UK General Election 101 :: Free Realms

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#52 May 08 2010 at 11:19 AM Rating: Decent

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Because during 3 debates and the whole campaign, he's talked a lot without saying a single ******* thing.

He's a Politician they all talk alot without saying anything.

More to the point on close examination of the actual policies (beyond the broad brush strokes designed to convince the electorate otherwise) they are pretty much identical in every important detail. It doesn't matter who's in charge because bluntly your voting for a mirror of each other anyway, they just wear different coloured ribbons.

They would all be prety much forced by circumstances to do the same fixes to the ecconomy had they been in charge(Indeed had we had a Tory government over the last 18 months they would have done what labour did while labour would have took the Tory stance of complaining bitterly in the background safe in teh knowledge that the general public don't understand enough to know their popularist stance wouldn't fUcking work or the people in charge would already be fUcking doing it)

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#53 May 08 2010 at 6:32 PM Rating: Good

Nobby

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tarv wrote:

He's a Politician they all talk alot without saying anything.

More to the point on close examination of the actual policies (beyond the broad brush strokes designed to convince the electorate otherwise) they are pretty much identical in every important detail.

WHAT!?!?11!!!eleven!11??

Clegg & Brown both advocate a rise in National Insurance contributions which will add Â£6Bn to the state economy this year and mitigate a "double dip" recession, possibly leading to a depression. Cameron wants to leave it be and offset it by reducing certain taxes (corporation tax, inheritance tax) which would disproportionately benefit the rich and make fUck-all difference to most people.

Clegg & Brown want to move away from "1st past the post" elections and Cameron is opposed.

While Labour & the Lib-Dems have marginal differences, the tories are miles away from consensus.

You been reading the Daily Mail or summat tarv?

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#54 May 08 2010 at 8:08 PM Rating: Good

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What's painful for me is the knowledge that the continuing messy and expensive fallout from the Global Financial Crisis is going to get blamed on whatever coalition government is formed, which will poison most Brit's opinions of coalition and minority governments further, and poison their opinions against electoral reform. Because I doubt the majority of people will be able to separate the two phenomena. Especially when it makes easier and more sensational journalistic press to conflate the issues.

New Zealand has made coalition governments work ever since 1996, after moving to proportional representation which almost guarantees no party will win a majority. There are guidelines for the caretaker government while the politicians trade concessions with each other in order to get along and form government. Many NZ'ers reguard it as a success. The political parties have to remain fairly calm and nice towards each other while arguing for their policies between elections, because they know they might have to deal with each other to form a government next election around. And the minor "kingmaker" parties have learned that they can't act like ********* and lord it over the main parties when they suddenly have the balance of power, or they'll be punished in teh polls next time around. Lastly, because so many compromises are made, policies usually wind up quite centrist and moderate, and have a higher appeal across more of the elctorate.

Edited, May 8th 2010 10:20pm by Aripyanfar

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#55 May 09 2010 at 4:49 AM Rating: Excellent

Nobby

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Ooh. Look what I found on eBay!

Nick Clegg's eBay listing wrote:

You are bidding for the affections of this man, a Spanish speaking manufacturer and creator of kings. Yes, if you need a king swiftly fabricated, then this is your man! May be interested in part exchange for electoral reform and break-up of financial institutions, WHY - cash either way.

No "buy-it-now" price but make him an offer and he'll do you a deal!

May be of use to those with an interest in running the country.

Cash on collection.

Those with less than 220 seats, contact me first before bidding. Advertised due to nation of timewasters. Please do not bid if you cannot make up your mind.

And I like this. . .

Quote:

Questions and answers about this item
Q: Can you assure me he is honest?
A: Difficult one. With these items it's a matter of degree. Compared to a Mandelson, probably yes but against a Widdicombe definately not. You pays your money and takes your choice.
09 May, 2010
Q: can you please provide me with condition of item?
A: I would say good condition for a 1967 model. Hasn't done the mileage associated with most of its peers. Uses a bit of oil though.
09 May, 2010
Q: If I win can I send it somewhere else in the world?
A: Sorry UK delivery only, to difficult to get it through customs at the far end.
09 May, 2010
Q: What exactly is the purpose of this item?
A: Fair point but as I said in a previous response, there's very few king makers on the market in such good condition.
09 May, 2010
Q: Hi there, I have previously bought Paddy Ashdown and Tony Benn and am looking to increase my collection. Can you forsee any compatibility issues here? I'm also hoping to acquire John Major within the next... Continue reading
A: If you're intending to keep the three together you'll need a larger cabinet. Good luck with Major. The grey one's nice if you can get the Curry staines out. :o)
09 May, 2010

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#56 May 10 2010 at 10:23 AM Rating: Good

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I was creaming myself listening to Gordon Brown, and that's one sentence I never thought I would say.

This is paving the way for a Lib-Lab, with electoral reform at hand. Happy days? I think so.

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#57 May 10 2010 at 12:24 PM Rating: Excellent

Nobby

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RedPhoenixxx wrote:

I was creaming myself listening to Gordon Brown, and that's one sentence I never thought I would say.

This is paving the way for a Lib-Lab, with electoral reform at hand. Happy days? I think so.

If there's a referendum about Proportional Representation, will it be a First Past The Post Ballot? Smiley: clown

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#58 May 10 2010 at 12:34 PM Rating: Excellent

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Oh, and Red - savour this piece of TV Gold - pure "Thick of it" moment. Smiley: lol

Alastair Campbell beautifully winding up one of Murdoch's normally composed media ******** Adam Boulton.

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#59 May 10 2010 at 12:56 PM Rating: Decent

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Lord Nobby wrote:

Oh, and Red - savour this piece of TV Gold - pure "Thick of it" moment. Smiley: lol

Alastair Campbell beautifully winding up one of Murdoch's normally composed media ******** Adam Boulton.

What an idiot, I'm glad I stopped watching Sky News years ago, while the BBC isn't perfect, could you image Nick Robinson behaving like this? Disgusting, he needs sacking if he isn't able to maintain at least the semblance of calm, or he can keep making slipups for TV posterity I guess.

Lord Nobby wrote:

3. If (big if) Clegg & Cameron can't agree terms, Brown could play it canny and resign [..]

Good call, guess we know who's playing puppet master then ;)

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#60 May 10 2010 at 1:57 PM Rating: Good

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I'm not entirely sure Brown is so much playing it canny as being kicked out on his *****

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#61 May 10 2010 at 2:42 PM Rating: Good

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[quote=Kavekk the Ludicrous]I'm not entirely sure Brown is so much playing it canny as being kicked out on his *************** without a doubt. He came into office after his "Sell By" date.

But the LaboUr party. . . .

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#62 May 10 2010 at 6:01 PM Rating: Good

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Tories now offering referendum on the alternative voting system.

Current polls (much as I hate linking to the telegraph it was the first result) indicate such a referendum would pass, but with tories free to throw their money at it maybe that could change.

(Technically the poll is for PR)

Edited, May 11th 2010 12:10am by Kavekk

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#63 May 11 2010 at 2:38 AM Rating: Excellent

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Lord Nobby wrote:

Oh, and Red - savour this piece of TV Gold - pure "Thick of it" moment. Smiley: lol

Don't keep casting aspirations on ME!!! Beautiful piece of telly...

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Tories now offering referendum on the alternative voting system

Typical. What a **** offer. "We'll offer a referendum on a system you don't really want, and then campaign against it. How does that sound?"

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#64 May 11 2010 at 10:02 AM Rating: Excellent

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Well, the latest from the rumour mill is that the lib/lab alliance is dead, that Brown is resigning today, and that the Tories and Lib-Dems are now discussing who gets what in the Cabinet.

Sad face is sad.

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#65 May 11 2010 at 11:11 AM Rating: Excellent

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RedPhoenixxx wrote:

Well, the latest from the rumour mill is that the lib/lab alliance is dead, that Brown is resigning today, and that the Tories and Lib-Dems are now discussing who gets what in the Cabinet.

Sad face is sad.

Don't be sad, this could be a good thing, show the electorate what a bunch of morons the Tories are, new election in fairly short order anyway, new Labour leader to appeal to those who were put off by Brown, Labour win, job done.

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#66 May 11 2010 at 12:19 PM Rating: Excellent

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Xeddox wrote:

Don't be sad, this could be a good thing, show the electorate what a bunch of morons the Tories are, new election in fairly short order anyway, new Labour leader to appeal to those who were put off by Brown, Labour win, job done.

Yeah, that would be the ideal scenario. But I think the Tories will call another election in 6-12 months time regardless of what happens. They'll blame whatever failings took place on the Lib-Dems, and campaign on a "We saved the economy and the markets" platform. Labour wont have had enough time to regroup and refresh. And Cameron will have prime minister stature, as opposed to simply being a contender like now. If the Tories play it well, they could get another 5 years without having to pass any kind of electoral reform.

I don't think the Dems played their cards well. Unless all the details of a power sharing coalition are already sorted, they are in a ridiculously weak negotiating position now. They can't refuse a coalition, and they've only been promised a referendum the Tories will campaign against.

On the plus side, it's only a month until the blanket election coverage is replaced by a blanket World Cup coverage. Can't wait.

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#67 May 11 2010 at 12:24 PM Rating: Good

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RedPhoenixxx wrote:

I don't think there's any possible chance on god's green earth we'll get tory lib-dem coalition. And yes, you can quote me on that later when I get proved wrong.

Voila mon brave. L'evidence de la superioritÃ© des Anglais sur les Grenouilles. Smiley: lol

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#68 May 11 2010 at 12:25 PM Rating: Excellent

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Lord Nobby wrote:

RedPhoenixxx wrote:

I don't think there's any possible chance on god's green earth we'll get tory lib-dem coalition. And yes, you can quote me on that later when I get proved wrong.

Voila mon brave. L'evidence de la superioritÃ© des Anglais sur les Grenouilles. Smiley: lol

Yeah, I blame the Lib-dems for being stupider than I thought. I misoverestimated them.

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#69 May 11 2010 at 12:26 PM Rating: Good

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Well, looks like it's time to stock up on alcohol.