Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

bbc.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

71–80 of 95 posts

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#71

Post by nudpiedo »

Al-Khwarizmi wrote: post #64
hummel wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because it is a case of corruption that is quite irrelevant at the Spanish level, much less at the European level and totally irrelevant at the global level. Villarejo is an ex-policeman who is blackmailing public figures to avoid a long prison sentence for corruption and bribe. He is a very basic blackmailer and the article at BBC is some PR to give some air to his judicial defence. It is certainly not a relevant/in…

Irrelevant at the Spanish level? You sound like you consume too much Spanish media if you say that. Of course they don't give this much relevance, as with everything concerning the elites. In any country with decent media, this man and his scandals would make plenty of front pages.

It does very often, it used to be a common political weapon, but a blackmailer can only take that long in the news, and as pointed out it was just basic blackmailing. Politically it is interesting to keep the attention on such things for people interested on sell bad image, the same as any other country.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#72

Post by AniseAbyss »

docdeek wrote: post #8

Interesting to imagine an ex-king in disgrace qnd exile from a European country. Having been born under Elizabeth II and having her hang on so long, I can't imagine a similar circumstance for the Commonwealth.

There was an infamous corruption case in the Netherlands called the Lockheed scandal that involved the husband of the Queen in the 1970s.

Won't bore you with the details but it was all swept under the rug by the (socialist!) government to save the country. In fact it only came to light because the US Congress investigated that company at the time.

I am sure there are things going on all the time that never reach the papers. Even in "civilised" countries.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#73

Post by nudpiedo »

_jal wrote: post #50
radycov wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's not how the old BBC works. PG's submarine applies to the BBC as well, no doubt, as well as foreign lobby groups.

If you have information that the BBC will sell stories, tell us about it. If you don't, why are you pushing bullshit?

I am not an specialist from the BBC but all media does, the easier to spot are the health benefit articles regarding some products, interviews to promote books and locations, etc. And then there are the subtle ones.

All journalism is nowadays as closed to a mafia as it can be.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#74

Post by hpkuarg »

nabla9 wrote: post #70
docdeek wrote: post #8

Interesting to imagine an ex-king in disgrace qnd exile from a European country. Having been born under Elizabeth II and having her hang on so long, I can't imagine a similar circumstance for the Commonwealth.

Her family has provided more than enough. It's insane that modern society prefers to have living inherited hood ornaments. Constitutional monarchy can be a peaceful way to democracy, but there is no reason to make it permanent. If Iran becomes true democracy, maybe they keep Ayatollah as tourist attraction? North Korea could keep Kim-family as well. 200-yers form now Kim-family wold be insignificant royals sitting ne…

I've always liked how many countries separate head of state from head of government, because I see the two as separate roles: one whose job is to be the most excellent person of that nationality, and the other to be the political leader, who may from time to time need to engage in dirty political shenanigans.

It seems an argument can be made for having the former be inherited, so as to avoid the inevitable politicization of the position that happens in countries where a separate head of state is also elected. It's not fair to either the commoners who can ~never be elevated to that position nor to the royals who can ~never leave it, but perhaps better for the country as a whole.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#75

Post by enriquto »

pqs wrote: post #31
alvatar wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So true. As a spaniard I do it all the time. Love/hate my country.

We are quite hard on us. This is a nasty cultural trait of Spain, because this hinders our work. I work in science and I think we would do much better if we didn't have this inferiority complex.

> We are quite hard on us.

There is no "us" in Spain. There's castillian imperialists and people living in occupied territories. The only possible "us" right now for many Spanish passport-holders is Europe.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#76

Post by stainforth »

hpkuarg wrote: post #74
nabla9 wrote: post #70

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Her family has provided more than enough. It's insane that modern society prefers to have living inherited hood ornaments. Constitutional monarchy can be a peaceful way to democracy, but there is no reason to make it permanent. If Iran becomes true democracy, maybe they keep Ayatollah as tourist attraction? North Korea could keep Kim-family as well. 200-yers form now Kim-family wold be insignificant royals sitting ne…

I've always liked how many countries separate head of state from head of government, because I see the two as separate roles: one whose job is to be the most excellent person of that nationality, and the other to be the political leader, who may from time to time need to engage in dirty political shenanigans. It seems an argument can be made for having the former be inherited, so as to avoid the inevitable politiciza…

> to be the most excellent person of that nationality

I don't think that's even a thing.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#78

Post by [deleted] »

enriquto wrote: post #75
pqs wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We are quite hard on us. This is a nasty cultural trait of Spain, because this hinders our work. I work in science and I think we would do much better if we didn't have this inferiority complex.

> We are quite hard on us. There is no "us" in Spain. There's castillian imperialists and people living in occupied territories. The only possible "us" right now for many Spanish passport-holders is Europe.

[deleted]

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#79

Post by harperlee »

enriquto wrote: post #75
pqs wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We are quite hard on us. This is a nasty cultural trait of Spain, because this hinders our work. I work in science and I think we would do much better if we didn't have this inferiority complex.

> We are quite hard on us. There is no "us" in Spain. There's castillian imperialists and people living in occupied territories. The only possible "us" right now for many Spanish passport-holders is Europe.

Seriously? Occupied territories?

It’s very frustrating that people are so vocal with extreme opinions such as this one. Whenever the topic of Spain comes up, someone will try to make it as if they have been conquered 10 years ago, trying hard to distort history that’s quite similar to most of the other countries.

Re: Villarejo: The rise and fall of the Spanish state’s secret fixer

#80

Post by enriquto »

harperlee wrote: post #79
enriquto wrote: post #75

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> We are quite hard on us. There is no "us" in Spain. There's castillian imperialists and people living in occupied territories. The only possible "us" right now for many Spanish passport-holders is Europe.

Seriously? Occupied territories? It’s very frustrating that people are so vocal with extreme opinions such as this one. Whenever the topic of Spain comes up, someone will try to make it as if they have been conquered 10 years ago, trying hard to distort history that’s quite similar to most of the other countries.

I empathize with your frustration, although I don't think that these opinions are extreme at all.

You know what is frustrating, also? To have a foreign army occupying your country.

Post reply on HN