The Politics Thread

[jmjhb]

http://palinaspresident.com/

Great site.

[Lord Kangana]

I did yon test about six years ago, I've kept the results somewhere for future reference, to see if the old saying's true. ("He who isn't a socialist at 20 hasn't got a heart; he who's still a socialist at 40 hasn't got a brain". Not saying I agree with it, and nor presumably does Mummy, who's practically unable to type around his protruding bottom lip... )

Guess I'll be brain-dead 'til the day I die then.....


Interestingly, Tony Benn once commented that true democracy was far more powerful than any political dogma, left or right, if only the people weren't so turned off by politics, possibly(and probably) on purpose.

And if socialism hasn't just been used to save capitalism in the last few weeks, then I'm a man of flemish origin.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Guess I'll be brain-dead 'til the day I die then.....

Good on you, sir.

And if socialism hasn't just been used to save capitalism in the last few weeks, then I'm a man of flemish origin.

Well, quite, although look what good it did. I suggest we refer it to the House UnAmerican Activities Committee... wonder if those who would hang Obama for alleged left-wing ideals would happily slip the noose around the necks of Still-President Bush and Hank Paulson... meanwhile Alan Greenspan reposes in a comfortable armchair...

(I should point out that if there were ever a compulsory-entry war of left vs right I'd be clad in red. But as is so often the case, good old Tony Benn was right, and I'd like nothing more in politics than to discuss issues and ideals rather than play two-party tennis.)

[William the White]

I did yon test about six years ago, I've kept the results somewhere for future reference, to see if the old saying's true. ("He who isn't a socialist at 20 hasn't got a heart; he who's still a socialist at 40 hasn't got a brain". Not saying I agree with it, and nor presumably does Mummy, who's practically unable to type around his protruding bottom lip... )

Guess I'll be brain-dead 'til the day I die then.....


Interestingly, Tony Benn once commented that true democracy was far more powerful than any political dogma, left or right, if only the people weren't so turned off by politics, possibly(and probably) on purpose.

And if socialism hasn't just been used to save capitalism in the last few weeks, then I'm a man of flemish origin.

Just to join the cafe of the living dead...

It may not be 'socialism's' proudest boast that it rescued capitalism...

[Worthy4England]

So if you don't know what Obama's current beliefs are, it would be pretty difficult to say you disagree with them? Other than from the standpoint that traditionally Democrats are viewed as mapping to "Labour" and Republicans are viewed as mapping to "Conservative"

Of course I'm aware of that tradition, but I can honestly just say to you that Obama rubs me up completely the wrong way and has done since he first entered my consciousness. So, as it happens, did Clinton, so perhaps there is a pattern emerging.


I admit that McCain and Palin have shown themselves to be very poor opposition.

The whole thing is a depressing spectacle.

Not particularly trying to play the age card here Mummy, but most US elections I've seen are. The election of Regan (and this isn't meant as a snide comment on his stewardship) was pure Hollywood..

[warthog]

So if you don't know what Obama's current beliefs are, it would be pretty difficult to say you disagree with them? Other than from the standpoint that traditionally Democrats are viewed as mapping to "Labour" and Republicans are viewed as mapping to "Conservative"

Of course I'm aware of that tradition, but I can honestly just say to you that Obama rubs me up completely the wrong way and has done since he first entered my consciousness. So, as it happens, did Clinton, so perhaps there is a pattern emerging.


I admit that McCain and Palin have shown themselves to be very poor opposition.

The whole thing is a depressing spectacle.

Not particularly trying to play the age card here Mummy, but most US elections I've seen are. The election of Regan (and this isn't meant as a snide comment on his stewardship) was pure Hollywood..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7eCUEfb ... re=related

Wait for the last line.

[Worthy4England]

If anything it would more than likly to be the UK with our tridents that would go nuke first, our PM also has a finger on a trigger and actually has more power to deploy troops etc anywhere world wide than a US president without seeking a mandate from anywhere

IIRC didn't the rules change after the Iraq fiasco? Now they have to put the case to parliament. I understand the concern though, the thought of Brown with his clunking finger on the button will keep me awake for several nights.

Talking of our Great Leader, has anyone noticed how happy he is now that the economy's about to meltdown. The man can't stop laughing, he's like an hyena. Cheers you wassock.

That would be an economic meltdown based on the philosophic view that financial markets should be unregulated completely - bought in under the idealism that in recent UK political history, Conservative governments bought about - selling short, repackaging bad debt as triple A debt and re-insuring it against each other ad-infinitum.

Water bills too high? Electric and Gas Bills too high? Well isn't that tough. These businesses now have a primary business reason to service their shareholders..so no complaining there please - Privatised under the previous Government.

At least this meltdown has been bought about outside the direct involvement of the Government - unlike the last few that were brought about be a Government using monetarist policies for political gain. Wassocks.

The thought of Cameron (or to be apolitical for a minute) anyone having that sort of power that would allow them to press any sort of button, isn't appealing - the possibility that you'd trust Cameron to press it, just beggars belief.

[superjohnmcginlay]

Maybe we should email him this and ask where he ends up?

http://www.politicalcompass.org/test

[email protected]

SHOCK SHOCK:Four from the bottom, and two from the left you bunch of facists.

Economic dead centre and very very slightly libertarian.

You set of bedwetting pinkos.

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

I'm in the exact same spot of that political compass as Ghandi.

Right, where's my nappy?

[Verbal]

seven from the left and six from the bottom you bunch of...well I don't really have too strong an opinion so lets just be friends.

[Zulus Thousand of em]

Nine from the the left and ten from the bottom. Nowhere near any of the famous international figures - which is nice.

[Athers]

Had Newsnight on as I was drifting off last night and almost thought I heard McCain almost mock universal healthcare with reference to Canada and England, I suppose he means Britain anyway.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Similarly, was only half-listening to the "idiot's lantern" last night while tending to an ill child (isn't A&E weird at 4am? She's fine, I'm knackered) but I'm sure I heard one presidential candidate propose buying all the foreclosed houses in America at their mortgage value and lease them back to the 'owners'. By my reckoning this would make him the biggest state landlord this side of Stalin, even if the debt-ridden country could somehow foot the bill, but his opponent contented himself with asking why the taxpayer should pay for the gap between banks' lending policy and people's earning power - which sounds like a fairly non-lefty argument to me.

Anyone care to confirm this wasn't some kind of malarial nightmare, and if not, to guess which candidate was which?

[InsaneApache]

Had Newsnight on as I was drifting off last night and almost thought I heard McCain almost mock universal healthcare with reference to Canada and England, I suppose he means Britain anyway.

A few weeks ago he was talking about his experience of foreign policy and said that he'd visited, amongst others, Checkoslovakia. He's obviously got access to a tardis.

@Worthy4England

Blimey, silly me, I forgot. Of course it's all the Tories fault, my bad. Pathetic.

[Worthy4England]

Had Newsnight on as I was drifting off last night and almost thought I heard McCain almost mock universal healthcare with reference to Canada and England, I suppose he means Britain anyway.

A few weeks ago he was talking about his experience of foreign policy and said that he'd visited, amongst others, Checkoslovakia. He's obviously got access to a tardis.

@Worthy4England

Blimey, silly me, I forgot. Of course it's all the Tories fault, my bad. Pathetic.

Are you saying that unregulated free market economics aren't collectively to blame for the current problem?

[communistworkethic]

Had Newsnight on as I was drifting off last night and almost thought I heard McCain almost mock universal healthcare with reference to Canada and England, I suppose he means Britain anyway.

A few weeks ago he was talking about his experience of foreign policy and said that he'd visited, amongst others, Checkoslovakia. He's obviously got access to a tardis.

or spellcheck?

And has it not occured to you that at the time of his visit it was Czechoslovakia?

[InsaneApache]

Had Newsnight on as I was drifting off last night and almost thought I heard McCain almost mock universal healthcare with reference to Canada and England, I suppose he means Britain anyway.

A few weeks ago he was talking about his experience of foreign policy and said that he'd visited, amongst others, Checkoslovakia. He's obviously got access to a tardis.

or spellcheck?

And has it not occured to you that at the time of his visit it was Czechoslovakia?

Thanks for the spelling lesson. I believe he went to Czechoslovakia this year. So he must have access to a tardis.

@Worthy4England

Like I said, it's all the Tories fault, always was. always will be......oh hang on! Aint we had a Labour administration for the last 11 years? Nope, it's got nowt to do with them though has it? It's those bloody Tories what did it! Still pathetic.

[Lord Kangana]

It takes more than 11 years to change the make-up of how an economy works.

The Tories shackled us to unrestrained, unregulated finance capital and service industries as a model. This lot have just continued their good work.

[BWFC_Insane]

It takes more than 11 years to change the make-up of how an economy works.

The Tories shackled us to unrestrained, unregulated finance capital and service industries as a model. This lot have just continued their good work.

Spot on LK spot on!

[Lord Kangana]

You mean we actually agree on something?

Now wheres that bottle of vintage Veuve Cliquot I've been saving....