The Politics Thread

[Bijou Bob]

100% commitment from the massive percentage of those who have never yet voted v the apathy of those worn down by another 5 years of austerity. Which is likely to win?

[bobo the clown]

100% commitment from the massive percentage of those who have never yet voted v the apathy of those worn down by another 5 years of austerity. Which is likely to win?

The ones who feel they will achieve something ... rather than wish they would achieve something.

[Bijou Bob]

The ones with the idealism of youth on their side, or the cynical old b4stards like you and me??

[bobo the clown]

The ones with the idealism of youth on their side, or the cynical old b4stards like you and me??

The cynical old bastards like you and me Why do you ask ?

[Prufrock]

Always the cynical old bastards. Have you never studied history?!

And where is this swell of youth? Already labour areas. It doesn't make a difference to seats. If Corbyn can really the youth of Nuneaton and Warrington South, then I'll get excited.

And I don't believe foot a second the people who think Corbyn had as much chance as the other three. You're either one of the nutters who doesn't understand the electoral system and so thinks he has more chance, or you're just saying it to assuage your self indulgence. If you think they all have zero chance, why bother voting for anyone to be the leader of the parliamentary labour party

[Bijou Bob]

I won't be voting, I'm just interested in the process and what it might mean for the future development of social policy and social justice. If indeed, it has any bearing at all.

[bobo the clown]

^^ he just called you a self-indulgent nutter.

You've met then !!

[Hoboh]

The biggest problem all of them have, including Corbyn is just who the hell is going to make up a credible opposition team?
Labour is bereft of any big hitters or even suitable candidates to make up a cabinet.

[Bijou Bob]

^^ he just called you a self-indulgent nutter.

You've met then !!

No, strangely, we've not.

I'm not at all suggesting there's a paradigm shift underway that might lead to a whole new zeitgeist and yet.....

I do think there are subtle ripples developing that might bring about some change: the steady discrediting of the upper chamber, a growing sense of unease that the security services have acted to protect Islington paedophile, not to mention a growing anti austerity movement.

Nutter? As a mental health specialist, it's a word I despise and used ill advisedly by the unempathetic. I'm suprised it came from the source it did.

[Prufrock]

It was a general "you" rather than aimed at you personally, BB. Don't worry, I didn't have you down as a Labour party member or affiliate!

[Bijou Bob]

I'm not about to be seen selling the Socialist Worker anytime soon.

[William the White]

I don't think it is self-indulgent if you vote for a candidate whose policies you believe in.

I think it's honest.

For Pru honesty is definitely not the best policy. It's politically naive. And honesty is bad for you. He'll make a brilliant lawyer, that's for sure.

In the 'real world' Pru inhabits you are required to vote for someone you have no respect for or not vote at all. The latter was certainly going to be my choice until Corbyn joined in the debate and animated it and - in truth - brought the dull, dreary process to life.

I'm considering my second choices. For honesty and clarity and intelligence I'd go for Liz Kendall. Pity I really don't think she's on the right political horse. But she's more impressive than the other two talking robots. I'm off to a Burnham meeting in Bolton in the morning.

I've Stella Creasy as my Dep Leader front runner atm. Though Watson's refusal to be intimidated by Murdoch gets him respect from me.

[Hoboh]

I don't think it is self-indulgent if you vote for a candidate whose policies you believe in.

I think it's honest.

For Pru honesty is definitely not the best policy. It's politically naive. And honesty is bad for you. He'll make a brilliant lawyer, that's for sure.

In the 'real world' Pru inhabits you are required to vote for someone you have no respect for or not vote at all. The latter was certainly going to be my choice until Corbyn joined in the debate and animated it and - in truth - brought the dull, dreary process to life.

I'm considering my second choices. For honesty and clarity and intelligence I'd go for Liz Kendall. Pity I really don't think she's on the right political horse. But she's more impressive than the other two talking robots. I'm off to a Burnham meeting in Bolton in the morning.

I've Stella Creasy as my Dep Leader front runner atm. Though Watson's refusal to be intimidated by Murdoch gets him respect from me.

Hand on heart, I'd back Harriet again before Creasy she's got closet Blair written all over her.

[William the White]

I don't think it is self-indulgent if you vote for a candidate whose policies you believe in.

I think it's honest.

For Pru honesty is definitely not the best policy. It's politically naive. And honesty is bad for you. He'll make a brilliant lawyer, that's for sure.

In the 'real world' Pru inhabits you are required to vote for someone you have no respect for or not vote at all. The latter was certainly going to be my choice until Corbyn joined in the debate and animated it and - in truth - brought the dull, dreary process to life.

I'm considering my second choices. For honesty and clarity and intelligence I'd go for Liz Kendall. Pity I really don't think she's on the right political horse. But she's more impressive than the other two talking robots. I'm off to a Burnham meeting in Bolton in the morning.

I've Stella Creasy as my Dep Leader front runner atm. Though Watson's refusal to be intimidated by Murdoch gets him respect from me.

Hand on heart, I'd back Harriet again before Creasy she's got closet Blair written all over her.

Not so. Blair was the machine politician determined to run the machine smoothly and well. Worked out ok for him. Less so for the people of Iraq.

Creasy is making the argument for the opposite - Labour as a campaigning movement, not simply an electoral machine. Watson may still get my vote though. i confess that part of me really doesn't want to see the LP run by two men. That will not draw me to Cooper or Kendall though.

[Hoboh]

I don't think it is self-indulgent if you vote for a candidate whose policies you believe in.

I think it's honest.

For Pru honesty is definitely not the best policy. It's politically naive. And honesty is bad for you. He'll make a brilliant lawyer, that's for sure.

In the 'real world' Pru inhabits you are required to vote for someone you have no respect for or not vote at all. The latter was certainly going to be my choice until Corbyn joined in the debate and animated it and - in truth - brought the dull, dreary process to life.

I'm considering my second choices. For honesty and clarity and intelligence I'd go for Liz Kendall. Pity I really don't think she's on the right political horse. But she's more impressive than the other two talking robots. I'm off to a Burnham meeting in Bolton in the morning.

I've Stella Creasy as my Dep Leader front runner atm. Though Watson's refusal to be intimidated by Murdoch gets him respect from me.

Hand on heart, I'd back Harriet again before Creasy she's got closet Blair written all over her.

Not so. Blair was the machine politician determined to run the machine smoothly and well. Worked out ok for him. Less so for the people of Iraq.

Creasy is making the argument for the opposite - Labour as a campaigning movement, not simply an electoral machine. Watson may still get my vote though. i confess that part of me really doesn't want to see the LP run by two men. That will not draw me to Cooper or Kendall though.

Well, at least we agree on something

[Beefheart]

Corbyn will increase Labour's majority in places like Sunderland etc, I'm sure of that. He may even win seats back in Scotland but the sum total of that is zero seats gained from the Tories, but will he get the swing he needs in the tory/labour marginals? I highly doubt it.

[Worthy4England]

Therein lies the problem. Doubling the vote in Sunderland helps mo one whit.

[BWFC_Insane]

Corbyn will increase Labour's majority in places like Sunderland etc, I'm sure of that. He may even win seats back in Scotland but the sum total of that is zero seats gained from the Tories, but will he get the swing he needs in the tory/labour marginals? I highly doubt it.

The trend in those sorts of seats is a drift towards UKIP. I'm not sure that the working class in Northern England are full of out and out socialist voters. I think that they will never vote Tory and have by default voted Labour. Corbyn might actually scare some of them off if anything.

[Prufrock]

I don't think it is self-indulgent if you vote for a candidate whose policies you believe in.

I think it's honest.

For Pru honesty is definitely not the best policy. It's politically naive. And honesty is bad for you. He'll make a brilliant lawyer, that's for sure.

In the 'real world' Pru inhabits you are required to vote for someone you have no respect for or not vote at all. The latter was certainly going to be my choice until Corbyn joined in the debate and animated it and - in truth - brought the dull, dreary process to life.

I'm considering my second choices. For honesty and clarity and intelligence I'd go for Liz Kendall. Pity I really don't think she's on the right political horse. But she's more impressive than the other two talking robots. I'm off to a Burnham meeting in Bolton in the morning.

I've Stella Creasy as my Dep Leader front runner atm. Though Watson's refusal to be intimidated by Murdoch gets him respect from me.

It would be dishonest to advocate or vote for a candidate I didn't think was better than Cameron, but all four tick that box for me, as they surely must for all of Corbyn's supporters. And that's the decision that will matter; that's what will make a difference to people. Cameron v one of these four. It's not dishonest to admit some pragmatism in advocating for someone who can beat the Tories. Do you agree with Corbyn on every single issue? Of course not. So let's not pretend we're dealing in absolutes.

But you enjoy your moralising sneers again. You've got honesty, remember.

Watson pipping Creasy at the mo for deputy for me. Feck knows who for mayor.

[Bijou Bob]

Diane Abbott of course!