Tuesday
(0)I can't wait to see their election manifesto:
Anti-war activists including the Guardian columnist George Monbiot are planning to form a coalition to challenge the Labour party in the European and local elections in June.The attempt to unite socialist parties, anti-globalisation campaigners, peace activists, and faith groups, including Muslims, has already aroused the hostility of the Green party, which is branding the electoral project as "unhelpful".
The Green hostility is understandable. They can't very well be expected to just sit back and do nothing in the face of this open challenge to their monopoly on crackpot drivel.
Sometimes I feel like the world is a giant game of INWO, only not as funny. Okay, funnier, but more tragic, too.
Bolie IV
Posted by Bolie Williams IV at October 14, 2003 04:13 PM
On the whole I'm gradually turning into one of those paleolibertarians or paleoconservatives who are opposed to US intervention both on commonsensical and moral grounds.
Then every now and again I read some garbage generated by the leftist anti-war brigade and I revert into "Nuke the bastards" mode.
You sure these Brit antiwar activists aren't part of some right-wing conspiracy to keep the likes of me from straying in the wrong direction?
Of course, if Monbiot and co claim that the world is round, that doesn't mean it's flat ...
Posted by Charles Copeland at October 14, 2003 04:25 PM
CORRIGENDUM
Sorry, for 'right-wing conspiracy', read 'neoconservative conspiracy'.
Posted by Charles Copeland at October 14, 2003 04:28 PM
Charles Copeland writes:
"Of course, if Monbiot and co claim that the world is round, that doesn't mean it's flat ..."
Nah - if Monbiot says it, it *is* wrong. The man is constitutionally incapable of being right.
Posted by G Cooper at October 14, 2003 04:38 PM
Article one of their manifesto will offer free tin foil for all.
Posted by Edmund Burke at October 14, 2003 04:58 PM
This shows once again the rapidly converging synergies of the Western looney left with political Islam; the same destructive combination largely responsible for turning the Indian subcontinent into what it is today.
Despised by everyone else, the Left naturally turns to the only group of people more unpopular -- political Islamists. Just as the Iranian Commies acted as midwives to the Khomeini theocracy.
God help us all.
Posted by Susan at October 14, 2003 05:23 PM
This is a truly delightful development- these loons will do a great job of splitting the vote on the left, just as Ralph Nader did in the 2000 election. As a result of that, many of us took back 5% of all the bad things we ever said about dear ol' Ralphie...
Posted by Doug Jones at October 14, 2003 05:27 PM
LLL v. VRWC - MerdeinFrance tells us to keep an eye on November 2:
"Operation GMO"
Just as the word spreads that the counterculture in France is pro-market and pro-American (article about Sabine Herold), Revue-politique.com has forwarded me the following statement about the 'Operation GMO' demonstration announced for 2 November (very quick English translation by 'Merde in France'):
The increasingly likely presence of American media groups, including one major TV network, as well as support for this demonstration from several French politicians that spoke out in favor of America's operations in Iraq, are making for a nice autumn season for France's libertarians and republicans. For some political figures, the coming together of the libertarian and republican camps is giving rise to an authentic hope that a large French libertarian-republican political current could absorb the up and coming elements of the French right as Chirac's gaullists, the remnants of the old Gaullist right which tried to stop its decline by forming the UMP, loses its strength.
For some, this political current, which distinguishes itself by its uninhibited positions on secularity in reaction to Islam's spread in Europe, is openly pro-Atlantic, federalist European, and clearly favorable to Israel's policies, could represent a new generation especially because it is building on two huge victories - the succesful demonstration on June 15 initiated by Liberté Chérie, and the development of a news web site running counter to French media, Revue-politique, read everyday by approximately 15,000 readers.
The age of the movements' leaders is also of interest to the political personnalities that are observing its emergence: almost all are in their 30s with a few 40 year olds. Independant, free, the decision to carry out 'Operation GMO' is not without a precise objective, the target is well designated: José Bové and all he stands for, and beyond him a break with the Chiraco-Gaullism now on its last legs. The 'next generation', the new right, the label doesn't matter, Liberté Chérie and Revue-Politique are leading the charge.
Posted by Sandy P. at October 14, 2003 05:54 PM
Interesting that Sandy P has evolved - and so speedily at that! - from an ignorant, resentful, gimme hat-wearing American from flyover country who apparently thought writing Frwrance was witty, into an informed, not to say long-winded, commentator on the French political scene. Hmmm. Quick study, I guess. Dang! Aren't those night courses sumthin'?
Posted by Verity at October 14, 2003 06:53 PM
Not to poke a hole in her...but Sandy's post was taken from Merde In France, I think on one of the activities the few right of center people are doing. Good luck to them...but quite frankly I don't think anything short of massive system wide collapse is going to take the socialism-luvin' out of the french public...and ESPECIALLY the politicians.
Posted by Matt W. at October 14, 2003 07:26 PM
If it were just the local elections there wouldn't be a problem. No PR: Anti-War can be ignored even assuming they can be bothered--which they won't be with no glory available and lots of candidates needed. What particularly worries the Greens is that if Anti-War candidates soak off some of their voters they might drop below the PR threshhold and lose their MEPs' seats.
Since the Greens have solidly pursued the same line as the protest coalition anyway, that result would actually lose representation for the case... So "unhelpful" is a tenable position, even if it also has a touch of panicky self-preservation about it.
As my VAT has paid for the plushy office anyway, I'd rather have the likeable-if-wrongheaded Caroline Lucas sitting in it than some fuck-wit lobby-fodder from a major party. (Someone, please, please, tell me the Tory lists will be full of roaring small-government Euroskeptics, or I'm going to have to vote UKIP again.)
Posted by Guy Herbert at October 14, 2003 07:45 PM
Icke vs. Moonbat! Which one is the People's Front for the Liberation of Judea?
One lefty faction
Sitting on the wall
One lefty faction
Sitting on the wall
And if one lefty faction
Should accidentally fall,
There's be two lefty factions
Sitting on the wall.
Posted by Tim Hall at October 14, 2003 07:52 PM
Ahhh, Verity, you do give me the giggles!
I expect nothing less from an elitist.
Posted by Sandy P. at October 14, 2003 08:03 PM
i think we should grab all those rebellious commies and give them a little island, so they can go live there and stop getting in the way of people who do like to move forth. seriously, have they gone that low?
about the island, we should give them one with volcanic activity, maybe a miracle happens and we can get ridd of them easily and quickly! WOOHOOO!
Posted by xander from honduras at October 14, 2003 09:14 PM
I think we should grab all those rebellious commies and give them a little island.
Cuba, perhaps?
Posted by R.C. Dean at October 15, 2003 12:15 AM
> I think we should grab all those rebellious commies and give them a little island.
> Cuba, perhaps?
I think they've already set their sights on mainland Britain :P
Posted by David Hall at October 15, 2003 12:02 PM
