R.I.P. Margaret Thatcher

[knight66]

I've had the same experience; yet she somehow managed to be elected to the PM-ship 3 times.

The electorate don't elect the PM. They elect MPs who form a government. She did lead three victories for her party, but it is clear the Faulklands gave her an extended political life: as it had looked prior to the Faulklands war that her government was heading for balot box defeat.

Mike

[Florestan]

Although I admittedly perceived her through my Eastern European bias, I'd take a dozen Thatchers over the politically hypercorrect, spineless leftist dungyard, which is the current Europen Union.

You're a man after my own heart! 

Full agreement on my part, Andrei.

I knew it. 

[Wakefield]

You're a man after my own heart! 

I knew it. 

Yes, we (the peoples in the border) know that communists were more than simply dreamers wrong in some technical details on Economy. 

[Octave]

Yes, we (the peoples in the border) know that communists were more than simply dreamers wrong in some technical details on Economy.

You live in Chile, right?

[Wakefield]

You live in Chile, right?

Yes, sir. 

[huntsman]

More balls than most male leaders -

RIP, Iron Lady.

[vandermolen]

Personally I couldn't stand her and as a university student in the 1970s I even thought of emigrating from Britain if she ever bacame PM (I didn't!) However, I admired the way she wiped the floor with all opposition and she will no doubt remain a giant figure in British political history. Unlike at least one person I know I am not celebrating her demise. However, I strongly object to the idea of a state funeral. Unlike Churchill in 1965, Thatcher remains a hugely divisive figure (as our present PM said yesterday) and, as we can see from the postings here, feelings (in the UK especially) remain highly polarised about her. Churchill was a hugely controversial figure before the war and amongst historians now, but at the time of his death in 1965 he was almost universally mourned in Britain and the nation was united in respect and admiration for him.  This is simply not the case with Mrs Thatcher today.

[Florestan]

Judging by some comments, one would think that she was not the 3-time-democratically-elected head of the limited, constitutional government of a rule-of-law-abiding country, but one of the worst tyrants ever to exercise absolute power over a helpless and defenseless nation...

You people west of the Iron Curtain will never know what it meant for us east of it to hear, after decades of appeasement and rapprochement (i.e, pandering to the Soviets), a major European leader taking a sharp stand against Soviet power and hegemony over half of Europe, calling Communism evil and showing willingness to fight and defeat it; you will never understand the ray of hope that shone in our hearts on hearing and seeing her words and deeds and at the thought that after all we were not abandoned forever to Soviets and Communism and one day we might be free again. By her moral courage and strong determination in the name of liberty, and for the leading role she played in the dismantling and fall of the Communist camp, she earned our profoundest respect and admiration. In our neck of the woods she will always be remembered with gratitude (together with two other like-minded Western leaders, equally respected and admired for the same reasons: Ronald Reagan and the Blessed Pope John Paul II).

[The new erato]

Judging by some comments, one would think that she was not the 3-time-democratically-elected head of the limited, constitutional government of a rule-of-law-abiding country, but one of the worst tyrants ever to exercise absolute power over a helpless and defenseless nation...

You people west of the Iron Curtain will never know what it meant for us east of it to hear, after decades of appeasement and rapprochement (i.e, pandering to the Soviets), a major European leader taking a sharp stand against Soviet power and hegemony over half of Europe, calling Communism evil and showing willingness to fight and defeat it; you will never understand the ray of hope that shone in our hearts on hearing and seeing her words and deeds and at the thought that after all we were not abandoned forever to Soviets and Communism and one day we might be free again. By her moral courage and strong determination in the name of liberty, and for the leading role she played in the dismantling and fall of the Communist camp, she earned our profoundest respect and admiration. In our neck of the woods she will always be remembered with gratitude (together with two other like-minded Western leaders, equally respected and admired for the same reasons: Ronald Reagan and the Blessed Pope John Paul II).

But that's not the main issue here. As a PM in GB her main concern should have been to do the best for British citizens, however oppressed you were behind the Iron Curtain. I have views on her, but I shut up since opinions on her mainly are for GB citizens to have....And I won't even start the discussion about how the Iron Curtain ended up where it did.

[vandermolen]

Judging by some comments, one would think that she was not the 3-time-democratically-elected head of the limited, constitutional government of a rule-of-law-abiding country, but one of the worst tyrants ever to exercise absolute power over a helpless and defenseless nation...

You people west of the Iron Curtain will never know what it meant for us east of it to hear, after decades of appeasement and rapprochement (i.e, pandering to the Soviets), a major European leader taking a sharp stand against Soviet power and hegemony over half of Europe, calling Communism evil and showing willingness to fight and defeat it; you will never understand the ray of hope that shone in our hearts on hearing and seeing her words and deeds and at the thought that after all we were not abandoned forever to Soviets and Communism and one day we might be free again. By her moral courage and strong determination in the name of liberty, and for the leading role she played in the dismantling and fall of the Communist camp, she earned our profoundest respect and admiration. In our neck of the woods she will always be remembered with gratitude (together with two other like-minded Western leaders, equally respected and admired for the same reasons: Ronald Reagan and the Blessed Pope John Paul II).

This is a perfectly fair point which I do respect. Rather like Gorbachev, Thatcher is likely to inspire more unanimous praise overseas than in her own country. I don't think that these contrasting views are mutually exclusive.

[The new erato]

This is a perfectly fair point which I do respect. Rather like Gorbachev, Thatcher is likely to inspire more unanimous praise overseas than in her own country. I don't think that these contrasting views are mutually exclusive.

Good point.

[Gurn Blanston]

This is a perfectly fair point which I do respect. Rather like Gorbachev, Thatcher is likely to inspire more unanimous praise overseas than in her own country. I don't think that these contrasting views are mutually exclusive.

A fair comparison that I would offer (being old enough to do so) is Richard Nixon, reviled in his own country for a variety of possibly sound reasons, yet recognized internationally as a very fine statesman at a high level. POV is such an important consideration.

[vandermolen]

A fair comparison that I would offer (being old enough to do so) is Richard Nixon, reviled in his own country for a variety of possibly sound reasons, yet recognized internationally as a very fine statesman at a high level. POV is such an important consideration.

A very appropriate comparison I would say.

[Karl Henning]

Although one hopes that Lady Thatcher did not commit outright breaches of the law of the land. No such hope can be held out for President Nixon.

[Todd]

Why on earth would anyone actually revile an elected politician, or contemplate something like leaving one's country for, presumably, someplace better?  They're politicians.  I can think of few, if any, major American politicians that I actually despise*, living or dead.  If they get elected, or their party wins election after election, they are the people's choice.  Granted, in the US we have never had a Hitler or Mao or Lenin or Stalin or Ceausescu, or <insert least favorite blood thirsty ideological tyrant here> at the helm, or at least not since Andrew Jackson or Abraham Lincoln, depending on one's view, so that colors my view, I suppose.  Even corrupt old Nixon had his virtues and did a variety of good (or bad) things, both domestically and in foreign policy, though many may want to ignore them - opening relations with China, signing into law the EPA, breaking the shackles of the gold standard, and so on.



* One example is more local.  Neil Goldschmidt, former mayor of Portland, cabinet member under Carter, and governor of Oregon, always struck me as an insufferable prick, though he was not a tyrant.  And I thought that before it was learned that he was, in fact, a child rapist while in office, for which he did no time.   

[Karl Henning]

The China thing was huge. There should be a commemorative opera.

[Rinaldo]

Just to balance the Eastern European love here, while I'm thankful to everyone in the West who chimed in to bring the Iron Curtain down, I don't think it's a reason to idolise such a problematic figure as Thatcher was.

I loved her usage of the Dead Parrot sketch, though.

[springrite]

The China thing was huge. There should be a commemorative opera.

Nixon in China?

[Sergeant Rock]

Nixon in China?

Surely a good composer can come up with a jazzier title 

Sarge

[Gurn Blanston]

Although one hopes that Lady Thatcher did not commit outright breaches of the law of the land. No such hope can be held out for President Nixon.

Watergate (which I think you are referring to) was sort of an ex post facto thing in the long tale of Nixon. Things that were morally repugnant yet quite legal were the Enemies List, the Kent State Massacre, the overall tenor of the administration. Ms. Thatcher's opponents at home can probably compile a matching list to go with, I assume.