Prize idiot of the week

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/jul/04/bernie-ecclestone-interview-hitler-saddam

This thread is Godwinned right from the OP.

It's a long time since I've heard a major public figure spout such utterly stupid and ignorant shit.

Anyone who thinks that Hitler was a strong leader needs to have their head examined. Brutal oppression is not a sign of strength. It's a sign of weakness.

He makes some dumb points, but he also makes some very valid points. Doesn't deserve prize idiot title, imo!

Thought this was gonna be a post about:

Me
Platini
Donut
Piers Morgan

Thought this was gonna be a post about:

Me
OOL

fixed

prize idiot of the week goes to Rakim, from Oakland

you shoulda started this thread during the week! nobody's online now!

"I prefer strong leaders. Margaret Thatcher made decisions on the run and got the job done."

Eep.

Thought this was gonna be a post about:

Me
Me
Me
Piers Morgan

Fixed

lpg are you doing the dunwich meet london fields 7pm could be a nice night ride there and back tomorrow
let me know

just seen the thread and i haven't slept all night. shit.

sleep now, ride later

formula one desperately needs to pull its head out of its own arse and sort itself out before people really lose interest in it. WIth regard to the article is it not already the general consensus that Ecclestone is an old bastard? (genuine question)

seems odd for him to say "All these guys, Gordon and Tony are trying to please everybody all the time"

did he forget that million pound donation he made to the party?

you shoulda started this thread during the week! nobody's online now!

Considering that the article was only published today, putting this suggestion into practice would have thrown up some pesky logistical difficulties.

I you mean this coming week, it probably would have been a repost. ;)

Considering that the article was only published today, putting this suggestion into practice would have thrown up some pesky logistical difficulties.

If you mean this coming week, it probably would have been a repost. ;)

Can you think of any other contenders for the title, Oliver - just off the top of your head, like?

He makes some dumb points, but he also makes some very valid points. Doesn't deserve prize idiot title, imo!

I'm afraid I can't find a single point in that article with which I agree except that it is of course true that Saddam Hussein was the only power that could control Iraq--in a totalitarian way. This still doesn't mean he shouldn't have been removed, but I was certainly very much against the invasion of Iraq and continue to be, much as so long after the fact and thousands of deaths later, that stance feels a bit pointless. However, the way in which Ecclestone makes the point suggests that he, again, thought that Hussein was a strong leader.

There are two senses of 'strong' here--one in which you hold power and use it to exert repression, and one in which you hold personal integrity, have a great capability for dialogue, manage to get your point across without violating the rights of others, and ideally make people who disagree see your point, ideally leading to consensual decision-making.

Having seized the German state's power, Hitler of course wielded this in the first sense, but in a way that showed clearly that he had absolutely no strength as a leader in the second sense. The same holds true, to lesser degrees, of other 'leaders' that have been mentioned, be they in Iraq or elsewhere.

Brutal repression is a sign of weakness as a leader. No more, no less.

Can you think of any other contenders for the title, Oliver - just off the top of your head, like?

No. I've scrabbled around in the hair on my head a bit and I can confirm that there are definitely no prize idiots hiding there today. This is in marked contrast to three weeks ago, when I had to throw out a couple.

He has also said "women should dress in white like all other domestic appliances"

calling the bendix to thread

Bernie ecclestone has a pretty questionable idea of Mrs Thatcher's role in modern british society as well. 'Build it up slowly' eh?

More like fucked up the already ailing economic position of the country in a last ditch effort to make britain great again, before starting a conveniently timed war while simultaneously cowing to the power of the global markets and then taking the credit for it.

regardless of yr views on thatcher the current government effectively took a bribe, sorry, sorry donation from big bernie so he could keep his precious cigarette advertising when the F1 came to england

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/937232.stm

course they did. They're also suggesting to my university that they do not increase the numbers of students on any course unless by doing so they reduce the number of people claiming unemployment benefit. Now there's some great long term thinking!

i thought this was about me ever getting on a bike

prize idiot of the week goes to Rakim, from Oakland

I don't know whether I should be laughing or shaking my head in bemusement.

I live with my German partner and to avoid any emabarassment about "the war" and such like...when the subject of Herr Hitler arises we just refer to him as "Alfred" instead of his real name....works well.

And what does she called you? Wenston? Mr Churchall?