Next Labour Leader - Miliband Resigns

[west didsblue]

You seem to have formed the view that my comments were aimed entirely or primarily in your direction. They were not. My belief is based on many years of observing people of that political outlook, so I'm sorry to disappoint you that you're not the basis for my conclusion.

As to being a 'fence sitter' that's a lazy way to describe my political outlook. I have centrist views because of the way I believe the world operates and how I think fairness can be best delivered within the limits reality imposes upon economic and political decision making. I have, in fact, very robust, well formed views on a number of subjects and am certainly prepared to ventilate them as required. I don't think anyone could accuse me of not being opinionated, or not being vocal in airing those opinions either. Quite the opposite. I'm a hugely loud, self-confident and opinionated person. Fucking fence sitter! Hilarious.

Useful idiot did make me smile, though :-)

I think Rascal managed to perfectly demonstrate in his response to your post that you were absolutely right.

 

[Rascal]

You seem to have formed the view that my comments were aimed entirely or primarily in your direction. They were not. My belief is based on many years of observing people of that political outlook, so I'm sorry to disappoint you that you're not the basis for my conclusion.

As to being a 'fence sitter' that's a lazy way to describe my political outlook. I have centrist views because of the way I believe the world operates and how I think fairness can be best delivered within the limits reality imposes upon economic and political decision making. I have, in fact, very robust, well formed views on a number of subjects and am certainly prepared to ventilate them as required. I don't think anyone could accuse me of not being opinionated, or not being vocal in airing those opinions either. Quite the opposite. I'm a hugely loud, self-confident and opinionated person. Fucking fence sitter! Hilarious.

Useful idiot did make me smile, though :-)

Useful idiot made me smile too. :-)

You have used this argument towards me in the past and as one of the few left wingers on here nowadays it is quite fair to assume the post was aimed slightly at me. I seem to recall a rather long winded philosophical discussion on the subject a while back.

Your view that the left lack empathy for those who hold right wing views is in my opinion biased because whilst your views are often Liberal they are often guardedly Conservative too. Does it hold in your view that those on the right lack empathy for left wing views? Because i see little empathy or understanding on here for the views and beliefs that Corbyn holds. All i see is repeated attempts by people on the right telling us who and why we are wrong to vote for Corbyn. I see cheap political shots aimed at Foot and they are usually from people who believe the ridiculous propaganda spouted by the media.

Fence sitter :))

 

[kas_tippler]

Useful idiot made me smile too. :-)

You have used this argument towards me in the past and as one of the few left wingers on here nowadays it is quite fair to assume the post was aimed slightly at me. I seem to recall a rather long winded philosophical discussion on the subject a while back.

Your view that the left lack empathy for those who hold right wing views is in my opinion biased because whilst your views are often Liberal they are often guardedly Conservative too. Does it hold in your view that those on the right lack empathy for left wing views? Because i see little empathy or understanding on here for the views and beliefs that Corbyn holds. All i see is repeated attempts by people on the right telling us who and why we are wrong to vote for Corbyn. I see cheap political shots aimed at Foot and they are usually from people who believe the ridiculous propaganda spouted by the media.

Fence sitter :))

Agreed about Michael Foot, fought in the Spanish Civil War, got the right side. True man of principles.

 

[urban genie]

Ken Clark understands polotics more than the clowns like Chris Leslie and the Tories scoffing at Corbyn

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/201...en-clarke-labour_n_7925964.html?utm_hp_ref=tw

 

[Seosa]

The temptation to vote for Corbyn is understandable. He's not the absolutely ideal candidate but there are elements of his politics that will draw and for good reason. His favourability towards the IRA & Hamas is incredibly off putting however. I certainly don't see him as truly Marxist, despite his praise of Marx on Marr. His leadership could either destroy Labour or open the door for a Socialist PM. The latter isn't the problem, it's the potential naivety at hand & the fact that he isn't truly working-class.

 

[whp.blue]

24% voted tory
34% didn't vote
these are the people Corbyn can and has to appeal to

This is a typical Left wing soundbite and has very little basis in reality

Have you considered that a proportion of that 34% may be ultra right wing and Corbyn could be the catalyst they need to get out and vote Tory?

 

[hgblue]

Useful idiot made me smile too. :-)

You have used this argument towards me in the past and as one of the few left wingers on here nowadays it is quite fair to assume the post was aimed slightly at me. I seem to recall a rather long winded philosophical discussion on the subject a while back.

Your view that the left lack empathy for those who hold right wing views is in my opinion biased because whilst your views are often Liberal they are often guardedly Conservative too. Does it hold in your view that those on the right lack empathy for left wing views? Because i see little empathy or understanding on here for the views and beliefs that Corbyn holds. All i see is repeated attempts by people on the right telling us who and why we are wrong to vote for Corbyn. I see cheap political shots aimed at Foot and they are usually from people who believe the ridiculous propaganda spouted by the media.

Fence sitter :))

I think I've mentioned Michael Foot once or twice but only because the situation now is similar to the situation when Foot was elected, namely a Conservative election victory resulting in Labour moving to the left. It was a huge mistake then and will be a huge mistake now. However I won't lose any sleep over Labour hitting the self destruct button, because I have a good job that's well paid so I'm probably personally better off under a Tory government. I do though have a social conscience and my preference would be for a centre left party that will improve the lot of those less well off without making a complete pigs ear of the economy. I've voted Labour twice, on both occasions for Tony Blair, because he managed to convince me that Labour was trustworthy on the economy. I like Liz Kendall, because I think she gets this, and she'll probably benefit from a Corbyn victory in the long run, as a resounding election defeat will probably bring Labour to it's senses. In the meantime, I'll watch with interest as the car crash unfolds.

 

[The perfect fumble]

Worth a watch.....

 

[J4FOW]

To my mind, Corbyn offers something all too lacking in recent political history: a sincerely held set of values and the opportunity to consider that there may just be another way of doing things - a way that improves society rather than advancing the individual interests of a few.

I have paid higher rate (the highest rate) of tax for years. In that time the fundamental elements of a decent society - education, healthcare, affordable housing, care for the elderly, social mobility - have all worsened. I am fine with the prospect of paying more tax, if I have confidence that it will help address these issues (and others) rather than buying nuclear missiles, bailing out banks or filling the holes that corporate and individual taxation would have filled were it not being so systematically evaded.

 

[The perfect fumble]

I've just watched a live stream of Corbyn In London and I'm going to hear him speak on Thursday, not because he's a good speaker, he isn't, and not because he's charismatic or even particularly persuasive, he doesn't need to be, but because he speaks the truth. It's an old fashioned concept, a speaker who speaks the truth and whether he wins in September or not is not the issue, he stated as much himself. From now on when those pompous fuckers in the parliamentary Labour party ape the Tories because "there's no alternative" there'll be no hiding place.
It is said that Thatcher's greatest achievement was not just changing her own party but Labour as well, that process has now stopped, whether the Labour party as it is presently constituted survives we shall see.
Whether Labour could win the 2020 election under Corbyn is not the issue, the issue is whether it could win with any of the others? I think we know the answer to that.
If Corbyn does win in September then there's a chance that he could unite the many millions who don't vote and the seven million not registered to vote, it's bold and it's exciting and it may very well fail, but it is infinitely preferable to a Blairite clone mouthing warm words to soothe the pain while, importantly, looking very presentable on Sky News.