John Major on 'Private passions'

[ahinton]

Churchill for me: how could one not choose one of the greatest ever statesmen? And if he wasn't available, it would have to be the greatest modern stateswoman, Lady Thatcher, who exhibited more ability, strength of character and leadership than all the others since her put together!

Would you be prepared to stump up for the gin?

[Flosshilde]

???

Oh, sorry, Michael

(well, I knew it wasn't Busby)

(if It was Humphrey that would explain the "soporific voice & 'gentle' interview manner" )

[Pabmusic]

Switched off Major. There must be so many interesting people they could get who are genuine music enthusiasts. Can you be passionate about Winifred Atwell?...

Oh yes! http://www.amazon.co.uk/Grieg-Piano-...487710&sr=1-32

[JFLL]

Humphrey [i.e. Michael] B's soporific voice & 'gentle' interview manner made it the least passionate programme around.)

The programme is called Private Passions, so there's no reason at all why the programme, which is public, has to be 'passionate' (whatever that would mean). In fact it would detract from it. 'Emotion recollected in tranquility' is presumably the aim, and so it should be.

[Serial_Apologist]

Heath, while he was PM, once stopped by at my grandfather's.

"Is that right this place is Grade 2 listed?" He asked.
"Yes", my grandfather told him.
"Good, I need a lavatory, if you could direct me?" said Heath, curtely.
He left without saying thank you, or goodbye.

I wouldn't invite him for dinner. Maybe Atlee. I'd like to congratulate him on what he did for the country after WW2, and for being the nearest thing we've had to a socialist leader. But I'd like to ask him, why he went for the A bomb.

[Lateralthinking1]

I wouldn't invite him for dinner. Maybe Atlee. I'd like to congratulate him on what he did for the country after WW2, and for being the nearest thing we've had to a socialist leader. But I'd like to ask him, why he went for the A bomb.

That would be my issue with Truman. Attlee wins because he scratched the old establishment atom. Layers of skin have been growing over it ever since.

[Simon]

But I'd like to ask him, why he went for the A bomb.

Good grief! Does anyone really need to ask the question? (Except perhaps Socialist Worker readers).

Where, oh where, is that <doh> emoticon?

[MrGongGong]

Good grief! Does anyone really need to ask the question? (Except perhaps Socialist Worker readers).

Where, oh where, is that <doh> emoticon?

I guess he did it as an act of christian charity

[Richard Tarleton]

Oh, sorry, Michael

(if It was Humphrey that would explain the "soporific voice & 'gentle' interview manner" )

Are you referring to Humphrey Burton here, Flossie? Humphry Berkeley was a Tory MP and not a bit soporific. Among other things he campaigned for homosexual law reform. A long time ago he shared a flat in SW10 with another now retired MP upstairs from my aunt.

[Flosshilde]

Are you referring to Humphrey Burton here, Flossie? Humphry Berkeley was a Tory MP and not a bit soporific. Among other things he campaigned for homosexual law reform. A long time ago he shared a flat in SW10 with another now retired MP upstairs from my aunt.

Oh heavens - look, just forget I said anything, right?

I'll just go back to sleep.

[amateur51]

Good grief! Does anyone really need to ask the question? (Except perhaps Socialist Worker readers).

Where, oh where, is that <doh> emoticon?

Tedious irrelevant denigratory knee-jerk reference to Socialist Worker - no change there then

[Bax-of-Delights]

I guess he did it as an act of christian charity

Well, the historical and military facts were that the Japanese were so determined to carry the war on to its most bestial and armageddon-like conclusion and were completely deaf to all calls for a negotiated peace that the use of the A-bomb was not only inevitable but it also saved many thousands of Allied lives in bringing the war in the East to an immediate halt. I would refer you to Anthony Beevor's account of the war in the East and the brutal nature of the Japanese army both in China and in the Pacific islands. It is Beevor's contention that the increased use of the kamikaze finally made it inevitable that the A-bomb would have to be deployed.

[Richard Tarleton]

Well, the historical and military facts were that the Japanese were so determined to carry the war on to its most bestial and armageddon-like conclusion and were completely deaf to all calls for a negotiated peace that the use of the A-bomb was not only inevitable but it also saved many thousands of Allied lives in bringing the war in the East to an immediate halt. I would refer you to Anthony Beevor's account of the war in the East and the brutal nature of the Japanese army both in China and in the Pacific islands. It is Beevor's contention that the increased use of the kamikaze finally made it inevitable that the A-bomb would have to be deployed.

Indeed. And there's another excellent review of the issues in ch 19 of Max Hastings' "Nemesis", his account of the war in the east.

[Stillhomewardbound]

I've told this story before but I remember that profile documentary of Major a few years back. In one scene he was filmed 'relaxing' in his constituency home as he put a CD on to play in his very impressive Bang & Oluffsen sound system. Thousands of pounds worth of playing equipment, the Rolls Royce of music systems, and what was his musical choice? Acker Bilk, Stranger on the Shore. [GROAN]

A genuine man, for sure, but some of yesterday's choices were pretty ghastly. That June Bromhill/Gounod thing was simply BAD and the idea of Lloyd Webber rearranging Benjamin Britten??!! TF they played the Britten original.

[MrGongGong]

IT was meant as a (rather sad really ) joke

Hindsight is rather useful isn't it .............

and now our wonderful "christian" leaders want us to waste our money (what little we have left that hasn't been stolen ...) on a replacement for Trident

and so on


but back to Stoke Poges