London mayor signs oil deal with Chavez

[Judi Lynn]

London mayor signs oil deal with Chavez

By Jennifer Quinn, Associated Press Writer | February 20, 2007



The Mayor of London Ken Livingstone, right, calls for a question during a joint press conference with Venezeulan Minister of the Popular Power for Foreign Affairs, Nicolas Maduro, rear, at city hall in London, Tuesday Feb. 20, 2007. Livingstone signed a deal with a Venezuelan oil company, aimed at saving millions of pounds on fuel costs for London's bus fleet. (AP Photo/Johnny Green-pa)

LONDON --London's socialist mayor signed an agreement Tuesday with Venezuela's state-owned oil company to provide discounted oil for the city's iconic red buses, praising the idea as the brainstorm of the country's leftist leader, Hugo Chavez.

Ken Livingstone -- a committed socialist known locally as "Red Ken" -- met with Chavez last year at City Hall to discuss the deal to provide cheap oil to London in exchange for advice on urban planning in Caracas, the Venezuelan capital.

Venezuela has signed similar agreements with cities in several other countries, including the United States. Critics call it "oil diplomacy" -- and say it is designed to embarrass President Bush, whom Chavez has repeatedly mocked.

"This arose out of the suggestion of President Hugo Chavez, and builds on the work he is doing around the world to tackle the problem of poverty," Livingstone said.
(snip/...)

http://www.boston.com/news/world/europe/articles/2007/02/20/london_mayor_inks_deal_for_venezuela_oil/

[BayCityProgressive]

1. Socialists

all over the world are helping to save our world and end poverty. People should take notice.

[Judi Lynn]

2. How do you like the spinneroonies the reporter, Jennifer Quinn added to the story?

She felt driven to claim the locals call Mayor Livingston "Red Ken," as if anyone gives a hang! What I want to know is what his wife calls him! How about a guy who owes him some money? What the hell does HE call him?

I've read many articles mentioning this guy, and this is the first one which informed me he is secretly "Red Ken!" Sounds a little McCarthy-ish to me.

Also, she thoughtfully included two right-wing talking points from a conservative which the freepers have drug over here which we have illuminated time after time after time. So LAME!!!!!

It's almost as if the article is a ruse to get those lies back in circulation.

[Applan]

4. It's not really like that

He's been known as Red Ken since the early '80s. It's no secret and if you mention the name in the UK most people will know who you mean. I've long admired what he has done as Mayor of London and don't consider the nickname to be derogatory in any way. Of course you've got to remember Britain is a fairly socialist country.

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

[Judi Lynn]

6. Thanks! First time I've seen it in an article, and I've not been there in person.

So you don't believe it was given to him originally, then, as an insult. That's better.

Do you think the article's author, however, did mean to drag it in as a slur for American readers, to color their image of him as someone who approves of Hugo Chavez? This would fit very well with the strong, intense dislike the U.S. corporate media reveals daily toward someone the right-wingers here fear and dispise since he doesn't put their interests above the interests of the Venezuelan people.

I appreciate your comments.

[IronLionZion]

9. one person's insult is another person's compliment

I think Ken is proud to be socialist, considering it's London, and they did elect him Mayor.


It's sad that in this country being called a socialist would be viewed as an insult. And lots of people worldwide approve of Hugo Chavez.

[happydreams]

3. Chavez, to be specific, is a Democratic Socialist . Compare

with Republican fascist. :evilgrin:

[happydreams]

5. How about Bush referred to "locally" as Fascist George? I mean heck if

were gonna start slapping derogatory labels on people why not put a little balance in this liberal media. :eyes:

[Judi Lynn]

8. "Fascist George" became the unspoken name as soon as we saw where

he was headed, long, long ago.

[girl gone mad]

7. No one needs to go out of their way..

to embarrass Bush. He does just fine on his own.