Satan's Legions are...charming. Bugger.

ed hall

No Celtic fans there I trust ?

Lungfish

stunned silence

Fearless Frank

Next time bring a long spoon.

Paul B

Any Celtic Bhoys there?

EyeSee

You are too wide with your ideas of Satan's hordes Rod. It doesn't, for instance, extend to whoever Millwall happen to be playing at any given time. People can be stupid/unpleasant because they believe in the politics of harm (for others of course) but not call Hades homes. However, it is undoubted that Harman and Mandelson have more than a whiff of sulphur about them. And Tont Blair? Does the phrase "trust in me" ring any bells?

James Murphy

Worryingly true Rod, - no doubt a shadowy part of each of us depends on our enemies for a sense of self-righteousness. After all, as a species, we do so love to hate. Conversely, to find one likes one's enemies in the flesh, despite their principles, rather shakes the moral ground beneath one's feet. - Your piece also reminds me of Jimmy Durante's ludicrously likable saying, to wit: 'I never met a man I didn't like' - and also William Blake's troubling dictum that 'I find that even the worst men one comes across usually have some saving grace..' Of course, one wouldn't need to extend this generous logic as far as Harperson...

Ray

One of the most 'annoying' things about Lady Thatcher that must have grated her legion of detractors was the fact that in her personal (as opposed to her political) dealings with her colleagues she was tenderness and concern personified.

No wonder the BBC had such an issue with portraying her crying over the deaths of British servicemen in the Falklands.

rod liddle

Eye - yes, you're right about that, and it does extend to anyone Millwall might be playing. I find it comforting to think that people who have rotten ideas must themselves be rotten, but this is obviously a naive mistake.

Iolanthe Seacole

Were you pissed, Rod? You know, all beer googles and stuff. Just take a quick squizz at the comments made by readers about these awards on Coffee House. Enough to sober one up pretty quickly hey?

Bill Henderson

"I kept well away, just in case."

Real Wall wouldn't!!

rod liddle

cheers Bill...............

Matthew Wilson

Speaking of Millwall, Rod, have you ever rubbed shoulders with David Haye down the New Den?

Haldane

Just re-read his resignation letter calling for stonger regulation and an 'active' state. Even on his depature he was mouthing the same old dangerous statist claptrap. that has done so much to destroy our liberty, our way of life and the moral and intellectual standards of this country. Jo Stalin could be charming and Rupert is so cuddly!

rod liddle

I'm sort of in favour of statist claptrap, by and large.

No, never seen haye down The Den, except for the Wimbledon game.

workie Arctic Roll ticket

Its easy to be charming (sure it wasnt smugness?) when you know that even if your party isnt in Govt, society will still be run in the same statist over regulated manner (nods to Haldane).

Btw, did the Speccy dinner have Arctic Roll for pud? It's being reborn and I'm sure cutting edge Speccy caterers are aware...

Baron Pipin II

The immortal gullibility of the human nature, what else; you share a pint with the guy again, and you rejoin the red flag brigade in no time. For me, anyone who’s idolised by screaming hordes of whatever age or colour warrants a permanent place on a sell list. No exceptions.

workie ticket

..its not The Den...you left The Den years ago. New Den it is although I must say I preferred the away accomodation at the old place - a proper prison-like hate fest..marvellous.

Lungfish

Funnily enough I just met Quentin Davies, he was looking for a bloke over the road from me. Didn't talk politics but he had florid features and a friendly manner, still won't be voting for the turncoat though!

James Murphy

'I'm sort of in favour of statist claptrap, by and large.' Oh Rod, you're such a contradiction, you naughty boy! This, I suspect, is a luxury you can afford...

Nick Peters

James Murphy: "Your piece also reminds me of Jimmy Durante's ludicrously likable saying, to wit: 'I never met a man I didn't like' - "

Actually this quote was from Will Rogers, the cowboy philosopher. It is inscribed on his tomb in Claremore, Oklahoma. I even own a deliciously bad-taste highball glass bearing this information and a terrible picture of the tomb. How I got hold of it....another story.

James Murphy

'Another story' Nick Peters, which it behoves you most certainly to tell! If not here, then on the coffee-house wall...

David Ossitt

Rod Liddle.

“I suppose he could still be an agent of Satan. I suppose that’s what Satan wouldn't do, isn’t it – make his Legions likeable?”

Rod you had been wined and dined; you were flattered to be in such august company, you had your head turned by the glamour and like a hormonal teenage girl you let the naughty man almost seduce you.

You were right the first time with your, “But I bet he’s still a bastard,” think yourself lucky that you did not go the whole way with this nasty man and that you escaped still chaste and pure and before he could get into your frilly knickers.

You have been lucky escape with your honour; as it were, intact.

Juan Kerr

OK Rodders we get the message: underneath all the swagger and vitriol you're just a big soft toleration monkey.