The Politics Thread
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So is this Labour leadership race purely Milliband vs Milliband or does an outsider like Burnham stand a chance of upsetting the odds?
Ed Balls must be having a laugh though.
Ed Balls must be having a laugh though.
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Strangely, I've a lot of time for Balls.Athers wrote:So is this Labour leadership race purely Milliband vs Milliband or does an outsider like Burnham stand a chance of upsetting the odds?
Ed Balls must be having a laugh though.
I've interviewed him about 10 times (I work in education journalism), and he's always come across as genuine, passionate, and knowledgeable - even in education, which is frequently viewed as a stepping stone to higher office. I first thought he was a smarmy politician stereotype, but I'd say I was wrong on that.
Not that he wouldn't have left in a second to be chancellor, mind you, but since that didn't happen, it becomes a moot point.
He will appeal to some of the trade union vote, however, which forms a large part of the leader election process. And he has the Fabian / Co-operative movement connections.
Anyway, he probably doesn't have a chance against David Milliband (who has the face for it).
Formerly known as Meg'sEleven. And Owen'sEleven. And Dougie'sEleven. We're getting through them aren't we...
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Theres a brilliant website somewhere all about our Harriett, and her hatred of men. Damned if I can find it at the mo, but Hobo would love it.
Scratch that, I've found it:
http://www.harrietharmansucks.com/
Scratch that, I've found it:
http://www.harrietharmansucks.com/
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Yep, that is strange!Owen'sEleven wrote:Strangely, I've a lot of time for Balls.Athers wrote:So is this Labour leadership race purely Milliband vs Milliband or does an outsider like Burnham stand a chance of upsetting the odds?
Ed Balls must be having a laugh though.
I've interviewed him about 10 times (I work in education journalism), and he's always come across as genuine, passionate, and knowledgeable - even in education, which is frequently viewed as a stepping stone to higher office. I first thought he was a smarmy politician stereotype, but I'd say I was wrong on that.
Not that he wouldn't have left in a second to be chancellor, mind you, but since that didn't happen, it becomes a moot point.
He will appeal to some of the trade union vote, however, which forms a large part of the leader election process. And he has the Fabian / Co-operative movement connections.
Anyway, he probably doesn't have a chance against David Milliband (who has the face for it).
We've talked a bit about likeability, and Balls always comes across as being very unlikeable. He's a very very tribal politician, which never plays very well with people who don't consider themselves part of the tribe.
But your comments about what he's like when he's doing his job, out of the spotlight, are interesting - perhaps there's another side to him.
Not sure Miliband really has the 'face' for it - very nerdy and very Jewish looking with big ears! I think he has other qualities that make him the front runner.
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I really, really think you need to explain where you are coming from on this one...mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote: Not sure Miliband really has the 'face' for it - very nerdy and very Jewish looking with big ears! I think he has other qualities that make him the front runner.
It is open to several misinterpretations...
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Such as?William the White wrote:I really, really think you need to explain where you are coming from on this one...mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote: Not sure Miliband really has the 'face' for it - very nerdy and very Jewish looking with big ears! I think he has other qualities that make him the front runner.
It is open to several misinterpretations...
Don't be silly, I'm just saying that it's not like he's got a stereotypical poster-boy look that gives him some extra advantage!
Prufrock wrote: Like money hasn't always talked. You might not like it, or disagree, but it's the truth. It's a basic incentive, people always have, and always will want what's best for themselves and their families
Seriously, guys, five posts and no-body giggling at this? I'm not angry, I'm disappointed.Owen'sEleven wrote:Athers wrote:So is this Labour leadership race purely Milliband vs Milliband or does an outsider like Burnham stand a chance of upsetting the odds?
Ed Balls must be having a laugh though.
Strangely, I've a lot of time for Balls.
I've interviewed him about 10 times (I work in education journalism), and he's always come across as genuine, passionate, and knowledgeable - even in education, which is frequently viewed as a stepping stone to higher office. I first thought he was a smarmy politician stereotype, but I'd say I was wrong on that.
Not that he wouldn't have left in a second to be chancellor, mind you, but since that didn't happen, it becomes a moot point.
He will appeal to some of the trade union vote, however, which forms a large part of the leader election process. And he has the Fabian / Co-operative movement connections.
Anyway, he probably doesn't have a chance against David Milliband (who has the face for it).
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Be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind.
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Be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind.
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You think so? OK - explain what 'Jewish looking' means? Is there a 'Jewish-looking' universal type? You see - you wrote not that he was nerdy and had big ears so not a poster boy... but that he was 'Jewishly' so...mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote:Such as?William the White wrote:I really, really think you need to explain where you are coming from on this one...mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote: Not sure Miliband really has the 'face' for it - very nerdy and very Jewish looking with big ears! I think he has other qualities that make him the front runner.
It is open to several misinterpretations...
Don't be silly, I'm just saying that it's not like he's got a stereotypical poster-boy look that gives him some extra advantage!
And now you are defending saying this...
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Absolutely. And you're just being ridiculous.William the White wrote:You think so? OK - explain what 'Jewish looking' means? Is there a 'Jewish-looking' universal type? You see - you wrote not that he was nerdy and had big ears so not a poster boy... but that he was 'Jewishly' so...mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote:Such as?William the White wrote:I really, really think you need to explain where you are coming from on this one...mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote: Not sure Miliband really has the 'face' for it - very nerdy and very Jewish looking with big ears! I think he has other qualities that make him the front runner.
It is open to several misinterpretations...
Don't be silly, I'm just saying that it's not like he's got a stereotypical poster-boy look that gives him some extra advantage!
And now you are defending saying this...
Prufrock wrote: Like money hasn't always talked. You might not like it, or disagree, but it's the truth. It's a basic incentive, people always have, and always will want what's best for themselves and their families
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Somebody help me out here - is it really outrageous to say, without any hint of pejoration, that somebody looks like they have some Jewishness in their ethnic make up?
(As it happens, Miliband's parents were Jewish)
(As it happens, Miliband's parents were Jewish)
Prufrock wrote: Like money hasn't always talked. You might not like it, or disagree, but it's the truth. It's a basic incentive, people always have, and always will want what's best for themselves and their families
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All you have to do is answer the questions, explain what 'Jewish-looking' means (non-pejoratively, if you can) - and why it means you'll never be a poster-boy (that is, non-pejoratively saying to look 'jewish' - whatever that means - is not to be ever considered beautiful)...mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote:Somebody help me out here - is it really outrageous to say, without any hint of pejoration, that somebody looks like they have some Jewish in their ethnic make up?
(As it happens, Miliband's parents were Jewish)
Since you are so militantly defending it, and know I'm being ridiculous, this won't be hard for you, will it?
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It's difficult to break it down, but there are certain features that might be considered 'Jewish-looking' - very dark hair with pale skin, a large nose etc.William the White wrote:All you have to do is answer the questions, explain what 'Jewish-looking' means (non-pejoratively, if you can) - and why it means you'll never be a poster-boy (that is, non-pejoratively saying to look 'jewish' - whatever that means - is not to be ever considered beautiful)...mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote:Somebody help me out here - is it really outrageous to say, without any hint of pejoration, that somebody looks like they have some Jewish in their ethnic make up?
(As it happens, Miliband's parents were Jewish)
Since you are so militantly defending it, and know I'm being ridiculous, this won't be hard for you, will it?
Is this controversial? I look at David Miliband and I think he looks Jewish - is that unreasonable?! Is it wrong to say that different ethnic groups sometimes share certain features. What do you suppose this Jewish person means when he describes himself as having "semitic" features? http://ask.metafilter.com/18252/facial-characteristics
And I have not said that looking Jewish can never be considered beautiful, just that that is not what the stereotypical poster boy looks like.
Prufrock wrote: Like money hasn't always talked. You might not like it, or disagree, but it's the truth. It's a basic incentive, people always have, and always will want what's best for themselves and their families
I don't think it is ridiculous. Kevin Nolan, Jason Koumas, Leighton Baines have 'scouse faces' to my eyes. I don't think it is ridiculous to say somebody with Jewish parents has certain features more prevelant in that ethnic group. Perhaps the poster boy comment was ill-advised, though I can see where you were coming from, I actually think David Milliband is quite a good looking bloke (for a politician), though as you say, a bit nerdy-looking. I think he is the nearest to a poster boy the Labour ranks have at the moment, better looking than Blair was, and certainly than Ed Balls, who looks like a scrotum, and Andy Burnham, who looks CGI.mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote:Somebody help me out here - is it really outrageous to say, without any hint of pejoration, that somebody looks like they have some Jewishness in their ethnic make up?
(As it happens, Miliband's parents were Jewish)
In a world that has decided
That it's going to lose its mind
Be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind.
That it's going to lose its mind
Be more kind, my friends, try to be more kind.
Nope, not at all, it is just a sign of the over-sensitive bollocks to the most innocent of comments that pervades society today.mummywhycantieatcrayons wrote:Somebody help me out here - is it really outrageous to say, without any hint of pejoration, that somebody looks like they have some Jewishness in their ethnic make up?
(As it happens, Miliband's parents were Jewish)
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