The 2010 General Election Thread: Week 2

[Ignitionnet]

You're right sadly. As soon as Nick Clegg mentioned, briefly, cutting of a welfare benefit, the real time polling for him dropped like a brick.

Unfortunately a lot of people are far too used to Labour's profligacy and the idea of having to stop mortgaging our children for our benefit doesn't appeal.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

You're right sadly. As soon as Nick Clegg mentioned, briefly, cutting of a welfare benefit, the real time polling for him dropped like a brick.

Unfortunately a lot of people are far too used to Labour's profligacy and the idea of having to stop mortgaging our children for our benefit doesn't appeal.

Well that's the Labour way isn't it - chuck money at issues and don't be concerned with getting something approaching value for it. It's a pity that those who vote blindly for that sort of thing can't/won't see the bigger picture but the reality is that the axe is going to fall and, although brown and his cronies would like us all to believe that only the fat cats will pay, ordinary, decent hardworking people are going to be worse off as a direct result of New Labour's ineptitude and mismanagement.

[Osem]

Now I've had a chance to listen to some of the debate's 'high points' what struck me most about the 3 leaders was the way in which Brown so sickeningly cozied up to Clegg. For a man who won't even refer to their party by its correct name, I thought it was a very shallow and cynical tactic which backfired badly. I'm glad Clegg didn't buy it and even more happy that Brown was exposed for the inept political opportunist he is. It just goes to show how desperate to cling onto power this guy is.

I think Clegg probably did come across best, just, but that's mainly because the other two took their eyes off that particular ball and engaged in some of the sort of point scoring the public have become fed up with. The Lib Dems' major policies will obviously come under far more scrutiny from now on and it'll be interesting to see if/how his current personal popularity translates into votes when it comes to the crunch on the big day. If people worry that voting for Cameron's team is voting for inexperience in very tough times, how much less experienced in government are the Lib Dems? I also think a lot of people will be concerned about an amnesty for illegal immigrants in particular as well but we'll see about that won't we.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by Osem

I think Clegg probably did come across best, just, but that's mainly because the other two took their eyes off that particular ball and engaged in some of the sort of point scoring the public have become fed up with. The Lib Dems' major policies will obviously come under far more scrutiny from now on and it'll be interesting to see if/how his current personal popularity translates into votes when it comes to the crunch on the big day. If people worry that voting for Cameron's team is voting for inexperience in very tough times, how much less experienced in government are the Lib Dems? I also think a lot of people will be concerned about an amnesty for illegal immigrants in particular as well but we'll see about that won't we.

I think another thing where Clegg came out best was the fact that he was able to point to the manifesto and say 'we've pointed out where we are going to make cuts and what we're going to do with it'. Brown and Cameron were left trying to outdo each other talking about hypotheticals, and Clegg landed a sucker punch by saying they were trying to fund the NHS by saving on paperclips and pot plants in Whitehall. Priceless, I thought. But, as you say, It'll be interesting to see how things pan out. I think Clegg will come under more scrutiny in the next debates.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by danielf

I think another thing where Clegg came out best was the fact that he was able to point to the manifesto and say 'we've pointed out where we are going to make cuts and what we're going to do with it'. Brown and Cameron were left trying to outdo each other talking about hypotheticals, and Clegg landed a sucker punch by saying they were trying to fund the NHS by saving on paperclips and pot plants in Whitehall. Priceless, I thought. But, as you say, It'll be interesting to see how things pan out. I think Clegg will come under more scrutiny in the next debates.

I reckon the gloves will come off - Brown and DC have been widely criticised for their own performances and letting Clegg off the hook. I don't see the latter happening again.

[Angua]

Has apathy set in already? Only 54 votes so far this week versus 103 at the close of week 1.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Anyone remember when David Cameron spoke during the debate about how he met a "40-year-old black man" who came here at the age of six and served in the Royal Navy for 30 years?

Seems the sums were wrong (& the message):

http://www.thisisplymouth.co.uk/news...l/article.html


---------------------

Who else has David Cameron met?

http://www.fridgemagnet.org.uk/toys/dave-met.php

LOL

[Reminds me of the "Daily Mail headline generator"]

David Cameron also mentioned something about 40 police offers in the Police HR department who did nothing but push paper around, turned out their job was to train other police officers...

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by Ignitionnet

He hasn't said it needs getting rid of, he's suggesting a rethink of Trident. I would hope he'd be open to alternatives as we do absolutely need to retain an independent nuclear deterrent given the ongoing uncertainty in the world.

We don't have an independent nuclear deterrent at the moment though. The thing that bothers me most about Cleggy is his immigration policy, an amnesty is for illegals isn't the way to go, Spain has tried it IIRC and are now on their seventh amnesty.

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

We don't have an independent nuclear deterrent at the moment though. The thing that bothers me most about Cleggy is his immigration policy, an amnesty is for illegals isn't the way to go, Spain has tried it IIRC and are now on their seventh amnesty.

And we didn't need many helicopters 10 years ago - things, as they say, change......

[TheDaddy]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

And we didn't need many helicopters 10 years ago - things, as they say, change......

We may not have needed as many but we still had some, where as we have never had an independent nuclear deterrent.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Damien

David Cameron also mentioned something about 40 police offers in the Police HR department who did nothing but push paper around, turned out their job was to train other police officers...

What, to push paper around?

Well in addition to topics such as the economy (without which everything else falls), immigration and defence, I hope they're going to start explaining how they're going to ensure the lights don't start going out in a few years due to old generating capacity not being replaced speedily enough...

Originally Posted by TheDaddy

We may not have needed as many but we still had some, where as we have never had an independent nuclear deterrent.

FYI

2.Does the government of the United States of America have any involvement in the use of nuclear weapons by the British government?

No. But in the event of the contemplated use of UK nuclear weapons for NATO purposes, procedures exist to allow all NATO Allies, including the US, to express views on what was being proposed. The final decision on whether or not to use nuclear weapons in such circumstances, and if so how, would, however, be made by the nuclear power concerned.

3. Can the government of the USA prevent, veto or forbid the UK to use its own nuclear weapons?

No.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by foreverwar

FYI

Although for us to have a truly independent nuclear deterrent, wouldn't we really need to have our own missiles (rather than American Trident D5s), fitted with warheads not just made in the UK, but also fully UK designed?

[speedfreak]

Just to save me searching the web and this thread, is there any possibility that the Lib Dems can win? Or is it a "wasted" vote?