Shortlist Debate 2009 - Part 2: Nick Cohen

[CosmosLoyal]

I consider my views closer to Cohen than Peter Hitchens however Hitchens is ten times the intellect and integrity of this man. Cohen comes across here as a clown who cannot hold his drink. As for the whole cringeworthy 'would Orwell' approve stuff Chesterton reminds us that when any stick will do be careful it’s not a boomerang. Would Orwell approve of being represented by such a frivolous man?

[OneBigRetard]

Nick Cohen is a chopper here.

[midianholic]

Is he pissed ?

[Leftygit]

Would Orwell approve of Peter Hitchens? Well, as a socialist he wouldn't have agreed with Hitchen's conservative views. Would he approve of his being outspoken and critical? Obviously.

You can approve of someone's independent approach to thinking without approving of the conclusions they've arrived at.

(Especially if their the ones Peter Hitchens is always rambling on about :P)

[MarxBakuninMe]

He said, as if justifying the things: "They WERE prostitutes". Orwell would turn in his grave if he knew such pricks were being nominated for "his" award. Hitchens should be standing in church ranting on to a miniscule audience of old people. He's a relic from an age of Christian stupidity and nastiness. The cunt.

[MarxBakuninMe]

I remember Hitchens talking about the Ipswich murders a few years back on Starkley's show on More 4.

[elpescado]

he's right tbh

should have just had one fewer drink

[tompagenet]

Ah, the very definition of tired and emotional.

[AnTrLy]

Brilliant Nick well done. You're right - Orwell would be turning in his grave with those odious little right wing toads who feed of peoples' fear and insecurity being nominated. I'm no fan of Bright though.

[relarerfhjk]

AnTrLy that proves you are ignorant about Orwell! Orwell liked writers who dared to challenge consensus,which is what Peter Hitchens does, by standing up against political correctness! Orwell defended many right-wing views, writing that Britains left-wing intelligentisia "would rather steal from a poor box than stand to attention during God Save the Queen"

Calling people "toads" for daring to think outside of your cosy liberal bubble! its that attitude that led to left-wing totalitarianism!

[sjamoon]

If one thing is certain, its that Orwell would have had no time whatsoever for Hitchens and his vicious misanthropy.

And by the way, your quote from Hitchens is absolutely hilarious!

[relarerfhjk]

There is nothing "vicious" about Hitchens, his views are reasoned, well-argued and sensible. and Orwell would certainly "have time" for Hitchens, unlike modern liberals, Orwell actually accepted legitimate alternative points of view! He defended right-wing author Rudyard Kipling against what Orwell called "pansy-left circles".

And what "quote from Hitchens" is "hilarious"?? the quote about our left-wing elite hating their own country, was from George Orwell not Peter Hitchens!!

[sjamoon]

The quote is hilarious because left-wing intellectuals would never steal from a "poor box": they are all atheists and would never go to church in the first place? The very notion of a "poor box" is a Victorian one- and it indicates how Hitchens lives in a 19th century fantasy, oblivious to the fact that life for most people in the UK was miserable in that era.

[relarerfhjk]

sjamoon can you not read? The quote is NOT from Hitchens it is from Orwell! You have taken the quote literally,the point he was making was that the leftist elite hate their own country so much that they would rather steal from charity than honour their own monarchy! Exaggerating to make a point. Hitchens accepts life was miserable for many in the Victorian era,but he is right to point out life is equally miserable for many now,such as millions of fatherless kids,and our legions of teen mothers

[sjamoon]

Well, if that quote is from Orwell, all I can say is that he has dropped in my estimation.

[relarerfhjk]

The quote is indeed from Orwell, you have demonstrated your ignorance of Orwell's writing, because it is a very famous quote from him! You can Google it if you wish. Orwell also famously wrote that Britain is "unique in the world, in having an inelligentsia who despise their own country". He couldnt have summed up the liberal Left any better!

[sjamoon]

I've actually read most of Orwell's essays- Ive got volumes 3 and 4 of his Collected Writings on my bookshelf. But I cant be expected to remember every sentence he wrote.

[klimes86]

Cohen, you legend! Funny slander

[ConcernedHuman]

ha its so funny, good points. but hes drunk.

[Fleshious]

Nick Cohen is great, even though he was drunken))

[millio22]

Cohen is a classic! He made a very good point at the start, but then rambled on for too long.

[robshaka00]

Oborne is actually quite a good writer. It's just a shame he demeans himself by writing for The Daily Mail.

[DrMcGonzo]

I agree with that. Oborne is a fantastic political writer, and it is a damn shame he aligns himself with The Daily "hate" Mail.

[kzearo]

Were there any questions from the audience at this discussion? I was wondering if Peter Hitchens said anything else.

Thanks.

[TheOrwellPrize]

@kzearo

There were - we'll be putting them up shortly. Sorry for the delay!

[relarerfhjk]

TheOrwellPrize I was just wondering if Peter Hitchens made any further contributions to this discussion? Have you managed to put the video showing more questions from the audience up yet? Thanks.

[pnbrowne]

So funny, Cohen what a drunken idiot