Election TV debates ....

[santa claus]

Which is why I agree with Thatcher, we ought to be choosing based on policy, not acting skills.

Unfortunately, the media expects our politicians to dance to the performance tune which is why the whole campaign of each party has little substance. I mean, let's face it, there is precious little any Government can offer in the current financial stranglehold.

I think she struggled hard enough to get over the fact that I stood for election once...

Your wife's not Chinese is she? She may have been expecting you to go for something other than an 'election'.

[TheAnimus]

Unfortunately, the media expects our politicians to dance to the performance tune which is why the whole campaign of each party has little substance. I mean, let's face it, there is precious little any Government can offer in the current financial stranglehold.

The problem is there is plenty they should be doing, but we know physiologically that the great unwashed don't like to be told how bad things really are.

We should be given more choice over where the cuts are going to be, and where the tax should be increased.

However we get the stupidity with the Tories planning to ring fence "front line" services.... I can't help but think define front line!

The verbose but completely insane tax reforms of the lib dems (see Stephanomic's analysis of why I dislike anything that discourages saving and investing)

And dear old Labour trying to distract from the fact its farcical debt bringing spending during the good times not only can't continue but are going to cause massive harm predominantly to lower income people for the next decade at the very least.

Until we have some honesty from the candidates who respect voters like me, I have no respect or time for them, nor will I pretend its anything but a lesser of two evils, i'll have the douche rather than the brown turd.

But I guess we can't have that because they know from focus groups that been the harbinger of doom, whilst the opponent is promising sunshine lollypops and PFI schemes does you no favours.

[santa claus]

A commentator mentioned this morning that when the Nixon/JFK debate took place, Kennedy refused TV makeup and Nixon followed suit so as not to appear less macho. Later, Kennedy was covertly made up in his ready room leaving Nixon exposed with the now imfamous sweaty, five o'clock shadow look that people rightly interpreted as shiftiness.

Look out for tonight's shifty character. The one with the silver spoon and forked tongue.

[pollaxe]

They also said that radio listeners judged Nixon as the winner whilst television viewers judged JFK as the winner.

Whilst I don't have much sympathy with any politician (they choose to do it, after all) I wouldn't like to be one of this lot tonight. Lots of pressure. Lots of coaching from Obama's people for both sides too, apparently.

I'm torn between thinking that this is a good idea and between thinking it's a contrived stunt that doesn't do us any substantial favours. That said, politics and our country are in such a mess you could probably elect a syphillitic goat* and it wouldn't do much worse.

*Some may contend that this has already happened. More than once.

[Saracen]

A commentator mentioned this morning that when the Nixon/JFK debate took place, Kennedy refused TV makeup and Nixon followed suit so as not to appear less macho. Later, Kennedy was covertly made up in his ready room leaving Nixon exposed with the now imfamous sweaty, five o'clock shadow look that people rightly interpreted as shiftiness.

Look out for tonight's shifty character. The one with the silver spoon and forked tongue.

Hmmmm. Slick if young and inspiring visionary, or deceitful puppet-master. Chips or Daddy?



I think I'll go for the slick, presentable young one, not the deceitful old hack.

[Kata]

The one with the silver spoon and forked tongue.

I had long suspected that much of the reason people vote labour is to "stick it to the wealthy" out of spite and envy. Thanks for confirming your own attitudes to us, at least.

[santa claus]

I had long suspected that much of the reason people vote labour is to "stick it to the wealthy" out of spite and envy. Thanks for confirming your own attitudes to us, at least.

A rash presumption. You associate yourself with the wealthy when you have no idea at all about my circumstances. Please, stop embarrassing yourself. I am an altruist.

[Kata]

I associate myself with no-one. Explain, then, the reason for your out-of-the-blue 'silver-spoon' comment.

[santa claus]

I associate myself with no-one. Explain, then, the reason for your out-of-the-blue 'silver-spoon' comment.

There's no need for an explanation; contributors here are intelligent.

[scaryjim]

I think I'll go for the slick, presentable young one, not the deceitful old hack.

You're supporting the lib dems then?

[Kata]

There's no need for an explanation; contributors here are intelligent.

You mean "I can't think of an explanation that doesn't make it look like it's all about envy"?

No big surprise...

[santa claus]

You mean "I can't think of an explanation that doesn't make it look like it's all about envy"?

No big surprise...

No, I couldn't think of a polite way of saying that point-scoring, me-smarter-than-you discussion doesn't interest me. Yawn.

[Terbinator]

You're supporting the lib dems then?

beat me to it you old codger

[Kata]

If you're incapable of justifying what you write, why write it? I'd suggest you grow a pair, but it's obvious that you don't have enough faith in your convictions to attempt to defend them.

[santa claus]

If you're incapable of justifying what you write, why write it? I'd suggest you grow a pair, but it's obvious that you don't have enough faith in your convictions to attempt to defend them.

endless.

[Kata]

Yep! Not all of us run away when we can't justify our comments...