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?

The so-called Big Society thing made me want to vomit. Too wannbe JFK/LBJ and their Great Society - sorry Dave, you are nothing close to JFK in terms of ideas, energy, charisma, and future legacy. Also, try and get some original ideas!

I think Labour should let the Conservatives take over and flounder. It needs to take the time to regroup, squash all the petty bickering and form a strong united front. They did badly in the election, but not as badly as I thought they would do, and if they regroup and project a clear image, they can win the next election.

I'm an optimist .

The more I think about it, the more I think a LabCon pact is good news for Labour.

1. Likely to piss off Lib voters, who may decide to move allegiances
2. It will definitely piss off Lab backers who vote Lib tactically to keep to Tories out. They will never tactically vote again.
3. If we get PR, the impact of 1 and 2 will definitely be felt.
4. Labour get a chance to regroup and come back stronger
5. This term is likely to be a poisoned chalice anyway.

hee hee - that GUardian article just like old times.

I'd forgotten the joyous spectacle of Tory in-fighting.

Sorry, yes, what a typo!

[shudder] @ labcon pact!!!

My friends status on FB just made me chuckle, she says,

Parliment, Not just hung, but hung dawn and quartered if Nick sells his soul to the tories'

Just re-reading that article - no surprises at the backlash over the Big Society. Big Crock of Shit, I think we're all agreed on that.

But I am surprised that Ashcroft felt the TV debates were to blame.

I thought it all fell apart with the total lack of any concrete policy, which was highlighted by the TV debates true, but the problem wasn't the debates per se. They just magnified the issue.

Reasons to be cheerful:

10. Lefties love nothing more than a chance to bitch about the Right. Really, I love it! No-one engenders hate quite like the Tories, the vandalised billboards have been fantastic this election.

I think the reason they failed to gain momentum was two fold - lack of consistent clear policies held for longer than five minutes (I mean, you don't just announce a shiny new Big Idea like the Big Society after the election has been announced!) and also Cameron had not fundamentally reformed and rebuilt his party. The New Labour project (whatever you think of its policies) did both of these things very successfully.

Can I just say, these threads have been an absolute godsend to me these last few days.

I think the Big Society was an attempt to apply lubricant before the enormous shafting of swingeing cuts began.

Ie rather than stumping in and shouting "we're cutting massively. Who needs schools and hospitals anyway? Feck off you poor sick and ignorant", instead they could shimmy in and say "hello chaps, time for the Big Society - we will be removing all these pesky teachers, nurses and administrators in order to give the Great British Public what they demanded at the polls - the right to run these services themselves for FREE."

Unfortunately for Cameron, everyone smelled a rat.

Oh yes nothing I am looking forward to more than the Tories' night of the long knives. It is inevitable as they all fall out over Europe, PR and their failure to command a majority. The Right-Right wing will come out of the shadows now and stick the knives in...

oooh Tory in fighting? Marvelous they'll be shagging the inappropriate next.

Pol&lenin ay thank you for your kind comments three weeks ago (in thread terms)

A permanent red thread? not my idea but I'll adopt it anyway I think. It could be like one of those Great Depression danceathons where the winner gets a sandwich or milk f'baby or something

"It could be like one of those Great Depression danceathons where the winner gets a sandwich or milk f'baby or something"

Love it ATW.

I will donate a jar of bloater paste to the prize fund.

So I would be interested to know what our leftie credentials are.

How Left/Liberal/Bleeding Hearted are you?

I know a lot of us voted Labour but did we do that for love or tactics?

I voted Labour as they were the only ones with a chance in my constituency against the Tories. (It didn't work) Plus there is no Green MP here. I am a member of The Green Party.

So red you're green, then!

I am really quite red. Probably more left wing than the current labour party (not that that's hard).

I've voted labour all my life, the only exception being a protest vote against the Iraq War in the last election.

On the Dulux paint chart I'd probably put myself at red stallion ooer.