Quote: Richard Wells @ May 12 2010, 6:39 PM BSTLooking forward to it because you think they will fail or looking forward to it because you think it might actually work ?
Because it is going to be fun finding out.
General Election 2010 Page 130
Quote: Timbo @ May 12 2010, 6:41 PM BSTBecause it is going to be fun finding out.
Yea that's a good answer.
Quote: Timbo @ May 12 2010, 6:41 PM BSTBecause it is going to be fun finding out.
That's the bunny!
For the first time in a long time it's hard to know what's going to happen next. And the combo of Vince Cable and George Osbourne at the treasury is fascinating.
Quote: Marc P @ May 12 2010, 2:15 PM BSTNational Interest my arse.
Absolutely. This has nothing to do with national interest and everything to do with promises of power, Trojan Horses and the potential for lots of backstabbing down the road. If the Lib Dems really wanted to act in the national interest they would have gone along with a Tory minority government by agreeing to support (or abstaining on) confidence votes. What we have here is no more stable than the minority government that was the moral outcome of the election (if there was one). The best result for stability would have been to give a minority government a fair run and then have another election in a short while, at which we would be more likely to get a majority government with a genuine parliamentary mandate. If I was a Lib Dem supporter I wonder what I would think about so many of my principles being sold down the river for the comfort of a ministerial jag. There are 57 Lib Dem MPs now but I'd be amazed if there are still that many by the end of the year once defections start to kick in.
The media coverage has been interesting as well - this coalition is getting a very easy ride so far. I can't help thinking what it would have been like if Labour had got 306 seats instead of the Tories, and had gone into coalition with the Lib Dems - a coalition that is idealogically more natural than a Lib-Con one at least. Fleet Street would be going ballistic. "Two Fingers to Democracy", "Shame on Labour", etc etc.
I give it until the party conference season - then we'll see how "secure and stable" this government is.
Looks like they've gone for the most obvious and maleable Libdem cabinet members, all fairly grey, there isn't any big personality in there like Pantsdown or that Scotch drunkard. Where's the fun in politics gone? Seriously I think both of those two were gifted politicians who connect with the public far more than bods like Laws and Hughn. The Tories obviously don't want popular MPs taking their thunder away.
Quote: Badge @ May 12 2010, 7:06 PM BSTIf the Lib Dems really wanted to act in the national interest they would have gone along with a Tory minority government by agreeing to support (or abstaining on) confidence votes. What we have here is no more stable than the minority government
You do not think it is going to be easier for Clegg to support measures in Government than in opposition? This way he is able to deliver Tory support for LibDem manifesto commitments, such as taking low earners out of income tax, rather than simply block the Tories from passing measures the LibDems do not disagree with (and which since Labour agree with the Tories on near enough everything the LibDems disagree with them on, they could probably pass anyway.)
The best result for stability would have been to give a minority government a fair run and then have another election in a short while, at which we would be more likely to get a majority government with a genuine parliamentary mandate.
A parliamentary majority, but not an electoral mandate. The LibDems believe in proportional representation, which presupposes the necessity of coalition government. Which works fine in many parts of the world, where they are more grown up and less tribal than here.
If I was a Lib Dem supporter I wonder what I would think about so many of my principles being sold down the river for the comfort of a ministerial jag.
I would sooner have the party I voted for in power, influencing policy, than sitting self-righteously in opposition. And as a former Labour voter I did not much appreciate watching Labour MPs putting self-interest before principle by trooping through the lobbies in support of the Iraq war. One thing I am reasonably certain about is that while the LibDems are in Government we will not be signing up to any US-led military adventures.
And don't ministers have Rovers, not Jags?
The media coverage has been interesting as well - this coalition is getting a very easy ride so far. I can't help thinking what it would have been like if Labour had got 306 seats instead of the Tories, and had gone into coalition with the Lib Dems - a coalition that is idealogically more natural than a Lib-Con one at least. Fleet Street would be going ballistic. "Two Fingers to Democracy", "Shame on Labour", etc etc.
True, but do you not think it is too precious for words to see the Press having to be nice about those looney LibDems?
I give it until the party conference season - then we'll see how "secure and stable" this government is.
The LibDem conference is not stage-managed into impotent sterility like that of Labour, so, yes, it will be interesting, but then that is democracy for you.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ May 12 2010, 7:16 PM BSTPantsdown or that Scotch drunkard.
Quote: Timbo @ May 12 2010, 8:07 PM BSTAnd as a former Labour voter I did not much appreciate watching Labour MPs putting self-interest before principle by trooping through the lobbies in support of the Iraq war. One thing I am reasonably certain about is that while the LibDems are in Government we will not be signing up to any US-led military adventures.
And that about sums you up.
Quote: Oldrocker @ May 12 2010, 9:37 PM BSTAnd that about sums you up.
If you like.
I don't.
But in a democracy we're stuck with people like you.
What, dissenters from your Labour ideal? 
Come now, play nicely.
Astonishing how many people still mistake Tony Blair for Keir Hardie.
The attitude seems to be that the voters have betrayed Labour, when the truth is that Labour betrayed them. After fourteen years of morally bankrupt authoritarian incompetence I am not going to vote Labour just because they represent 'the good guys' in some retarded Manichean view of the universe. Hopefully in five years time Labour will be a genuine progressive party I can vote for, but for the moment I will support the LibDems, not in expectation, but at least not in the absolute certainty that they are going to be crap.
Quote: chipolata @ May 12 2010, 6:45 PM BSTThat's the bunny!
For the first time in a long time it's hard to know what's going to happen next. And the combo of Vince Cable and George Osbourne at the treasury is fascinating.
Errr yeah... George - Dave's old fag - is the Chancellor and Vince does what exactly? Sharpen pencils and order buns and mumble in the background?
Marc's gone all angry. Quite amusing.
I think party loyalty is usually misplaced. The parties change, in terms of personalities, policies and performance; and times change, making certain parties more or less relevant. To vote for a party just because you always have is to ignore all of that.