[LostFool]

Originally Posted by dome

I found him a breath of fresh air compared to Emily Thornberry and his poetry recital was superb.

Indeed. I don't agree with a lot of what Hitchens says but I respect anyone who can defend their own opinion in the face of others and I like listening to people with who I disagree with.

[Gravitas]

Thank God for the audience member at the end of the question about the 125,000 "problem families" after all that Leftie/Liberal crap that went before. Someone with actual experience of what this scum can do to communities.

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by LostFool

Not until she is told what her opinion should be.

I thought that was an astonishing performance

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by LostFool

Well, she's a former human rights barrister, married to a judge, MP for Islington, sends her children to a selective secondary school.... you couldn't get more New Labour if you tried.

...and ate all the pies as well

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by dome

Well he could probably provide a few of the more obscure ones for you.

I found him a breath of fresh air compared to Emily Thornberry and his poetry recital was superb.

So right. I didn't know the Thornberry woman before last night and she left me gagging for her rightoness.

[wordfromthewise]

I'm no Hitchens fan but at least he has got conviction unlike 90% of politicians and journalists ........and I had to agree with him 100% about Thornberry's 'fake outrage' and attempted grandstanding when she tried and failed to put him in his place about what she thought he had said about problem families.

[LostFool]

Originally Posted by wordfromthewise

I'm no Hitchens fan but at least he has got conviction unlike 90% of politicians and journalists ........and I had to agree with him 100% about Thornberry's 'fake outrage' and attempted grandstanding when she tried and failed to put him in his place about what she thought he had said about problem families.

When she started going on about being soor poor as a child I thought QT was going to turn into Monty Pyhton's Four Yorkshiremen sketch.

[Ethel_Fred]

Originally Posted by Gravitas

Thank God for the audience member at the end of the question about the 125,000 "problem families" after all that Leftie/Liberal crap that went before. Someone with actual experience of what this scum can do to communities.

So families with health problems are scum?

[husted]

Originally Posted by Ethel_Fred

So families with health problems are scum?

Characterising people as scum is never helpful.

Labour kicked off this idea of intensive support and to me it seems like a good idea and its only unfortunate that Pickles seems to want to talk about blame rather than help.

But IMO its a good thing that councils will be getting this money. Good for the family and good for the country if it saves money, keeps kids in school, people off crime etc.

[2+2=5]

Originally Posted by LostFool

Indeed. I don't agree with a lot of what Hitchens says but I respect anyone who can defend their own opinion in the face of others and I like listening to people with who I disagree with.

He had no idea about her background - so for him to talk about being faux-indignant is an insult. He looked the fool. And then he made it worse by answering an unrelated question by going back to that because he still felt bitter about it.

He's a human. Not some form of perfection. The sooner he realises people have the right and will tell them what they make of him, the sooner he realises people have the right to have any view they want.

What a prat.

[jjne]

Originally Posted by wordfromthewise

I'm no Hitchens fan but at least he has got conviction unlike 90% of politicians and journalists ........and I had to agree with him 100% about Thornberry's 'fake outrage' and attempted grandstanding when she tried and failed to put him in his place about what she thought he had said about problem families.

In fairness Hitchens is such a master of the weasel-word that Thornberry's misinterpretation was fully understandable.

I have no doubt that Hitchens does think that all fatherless families are scumbags.

[Mrstimmy]

Originally Posted by 2+2=5

Wrong. As usual.

Nobody needs a hack to learn the beauty of the world at large. Ruminations on the English countryside and its lingering sad memories aren't the only important images to embellish on our minds.

I have little time for small minded local village thinking. There's a big world out there. And the heavens above. If you wish to nestle in your small bungalow next to the parish church, and walk down empty countryside lanes with only the sound of far off tractors keeping you company, it doesn't mean everyone else thinks that's what life is all about too.

Your doing the very thing you propose to have little time for. Some people, myself included, love small villages and communities, and do wish to settle down in their houses down the road from the village church and shops. I've been out working in villages not too far from the town I live in, about 10-18 miles out each one is, and the people were lovely, and the community spirit was very evident. The places were tidy, clean, friendly, and the houses were big and very well cared for. I believe feeling part of a small community and area negates the urge for many to indulge in anti social behaviour. It doesn't mean local people are against the rest of the world, or narrow minded at all, it means they're happy and secure with what they have, and what is wrong with that. I was an outsider visiting all these places this past week, and have spoken to loads of local residents, in local shops, business's and door to door, and the people have all been very welcoming and friendly.

[Mrstimmy]

Originally Posted by Gravitas

Thank God for the audience member at the end of the question about the 125,000 "problem families" after all that Leftie/Liberal crap that went before. Someone with actual experience of what this scum can do to communities.

I missed bits at the end. What did the audience member say? I think I saw someone say something like it is a problem in communities and estates, but I was really drifting in and out of sleep so can't be sure what I heard properly!

[2+2=5]

Originally Posted by Mrstimmy

Your doing the very thing you propose to have little time for. Some people, myself included, love small villages and communities, and do wish to settle down in their houses down the road from the village church and shops. I've been out working in villages not too far from the town I live in, about 10-18 miles out each one is, and the people were lovely, and the community spirit was very evident. The places were tidy, clean, friendly, and the houses were big and very well cared for. I believe feeling part of a small community and area negates the urge for many to indulge in anti social behaviour. It doesn't mean local people are against the rest of the world, or narrow minded at all, it means they're happy and secure with what they have, and what is wrong with that. I was an outsider visiting all these places this past week, and have spoken to loads of local residents, in local shops, business's and door to door, and the people have all been very welcoming and friendly.

This was a post directed at one single poster as part of an ongoing...."conversation". I have lived in villages in the UK myself and I love the countryside wandering across it quite regularly. If you took any offence, then my apologies but it really was only meant for Blairdennon - so much so I could have PM'd it but I just couldn't be bothered to go to all that effort.

[m4rk1]

Originally Posted by jjne

In fairness Hitchens is such a master of the weasel-word that Thornberry's misinterpretation was fully understandable.

I have no doubt that Hitchens does think that all fatherless families are scumbags.

I'm sure Peter Hitchen's is more opposed to the state cultivating a climate of fatherless families than the families themselves.

He said something to the effect that if the state makes this an acceptable way to live you cannot blame the people for living that way.

[SallyArmy]

Originally Posted by LostFool

When she started going on about being soor poor as a child I thought QT was going to turn into Monty Pyhton's Four Yorkshiremen sketch.

When she turned to Hitchens and started saying, 'How dare you! How dare you!' in that sanctimonious tone, i couldnt help thinking of Catherine Tate's gay character Derek! How very dare you!!!

[Hound of Love]

Originally Posted by penelopesimpson

...and ate all the pies as well

Much fewer pies than Eric Pickles

[Hound of Love]

Originally Posted by LostFool

Labour may have a page but there's nothing on it.

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by Hound of Love

Much fewer pies than Eric Pickles

Eric always looks to me though as if he should have eaten all the pies. She just looked puffy and bloated.

[Hound of Love]

Originally Posted by penelopesimpson

I dojn't think they are allowed to. The agreed party line seems to be to just blame the worldwide economy and pretend it was nothing to do with them.

And now the Tories think that the UK's current double-dip recession is nothing to do with them

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by Hound of Love

And now the Tories think that the UK's current double-dip recession is nothing to do with them

Do they?

[Charlie Drake]

Originally Posted by penelopesimpson

Eric always looks to me though as if he should have eaten all the pies. She just looked puffy and bloated.

I didn't realise that Question Time is about how you look. I thought it was about what you say.

[penelopesimpson]

Originally Posted by Charlie Drake

I didn't realise that Question Time is about how you look. I thought it was about what you say.

Oh, come on. Throwaway remark. Touch of humour. Lightness of touch. That sort of thing.

[jjne]

Originally Posted by m4rk1

I'm sure Peter Hitchen's is more opposed to the state cultivating a climate of fatherless families than the families themselves.

He said something to the effect that if the state makes this an acceptable way to live you cannot blame the people for living that way.

Oh I know what he said.

But people don't get that puffed up when it isn't personal.

His brother was a great man.

[Charlie Drake]

Originally Posted by jjne

Oh I know what he said.

But people don't get that puffed up when it isn't personal.

His brother was a great man.

Very true - chalk and cheese in many ways.