The 2010 General Election Thread: Week 4

[Angua]

Originally Posted by punky

I thought a newspaper wasn't supposed to tell its readers to go for anyone? I thought The Grauniad criticises The Sun for telling people to vote Tory?

They would need to have a go at the local paper too. In depth interview with DC but barely a sentence on anyone else.

As for my political compass - Similar to Damien but I could just never vote Green (our local lot are somewhat rabid).

has anybody read this twoddle from Griffin

link

The BNP leader also defended his proposal to repeal the Race Relations Act, which prevents discrimination in areas such as trade, employment and training.
"I don't think it's good to discriminate but it's everyone's right," he said, insisting he was protecting freedom of speech.

Originally Posted by punky

I thought a newspaper wasn't supposed to tell its readers to go for anyone? I thought The Grauniad criticises The Sun for telling people to vote Tory?

Newspapers don't have any obligation to be impartial, even during an election. It's only the broadcast media that has that restriction.

No real surprises for me, but strangely enough, I vote Tory (but I was a member of the TRG, which is regarded as a bit "wet" - just goes to show "one size" does not fit all....)

I am Ghandi ...

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

[punky]

Originally Posted by Chris

Newspapers don't have any obligation to be impartial, even during an election. It's only the broadcast media that has that restriction.

My point was the hypocrisy from the paper and its readership.

Originally Posted by punky

My point was the hypocrisy from the paper and its readership.

And I again point to the difference between what The Sun and Mirror do compared to what The Times and The Guardian do. The only way you can make a charge of hypocrisy is if you ignore those differences and ignore what was actually said.

I don't think the Guardian criticized The Sun for having a editorial preference for the Tories, although they obviously disagree with the choice, they attacked the fact that The Sun has been suppressing polls which are not favorable. They have been doing only positive news items with regards to the Tories and negative stories when handling the other parties.

At the last debate The Sun claimed Cameron smashed it, even though all the other polls disagreed. The Guardian had no problem saying he won, nor agreeing with the verdict that he won. Same with The Times (who support the Tories) had no problem with saying Clegg or Brown did well.

[Escapee]

I had to vote undecided.

I have never before been in this position, but the candidates in my area give me very little choice. I am clear that I don't want Labour, but a vote for Conservative here is a waste.

In the last local elections the 80 years of Labour dominance was defeated by the independents. The answer from Labour was a back-hander offer giving them seats on committees for a nice sum of money as long as Labour could be left in power.

The Labour offering would never get my vote
Lib would never get my vote
Plaid would never get my vote
Conservative is a wasted vote
The Independent is well meaning but not up to the job
The BNP member does not even live in the area

My vote will be not so much as a choice of who I want, but very much a vote to keep Labour out.

As they say in the Welsh valleys, stick a red flag up a donkeys bum and the clueless ex-miners will vote for him.

[Ramrod]

Originally Posted by danielf

You have to admit. Clegg's got a point...

Insular, yes, nasty, no......

[Ramrod]

Hmmmm.......

Heckler thrown out of Gordon Brown event - BBC

[Ignitionnet]

Greeks continue to take the idea of public services cuts well.

Be interesting to see how we react in the UK when they happen given that even Labour can't hide from them forever.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by Damien

And I again point to the difference between what The Sun and Mirror do compared to what The Times and The Guardian do. The only way you can make a charge of hypocrisy is if you ignore those differences and ignore what was actually said.

I don't think the Guardian criticized The Sun for having a editorial preference for the Tories, although they obviously disagree with the choice, they attacked the fact that The Sun has been suppressing polls which are not favorable. They have been doing only positive news items with regards to the Tories and negative stories when handling the other parties.

At the last debate The Sun claimed Cameron smashed it, even though all the other polls disagreed. The Guardian had no problem saying he won, nor agreeing with the verdict that he won. Same with The Times (who support the Tories) had no problem with saying Clegg or Brown did well.

Indeed.

Having an editorial in favour of one party over another is hardly the same as turning a newspaper into, what appears to be IMO, a propaganda machine for one party.

I read The Guardian & The Independent. Sometimes I'll read The Times & the Daily Telegraph. I know that, regardless of editorials & comment pieces, at least I'll get real news from them all. No way I'd rely on any of the tabloids for any kind of news though, especially during an election, whether they're on the Left (Mirror) or Right (Sun, Mail, Express).

Speaking of the Media, & the Murdoch Media in particular, these are interesting...

James Murdoch & Rebekah Wade (now Rebekah Brooks) recently stormed into the offices of the Independent's Editor-in-Chief Simon Kelner:

http://www.newser.com/off-the-grid/p...e-britain.html

...While the Political Editor of The Sun was recently heard saying "It is my job to see that Cameron <F Word> well gets into Downing Street".

[Gary L]

Here's a load of rubbish in a leaflet that came through my door.
blaming the tories for the mess they've been in control of for the past numerous years.

Everyone who is in this country and wants to part of our society should contribute, accept the rule of law and speak English. That's why I support Labour's tough new laws on Immigration. They're already in force and mean that only workers we need can come here. Unskilled workers from outside the EU can't come at all. Skilled jobs have to be advertised first to British workers or have to be on a list of jobs that are hard to fill. All immigrants must be able to speak English.

As a result of this Australian style points system, net immigration has started to fall but there's more to do. It's essential that we know who is coming into the country and how long they stay. The Tories should not have stopped counting people in and out in the first place. That's why we need Labour's new e-border system which will give us a record of who is coming and going.

She also says.
it'll only take 800 people who voted Labour last time to change their mind and I will lose.

Megaphone time again me think "VOTE CONSERVATIVE!"

[Angua]

Originally Posted by Gary L

Here's a load of rubbish in a leaflet that came through my door.
blaming the tories for the mess they've been in control of for the past numerous years.



She also says.
it'll only take 800 people who voted Labour last time to change their mind and I will lose.

Megaphone time again me think "VOTE CONSERVATIVE!"

Or an excellent lesson in how to firm up the opposition/undecided Labour vote. Total own goal there.