Hulver's site || Merely a front for the hole

Diaries
Everything
Who's Online?
FAQ / Help

Red Ken

By rdskutter (Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 07:09:44 AM EST) (all tags)

Quite possibly one of the my favourite politicians. For those of you who don't know he is The Lord Mayor of London. He deserves a lot of credit. For one he's succesfully introduced the congestion charging scheme which has cut traffic and road accidents in London by about 30%.

He's got some totally rocking opinions. He hates SUV drivers with a passion, he was annoyed with people who concreted over their gardens for extra car parking spaces and now I've just read this article in the Guardian (well of course -who else would publish it?) about his hatred for the Daily Mail/Evening Standard.

Now everyone knows that the Daily Mail is a racist, dispicable rag that sells far too well, but Ken's risking his career to say this in public. Way to go Ken!

He's currently involved in a shit slinging contest because he likened one of the Evening Standard reporters to a concentration camp guard. I really hope that Ken's career survives this - he's a great politician and I wish that there were more like him.

And whilst I'm posting links to Guardian articles; this one made me chuckle this morning: We can make this marriage work

< Hoody-Hoo! | BBC White season: 'Rivers of Blood' >

Login

Related Links

- this article
- We can make this marriage work
- rdskutter's Diary

Google

Comment Controls

Red Ken | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback

I still think he could come up with an apology by squigs (4.00 / 1) #1 Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 07:43:13 AM EST

I do rather admire his steadfastness in this, but surely he could say something without losing face.

Something like "With the exception of that jerk of a reporter, I would like to apologise to anyone who took offence at my comments". After all, I'm sure he wasn't intending to offend anyone else.

Oh come one everyone. by CrocoStimpy (4.00 / 2) #2 Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 08:07:18 AM EST

Can't you all see what he was doing? He didn't want to talk to that reporter, so he called him a Nazi. He was invoking Godwin's Law! I can't believe even former Adequacy editors were fished in by this.

*cough* by CwazyWabbit (4.00 / 1) #3 Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 08:19:30 AM EST

he likened one of the Evening Standard['s] jewish reporters to a concentration camp guard

On tape Mr Livingstone is heard asking reporter Oliver Finegold if he is a "German war criminal".

Mr Finegold replies: "No, I'm Jewish, I wasn't a German war criminal. I'm quite offended by that."

The mayor then says: "Ah right, well you might be, but actually you are just like a concentration camp guard, you are just doing it because you are paid to, aren't you?"

I actually am on Ken's side here, but this diary portrays the situation unfairly.

Yes, but... by DullTrev (2.00 / 0) #7 Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 01:04:57 PM EST

As far as I can tell, Ken didn't know he was Jewish when he started. And he was trying to insult someone by comparing them to something he obviously thought was horrible.

I mean, let us not forget that Ken was trying to offend this person. He was insulting him, for god's sake. That's kind of the aim of an insult. And by choosing to compare him to a German war criminal, he was saying he thought German war crimes during WWII were truly appalling.

So this guy is offended because Ken thinks that German war criminals were evil. Um...

--
DFJ?
[ Parent ]

: Hence by CwazyWabbit (2.00 / 0) #8 Wed Feb 16, 2005 at 03:43:24 AM EST

the media has concentrated on his second comment about concentration camp guards which was made after the reporter said he was Jewish.
I'm on Ken's side; he has dealt with constant hassle and hate campaigns from the media for a very long time, and I'm amazed at how he has put up with it. I don't agree that if you go into public life that every part of you is available for public dissection. I think he is within his rights to be insulting to people causing him bother, not just from my hatred of the Evening Standard.
However, this diary left out the detail that the reporter said he was Jewish before the second comment, which is significant.

[ Parent ]

This would be a better troll by Phage (4.00 / 1) #4 Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 08:37:48 AM EST

If Ken didn't used to work for the same papers he is now slagging off.

Founder member Golgafrinchan 'B' Ark

: He explains that one by rdskutter (2.00 / 0) #6 Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 09:04:14 AM EST

The Standard had a different editor when he used to write for them. I think that may have been before the Evening Standard were bought by the Daily Mail group.

"BEEN A BIT CARELESS HAVEN'T WE" - Mr Death
[ Parent ]

congestion charging by ObviousTroll (4.00 / 1) #5 Tue Feb 15, 2005 at 08:42:13 AM EST

I have to say that I'm amazed that someone called "red ken" implemented such a scheme.

Next thing you know, y'all will be taxing factories based on the amount of pollution they release, rather than simply demanding that they all implement the same pollution controls - and then where will you be?

Red Ken | 8 comments (8 topical, 0 hidden) | Trackback