Charles Kennedy admits to having a drink problem... - Page 4

07-01-2006, 15:41

Alcoholism is ok, it doesnt effect your ability to work and do a good job, any job for that matter, it doesnt even effect your family or work colleagues. But if there is a slight hint of your drink problem getting in the way of any of this, maybe its time to become a politician as an alcoholic with this job can be totally immune to its effects and criticisms.

and with that said, maybe now is the time for me to grow up.

Paul K · 07-01-2006, 15:42

Oh well I suppose he had to stand down, let's face it, Westminster is renowned for it's honesty, openness and purity so there was no way he could stay

Angua · 07-01-2006, 15:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

I hope he decides to stand and actually leave it to the membership to choose.Too many lib dem MPs are thinking that they should decide their party leader...He has after all a record to be proud of unlike any of those seeking his resignation and I suspect that the membership are rather bewildered by the about face of the Lib Dem MPs.I know I am and I'm not even a Lib Dem.

All Lib Dem leaders are selected by the membership on a PR basis. And yes This member is bewildered.

07-01-2006, 16:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mal

On a side issue, this may be harmful to other "alcoholic" MP's, as if they see that Kennedy was forced out, they may not seek help for fear of losing their postion.

I think they will be persuaded to seek help just like kennedy has been.. if it wasnt for people around him noticing the problem this thread wouldnt be here and he'd still have his job.

07-01-2006, 16:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Oh well I suppose he had to stand down, let's face it, Westminster is renowned for it's honesty, openness and purity so there was no way he could stay

absolutely ..

the irony of his leadership continuing to be tenable up to the point at which he had the guts & honesty to face up to having a problem, is not lost on me, either

Mr_love_monkey · 07-01-2006, 16:06

funny really - everyone has known about his drinking problem for ages, yet they were happy enough with him at that time, and now they decide for whatever reason that they no longer want him - it gives them an easy way to oust him.

I guess it would have been more acceptable if he liked to wear black sacks over his head, and have an orange shoved up his ****, maybe they would have seen it as 'normal'

Salu · 07-01-2006, 17:02

He's quit.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4590688.stm

**Maggy** · 07-01-2006, 17:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul

Oh well I suppose he had to stand down, let's face it, Westminster is renowned for it's honesty, openness and purity so there was no way he could stay

You said a mouthful there..

What do people want? A politician who tells the truth or one who lies?

Perhaps we get the politicians we deserve rather than the ones we want because frankly I sometimes wonder if we actually do know our own minds.

**Damien** · 07-01-2006, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

You said a mouthful there..

What do people want? A politician who tells the truth or one who lies?

Perhaps we get the politicians we deserve rather than the ones we want because frankly I sometimes wonder if we actually do know our own minds.

I think this shows the problem we all have with politician in that we expect them to tell the truth but to be a model of perfection. Our treatments of any indivdual faluts our politicians have forces them to be dishonest. They are doomed either way, they tell the truth they are hated, they tell a lie and they are hated.
I do not think people want the truth. They do not like it when the truth is told, no one likes bad news and to be told that somethings have to be done. Higher taxes for better services in changed to we will lower taxes and improve services.

People want to be lied to, they just dont want to find out they have been lied too. People do not want to show politicians are respect or find any good in them.

**Maggy** · 07-01-2006, 19:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Damien

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

You said a mouthful there..

What do people want? A politician who tells the truth or one who lies?

Perhaps we get the politicians we deserve rather than the ones we want because frankly I sometimes wonder if we actually do know our own minds.

I think this shows the problem we all have with politician in that we expect them to tell the truth but to be a model of perfection. Our treatments of any indivdual faluts our politicians have forces them to be dishonest. They are doomed either way, they tell the truth they are hated, they tell a lie and they are hated.
I do not think people want the truth. They do not like it when the truth is told, no one likes bad news and to be told that somethings have to be done. Higher taxes for better services in changed to we will lower taxes and improve services.

People want to be lied to, they just dont want to find out they have been lied too. People do not want to show politicians are respect or find any good in them.

Which is possibly why we get such crappy governments.What a bunch of hyprocrites we can be..

punky · 07-01-2006, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Incognitas

Which is possibly why we get such crappy governments.What a bunch of hyprocrites we can be..

Well, there is a difference between telling a white lie by nescessity, and just bulls**ting to get into government and remain there.

There are times when I think lies are nescessary, and therefore white. Say for example if the Hemel bomb was terrorist related and the group said they had a network of bombs due soon. The ensuing panic will do more damage than the bombs, so a fraudulent cover story, such as an accidental explosion would be more appropriate than the truth.

However bulls**ting only for the purposes of getting in to parliment and remaining there, like with promises of unaccomplisable aims is something different.

07-01-2006, 21:05

I've never really been that interested in government politics, I dont understand it much

but I still use to trot down to the polling station like a little sheep to vote labour every general/local election. no matter who wins, they all lie and are mainly interested in lining their own pockets.

**Maggy** · 08-01-2006, 01:42

Contrast what the Lib Dem MP's have said with the remarks of 'ordinary' people.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4590920.stm

http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thre...20060108014206

**Damien** · 08-01-2006, 09:58

The Lib dems have done so much damage with this. They always appeared not to be like other partys but now they are shown as worse!

This has been an amazing act of backstabbing, other partys may do the same but never so publically. People like Campbell breifed against him, and then when it emerged he was going to let the grass roots decided they knew he would win so decided to force him out before the members could choose!

I hope a candidate not assoisted with the backstabbing runs and gets the support of the members! Come on Lembit opik!

**Damien** · 08-01-2006, 19:11

Kennedy has asked for a contest instead of having just one candidate and I hope it happens!

Could the title of the topic be changed to something covering the fact he has resigned and that there is a new leader coming? Lib Dem leadership or something