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| UK Election Fever; A sympton of Election Gonorrhea | |
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| Topic Started: Apr 16 2010, 02:17 PM (795 Views) | |
| Kenny | May 12 2010, 06:30 PM Post #46 |
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King of California
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I'm sorry, but that is seriously awesome. You'd never catch an American pol doing that. They're such whiny little brats -- particularly when they march past Tea Party protests and make up stories about racist epithets. edit: also, William Hague was the most hilarious Leader of the Opposition ever. I hope he occasionally fills in during Question Time. |
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| Enn | May 12 2010, 10:04 PM Post #47 |
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Advanced Member
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Given the discussion about 'Alternative Voting' that might end up being used in the UK, I thought this article (about the equivalent being used in Australia) could make for interesting reading. It's apparently among the very few serious studies on the effect of preferential voting on party structures. Antony Green, the author, is the chief elections analyst with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He's known for his absolutely non-partisan reporting. |
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| Cobdenia | May 12 2010, 10:19 PM Post #48 |
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1953 is the new 1932 for 2008
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Yeah, Hague is a superb parliamenatarian (and a great debater); been made Foreign Secretary, which is good position for him. In fact, it's only Teresa Mays (home sec) and that bloke who's been made education sec that I am uncertain of. The other cabinet members seem to have been well chosen, including those positions that have gone to the Lib Dems (at least having a Lib Dem Scottish Secretary may shut the SNP's whiny gob for a bit) |
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| qumkent | May 13 2010, 02:47 AM Post #49 |
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NOT AN AO MEMBER!
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Yeah I must agree I can't stand Michael Gove either, the Eduction Secretary, there's something off about him, but he was campaign director or whatever so the Cons owe him. Teresa May is a lightweight. I admire Hague as a human being, and he's extremely intelligent, but I have a feeling he's going to be a disaster as Foreign Secretary. |
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| Cobdenia | May 13 2010, 08:53 AM Post #50 |
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1953 is the new 1932 for 2008
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It could go either way - his experience and prowess as a debater could make him too bullish when subtlety is needed, though similarly he's generally fully versed on the opposing sides viewpoint and thus very prepared in the events of negotiations. |
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| qumkent | May 13 2010, 09:06 AM Post #51 |
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NOT AN AO MEMBER!
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I think his a wee bit too doctrinaire in his anti-EU views to be objective, and if any cabinet position demands objectivity it's the Foreign Office. Though he is very likeable and a sophisticated thinker so that may go in his favour. |
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| eco | Jun 2 2010, 05:05 AM Post #52 |
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I campaigned for the Lib Dems but voted Labour. The Lib Dems didn't seriously target my constituency, mainly because it's a shoo-in for the mighty Jeremy Corbyn. I'm quite pleased with the outcome. Labour needed time off for bad behaviour and I'm intrigued to see how the Lib Dems get on. Plus electoral reform is a possibility. |
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| Cobdenia | Jun 2 2010, 10:23 AM Post #53 |
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1953 is the new 1932 for 2008
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Suprisingly, so am I - most of the Tory policy promises that I disagreed with were binned, and most of the lib dem policies I supported were adopted. I think it also gives the front bench of the Conservatives the ability to ignore the more right wing members of the back benches (who do hold some pretty regressive views). |
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| Kenny | Jun 14 2010, 01:07 PM Post #54 |
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King of California
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OK, maybe not: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/201..._on_street.html (A bit off-topic, but there you have it.) |
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| Kenny | May 5 2011, 07:05 PM Post #55 |
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King of California
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Slight gravedig, for our Brits, just to see if there's anything to be said about today's vote on the alternate-vote system. From the looks of things, it doesn't appear to pass, which I actually see as a good outcome because it would be a shame for the world's FPTP model to lose its iconic voting system (Urgie's obvious dissent notwithstanding :P). Also, everyone's (still) trashing Nick Clegg, which I don't think is terribly fair. Thoughts? |
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| qumkent | May 6 2011, 01:46 AM Post #56 |
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NOT AN AO MEMBER!
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Can't stand AV meself, it's not proportional representation and it's not especially more fair than FPTP, so I say stick with the devil you know. Though it's possible I might have thought differently in the past, I just don't think it's worth overturning a system which at least makes sense (on its own terms) for one which isn't proper proportional representation. Nick Clegg is propping up a fairly unreconstructed Tory regime, all the disaffected Labour voters who voted Lib-Dem (in protest, and foolishly thinking there would be a Lib-Lab pact as a result) at the last election hate him like poison for that. It's probably not wholly fair, but it's a sign of the underlying fragility of the Lib-Tory coalition's democratic mandate, and its failure to turn the initial cautious enthusiasm it received into lasting support. The irony is that the Tories will probably go from strength to strength while the Lib-Dems soak up all the hate. The Tories are doing exactly what their core voters wanted them too, the Lib-Dems are being seen as traitors and turn-coats. The Brits really can't get their heads around coalition government though, they see "coalition" and read "weak". Some opposition to AV comes from the fear that it would produce more coalitions. I think one of the big stories will be the size of the shift to the Scottish Nationalists in the Scottish Parliament elections which took place yesterday though. That's really going to heat the West Lothian question debate up a bit, especially if the English point out that the Scots get lots of money from Westminster and put it to them SNP that if they really want independence then that'll mean financial independence too. |
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| bloodstone kay | May 6 2011, 03:04 AM Post #57 |
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We won't get the AV result until this evening UK time (around 8pm), but as for the local council elections lib dems have already taken a kicking, and we still have another half of the results to come in. Nick Clegg really can't leave the coalition despite the result, having an early election will see them resigned to the wilderness for decades, it's potentially better for them to try and tough it out. As for AV, I expect apathy to be the largest result, but as for votes actually cast, it's probably going to be landslide no, due to really dirty / crappy politics. |
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| Gruenberg | May 7 2011, 08:29 AM Post #58 |
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aka Kleinschnauzer
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I am bitterly disappointed, though not particularly surprised by the referendum. The Scottish election results are more significant than the UK local elections, though it will be fascinating to see what happens if - hypothetically - the SNP still don't get a referendum win out of it. |
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| Cobdenia | May 11 2011, 02:52 AM Post #59 |
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1953 is the new 1932 for 2008
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I wasn't in favour of AV, but I wasn't excessively anti - only one aspect (albeit an important one) turned me away, and on a more superficial note I found the Yes campaign to be particularly wanky (not that that really affected my vote). On the whole, though, I'm pleased - I quite like FPTP. SNP results are interesting, but I feel it was more due to a disconnect with the major parties combined with voting for a party that would personally benefit voters in Scotland then a real desire for independence. Not sure if such results would transfer to a general election, either |
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| bloodstone kay | May 11 2011, 05:14 AM Post #60 |
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I still like that the Scottish election process was supposed to stop any 1 party getting an absolute majority... |
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