BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US

Subject: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 06:29 PM

Watch... and cringe!

'Shock jock' disrupts BBC's Sunday Politics show
9 June 2013

The annual conference of the secretive Bilderberg Group is meeting near Watford, with some leading political and business leaders from the US and Europe.

American "shock jock" Alex Jones joined Times columnist David Aaronovitch to discuss it - and ended up disrupting the show in spectacular fashion.

Presenter Andrew Neil described him as "the worst person" that he had ever interviewed.

=====

No doubt, if this guy was on Fox "News", he'd be taken very seriously. I find it refreshing to see someone like this being shown as the pompous boor/bully he is (instead of watching him be allowed to interrupt/intimidate/speak over some poor token opposition).

Notice that the only way to get a word in at all is to allow him to think you are agreeing with him? (Well done for figuring that out, Mr Aaronovitch!) Once the guy figured out Aaronovitch disagreed, the chances of being able to even hear what Mr A was saying diminished rapidly.

What an appalling representative of our country. No wonder the rest of the world thinks we're nuts - as well as obnoxious!

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 06:31 PM

Oops!

Apologies - meant to put this in BS. Perhaps some Mudelf will oblige?

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Leadfingers
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 06:35 PM

Fortunately , a lot of us are aware that not ALL Americans are idiots

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Jack the Sailor
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 06:45 PM

There are odd people everywhere. The Jones is well known. Doesn't the producer who booked him bear the most responsibility?

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: kendall
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 07:34 PM

Had I been present I would have given him a free lecture on being a guest in another country.

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Jeri
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 07:44 PM

My biggest complaint is that this guy makes his living by being a professional asshole, and somebody who's looking for notoriety always books him. Why would anyone want this nut on their show?
The only time I see this idiot in the US is when MSNBC runs clips of the Jon Stewart show making fun of him. I think he's more suited to a comedy show.

...of course so are many members of the ReTeablican party, but they aren't all as consistently ridicule-able as this whack job.

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 07:52 PM

Remarkable example of what you can do if you can master the art of circular breathing, and are literally barking mad.

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Bobert
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 08:19 PM

Boorish people suck!!!

B~

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 08:50 PM

I can think of loads more reasons far more important than this why you should be embarrassed to be from the US. Hows about your stupid gun laws, the fact that 40% of you don't "believe" in evolution, that Guantanamo is still open, that 30 million-plus of your citizens don't have access to decent health care, that you harbour evangelical lunatics, that your global emissions are way out of line, more so by far than any other country, with your population, that you somehow managed to elect George Bush twice, that you've been running a completely bogus and damaging "war on terror" for 12 years, that you unconditionally support Israel, one of the most racist and bellicose nations on Earth...?

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 09:47 PM

Those are all good reasons as well, Steve. (It's not as though this guy has a monopoly on causing my embarrassment.)

As for being embarrassed about Dubya: this was my fave t-shirt - until Obama took office.

Leadfingers, I take some comfort from your comment, thank you.

Upon reflection, I think the thing I like so much about this clip is that the Brits have the good sense to laugh at him... That's definitely one of the cool things about living here.

And thanks to the kindly Mudelf (whoever you are) who moved this down below the line for me.

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Little Hawk
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 09:52 PM

LOL!!! Looks like we agree on this one, Steve. ;-) Yeah, they've got a mountain of other really BIG reasons to be embarrassed that totally outweigh Alex Jones in relative importance. Just goes to show...one should never assume that because one disagrees with someone on one thing, that one will disagree with him on everything else.

(and some people here do make that mistake rather frequently, I've noticed)

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 10:05 PM

You mean to say that most Americans wouldn't laugh at this bloke, in between feeling embarassed perhaps?

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed you're from the US
From: Songwronger
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 11:19 PM

Ten years ago the media painted Alex Jones as a kook for saying the Bilderbergers even existed.

He persisted in exposing them, and now they're in trouble. Their meetings are protested by hundreds/thousands every year. They can no longer meet in secret to set world policy, and they want desperately to stick a happyface on their nefarious get-togethers. Hence the government-sanctioned TV program trying to poo-poo the meeting.

But the fuckups at the BBC made the mistake of inviting Alex Jones to the studio, and he did what he does best--he kicked over the table at the tea party. He wouldn't let them act like the Bilderberg meeting is a non-issue.

If not for Alex Jones, the Bilderbergers would still be meeting in secret to determine where to start their meatgrinder wars. At least now you know about them. Because of Alex Jones.

The next thing you'll become aware of is Agenda 21. Because of Alex Jones.

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Songwronger
Date: 09 Jun 13 - 11:22 PM

I bet some of you even made jokes about having your Bilderberger with Fries delivered by a black helicopter. The archive here goes back quite a ways, there would be a record of it. Well, your berger has arrived.

Subject: RE: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 12:58 AM

Any chance he's Canadian?

We didn't think so, but it was worth try!

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 02:39 AM

I saw the unusually socialized Mr. Jones chatting with Piers Morgan on CNN after on of the school shootings.
AJ was suggesting that Morgan should be thrown out of the country for having an opinion about our curious institution of gun worship.
I'm not a fan of Morgan, but Alex was one of the strangest interviewees I've ever seen. He practically frothed at the mouth while spewing the strangest string of nutcase theories about Newtown, the theater shootings and some others. He backed his thoeries with a rapid fire carousel of faked and disproven "facts.
By the end of the interview he was mocking Morgan by speaking in a fake highbrow Inglis accent.
Jones looked entirely ridiculous, but all the while wearing the smuggest self-congratulatory expression.
Prat.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: GUEST,Skivee-guesting in
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 02:40 AM

Sorry, that is me above- cookie eaten

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 03:21 AM

I found it quite amusing. No need for anyone to feel embarrassed - He is as representative of the US population as David Icke is of the UK.s :-)

Cheers

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: GUEST,Musket sans Ian
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 03:35 AM

Look up the thread and you will find an interesting question.    A question is posed in a post above asking if The BBC has a duty to censor? Apparently the fault lies with those who get the thoughts of this creature to the ears of decent people?

I have always differentiated between The USA and Dumbfuckistan. I also try to disown some of the disturbing bigots with a UK passport. Snag is, they have every right to it in the same way as this shock jock has every right to try and influence. The further snag is, it is easier for him to be successful in less sophisticated places. ..

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Stu
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 04:33 AM

"If not for Alex Jones, the Bilderbergers would still be meeting in secret to determine where to start their meatgrinder wars. At least now you know about them. Because of Alex Jones."

Unfortunately, wrong. Bilderberg has been reported in the UK for years, although the BBC seem to have some aversion to ever reporting it, which seems odd, I will admit. However Channel 4 News, the only decent news programme on the TV at the moment has reported it in depth, including showing Alex Jones outside the hotel in Watford. I can't speak for papers I don't take, but The Grauniad has also reported the meeting extensively.

In fact, there have been several threads on Bilderberg over the years, so pay attention.


"He persisted in exposing them, and now they're in trouble."

Really? So what was the outcome of the meeting then? More histrionics.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 05:16 AM

Ten years ago the media painted Alex Jones as a kook for saying the Bilderbergers even existed.

According to this

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilderberg_Group

it looks like paranoia about them has been part of the standard ultra-right mythos since at least 1964 when Phyllis Schlafly wrote a book about it. Their existence was not exactly obscure when I first heard about them in the 1970s and there's been no shortage of saner evaluations ever since.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 06:02 AM

> If not for Alex Jones, the Bilderbergers would still be meeting in secret to determine where to start their meatgrinder wars. At least now you know about them. Because of Alex Jones.

Jon Ronson wrote about them in a bestselling book (well worth a read) called Them. So don't over-credit Jones. They weren't unknown. Amazon review says: "In a final chapter, Ronson manages, with surprising ease, to penetrate these rulers' very lair. He writes with wry, faux-naive wit and eschews didacticism, instead letting his subjects' words and actions speak for themselves."

www.amazon.com/Them-Adventures-Extremists-Jon-Ronson/dp/0743233212/ref=sr


> ...the fact that 40% of you don't "believe" in evolution

Be careful of "facts" like that unless you know the credibility of the statistics they were based on. I would question the 40% figure, though I know that Creationism is certainly on the rise. Very often you'll find that they polled about 500 people in a certain socio-economic group, so the results are hardly comprehensive and don't give a true reflection of a vast and complex nation. "40% of Americans"?? I'm American and nobody asked me. But the fact that science subjects have to do battle with Creationism in school curricula is deeply worrying. I know people here in Ireland who believe in it too, so it's not just the US.

As far as the other things Steve cites, though, I couldn't agree with him more. I saw the following on Twitter and have quoted it before but it bears repeating:

I can't understand a country where owning a gun is a right and health care is a luxury.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: kendall
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 07:06 AM

I've traveled to many other countries and I have seen more than a few Brits acting like assholes. Fortunately, I have also traveled extensively in the UK and I know that those assholes are not representative of the breed. Leadfingers is a good example of the English regular guy. There are many more but space is limited here.

As far as the gun thing goes, you must know that started with ENGLAND running roughshod over the American colonists! Of course it has gotten out of hand, but old habits die hard.If you had a 2nd amendment you can bet your ass most Brits would own a gun too.
The love of money is the root of all evil, and our health care system is a damn good example. We are also disgusted with it, and with the fact that so many assholes want to own a "Street sweeper".
Yes, we have our flaws, but name a country that doesn't.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: My guru always said
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 07:20 AM

Points taken kendall, but you're quoting Leadfingers as being the 'English regular guy'?????

*I'll get my coat*

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Musket
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 08:06 AM

Personally, I'm not so much regular as deluxe...

People can be "assholes" or whatever, regardless of their country. Would we have guns if we had a second amendment? Possibly not. Something to do with interpreting the right to bear arms as governments having the right to conscript into the armed forces in the event of such measures being required, which I am told, often whilst the person saying it chuckles, the constitution writers intended.

I have right of residency but have never taken it up. In fact, now the Dollar is much stronger against Sterling, I possibly never will. That said, I could easily live in Boston, (I love the idea of a city you can walk round...) and I love Monterey (and the wine regions below - I love staying at The Hotel Cheval at Paso Robles and drink pinot I can never equal anywhere else in the world.)

But although there are times I would have problems defending either my government or some fellow citizens, I really think the good people of The States need to get their shit together and use the common sense of most to rein in the frightening aspects of Dumbfuckistan, I really do...

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 08:25 AM

Do I really want to know about Terry's bowel motions?

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 08:28 AM

Maybe this should worry USAians more: -

http://uk-unemployed-betrayed.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/more-than-461-million-americans-in.html

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: YorkshireYankee
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 11:01 AM

McG of H: "You mean to say that most Americans wouldn't laugh at this bloke, in between feeling embarassed perhaps?"

I fervently hope that "most" would. What worries me is that there are so many who would not (especially with the help of Fox News, who put on people like this guy (and seem to take him/them quite seriously) and let them get away with shouting down anyone with an opposing opinion).

Steve, LH & Richard, of course there are WAY more important reasons for me/us to be embarrassed. This guy is just a (to me) very new one (though I'm sure that if I still lived in the US, I would have come across him before now). And I think it can't hurt for my fellow countrypersons to see how someone like this comes across to folks in other countries - the clip I linked to is something other USians are otherwise unlikely to see.

I think what makes me particularly cringe about him is that - in addition to being what I would consider an OTT right-wing nutter - he is so boorish; exemplifies/amplifies all the already-existing stereotypes of ugly, obnoxious USians (which - as a USian living abroad - I admit I may well be extra sensitive about). Yes, the US does not have a monopoly on assholes, but it makes me wince to see someone so completely reinforcing the image of the self-important, intolerant, insensitive and incredibly rude USian.

Upon reflection, though, I think I would be more worried if he was smooth and charming...

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: kendall
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 11:16 AM

I hear people say "I'm proud to be an American." I ask, "WHY" it was an accident of birth, you had nothing to do with it.

I'm not proud to be an American, I am, however, pleased to be an American.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: John on the Sunset Coast
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 11:45 AM

YY-
I have always lived in the USA. Until your initial post I had never heard of this Alex Jones, and I keep pretty well up on politics. So there is no special reason for you in the UK to have necessarily heard of him.
Perhaps because you are an expat you may be overly sensitive to him, as you yourself note. HE neither makes me embarrassed no ashamed to be an American; nor does he makes me proud. Having looked into him a bit, now, I just think another day in loony land.
Someone, above, brought the Bilderburgers into this conversation, a super secret cabal. About 25 years ago there was late night local radio host (name escapes me he was on so short a time) always going after secret conspiracies regarding the B'burgers and the Tri-Lateral Commission. The latter group was sooo secret that the procedings of the TLC could be found in the Glendale, Cal. public library.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 01:24 PM

I rather doubt whether if there was an entranched law allowing people in Britain to own guns many people would take advantage of it, outside a lunatic minority. After all it's quite legal to own hatchets and suchlike, and very few people keep them around the house in case of burglars. The love affair wth guns seems very rooted in the particulars of American history and culture. It's rather similar in that respect to a similar love affair by the people of Afghanistan.
..............

The basic truth about Mr Jones is surely that any cause he might be associated with would be liable to be completely dscredited by his way of going on. If the stuff he was saying had been totally right, no one could have had a chance of telling. Of course, to adopt the grand conspiracy approach, that might have been the idea. Damn clever these BIlderbuggers...

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 02:09 PM

Bilderberg 2013 is being held in England this year. Nothing secret about the attendees, who include Christine Lagarde, Google exec. Eric Schmidt, Bezos of Amazon, Peter Sutherland of Goldman Sachs, Barroso of the European Commission, John Bell, Oxford Univ., Susan Athey, Stanford Univ., Carl Bildt, German Minister of Foreign Affairs (also the German Finance Minister), Brad Wall, Premier of Saskatchewan, Timothy Geithner, U.S., a gaggle of EU and American politicians, various banking and business heads and name university professors.

The meetings are held in secure locations to keep the kooks away.

A full list of participants has been released to the press; one paper publishing the list is the Daily Mail, June 6. (see mailonline)

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Little Hawk
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 02:29 PM

It could be worse. Think how embarrassed you'd be if you were from Schenectady...

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 03:59 PM

Hell, I don't need to travel out of Texas to be regularly embarrassed for being an American, and Texans can take these absurd attitudes to the extreme. Thankfully, I'm not a true Texan (I grew up in the Wobblie's (the I.W.W.) home ground, the "Soviet of Washington.")

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 10 Jun 13 - 08:10 PM

Like Jack, I've been hearing about Bilderberg for many decades (mostly from incidental readings of the writings of right-wing nutters) and have yet to see the need to stifle a yawn.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Stu
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 04:36 AM

"If you had a 2nd amendment you can bet your ass most Brits would own a gun too."

They wouldn't, because people here simply don't want guns around, the idea horrifies everyone and we are happy with our gun laws . . . except no-one would complain if they were tighter (farmers, hunters and sportsmen all have their guns). That might be difficult to believe for some Americans, but it might shed some light on why us Brits are so constantly befuddled by the US obsession with guns. In the end this dichotomy of opinion on guns is a cultural difference rather that one dictated by laws or legislation.

For what it's worth, I love the Americans and the country. Polite, curious, resourceful and intelligent folk. I love being out in the country meeting people whenever we're there as in some way or another they are always delightful.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 06:48 AM

This might be difficult to believe for some non-Americans, but a lot of us are just as horrified by the widespread gun use, and don't want them around either.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: kendall
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 07:53 AM

Stu, we have our share of nutters. It is the opinion of many of us that the real problem is mental health. Give a child a hammer and a mirror and what do you think is going to happen?

Putting a gun into the hands of a nut case and...

Many of our NRA. half educated people are paranoid about trusting our own government, but they don't think beyond what would happen in the event of a rebellion.One half wit with a street sweeper against the National Guard? They are not known for their ability to reason.

A gun is basically a tool, like any other tool. Mis handle it at your own peril.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Stu
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 08:34 AM

I don't agree with the premise that mental health is a problem and we don't legislate against guns in the UK because of mental health issues but because the common, massively overwhelming consensus amongst ordinary people is we want a society with as few guns as possible in. It's a cultural difference and both countries are very different in many ways; for instance you can't get a decent cup of tea for love nor money in the states. Likewise, our hot dogs are pale imitations of the stateside versions, and your jerky and dried chewy/crunchy grub knocks ours into a cocked hat. Of course the attitude to guns is different in that it is more complex and far more divisive, but the concept is the same.

We tend not to have shouty jocks like Alex Jones either, but he's good entertainment value, although he conforms to a certain stereotype. We do have Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan though, so we're hardly occupying the cultural high ground here ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 09:22 AM

Don't forget David Icke - whose musings on the Bilderberg Group are TO BE DISCOVERED HEREIN

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 09:23 AM

Woops, forgot to say

;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: GUEST,Stu mobile
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 02:28 PM

Blimey, Ike is either:

1) a class one nutter.

2) a bloody good businessman.

I saw him once in Newport on the Isle of Wight. He looked a bit dishevelled.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 02:37 PM

So much nonsense about the Bilderberg group. It is a meeting of top business, financial and academic people, held once a year, to develop new ideas.
The attendance list is always published the Daily Mail is one carrying the full list of this year's attendance (England).

Too bad that they need heavy protection to keep the kooks at bay.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: kendall
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 04:28 PM

I am certain that in this country it is usually the nut case that shoots someone. If we could get guns out of the hands of nutters the problem would be much less severe.

We have two different societies here, can't compare the two.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: number 6
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 04:37 PM

My wife is not embarrassed to be from Scotland.

there

that is my contribution to this thread.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: Little Hawk
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 05:02 PM

No, of course not! But what if she'd been from Schenectady?

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: akenaton
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 05:52 PM

"So much nonsense about the Bilderberg group. It is a meeting of top business, financial and academic people, held once a year, to develop new ideas.
The attendance list is always published the Daily Mail is one carrying the full list of this year's attendance (England).

Too bad that they need heavy protection to keep the kooks at bay"

Now THAT is something to be REALLY embarrassed about.

These are the sorts of people who have delivered the mess that we all have to live with.....not poor Mr Jones.

Subject: RE: BS: Makes me embarrassed to be from the US
From: number 6
Date: 11 Jun 13 - 07:38 PM

LH ... what if she'd been from Schenectady ... she'd be very, very embarrassed.

biLL