RIP Charles Kennedy

[cloughie]

Nearly everything Charles said was interesting. You can't say that of many politicians.

Indeed so Alison, the greatest loss to the party since David Penhaligon all those years ago.

[cloughie]

His opposition to the Iraq War and, as importantly, its appalling aftermath for Iraq and the region, was far more cautious than is being cheer-leaded today, often by those politicians and commentators seeking a get out of jail card for their own obscene connivance.

BN.

I think you are wrong but won't argue with you as the history of these boards shows you to have little regard for others' viewpoints.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Checkout the recollections of Donnachadh McCarthy, Deputy chair of the Lib Dems in the run up to the Iraq war for Kennedy's record here and on the wider issues of 'integrity'. A rather more pertinent "viewpoint " than mine or indeed yours.

You want to erect an icon, feel free. Its all the rage.

[french frank]

Checkout the recollections of Donnachadh McCarthy, Deputy chair of the Lib Dems in the run up to the Iraq war for Kennedy's record here and on the wider issues of 'integrity'. A rather more pertinent "viewpoint " than mine or indeed yours.

You want to erect an icon, feel free. Its all the rage.

The forum etiquette is that if someone starts a tribute thread to a newly deceased person, dissenters ignore it and don't contribute.

[gurnemanz]

I remember enjoying his regular mickey-taking triple act with Julian Critchley and Austin Mitchell on the Today Programme ("Critch", "Mitch" and "Titch"). I will miss him greatly. He would also certainly have been a great asset to the upcoming pro-Europe campaign.

[Serial_Apologist]

The forum etiquette is that if someone starts a tribute thread to a newly deceased person, dissenters ignore it and don't contribute.

So long as exculpation is thus restricted and not the thin end of a very thick wedge I'll go along with it.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

The forum etiquette is that if someone starts a tribute thread to a newly deceased person, dissenters ignore it and don't contribute.

How very very British. OK fine with me.

Dissent, just not "decent", rather like brown boots at a garden party.

BN.

[french frank]

How very very British. OK fine with me.

Dissent, just not "decent", rather like brown boots at a garden party.

BN.

Not at at all. Start your own thread - don't mess up other people's.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Touches cap.

BN.

[vinteuil]

... I don't dissent - but I do share the viewpoint of Matthew Parris who, in a nice appreciation, also said -

"Kennedy could always see a scene, even when he was at its centre, from the outside. He would be chuckling now as old foes on auto-tribute feign shock at his passing. It’s raining treacle in a kind of Twitter-downpour, and all feel obliged to add their dollop. ....

As, though, we wade through the sanctimony (from Tony Blair, for instance, whose Iraq follies Kennedy excoriated, and from Nicola Sturgeon whose party had just ended his career) I do wonder whether on those pro-forma wills you can complete, alongside “No hymns”, “No flowers” and “No gravestone”, there might be a box you could tick: “No tributes.” "

[Serial_Apologist]

The reason I said what I did in #21 is occasions such as this one allowing all sorts of claims to be made without challenge, which to me amounts to double standards being camouflaged in the name of decency.

[BLUESNIK'S REVOX]

Sorry but at the risk of mild final "dissent" in church, the SNP and/or Nichola Sturgeon did NOT end Kennedy's career. The Lib Dems actions and activities in power, and in the referendum, "ended" his career along with the majority of their Orange book shape-shifters, even in sleepy England. He was not re-elected - end of. It is a small step from this to state, as elements of the lunatic Scottish Labour Party (Northern sub office) are frothing , that the SNP "killed him". SNP=Bad, its the new law.

Why have elections at all, when they only " hurt' the ones you love. (Clarence "Frogman" Henry MP)

BN.

[Stillhomewardbound]

Sorry but at the risk of mild final "dissent" in church, the SNP and/or Nichola Sturgeon did NOT end Kennedy's career. The Lib Dems actions and activities in power, and in the referendum, "ended" his career along with the majority of their Orange book shape-shifters, even in sleepy England. He was not re-elected - end of. It is a small step from this to state, as elements of the lunatic Scottish Labour Party (Northern sub office) are frothing , that the SNP "killed him". SNP=Bad, its the new law.

Why have elections at all, when they only " hurt' the ones you love. (Clarence "Frogman" Henry MP)

BN.

As French Frank did point out, memoriam threads such as this are not an appropriate place for rehashing political arguments. I'm sure there are plenty of boards elsewhere where you can make points, but given that the unfortunate man is dead less than forty-eight hours he might be allowed a period of grace in which he can rest in peace and his family can mourn him without any rancour in the air.

Tone wise, Steve Bell has got it just about right.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2015/jun/02/steve-bell-on-charles-kennedy-cartoon?CMP=share_btn_fb

[french frank]

In case that reignites the argument, my own feeling is that this is not only about respect for the deceased: it's about respecting the feelings and opinions of those who wish to pay tribute, and have done. Effectively telling them they're just jumping on a bandwagon, didn't know half the story &c &c, does not respect their views.

When people say 'No flowers' they just mean, please don't send any flowers; not, If you're not sending flowers do feel free to announce it to the world.

[BBMmk2]

I think Charles Kennedy was an excellent politician. Poor chap. RIP