Today I'm angry about.....

[thebish]

I'm not at all sure why the pope would want to meet the queen - nor why the catholics should have to pay for him to do so given that the British Monarchy absolutely discriminates against catholics since the 1701 Act of Settlement - she can't even be married to a catholic (see Prince Michael of Kent and George Windsor, Earl of St Andrews - both removed from succession after marrying catholics - and Lord Downpatrick who was removed after he converted to Catholicism)

[Lord Kangana]

We're still at the point of comparing Obama with The Pope. One is a democratically elected representitive of a state, the other is about as important as widow twanky, only less funny. Still, both good with kids etc.

[thebish]

We're still at the point of comparing Obama with The Pope. One is a democratically elected representitive of a state, the other is about as important as widow twanky, only less funny. Still, both good with kids etc.

of course, Obama isn't the only state visitor our government has been happy to pay for...

[ohjimmyjimmy]

We're still at the point of comparing Obama with The Pope. One is a democratically elected representitive of a state, the other is about as important as widow twanky, only less funny. Still, both good with kids etc.

Not denying the Pope's overall significance in the world, based purely on your own opinion of him and what he stands for, are you..?

[Lord Kangana]

We're still at the point of comparing Obama with The Pope. One is a democratically elected representitive of a state, the other is about as important as widow twanky, only less funny. Still, both good with kids etc.

of course, Obama isn't the only state visitor our government has been happy to pay for...

You're getting confused like Caps here. The pope is a representative of an optional belief system. Obama is the democratically elected leader of a state. The fact that in the past we've invited some cretins in doesn't validate your argument. Surely thats crystal clear?

[thebish]

I'm not sure what you think it is I am arguing for.

[Lord Kangana]

Well why post pictures of mugabe and that Chilean fella then?

[thebish]

Well why post pictures of mugabe and that Chilean fella then?

The UK invites heads of state from all over the world - the UK defines the pope as a head of state - just like it does Obama, Mugabe and did Pinochet... the UK govt. is not paying for what it assesses to be the religious aspect of the pope's visit - but it is paying for the head-of-state aspect.

it matters not whether you think the UK SHOULD classify the pope as a head of state - the fact is, we do - and so - like Obama, like Mugabe, like Pinochet - we pay for the state function parts of their visits.

we may have doubts about some people's credibility as "heads of state" - I do about the pope, pinochet and mugabe - but that is irrelevant if the UK defines them so...

I posted pictures of pinochet and mugabe because (like the pope) they are people whose credibility I questioned at the time - and whose suitability to be offered the honour of a UK visit I questioned.

Alongside them - give that our govt welcomed them with open arms - I cannot get worked up about offering the pope the same honour.


if the pope is coming on a state visit and spends time seeing the queen, the PM, the deputy PM and the acting leader of her majesty's opposition - then it is fair enough that the UK gov funds that. If I had to go and see Cameron, Clegg and Harman on a Saturday morning - I'd want paying too!

[Lord Kangana]

And as I said, just because we've previously invited cretins in to this country doesn't validate either the future visits of fellow cretins nor of that of slightly lesser cretins. Ergo, we need to change the rules.

And just as an aside, the schools building programme in Luton has just come to a juddering halt, for the sake of £10m. That means there won't be enough school places for the kids of Luton within 5 years (kids already at primary). So the visit of a witch doctor makes my blood boil, and also makes me realise that as a race we are f*cking stupid.

[thebish]

And as I said, just because we've previously invited cretins in to this country doesn't validate either the future visits of fellow cretins nor of that of slightly lesser cretins. Ergo, we need to change the rules.

And just as an aside, the schools building programme in Luton has just come to a juddering halt, for the sake of £10m. That means there won't be enough school places for the kids of Luton within 5 years (kids already at primary). So the visit of a witch doctor makes my blood boil, and also makes me realise that as a race we are f*cking stupid.

are you seriously suggesting that if the pope had not come then Michael Gove would have approved the school-building programme in Luton? Are you actually seriously suggesting that? if so - I recommend a bit of a lie down and maybe some strong medication....

[Lord Kangana]

The actions of Michael Gove are immaterial, he has a party agenda to follow, the fact that we've clearly set out our priorities in a very f*cked up manner is. Perhaps we should just conduct everything in latin, so that learning to read n rite English becomes a secondary consideration?

[seanworth]

Seems an awful lot of money relative to the amount of trade that can exists between the two nations.

[thebish]

The actions of Michael Gove are immaterial, he has a party agenda to follow, the fact that we've clearly set out our priorities in a very f*cked up manner is. Perhaps we should just conduct everything in latin, so that learning to read n rite English becomes a secondary consideration?

I suggested lying down and taking the strong medication - not taking the strong medication and then posting again!!

[thebish]

Seems an awful lot of money relative to the amount of trade that can exists between the two nations.

(shhhh) we supply Vatican City with nukes....

[Lord Kangana]

The actions of Michael Gove are immaterial, he has a party agenda to follow, the fact that we've clearly set out our priorities in a very f*cked up manner is. Perhaps we should just conduct everything in latin, so that learning to read n rite English becomes a secondary consideration?

I suggested lying down and taking the strong medication - not taking the strong medication and then posting again!!

Perhaps you're right, I keep hearing voices when I pray.

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

Today I'm angry about £33 added to my phone bill. For a call to Australia. Now, it's not my sister who lives in Melbourne.

I wouldn't mind, but they both have Skype, which would have been £33 less, and they could both look at each while they're talking.

[Lofthouse Lower]

The Xbox people taking £40 from my account for a Live subscription that I no longer use, after I'd phoned them to tell them that I was cancelling.

Cue another 25min call to Bombay to sort it

[Lord Kangana]

In that situation I always start with "I will be claiming the cost of this unnecessary call bck from you...". You'd be surprised how quickly they sort th problem.

[Bruce Rioja]

Cue another 25min call to Bombay to sort it

You should've rang their place in Mumbai instead.

[Lofthouse Lower]

Cue another 25min call to Bombay to sort it

You should've rang their place in Mumbai instead.

I did - they redirected me.