Pondering, and while slightly more optimistic than we once were, still really quite unhappy Lefty thread

[Hassled]

Where had we got to? We'd agreed that we all love Cameron, right?

What happened on the bully thread? Aside from Lenin being outed as a man?

Justine posted:

Bit of a case of multiple personality disorder going on on this thread in attempt to stir, so we think it best to delete it shortly - apologies for those who've put effort into reasoned responses.

so I assume that Crystal and b4real were one and the same person.

I was reading about New Zealands switch to PR in the 90's - apparently the election is in two parts. You have the voting and then the negotiations, which can take weeks. But it is accepted as part of the system, people get used to it. Politicians are prepared to negotiate.

Lenin was outed as a man

Well well Lenin, bet that was quite the surprise to your DP after all these years

I am at Lib Dem scaffolder!

I'm uneasy, but not desperately so, about a LibCon coalition. I think that it would be a pretty unstable arrangement and that it would only defer an election by 6-12 months. I don't think there's much chance that Cameron will get his full term.

But I am desperately hoping that the Labour Party can use this time wisely and not fight like cats in a sack. A rejuvenated Labour Party - with electoral reform properly and not cynically at the heart of their policies to lure the LDs - could trounce the Conservatives next election, either as a majority party, or in pre-agreed coalition with the Lib Dems (who will probably be led by Cable at that point... Wonder if Egg will survive his association with Ham). But they need to disassociate themselves from government NOW and start looking like an effective opposition. Their numbers are good for that, after all - way more than the Tories had before the last election...

LOL at male Lenin.

And Happy Birthday, Hassled!

My only grudging anxiety is that the economy might pick up quickly under the Cons (not for anything they've done, just "natural" growth, etc) and the time comes to sell back the nationalised banks.

I posted on MN at the time, when everyone was going mental over the banks bail out, that Brown and Darling could've pulled off a major, major coup, buying banks on the cheap, and that they could turn out to be an excellent investment.

I would be royally pissed off if the Conservatives take the credit for that.

Thanks Hassled for the link. Makes interesting reading. I remember the Ed webchat, he came well prepared and was very likeable.

PW
Generally the Parties know who their likely coalition partner is going to be. The SPD (links) and the Green Party have overlaps in their policy, as do the CSU (Conservatives) and the liberal FDP. So they know in advance who they are going to get into bed with, have experience on Federal level too with different coalitions. It is normally clear the same day which party is going to form a government.

When Schröder was voted out, it took a bit longer. He did not want to go and there was talk of a Jamaica Coalition, but that came to nothing. (Jamaica: CSU - black/FDP - yellow/Gruene - Green). Or an Ampel (Traffic Light Coalition - SPD/FDP/Grüne. It took about 2 weeks that time, mainly because Schröder was superglued to his chair, I think.

Penth
The way DC is talking about cutbacks, which is the opposite of the advice of many economists, it may be that he halts the recovery. Merkel in Germany talked of buying their way out of the recession, similar to Brown's idea. Seems to have worked well in Germany. They invested in infrastructure, schools etc.

This thread has made me want Ham egg and chips

Thanks all for the enlightenment. Irritates me that the press are saying 'LOOK at the chaos you get with PR!' when a) er no, this is the chaos you get with FPTP and b) if we actually HAD PR, and you all say, people would be much better prepared (and presumably write their manifestos with half an eye to coalition anyway).

Interesting to hear there was sock-puppetry going on (as CatintheHat was implying on the thread). Some posters have a really weird tone don't they.

You could be right. I tend also to agree (insofar as I can, being no kind of economist) with the Keynesian approach.

But, given that governments are so - seemingly - beholden to the markets, etc., I wonder how much genuine autonomy, for good or for ill, any government has now?

Oh, I share Penthe's doubts re the relationship between governments and markets.

Oh I'm so nosy I want to know what the bullying thread was about now

An a little surprised about lenin too, what with her breastfeeding n all. Who'd have thought it? A penis weilding brickie all along.

PW I imagine there will be some posts on here if something happens Glad your son is feeling OK.

Hey franca

Must return to LI! I have been a prodigal daughter of late. All the pre-election knife-wielding on MN was getting me down... Where are you guys now?

@ vince/wince cable

wince?? winch

altho I quite like wince too

Sorry to hear about bereavements for beachcomber and hungy. My great uncle died on election night - I didn't really know him but I'm sad for his daughter, who I've got to know a bit recently - she's my dad's cousin but she's the same age as my (younger) sister.

The Milibands had/have very left wing parents (late father Ralph Miliband, Marxist writer, their mother is still alive and apparently thinks they're too right wing too!) but are obviously well to the right of them. I think I'll just find it too strange if a Miliband becomes leader.

I'm bookmarking this thread as well.

have just discovered the live update thing on the BBC

am now addicted

mandy and brown have just left downing street apparently, "destination unknown"...

(probably going for ham n eggs after reading this thread)

bbc update thingy but I'm sure you were all onto this days ago!