Margaret Thatcher RIP

[BillyVance 34]

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, the “Iron Lady” who led a conservative resurgence in her home country and forged a legendary partnership with President Ronald Reagan, died Monday following a stroke, her spokesman said. She was 87.

"Mediocre people don't like high achievers, and high achievers don't like mediocre people." - SIX TIME National Champion coach Nick Saban

[MikeJD 0]

I can see the flag flying at half-mast over the Houses of Parliament as I type.

I can't think of another British Prime Minister who polarised opinion to the same degree. She was extremely controversial - admired by many, but despised by many others. In fact a lot of songs were written anticipating her death, but they did seem a little empty after watching her slip into frailty and dementia.

It'll be interesting to see how history views her.

[Andy9o8 2]

Unlike Anette Funicello, she did not give me a boner.

Still, she was a hell of a warrior, I'll give her that. On that basis, BSBD to her.


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It'll be interesting to see how history views her.

My wife and I were disappointed in the portrayal of her in the movie The Iron Lady. She had such a rich personality and life; we felt it dwelled far too much on her post-retirement years with dementia (as well as all the silly scenario-inventing re: same). A waste of a good opportunity to make a good movie out of a fascinating subject.


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[Skyrad 0]

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I can see the flag flying at half-mast over the Houses of Parliament as I type.

I can't think of another British Prime Minister who polarised opinion to the same degree. She was extremely controversial - admired by many, but despised by many others. In fact a lot of songs were written anticipating her death, but they did seem a little empty after watching her slip into frailty and dementia.

It'll be interesting to see how history views her.

Churchill is Lorded as a Great British hero but somehow his sending in the Black and Tans to murder with impunity the Irish citizens is forgotten by British history, so to is his campaign to gas Kurdish villages and kill civilians 'to instil a lively terror among the civilian population to better control them. Also his name is rarely mentioned as the architect of the disastrous Darnielles campaign which resulted in the deaths of Brits and ANZACs.
So on the whole taking away school milk and shutting the pits pale into insignificance against breaking the deadly choke hold of the Unions on the UK and defending the honour and sovereignty of the UK, kicking the Argentine aggressors arses, instilling the aspiration and reality of home ownership among people who would never have purchased before her Premiership.
She developed the special relationship in to a real asset for the UK. Personally I felt a sense of sadness at the news of her passing, she led this country through difficult times and led it well, only to be stabbed in the back by limp grey spineless men.

RIP Maggie.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Bertt 0]

She certainly had an influence on the world. I never thought of her as a "female prime minister", just a decisive leader. Like you, I'll wait for history to judge, but she will definitely not be ignored.

You don't have to outrun the bear.

[kallend 2,027]

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Unlike Anette Funicello, she did not give me a boner.

Still, she was a hell of a warrior, I'll give her that. On that basis, BSBD to her.


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It'll be interesting to see how history views her.

My wife and I were disappointed in the portrayal of her in the movie The Iron Lady. She had such a rich personality and life; we felt it dwelled far too much on her post-retirement years with dementia (as well as all the silly scenario-inventing re: same). A waste of a good opportunity to make a good movie out of a fascinating subject.


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This isn't the time to go wobbly, Andy.

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The only sure way to survive a canopy collision is not to have one.

[Andy9o8 2]

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Unlike Anette Funicello, she did not give me a boner.

Still, she was a hell of a warrior, I'll give her that. On that basis, BSBD to her.


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It'll be interesting to see how history views her.

My wife and I were disappointed in the portrayal of her in the movie The Iron Lady. She had such a rich personality and life; we felt it dwelled far too much on her post-retirement years with dementia (as well as all the silly scenario-inventing re: same). A waste of a good opportunity to make a good movie out of a fascinating subject.

This isn't the time to go wobbly, Andy.

Sigh. Fine.

She was a reactionary fascist.

[Andy9o8 2]

Margaret Thatcher and misapplied death etiquette

[mr2mk1g 10]

It's been a bit OTT over here mind from some. There's been partying in the streets in a number of places and plenty of people in the public eye issuing statements to the effect of "good" when asked for comment about her death. Hence others suggesting such comments should be a bit toned down. She has a family afterall and died the very day such comments were being made. There'll be plenty of time to monday morning quarterback her era / slander her after once she's actually gone cold.

[Andy9o8 2]

I imagine the author of the article I linked would probably say that he's addressed those concerns.

[mr2mk1g 10]

My point is - there's a difference between saying "I think she damaged the country" or "her policy on Northern Ireland was a travesty" etc

and

"I'm glad the bitch is dead"

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/files/2013/04/Thatcher-death-party-010.jpg
http://www.france24.com/en/files/element_multimedia/image/brixton-thatcher-party-17.jpg
http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2013/4/8/1365449380408/Glasgow-party-010.jpg

[babz 0]

I love how in the second (brixton) picture none of them look old enough to actually have been alive when she was in power..

[Andy9o8 2]

Let me put it this way: I join you in celebrating the freedom of speech that is usually had in the UK.

[MikeJD 0]

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My point is - there's a difference between saying "I think she damaged the country" or "her policy on Northern Ireland was a travesty" etc

and

"I'm glad the bitch is dead"

I agree. Whatever your politics, having a street party to mark the occasion does you no favours. It just makes it look like - well, you needed an excuse for a party. If there was a time for this at all then it would have been when she was ousted from power.

I wonder what those people think they're celebrating. However much they might have hated her, her demise couldn't represent any kind of 'justice' in any case. She wasn't executed or assassinated, it had been a long time since she'd had any say in the running of the country, and she died an old lady's death - like an awful lot of old ladies before her.

And yep, babz, those young girls in Brixton put me in mind of toddlers wearing 'God Hates Fags' t-shirts! They probably have about as much idea of what they're doing there.

I liked the article that Andy linked, though - obviously the author is no fan, but I think he made a fair point.

[Skyrad 0]

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I love how in the second (brixton) picture none of them look old enough to actually have been alive when she was in power..

Socialist worker scumbags.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[babz 0]

Socialist worker.. surely thats an oxymoron...

[Skyrad 0]

Unless you count bumming around the Tube station holding a rag you couldn't give away if you tried as work of course.

When an author is too meticulous about his style, you may presume that his mind is frivolous and his content flimsy.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

[Andy9o8 2]

Grafitto seen on a wall in Ireland: "Iron Lay? Rust in Peace".

[mistercwood 287]

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Grafitto seen on a wall in Ireland: "Iron Lay? Rust in Peace".

That must've been her other nickname...

You are playing chicken with a planet - you can't dodge and planets don't blink. Act accordingly.

[rifleman 70]

I grew up in Yorkshire and some of my relatives worked either in the mines or in support services directly linked to mining - workshops repairing mine equipment.

My uncles opinion was that at least 50% of the blame for the destruction of the mining industry can be laid at Arthur Scargill's door. If he hadn't been such a rabidly anti-establishment communist then there could have been the possibility of a negotiated settlement.

Besides who calls a miners strike in the summer when the demand for your product is at it's lowest and gives your opponent a chance to import vast quantities of coal reserves.

As a soldier I admired her for her no-nonsense approach whereas today's politicians change their minds depending on which way the wind is blowing - she may have made some wrong decisions but at least she made them and stuck by what she decided.

Atheism is a Non-Prophet Organisation

[mr2mk1g 10]

News last night was that broadcasters were considering what to do when the weekly music chart is run on Radio 1 at the weekend as the Wed night mid-week figures put "Ding-dong the Witch is dead" at the number 1 slot after an on-line campaign to get people to download it.

Bad taste but I did


Didn't help that the news report was followed up by one saying the Mali government was "ashamed" after a camel they had given to President Holland as a traditional gift had accidentally been eaten in a stew. They promised to give him a "bigger and better looking camel" to be shipped to a French zoo.

[MikeJD 0]

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News last night was that broadcasters were considering what to do when the weekly music chart is run on Radio 1 at the weekend as the Wed night mid-week figures put "Ding-dong the Witch is dead" at the number 1 slot after an on-line campaign to get people to download it.

I read about that this morning and had to chuckle - just because it's fun to see the broadcasting establishment put on the spot, and given the BBC's woes lately they're probably desperate not to put a foot wrong.

If I were them, I'd go ahead and play it. They don't have to make an explicit connection - they can just shrug their collective shoulders at the fact that this 70-odd-year old song is mysteriously back at the top of the charts.

[babz 0]

It did take two to tango, fundamentally she stood her ground - part of her legacy as a PM I think she'll be remembered for. The consequences to the industries that subsequently folded .. well part their own fault, part hers.

Personally, I'd like to see another 'thatcher' who will stand their ground against international and internal pressures rather than water down, dilly dally, and generally compromise away from tough choices.

[airdvr 210]

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It did take two to tango, fundamentally she stood her ground - part of her legacy as a PM I think she'll be remembered for. The consequences to the industries that subsequently folded .. well part their own fault, part hers.

Personally, I'd like to see another 'thatcher' who will stand their ground against international and internal pressures rather than water down, dilly dally, and generally compromise away from tough choices.

When you find them can you ship a few over here.

Please don't dent the planet.

Destinations by Roxanne

[Andy9o8 2]

Back in 1980, when Ronald Reagan was running (ultimately successfully) to un-seat Jimmy Carter, in his stump speech he'd ask, "Are you better off today than you were 4 years ago?", to which the partisan crowd would roar "No-o-o-ooooo!!"

So let me ask you and the other Brits reading this: was the average UK citizen better off at the end of Thatcher's tenure as PM than he/she was before it?