Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Gogogo
John Smith no doubt would have been a good Prime Minister as indeed Michael Foot & Neil Kinnock had they succeeded.
|
Sorry, but I really don't think either of the latter two *would* have been good in the job. They were nowhere near as impressive as Smith when he was speaking from the Dispatch Box and Blair is nowhere as good as him either.
Quote:
|
But you underestimate and have not understood that Tony Blair and the New Labour project have been and still are remarkably successful.
|
Blair and New Labour have only succeeded because they stole huge chunks of Tory ideas and repackaged them a bit more to the left (but still right of centre) whilst ditching practically everything to do with what their party had stood for. The Tories lost out because by the end of the Thatcher years they'd gone so far to the right that they'd alienated most of the country.
Ok, I didn't *agree* with what Old Labour stood for, but becoming another Tory party wasn't the best thing for the country and risks us ending up like the USA where you can either vote for the Right Wing party or the *really* Right Wing party!
Quote:
|
The winning of two general elections with staggering majorities is a record of unique achievement.
|
And 40% of the voters not turning out for the last one is *also* a staggering achievement, but not one that they want to brag about!!
Quote:
|
The New Labour project has rebuilt and renewed Labour goals.
|
"Renewed"? Totally changed, I think you mean!
Quote:
|
Tony Blair and his team were the first to lead the Labour Party in two successive terms of office, now that is a real achievement.
|
Not really, because a lot of that "success" is due to people not wanting to vote the Tories back in again after the disaster that the Thatcher years turned out to be (and Major was just a joke).
Unfortunately picking Michael Howard (architect of the Poll Tax!) as their leader is a serious mistake because a lot of people *do* remember him as being associated with the '80s and they don't want that back again.
The only problem is that the Lib Dems are still not really credible as a political force and they need to get some strong leadership and clearer policies before people will vote for them in a big way.
Quote:
|
It is still possible that Tony Blair could lead Labour to a third parliamentary victory.
|
Regrettably it looks more inevitable than just "possible" but I predict that the next election is going to have the lowest turnout *ever* for a General Election.
Quote:
|
One doesn't need to agree with everything our Prime minister says or does, he has renewed confidence and worked for progress, that this country is now better off than it was in the sad, bitter miserable days of Conservative rule.
|
"Renewed confidence"? Not in politicians he hasn't! The behaviour of the Government before and during the Iraq war was utterly shameful and all the spin and calls that "we must move on" aren't convincing anybody.
As for "worked for progress", the NHS is in a mess, schools are in a mess, University tuition fees are in a mess, the attempts to foist ID cards are in a mess, asylum and immigration are in a mess, Blair and his bunch have bodged up too many things and if they get in for a third time they're going to end up being viewed in the same light as the Tories in the '80s.
Quote:
|
Tony Blair has seen off several Conservative leaders.
|
Yes, because frankly they picked a bunch of total incompetants! It's not difficult to win against weak opposition.
Quote:
|
In time history will record him as quite a remarkable figure,
|
Remarkable, yes, but not, I think, for the reasons you suggest!
Quote:
|
he has courage of conviction and despite everything thrown against him, he has remained resilient.
|
True, but is that really a *good* thing in a leader? We've seen him time and again ignore public (and his own party's) opinion and plough on regardless because "Tony knows best".
Well, I'm sorry, but I don't think he does and a little humility (real, not simulated) and a little less spin and a bit more listening and paying attention would be a good thing.