NJS

So homosexuals have sex/relationships with persons of the same sex. Catholic Priests seem to have a penchant for choirboys, so the predator is predating on the same sex, but can't be a homosexual ??? If not, how not. Guardian Article

Exactly - a lot of the founders of the labour movement (and decent liberals in days of yore) were certified "toffs" whose socialism came more from an intellectual source but they didn't play the "one is an ordinary chap" card.

Off the top of my head without quote mining there was the "Call me Dave" campaign and his webcam broadcasts showing him washing dishes at home which I think was shown to be staged. They may be petty but there was a definite aim to make him "ordinary".

I agree but if you play the empathy card as Cameron does, you should be open to question about where that empathy can come from.

Nah it was the Ruskies this time IMO. So on the way to a memorial to acknowledge the massacre of Polish leaders of one kind by the Russians, the current Polish leaders were wiped out by the Russians?

Probably too harsh a word - I'm not celebrating at all but I can understand why some people want to - though anything OTT would soon become stupid.

Blair is very money driven now - probably down to his harpie as much as him. Brown isn't exactly a council house lad but I don't think he's loaded - his dad was a church minister I think.

I don't know why they wouuld be shocked - the church knows absolutely nothing about human sexuality and conbining that with a homophobioc agenda and a need to blame anyone but themselves, t's surprising it's taken this long. Having said that I've seen clips of Irish TV shows in the wake of the Ryan report where bishops said the same thing.

I would add that even a tory hater like me recognised he was being honest in his praise of the NHS when talking about his son who died - but his other common man stuff is utter, utter shit.

Family of stockbrokers according to Wiki - and some grain magnate in the last century. His wife is the daughter of a baronet.

That was the case - signed before the fee rocketed so good business - yeah right.

Don't know about his wife but I'd seen the 30m figure before - inherited of course. He did a token job in PR I think before becoming a politician but he never needed to work.

I think the problem with the Catholic church that makes it different to other churches or religions is that they honestly believe that they are special and above petty concerns like governments or laws. I guess Islam has the concept of universal brotherhood of believers which transcends borders but Catholicism's view of itself is unique. Of course it doesn't help when virtual theocracies like Ireland (until recently) are involved as the state institutions like justice become entwined too much with the churches. I know the respect and reverence for religion will protect the pope but I would love to see him just get a feel for how people think - I'm sure he's a bit like the royal family in having a naive view that everyone loves him. I think arguments about international law and immunity are exactly what's needed to make people question the reverence religious institutions enjoy which is a huge step on the road to more secularisation. I think a reply to "But you can't arrest the pope" of "Why not?" is a good start.

What's the capacity of Anfield? 45,000 and they've only sold out about 6 games. I've said before that my ex-boss (Irish of course) who could never get a ticket for years has been getting begging emails offering tickets for games for about the last 4 years - it started as being just midweek games but now it's all of them except Man U/Everton.

Because every other team in the division were absolutely fucking shit.

And you can think Israel has done some absolutely appalling things without hating Jews.

I think you can use the second season argument to be hopeful about Enrique and Collocini but in general I agree.

"Continuity" would rely on no players going out as well.

They recently changed the law so that you can't ask a magistrate for a warrant for a visiting "dignitary" - now it''s up to the CPS- this was after the Israeli foreign minister had to cancel a visit because someone had obtained a watrant based on Amnesty evidence. However I think they also had an eye on Ratzinger's visit when the law was changed. I agree it's a non-starter but as I said I'd like to see some "controversy" generated just for the hell of it.

I suppose there is a danger in alienating people who would see it that way and don't like his so called strident stance. I would love one of the victims to have had the courage to "front" a campaign which might still happen.

I support the notion but I think it would be better to bid their time - more and more stuff is being found all the time and I think the case will be bigger in the years to come. However I'm all for stirring shit ahead of his visit. I'd also say that the ban on Wilders which was overturned could be used as precedent to ban him for hate speech (against gays) though I feel uncomfortable with the concept.

We once got in the Intertoto because some team pulled out but I can't remember who it was. Was there also one entry we got for England being top of the fair play league?

Taking delight in their possible demise aside, I can't make my mind up whether them seeking buyers is good or bad for us - it might mean any potentials would be attracted to them but at the same time it may flush out some money from someone who would then see us as a comparitive bargain.

I still think his injury was a huge factor in not winning the league - more so thtn others commonly trotted out.

Thinking about it a bit I'd say Routledge's main problem is more letting the ball run away from him or losing it a bit too easily rather than his actual crossing.