David Cameron

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Michael Foot as Prime Minister would have invited ridicule upon this country to a harmful extent. I think of Norman Mailer's quote about Foot in that regard:

'To the American it was incredible that this man who looked like an eccentric professor of ornithology could run for Prime Minister

I think he was a decent, clever and principled man, but he would have been an unmitigated disaster as Prime Minister.

And I've personally got nothing against scruffy c**ts.

I think you've added to my earlier point GDM, namely, image became, circa 1980 (1960 in the States) a massively influential part of the political debate. Mailer is amongst the best writers of our generation (Executioner's Song, Oswald's Tale are two of the best books I've ever read) but he lays bare, in that quote, one of the fundamental problems of our society: image, and its influence on the political culture. If you look at the great thinkers, the great scientists, mathematicians etc, it mattered not one iota whether they looked like Bill Oddie in a white coat. It was the power of their argument, their ability to argue cogently and without recourse to spin doctors, that made them the giants they became. Had Einstein been invited on TV to discuss his ideas of relativity I have no doubt it would have made second place to Big Brother in the TV schedules. And therein lies the nub of our crumbling political edifice. We are fed a diet of utter shite. And, sadly, we want to dine on it 24/7.

I think that's all fair comment.

He was a fucking scruffy **** though ;-)

 

[baildon blue]

Michael Foot as Prime Minister would have invited ridicule upon this country to a harmful extent. I think of Norman Mailer's quote about Foot in that regard:



I think he was a decent, clever and principled man, but he would have been an unmitigated disaster as Prime Minister.

And I've personally got nothing against scruffy c**ts.

I think you've added to my earlier point GDM, namely, image became, circa 1980 (1960 in the States) a massively influential part of the political debate. Mailer is amongst the best writers of our generation (Executioner's Song, Oswald's Tale are two of the best books I've ever read) but he lays bare, in that quote, one of the fundamental problems of our society: image, and its influence on the political culture. If you look at the great thinkers, the great scientists, mathematicians etc, it mattered not one iota whether they looked like Bill Oddie in a white coat. It was the power of their argument, their ability to argue cogently and without recourse to spin doctors, that made them the giants they became. Had Einstein been invited on TV to discuss his ideas of relativity I have no doubt it would have made second place to Big Brother in the TV schedules. And therein lies the nub of our crumbling political edifice. We are fed a diet of utter shite. And, sadly, we want to dine on it 24/7.

I think that's all fair comment.

He was a fucking scruffy c**t though ;-)

Micheal Foot was a fan of Plymouth
When he wasn't doing politics .
Or being a member of the KGB .
Which he wasn't .

 

[smudgedj]

Michael Foot, when an ordinary Member of Parliament, had regular meetings for nearly 20 years with KGB officers and took money from them - honest and integrity my arse.

You are going to of course supply proof of this in due course im sure.

Im sure you know from your study of Marx that he thought socialism was the biggest danger to Communism

I dont expect you understand that mind

Next Stop Execution - If you can't believe the 'highest-ranking KGB agent working in Britain' who can you believe.

Oh yeah - 'I dont expect you understand that mind' - well of course.

 

[baildon blue]

I wonder if Cameron having a nice glass of champagne tonight .
To toast that nice victory he had in that referendum .

 

[johnnytapia]

Michael Foot as Prime Minister would have invited ridicule upon this country to a harmful extent. I think of Norman Mailer's quote about Foot in that regard:



I think he was a decent, clever and principled man, but he would have been an unmitigated disaster as Prime Minister.

And I've personally got nothing against scruffy c**ts.

I think you've added to my earlier point GDM, namely, image became, circa 1980 (1960 in the States) a massively influential part of the political debate. Mailer is amongst the best writers of our generation (Executioner's Song, Oswald's Tale are two of the best books I've ever read) but he lays bare, in that quote, one of the fundamental problems of our society: image, and its influence on the political culture. If you look at the great thinkers, the great scientists, mathematicians etc, it mattered not one iota whether they looked like Bill Oddie in a white coat. It was the power of their argument, their ability to argue cogently and without recourse to spin doctors, that made them the giants they became. Had Einstein been invited on TV to discuss his ideas of relativity I have no doubt it would have made second place to Big Brother in the TV schedules. And therein lies the nub of our crumbling political edifice. We are fed a diet of utter shite. And, sadly, we want to dine on it 24/7.

I think that's all fair comment.

He was a fucking scruffy c**t though ;-)

If you ever want to see just how image has seeped, completely, into the political psyche, it really is worth reading Alistair Campbell's diaries. Starting in early '90s they chart the meteoric rise of Blair and his ilk. The daily and constant discussions on how policies will be perceived, the hours spent debating how to attack others, the endless focus on image, image, image - very revealing, utterly depressing, but essential reading. Incidentally, Mailer's book, "Barbary Shore" - one of, if not THE hardest book I've had the (mis)pleasure of reading. "Tough Guys Don't Dance" - one of the best. The man could write. And drink.

 

[DelToro]

Michael Foot as Prime Minister would have invited ridicule upon this country to a harmful extent. I think of Norman Mailer's quote about Foot in that regard:

'To the American it was incredible that this man who looked like an eccentric professor of ornithology could run for Prime Minister

I think he was a decent, clever and principled man, but he would have been an unmitigated disaster as Prime Minister.

And I've personally got nothing against scruffy c**ts.

From the country that elected Ronald Reagan and George W Bush

 

[Bodicoteblue]

Michael Foot, when an ordinary Member of Parliament, had regular meetings for nearly 20 years with KGB officers and took money from them - honest and integrity my arse.

You are going to of course supply proof of this in due course im sure.

Im sure you know from your study of Marx that he thought socialism was the biggest danger to Communism

I dont expect you understand that mind

Next Stop Execution - If you can't believe the 'highest-ranking KGB agent working in Britain' who can you believe.

Oh yeah - 'I dont expect you understand that mind' - well of course.

I haven't kept up with this thread - but are we supposed to believe that the highest ranking KGB agent working in Britain wouldn't say things designed to promote distrust and instability in a foreign enemy state?

 

[baildon blue]

Michael Foot as Prime Minister would have invited ridicule upon this country to a harmful extent. I think of Norman Mailer's quote about Foot in that regard:

'To the American it was incredible that this man who looked like an eccentric professor of ornithology could run for Prime Minister

I think he was a decent, clever and principled man, but he would have been an unmitigated disaster as Prime Minister.

And I've personally got nothing against scruffy c**ts.

From the country that elected Ronal Reagan and George W Bush

Don't forget Nixon .

 

[johnnytapia]

Michael Foot as Prime Minister would have invited ridicule upon this country to a harmful extent. I think of Norman Mailer's quote about Foot in that regard:



I think he was a decent, clever and principled man, but he would have been an unmitigated disaster as Prime Minister.

And I've personally got nothing against scruffy c**ts.

From the country that elected Ronal Reagan and George W Bush

Don't forget Nixon .

Or the fact they didn't actually elect George Bush and he still became El Pres. But hey, what's a few hanging chads between friends (of business).

 

[Len Rum]

I wonder if Cameron having a nice glass of champagne tonight .
To toast that nice victory he had in that referendum .

It's Gordon wot won it.