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Original poster

Anyone think Gordy's regretting allowing the TV debates to take place?

77 replies

SpeedyGonzalez · 29/04/2010 23:53

He hasn't come off brilliantly, has he?

Why did he keep on smiling? Why? Why? It makes him look like an axe murderer.

And how is it that someone with such massive ears can be such a bad listener? At least twice during tonight's debate he repeatedly misquoted both his opponents after they had made very clear statements about their policies.

OP posts:
Molesworth · 30/04/2010 23:48

The final speech was all about what a huge mistake it would be to vote for either of the other two: it was entirely negative. Then he crowned it with one of his awful "Chandler Byng's photo face" smiles

janeite · 30/04/2010 23:52

Awww - I like his smile!

Hope I'm not coming across as too pro-Labour here. I've never voted for them before but I do have a bit of a soft spot for Gordie nowadays.

He has taken on one of the worst jobs in the world at one of the worst times - he was never going to be able to get it all 'right' in the eyes of the media. I hate the way that this election is all about trial by media - it's a feeding frenzy.

claig · 01/05/2010 00:03

I didn't feel sorry for Brown over the Gillian Duffy affair because he was in the wrong. But I do feel sorry for him now. Everybody, including his colleagues, will pin all of the blame on Brown. It hasn't been his fault. In fact the press backed Blair throughout, but as soon as Brown took over, most of the press turned on Brown and tried to turn him into a laughing stock. It is definitely tough at the top and Brown has been through a lot. The news is saying that the Guardian is criticising Brown personally and blaming Labour for not ditching him. That is the thanks that Brown gets from his so-called friends. It is very sad for Brown.

Original poster
SpeedyGonzalez · 01/05/2010 14:26

Funnily enough, even though I can't stand Brown I do think he's got a rough ride over Gillian Duffy - anyone could have said that sort of thing, whether a politician or not. So he gets my sympathy, but not my vote.

I also agree with the Grauniad that Labour should have ditched Brown ages ago - in the same way that Brown provided a sort of clean slate after the objectionable reign of Blair, a new face for Labour would have provided a similar sort of clean slate for the election. And might even have convinced me to give the party a second glance.

OP posts:
atlantis · 01/05/2010 15:14

" The media are ignoring the ovious and want the polls to be close and are encouraging people to vote for Clegg in the hope that he will be part of a coalition government."

Of course they are because the fall out from that would sell so many more papers and have people tuning into to 24 hr news as this country sinks into oblivion and then the government disolves and they can have another election to follow.

Original poster
SpeedyGonzalez · 01/05/2010 15:19

atlantis - I wish I could be as optimistic as you. I feel that no matter what the outcome of the election this country will sink into oblivion anyway.

Just as well I don't buy/ read papers, then.

OP posts:
atlantis · 01/05/2010 15:28

"atlantis - I wish I could be as optimistic as you. I feel that no matter what the outcome of the election this country will sink into oblivion anyway."

Well we were in this position when the conservatives took over from labour in 79 and yes it was bloody frightening and people suffered but when we handed the books to labour in 97 they had a balanced sheet and a healthy economy for them to ruin again (hence how they have been able to hand out all the goodey's, but unfortunately had to borrow to keep it going), I believe the conservatives are the only ones capable of doing it again, hence why I'm voting conservative because they are the only one's with a backbone preparred to cut the waste and make tought choices to keep this country from going under.

Highlander · 01/05/2010 16:44

thought Gordie go the better of paxman last night

Chil1234 · 01/05/2010 17:05

I think Brown is secretly regretting strong-arming Blair from office. As chancellor he could pull the strings from behind closed doors, growl, stamp and not have to put up with annoying questions from the hoi polloi on TV, in the street or otherwise.

TDiddy · 01/05/2010 17:09

Normally the incumbent wouldn't want to debate but being behind Brown had to take the risk as he needed something to happen to give him a real chance. It just didn't work for him.

DC may have done better without the debates. Clegg was the only real net winner.

TDiddy · 01/05/2010 17:11

janeite Fri 30-Apr-10 23:52:15

I have sympathy with your view here

ilovemydogandmrobama · 01/05/2010 17:14

Agree with TDiddy.

The problem is that the debates were Presidential in style and focusing on the leaders, when in fact the electorate will be voting for a party.

MailyDail · 01/05/2010 18:02

it's not true, apparently, that brown was the first incumbent to say yes. i heard that blair challenged major, who said 'oh, okay then' and then never heard another word about it.

TDiddy · 01/05/2010 18:14

That is what we are saying. Normally, the incumbent would say no, but Brown needed to gamble and therefore had little to lose in that sense. It just didn't "land" for him.

MailyDail · 01/05/2010 18:20

except that major said yes and blair shat it, apparently.

TDiddy · 01/05/2010 18:39

hmm. Not what I heard. Major was probably in the same position as Brown i.e. he needed a "game changer" so Blair would have been smart to say no

MailyDail · 01/05/2010 19:59

yes, exactly... so blair was foolish to have goaded him, iykwim? i heard this from a reliable source btw.

Sessypoos · 01/05/2010 20:52

it was bad for brown as he presents so badly. though I think he would have lost it anyway, if he cant even represent himself without insulting his supporters then do we really want him representing britain?

MailyDail · 01/05/2010 20:56

for brown, the election was a bust from the start, i actually think that despite losing the debates (although not in everyone's opinion) he came across better than he does on his usual telly appearances.

meandjoe · 01/05/2010 21:14

lol blueshoes, david cameron's face bothers me! I could not have said it better!

I actually thought Gordon's smile was quite endearing and I have no problem with him at all. Just that Lib Dems policies do make more sense to me plus their honest, no corruption approach with the promise of reforming the voting system means I will be voting for them.

I would have thought that sadly Gordon Brown will be regretting the entire Election campaign which is a shame for man who waited so long to become PM. I do feel for him. A lot of the crap that Britain is in right now has all been blamed on him which is not fair.

I do think that David Cameron should regret his debate as he was sleezy and did not answer simple questions but the man is clearly such an arse he won't have the awareness to regret it.

Sessypoos · 01/05/2010 22:13

Haha, agree with you there! what is it about DC's face that makes me want to slap it? oh wait, perhaps its cause his policies are so weak and slapdash that he refuses to answer questions on them. He is such a con.

Yeah im loving the Lib Dem policies. Nick Clegg really showed how they would address the major problems we are facing.

TDiddy · 01/05/2010 22:25

meandjoe - i agree with everything that you said in last post...except that DC is an arse. He can't help being posh. Most likely, I am not going to vote for him but it is more on the principle that his party is really about taking care of the haves like you and I, if I am not being presumptuous. My vote is usually for the have-nots.

I have never voted Lib-Dem but it would be nice to see him carry our renewed hopes as PM just as Obama is in the US.

edam · 01/05/2010 23:17

meandjoe - honest, no corruption Lib Dems? That'd be the party that took stolen money and has refused to hand it back, even though the thieving bastard who 'donated' it has been convicted...

(The first story I found on it is old, but still true today - Lib Dems haven't returned a penny.)

janeite · 01/05/2010 23:27

I am slightly drunk - and I agree that David Cameron is an arse. And worse than that - he is an arse wearing foundation.

Sessypoos · 01/05/2010 23:33

edam - so you meet someone who likes you and he wants to buy you a drink. you think he's OK so you accept. many years later you find out he has just been convicted as a thief. You are saying you would then give the thief a load of money, to 'pay him back'?? I think you'd be a complete idiot!

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