It's 'tally-ho' in London and a 'Bonnie, Bonnie Day' in Scotland... shining with a feeling that the prodigal son has returned awash in glory.
May 23, 2005
The Herald
"Adored, praised ... and feared. George Galloway's gone global" by Louise Hancock and Catherine MacLeod
The Scotsman
Galloway's travels - Part II by Simon Pia
[UPDATE: George Galloway E-Mail Address]
more below the break
The Herald - Adored, praised ... and feared. George Galloway's gone global
Yesterday, Galloway was still revelling in what he saw as an overwhelming victory over American arrogance. "I think it was a triumph. When I read the coverage here and in the States and glanced at the 5000 e-mails I've received - mainly from the United States - it is clear that others see it that way too. They were pleased to see someone go into the heart of American power and tell them the truth.
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"They are not used to it and they don't like it. They are certainly not used to it from British politicians recently. It was important and gave a great deal of heart to people who think like me all over the world."
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"This was a rare opportunity for Americans to hear a very aggressive, anti-war view put very succintly."
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Jack Straw, the foreign secretary, who was also in town, must have been green with envy. In contrast, his own joint news conference with Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of state - on North Korea - held the same day was practically ignored by the media.
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There is no doubt that, as the dust settled yesterday, Galloway was still genuinely incandescent with anger at being accused and found guilty in front of the entire world. However, equally, there was no doubt that he also saw this as the greatest opportunity of his life - an international platform for his anti-war, anti-American, anti-Israeli views.
"I think it was a huge event, and I am used to big events," he said yesterday. "It is the biggest and most important event of my life."
Seasoned observers of the Washington scene agree that, for a British politician, let alone an anti-war one, he has made a rare impact on US politics. Jamie Dettmer, the director of communications at the Cato Institute, a prominent conservative think tank, says Galloway caused a "wow" in the city. "He has made DC sit up and take notice."
The Scotsman
Galloway's travels - Part II
WE WERE struck by how many people of all political hues enjoyed the screening of Mr Galloway Goes to Washington last week.
Well, we have good news as we hear from a liege of the Laird o' Coocaddens that plans are afoot for Scottish Television to do a wee documentary so folks will get another opportunity to watch George's performance in glorious technicolour.
STV may not have got the inside track initially as they were not on George's radar, while BBC Scotland and Bob Wylie obviously were. But our man at Coocaddens dubs it "George's Last Hurrah in Scotland".
However, will the Laird include what must be remembered as a classic putdown in the annals of feuding between old lefties, when Galloway was accosted by transatlantic polemicist Christopher Hitchens at the Senate? "You're a drink-soaked former-Trotskyist popinjay," Mr Galloway informed him. "Your hands are shaking. You badly need another drink."
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As for Norm Coleman, the committee's chairman, even The Conservative Choice website in the US reckons his chances of running for president are toast after the grilling he got from George.
and so much more.