the wages that most of us live on?

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manINred says on Jun 13, 2009, 11:50:

I lived in bucks before, it's 5 quid to get into london, and about an hour commute at peak hours, less if the trains are running on time.

What a piece of work Bercow is, to claim for a flat, what utter bollocks.

Man Tequilla: "Yeah, since a politician could never be a hypocrite, as we all know"

That's my point! Thus my tongue being held firmly in cheek ;)

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getting better says on Jun 22, 2009, 12:34:

He has won, what a disaster

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