Gary Bushell

[Comsatangel]

Just out of habit, I switched my radio on last night at just after eight as I was washing up, and to paraphrase Lou Reed, I couldn't believe what I heard at all. George's Sunday show has been handed over to Gary Bushell, one of the most reactionary, right wing columnists in the country. I listened out of morbid fascination for about half an hour but couldn't stomach what I was listening to. The topics included apologising for slavery and the 15 captive Navy personnel.

I think you can imagine the views of the majority of the callers. Why is he employed by Talksport? They already have their own token right wing nutter in the form of Gaunt. Why do they need another? Callers screaming for us to "nuke" Iran. That's when I switched off. Did anyone else hear any of this? What did you think?

[faceless]

just shows you what a bunch of arseholes the people at talkSPORT really are

[Comsatangel]

I wonder how long it'll be before George's Friday or Saturday night is replaced by Clarkson or Littlejohn. I suspect George is being marginalised.

[Mandy]

With George's TV slot, and status, I believe TalkSport need GG more than the other way round.

Indeed, GG has put TalkSport on the map for MANY people.

It would be a loss to both sides, but bigger loss for TS.

[popinjay]

Gary Bushell slandered George on a "Best of Big Brother" video. He's a moron.

[luke]

gary bushell - C U Next Tuesday! ;)

[nekokate]

[Sheffman]

... I'm beginning to think Talk Sport are regretting employing GG, he's from the other end of the spectrum where their political views lay

[luke]

i always wondered from the start how things would work out, because the corporate media doesn't really like to represent views like georges ... maybe the lure of extra advertising revenue off the back of his big brother popularity overruled that for a while, but maybe now spreading the propaganda to secure long term interests is why he's seemingly being marginalised ...

maybe its about managing decent, george can tell it this far, and no more, tell us certain things, but keep us ignorant of others - get everyone against the war and trident etc to turn up to a peace protest instead of doing more direct action that would be a nightmare for the authorities to handle, and probably more effective in actually achieving anything ...

i mean the government would much rather get all the dissenters out for the day in london, all managed and under supervision, where the media can control whats reported ( or not ) about it than have us blocking supplys to army bases or protesting outside faslane.

[Mandy]

George did issue a warning after the recent peace march that if people became disillusioned from marching (e.g. due to under-reporting), that they may take more direct action.

[luke]

i don't think people will get disillusioned from marching because its under reported, but because it ACHIEVES NOTHING

blair even said the same after the first march with 2 million people - it makes no difference

like i say, its almost just a way for the state to manage dissent

[faceless]

Marching does achieve something very important - it creates unity amongst those who are fighting their own small battles every day.

[Colston]

The callers were frightening...

...Bushell leading a crowd of death hungry mutants to doom and disaster...

[major.tom]

Sounds like talkSPORT are trying to appeal to both sides of the spectrum. But I guess that's nothing new. I've come to realize that when the powers that be talk about 'balance' they don't mean equal representation -- just enough so they don't look completely one-sided. Of course, some (like Fox) couldn't care less about both being one-sided and appearing to be so.

If GG's Friday and Saturday shows go away (which I doubt will happen very soon), they stand to lose what I'm guessing is a sizable audience. Not their core, mind you, but a large group who wouldn't otherwise listen (like me). And since listening audience translates to advertising dollars, they'll be reluctant to simply shrug it off.

[Colston]

Nuke Iran...

I don't get any exposure to this kind of mentality and it too saddens me...

It is almost so extreme that it is comical.

Crazy.