Apologies for a Eurovision post as early as March, but the events of the last couple of days have been truly extraordinary. First of all, the Ukrainian authorities announced that the Russian entrant wouldn't be allowed into the country to compete in this year's contest (taking place in Kiev), because she performed in Crimea without their permission. Russia of course now regards Crimea as an integral part of its own territory, so whatever you may think of that state of affairs, it would have been totally unrealistic to expect a Russian citizen to apply for Ukrainian permission before going there.
I suggested on Twitter yesterday that the EBU couldn't possibly accept a Ukrainian veto on who can compete for Russia, and that if there was no U-turn they would have to think about the unprecedented step of allowing Julia Samoilova to compete via a live feed. After a little indecision, the EBU came to precisely that conclusion today. But now the Ukrainians are apparently attempting to veto even that solution, and are saying that it would somehow be a breach of Ukrainian law to broadcast the Russian song if it is performed under these circumstances.
There is a very clear precedent covering this scenario. In 2005, Lebanon seemed set to join the contest, and selected a beautiful (if a tad old-fashioned) entry in French called Quand tout s'enfuit. I was really disappointed when they were forced to withdraw, but the logic was impossible to argue with - Lebanese law forbade the broadcast of the Israeli entry, and that would have made a mockery of the whole contest. Exactly the same principle applies here. It's probably too late to strip Ukraine of their hosting rights, but if they refuse to broadcast the properly-selected Russian entry, they shouldn't be allowed to participate in their own contest. If they don't back down and they aren't banned, the integrity of the competition (stop laughing at the back) will be fatally undermined.
Ukraine were given sovereignty over Crimea by Kruschev. The West interfered in the Ukraine and probably helped with the overthrow of the elected government. The Ukranian West supporters wanted to join the EU and line their pockets as the Jock Nat sis do. Did not work they thought Russia was weak. Lesson learned the Bear is no mug
ReplyDeleteThe troll calls scottish people "jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist Neo-Nazi hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister
DeleteFantastic contribution and original.
DeleteThe troll calls Scottish people "Jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners and arbitrary deportations, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist Neo-Nazi hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister
DeleteThey shouldn't have been allowed to compete and be in position to win hosting rights if they are not prepared to obey the rules of the contest. It's Eurovision who messed up in the first place.
ReplyDeleteIn other news the Rev(olting?) Stu has an article exploring quotes from Thatcher and Major stating that Scotland has an absolute right to decide our own political future and that electing a majority of SNP MPs would be enough for an independent Scotland.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to go back that far though. in the 2011 election debates T Scott of the libdems stated loud and clear in live TV that we didn't need a referendum. If you want an independent Scotland then vote in a majority of SNP MSPs.
Whatever happened to him? He must have accepted the will of Scotland and supported Yes in 2014? Didn't he?
Tavish is dim. The SNP didn't have independence in their manifesto in 2011, just a referendum.
DeleteMcGuinness peddler of murder and genocide is dead and had fine words said of him by Bill (big bonking) Clinton ex USA President. McGuinness admired by Kim Jung Eck.
ReplyDeleteand T May and Ian Paisley Jnr also.
DeleteThe troll calls scottish people "jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist Neo-Nazi hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister
DeleteJames, seems we have people posting who save old comments. Could this be an internet illness?
ReplyDeleteFuck off back to stormfront isam
DeleteYou senile old grasper of a racist
Rupert MyersVerified account @RupertMyers
DeleteSpoiler: if you're trying to score political points in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack in which people died, you're garbage
Rupert Myers Retweeted Arron Banks
Arron Banks @Arron_banks
Teresa May was Home Secretary for 6 year when over a million illegals were allowed into our country. I don't think I've ever felt more sick.Arron Banks
Mass repatriation of islamic fundamentalists from Britain is required urgently. Ignore the apologists and Jock nat sis.
ReplyDeleteRupert MyersVerified account @RupertMyers
DeleteSpoiler: if you're trying to score political points in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack in which people died, you're garbage
Rupert Myers Retweeted Arron Banks
Arron Banks @Arron_banks
Teresa May was Home Secretary for 6 year when over a million illegals were allowed into our country. I don't think I've ever felt more sick.Arron Banks
Mass repatriation of islamists from the UK required urgently. Assad can deal with them.
ReplyDeleteRupert MyersVerified account @RupertMyers
DeleteSpoiler: if you're trying to score political points in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack in which people died, you're garbage
Rupert Myers Retweeted Arron Banks
Arron Banks @Arron_banks
Teresa May was Home Secretary for 6 year when over a million illegals were allowed into our country. I don't think I've ever felt more sick.Arron Banks
Frau Knickerless wee shmellie fishy drawers tae sell out Scotland tae ra German Nat sis and the Herman Frankfurt bank.
ReplyDeleteHoots man ra noo we Brtitish are still around ye ken ra noo.
Rupert MyersVerified account @RupertMyers
DeleteSpoiler: if you're trying to score political points in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack in which people died, you're garbage
Rupert Myers Retweeted Arron Banks
Arron Banks @Arron_banks
Teresa May was Home Secretary for 6 year when over a million illegals were allowed into our country. I don't think I've ever felt more sick.Arron Banks
Knickerless condemned Cameron for not letting islamists flood into Scotland. Potential nat si voters!
ReplyDeleteRupert MyersVerified account @RupertMyers
DeleteSpoiler: if you're trying to score political points in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack in which people died, you're garbage
Rupert Myers Retweeted Arron Banks
Arron Banks @Arron_banks
Teresa May was Home Secretary for 6 year when over a million illegals were allowed into our country. I don't think I've ever felt more sick.Arron Banks
Am i allowed to comment on your actual post? I agree, but really ukraine should just let her in. It would prove a better point being a good host. Also, a bit ungrateful after winning it with a song that could/ should have been ruled out as political.
ReplyDeleteJim Jung Eck attends funeral of murderer thus legitimising murder for political means by anyone whatever their gripe.
ReplyDeleteRupert MyersVerified account @RupertMyers
DeleteSpoiler: if you're trying to score political points in the immediate aftermath of a terrorist attack in which people died, you're garbage
Rupert Myers Retweeted Arron Banks
Arron Banks @Arron_banks
Teresa May was Home Secretary for 6 year when over a million illegals were allowed into our country. I don't think I've ever felt more sick.Arron Banks
Arlene Foster (DUP) and Mike Nesbitt (UUP) attended the same funeral. They must be perfoming the same legitimization, mustn't they?
Delete(Note: I don't accept your premise, but what applies to one attendee applies to all.)
They have let down the human race by attending this funeral. They have legitimised the murder and slaughter of innocents for political purposes.
DeleteThe troll calls Scottish people "Jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners and arbitrary deportations, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist Neo-Nazi hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister
DeleteLianne Woods Welsh nat si admits Wales is subsidised and prefers money from the EU.
ReplyDeleteBut failed to say the British taxpayer gives the money to the EU. Nat sis are really fuckwitts.
Well all the $ is going to the nhs...so we have that going for us...
DeleteThe troll calls Scottish people "Jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners and arbitrary deportations, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist Neo-Nazi hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister
DeleteCould I just say to whoever is manning the rival GWC accounts that it's getting to the point where I'm having to delete a large number of your comments - not for the reasons most people want me to, but simply because of your constant and extreme swearing. I try to keep this a reasonably open forum, but even I have limits.
ReplyDeleteDinnae bother yerself James that is what fascists right or left do.
DeleteThat was an improvement - keep it up.
DeleteMy favourite was Conchita the Austrian Princess, Austria has been useless since they separated from their glorious union with Germany. I pine for the good old days
ReplyDeleteThe winning song in last year's contest was a bit of a political song against the Russians. If they go ahead with the remote performance from Moscow it will be interesting to hear the reception of the audience to the Russian giving the point from the Russian Jury and televote.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the ESC could evolve into all the participants performing in their country via Satellite. It would reduce the cost of the ESC.
Nat sis helluva quit nae moanin and hard dun tae stories fur two days.
ReplyDeleteThat was an improvement - keep it up.
DeleteMeanwhile over at the herald.
ReplyDeleteStephen Doyle 7:55pm Fri 24 Mar 17
Salmond is a cheap crook. He doesn't specify how many new MSPs he thinks need to be created, so grateful to him that they would elect him president of Scotland, for life.
Scotland needs Salmond as president in the same way that Salmond needs a 9mm hole in his head.
A comment that was still standing proud at 9:35pm. Yoons and terrorists, is there a real difference?
It would take a 7.62 high velocity round tae penetrate the skull of the English hater Kim Jung Eck.
DeleteI believe in his younger days he was an admirer of the Soviet Union and the Gulag. Now he supports NATO. Aye right.
Ukraine were given sovereignty over Crimea by Kruschev. The West interfered in the Ukraine and probably helped with the overthrow of the elected government. The Ukranian West supporters wanted to join the EU and line their pockets as the Jock Nat sis do. Did not work they thought Russia was weak. Lesson learned the Bear is no mug
DeleteOriginal thinker.
DeleteThe troll calls Scottish people "Jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners and arbitrary deportations, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist Neo-Nazi hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister and her predecessor.
DeleteJames, are you aware that Russia waging an undeclared war in eastern Ukraine? Does that not outway a song contest?
ReplyDeleteDo you mean "outweigh"? If so, I'm not sure what you mean. The contest is going ahead, Ukraine are the hosts, and Russia are one of the participants. Both of those parties should be respecting the rules. Do you disagree? If so, why?
DeleteYes, sorry, James. I did mean 'outweigh'. Too many years in a non-English-speaking environment, I'm afraid.
DeleteViewed from where I'm sitting, in a country with a long land border with Russia, I tend to see a song contest as a trivial side-issue when compared with national security. As regards the post below by GWC2 (whichever GWC2 it happens to be), I'm talking about Ukraine vis-a-vis Russia, not NATO v. Russia. Ukraine has enormous problems of its own, but it will never be able to solve them if it is not left alone to put its own house in order. The Ukrainian people have suffered for centuries from their geo-political position as a borderland between Russia and the West. The name Ukraine actually comes from 'borderland' etymologically. In my opinion the Ukrainians have a right to determine their own policies without always having to look east or west in trepidation. Of course, they could be blessed with a better government, but that is easier said than done. But I'm sure the Eurovision Song Contest is not high on their list of priorities compared with the security of the eastern parts of their country, where people are dying every day due to the Russian aggression.
By the way, I am no friend of NATO. But tyranny is tyranny, whether from east or west.
Hardly an undeclared war. It is war on a limited scale so far. NATO has and is still moving troops towards the Russian border. The USA moved an armoured brigade into Poland a few weeks back. The British have been doing joint exercises with the Polish long before the conflict in Ukraine began. The Jock nat sis voted to remain in NATO therefore that means Scotland is part of the expansionist agressive NATO.
ReplyDeleteThe troll calls Scottish people "Jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners and arbitrary deportations, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist Neo-Nazi hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister
DeleteI am the other GWC2 and not the troll. Clearly you are an idiot.
DeleteI am the other GWC2 and not the troll. Clearly you are an idiot.
DeleteMaybe we are two idiots and the real GWC2 is not.
DeleteThe troll calls Scottish people "Jocks", advocates arming Leave campaigners and arbitrary deportations, claimed Jo Cox's husband was a fascist, uses racial and ethnic slurs, pretends to be Labour (badly) while espousing far-right racist Neo-Nazi hate-speech, praises Theresa May and the tories and displays a perverted poisonous obsession with Scotland's First Minister.
DeleteThe sockpuppet can scuttle back to the Dreary Heil whenever it's finished arguing with itself.
I am the real GWC2
ReplyDeleteThere is no real GWC2. It's a sockpuppet.
Delete