apology

[Boss Hogg]

no problem,what riles me is that there was no vot for GB to be PM.it was just that him and tony had an aggrement that when he steped down GB would get it.
There was no rank and file vote for who became there party leader so democacy lost.
then again its been going downhill sice the 1976
Paulh

Not sure I'd agree that it was a loss for democracy Paul, we do not vote for the Prime Minister in this country and it is always chosen the same way, by the Parliamentary Party. To me whether this is before or after an election is an irrelevance.

Maybe the best way forward would be for the parties to only announce who will be PM after the election, that way it is only the policy of the party and its MP's which would get them elected and not the party leader, that way we'd get away from this "beauty pageant" we have and back to debates on issues.

Saw some of the coverage recently of Brown speaking to the joint meeting of the Houses and I can safely say I can rarely remember such a sycophantic speech as the one he gave. I'm a little surprised that Obama just didn't pat him on the top of his head. if the tabloids used to depict Blair as Bush's puppy dog, Brown has done nothing to change that particular status quo.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Not sure I'd agree that it was a loss for democracy Paul, we do not vote for the Prime Minister in this country and it is always chosen the same way, by the Parliamentary Party. To me whether this is before or after an election is an irrelevance.

Maybe the best way forward would be for the parties to only announce who will be PM after the election, that way it is only the policy of the party and its MP's which would get them elected and not the party leader, that way we'd get away from this "beauty pageant" we have and back to debates on issues.

Saw some of the coverage recently of Brown speaking to the joint meeting of the Houses and I can safely say I can rarely remember such a sycophantic speech as the one he gave. I'm a little surprised that Obama just didn't pat him on the top of his head. if the tabloids used to depict Blair as Bush's puppy dog, Brown has done nothing to change that particular status quo.

Although that is true, we all know that, but some folks do vote partly for a person, partly for a party.
Brown speech may have been good but I would like to see some action not words, he really grates how he treats Scotland esp since he was born 10 mins up the road from me. Everything he does has done as chnclr does.And if he says global 1 more time I might have to chuck some green yuk at him(well not really but I would like to)

 

[paulh]

Not sure I'd agree that it was a loss for democracy Paul, we do not vote for the Prime Minister in this country and it is always chosen the same way, by the Parliamentary Party. .

both partys leaders are elected buy there rank and file even if in power.anything that loses our universal franchise is a bad move.i have said all along we dont vote for the PM but he must be corectley mandated by his party.i do think over here we are going down the presidentual rute slowly but surely
Paulh

 

[Boss Hogg]

both partys leaders are elected buy there rank and file even if in power.anything that loses our universal franchise is a bad move.i have said all along we dont vote for the PM but he must be corectley mandated by his party.i do think over here we are going down the presidentual rute slowly but surely
Paulh

Maybe that would be an idea and then we could have a presidential election for that office and then a general election for the party. The only downside to that for me would be the loss of the monarchy, but then that's a WHOLE different debate.

 

[Cyrano]

The only downside to that for me would be the loss of the monarchy, but then that's a WHOLE different debate.

Matt you had me with everything you were saying until you saw the loss of the monarchy as a downside

 

[Dominus]

Our system is very much a beauty contest. Tons or democrats were elected nationwide because of Obama. Here you can vote for individual candidates or straight ticket. So tons of people just voted straight democrat, like they were told or paid to do. I can't imagine your system is more corrupt than ours. I never meant to imply that GW didn't insult or disgrace people. I only meant that he came from a long line of diplomats and knew that at least publicly you have to do whats cordial and expected. I think a good analogy is this. GW is from old money that knows which fork to use with which food. Obama is new money that doesn't know or care what fork to use, but is just happy to have the dish. I just hate to think of the brits being snubbed. I mean, I love you guys. Iron Maiden, Guiness, Lotus, the boy scouts, and all that.

 

[Boss Hogg]

Our system is very much a beauty contest. Tons or democrats were elected nationwide because of Obama. Here you can vote for individual candidates or straight ticket. So tons of people just voted straight democrat, like they were told or paid to do. I can't imagine your system is more corrupt than ours. I never meant to imply that GW didn't insult or disgrace people. I only meant that he came from a long line of diplomats and knew that at least publicly you have to do whats cordial and expected. I think a good analogy is this. GW is from old money that knows which fork to use with which food. Obama is new money that doesn't know or care what fork to use, but is just happy to have the dish. I just hate to think of the brits being snubbed. I mean, I love you guys. Iron Maiden, Guiness, Lotus, the boy scouts, and all that.

I think you're spot on, I think that both systems are as bad as each other and guess we're stuck with it. Ultimately, between the govt and the press we pretty much get spoon fed information.

I got what you meant about dubya, and see where you're coming from - personally I don't think he's as bad as everyone says (but again a tangent here).

Must admit I saw some hilarious commentary on DVD-gate, but then I get my American news primarily from Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert

 

[Boss Hogg]

Matt you had me with everything you were saying until you saw the loss of the monarchy as a downside

Thought I'd pull you in then get you with a sucker punch

 

[wideeyes]

Am I alone in thinking the DVDs was a great gift and a brilliant representation of America's culture and history of which over the past 100 years film has played a mayor part off. They are some fantastic films in the collection he was given too.

 

[orlandothebeagle]

Like poor Hilary, didnt get the man vote as she reminded them of wife/mother!lol

 

[paulh]

I get my American news primarily from Jon Stewart and Steven Colbert

what there are outher oulets?
Paulh

 

[HeresYourEars]

I think the DVD collection was a bit tacky, as we say. Not much thought went into that 'gift' to the leader of our closest ally.

But I feel I can excuse Obama's staff as they are all a bit busy at the moment cleaning up the mess Bush left behind.

Maybe when Obama visits London in April he'll take something a bit better.

 

[paulh]

Maybe when Obama visits London in April he'll take something a bit better.

A stick of rock?
Paulh

 

[HeresYourEars]

I don't know what a stick of rock is, but it's got to be better than a box of DVDs

 

[Dimplenose]

I think you're spot on, I think that both systems are as bad as each other and guess we're stuck with it.

As flawed as any system is, I'm just happy to live in a country that is stable whichever party wins. It might make a difference to my tax payments but I never vote fearing for my life as people in other parts of the world do.

 

[Dominus]

As flawed as any system is, I'm just happy to live in a country that is stable whichever party wins. It might make a difference to my tax payments but I never vote fearing for my life as people in other parts of the world do.

That's exactly right. Here we call it "the peaceful transfer of power". Not sure if it has a name for you guys. But it is quit rare throughout the world. It's sad, yet comforting, to know that one's life doesn't change drasticaly when the government changes. What would be nice in the states is a viable 3rd party that is more middle than either of the 2. But factions will keep that from happening, even though like 90% of us want a third party.

 

[hildasmuriel]

We do have a third party - but they have ABSOLUTELY no chance of being elected. even when they were considered the middle way between the 2 other extremes.
Nowadays they are not really a central party though.

 

[Dominus]

I shouldn't say we don't have a third party. We have several. But none have a snowballs chance of winning town dog catcher.