Crunch match

Not to sound to oily but we now have a time-table for the uk troops to pull out of Afghan. Didn't expect that so soon.

Really? Watching it with Merkel? Odd call. As it happens, I'm cautiously optimistic about the Match. Less so on the Cameron premiership.

Well Merkel could well be gone by the end of July, so enjoy it while you can

No divide between us and the USA on how to tackle our deficit ?

Not what I've been reading the past couple of weeks..I thought the US urged caution on cutting too fast and too deep.

Ah...diplomacy.

Cameron...don't do the footie fan bit...Blair tried...it don't look good or sincere.

Well, if we beat Germany, then Argentina, then Portugal......we will have earned the Final spot

#4 He was going to do what the US said but then Canada told him to do something else....or was it Sweden. Anyway,I think he's going to let us decide now isn't he?

3. At 5:54pm on 25 Jun 2010, Kevinb wrote:
Well Merkel could well be gone by the end of July, so enjoy it while you can

Indeed. When the German coalition collapses ..... You started drafting that apology yet Kevin? Not that I'm counting but that's two forecasts wrong out of two. Must try harder.

As England has a 100% record in the Football World Cup finals and Germany only has around 40%, then England has every chance!

(The recent pensions debate on this forum inspired me to look up Huffs classic - How to Lie with Statistics).

Actually it will be difficult because this time around, the Poles (well two of them) are on the Germans side.

Mr Robinson,
I am not going to dignify this particular Blog of yours with one of my posts.
Yours huffily,
Snuffy
PS: Oops!

#6.

I beleive so.

It was the USA, but then George read something about Canada so they decided to do it like that, but then Michael Gove said he'd been to Sweden because their schools were free and said they did it to but not as quick as Canada, and then George spoke to Mervin who told him that Greece was in a fix so George decided to do it quicker than either Sweden and Canada because he didn't want to upset his friends in the City but Dave said we ought to ask everyone first just to be on the safe side.

Thus economic policy was formed.

7. At 6:25pm on 25 Jun 2010, KMBayes wrote:
3. At 5:54pm on 25 Jun 2010, Kevinb wrote:
Well Merkel could well be gone by the end of July, so enjoy it while you can

Indeed. When the German coalition collapses ..... You started drafting that apology yet Kevin? Not that I'm counting but that's two forecasts wrong out of two. Must try harder.


It is by the end of July...have you got a calendar?

Cameron went to Eton, just about the best soccer school in the UK
Bliar went to Fettes which is obsessed with rugby.

Camera-on at least has a childhood of playing and supporting House and School soccer: Bliar never did.

I can't see anything odd about saying that UK troops should hopefully be out of Afghanistan before the next election.
It's been said before.

Does Mrs Robinson write it down if she asks Nick if he's brushed his hair before coming down to breakfast and he said yes - which he'd already said he'd do - with rather too vigorous effort, it seems?

And a "left-over"...
"Practical steps" rather than windy rhetoric...
And I bet he won't claim that he "saved the world"...

Whey Hey Yogi! i bet he can't give Obama an answer why he favoured austerity rather than practical steps.
Since the liberals have abandoned their John maynard Keynes approach to become Yogi's little Boo Boo! it just could be a sleepy meeting.

I'm not an economist but I don't believe that John Maynard Keynes suggested that governments should borrow to spend for the current account in the good years then borrow to spend likewise in the bad times.

But then, I never gained a doctorate by writing about some obscure Scottish politician who had about as much impact on UK life as a bacon butty at a Jewish wedding...

Diplomats may breathe a sigh of relief but true footie fans may be puzzled as to how our nation's leader can even contemplate watching a crunch match with "the enemy".

Because they're grown-ups, that's why.

And because Germany is turning away from Europe a little in favour of Russia. In the longer term a footy match is less relevant than how Germany expands without immigration, and how Germany can preserve prosperity when it's currently expected to prop up the profligate excesses of the Mediterranean eurozone countries.

10

Very good

They won't be doing anything else of importance so they might as well watch the entire match. Tackle the deficit: translation: Cut services and raise taxes on the people not the banks. Pretend it never happended and blame the people for over-extending their credit not the banks for making questional loans with questional instruments with nothing to back them up. Change the subject to the war as private contractors getting rich in Afghanistan would like to know when this train will stop and the next one is beginning that they can profit from. Attend going away party for bankers leaving for Asia investing taxpayers funds. Pretend this is all very painful to hide the fact that they have no idea what to do. Encourage public to learn to sew as all will soon be making t-shirts and dresses for the Chinese.

....the plan is for David Cameron and Germany's Chancellor Merkel to slip out of what will, by then, be the G20 summit in order to watch the second half of the match.
The PM told my ITV News colleague Tom Bradby that he would not wrestle Ms Merkel to the floor in the event of penalties.
Diplomats may breathe a sigh of relief but true footie fans may be puzzled as to how our nation's leader can even contemplate watching a crunch match with "the enemy".

For goodness sake. It's a football match.

It's not like the Leaders would be watching the Battle of the Bulge on prime-time TV, is it?

And I rather wonder what the other G20 leaders will think about people taking a 45 minute break?

I mean, I bet Obama doesn't even under understand the leg before wicket rule!

HD2 @ 12.

I wondered why the English football team was littered with etonians....now I know.

#15.

And you said I needed educating.

#18 At 7:18pm on 25 Jun 2010, craigmarlpool wrote:

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Note I said 'School'.
Eton have been in the last 4 better) of the Schools FA cup and its independent school equivalent for decades.

Having 1300+ boys helps - especially as they are expected to play some form of sport for several hours each week (I think it's around 5-6 hours of practise and 2 matches per week - that's what Shrewsbury boys do).

They also have brains - something that Arsenal players seem to have (Wenger is adamant his players are clever, as well as talented), whilst the average England player in another club seems all but unable to string 2 words together - let alone a sentence.

'A bit of a Terry' is a well-known Services term meaning someone of low intelligence and high aggression long before any England footballer bore that name.

The photo of the England players on the steps of the plane just before they left for South Africa suggested to me that only 2 would be welcome in my classes and nearly all the rest should be expelled as they looked like mindless thugs. And yes, appearances can be deceptive, but intelligence shows in the eyes.

The two I'd keep? James and Crouch.

19

I try to be pleasant...and get that back?

Actually I've just found out that Rooney went to Westminster,not Eton.

HD2 @ 20.

How do they keep their top hats on ? Don't they fall off when they go in for a tackle ?

Kevinb @ 21.

Kevin,I was joshing...I appreciate your comment.

saga. from previous blogg.
yep i took the LD plunge. brhyers warned against it. even got leaflets through the door saying.. we are the only ones who can keep the tories out. and look what happened.
political career at the expense of his parties credibility and future electability.
oh well. lab vote would have been a waste where i live. but in retrospect i guess its a clear case of how tactical voting can be a disaster lol

13 FOM

" But then, I never gained a doctorate by writing about some obscure Scottish politician who had about as much impact on UK life as a bacon butty at a Jewish wedding..."

The proverbial kidologist! rather an unorthodox reply.

Well! no doubt you'll continue with your fantasy stuff aided by the thought that "Pork" is more sacred than Lamb.

Ah, the appeasing aspect of fluffness! when in doubt support Merkel...LoL! Carry on Doc

#22 Magistrate's or Crown? Do you know?

#22 ........ or House of 'Commons' which is appropriate for the talentless twerp who has bottled it in S.A.

#23 I understand, from what their girlfriend's say, that Etonian tackles are not to be under-rated.

Top hats are only worn on exam days or when out in Town - as I thought every educated person knew?

#27.

Westminster PRU. I believe.

24

I liked the top hat one too....hopefully we can get back to having more humour on here once more

#29

Not you as well...I am educated. I'm beginning to feel picked on.

5 Grade 1 CSEs
2 16+
2 A levels (Art and Economics.)
Bsc Estate Management.(RICS)

There...lets have no more of these unwarranted comments.

At Harry Cheshire High School (failed my 11+...I was robbed.)top hats were not worn in or out of school...and any kid seen wearing one was liable to go home without it...and probably his teeth too... teachers in those days were hard but fair.

10. At 6:47pm on 25 Jun 2010, craigmarlpool wrote:
#6.
I beleive so.
It was the USA, but then George read something about Canada so they decided to do it like that, but then Michael Gove said he'd been to Sweden because their schools were free and said they did it to but not as quick as Canada, and then George spoke to Mervin who told him that Greece was in a fix so George decided to do it quicker than either Sweden and Canada because he didn't want to upset his friends in the City but Dave said we ought to ask everyone first just to be on the safe side.
Thus economic policy was formed.

Craig,

So just who did Gordon talk to when he went up the mountain and came down with a load of tablets he tried to force down everybody else's throats?

He didn't need to do that, did he?
But he "knew" he could "save the world".
Problem is that nobody else believed him...

And I "know" I'm going to win the EuroMillions jackpot, so I can help loads of people in my extended family and various charities.
Sad thing is that my bank manager has a less positive view.
Because I had no legal right to take cash from other peoples's wallets or borrow on their credit cards.
So I spend what I can afford.

Any reason why Gordon couldn't have done that?

So my children should not have been forced to pay down reckless levels of spending?

Mr. Cameron insisted that there was no divide between the UK and the US on the need to tackle “our” deficit. Does this mean the United States agreed that the United Kingdom should tackle the UK deficit? Surely, it couldn't mean that the United States is going to start tackling the American deficit. The United States' NATIONAL DEBT is $13,049,495,040,569.65.
The estimated population of the United States is 308,626,371; so, each American’s share is $42,282.50. The National Debt has continued to increase an average of $4.04B/day since September 28, 2007!
If I was the UK, I wouldn’t worry about China’s growth; it will certainly exceed that of the UK.
As for the troops out of Afghanistan, Cameron: "I want that to happen.” So do most of the people in the UK - the sooner the better - if that means anything to Mr. Cameron.

lefty @ 25

Well no, if Lab had no chance in your seat - if they really had no chance - then your LD vote made perfect sense. You weren't to know what they'd do. In any case, a torlib coalition is better than the neat poison ... so if you helped elect a LD in place of a clown, good news. And if you just decreased the C maj (in your seat), then still that's good. Me? Well my seat was a genuine 3 way marge (in fact the closest result in the entire country), we returned Glenda Jackson for Lab by just 42 votes - 42! - and so I was glad I didn't mess around, that I was one of those 42; I've spoken to the other 41 since (we all met up at Starbucks the week after) and they all feel exactly the same.

#32 I was not suggesting you were 'thick', just 'uneducated'.

Pieces of paper have little to do with the latter - no disrespect, as I have great admiration for those who, having afiled their 11+, worked their way up 'the hard way'

I contrast, I had it easy - 11+ pass and then being in a school where the teachers were all competing for the top posts in the soon-to-be-created Comprehensive school - so they were all mad keen we got as many qualifications as possible.

No real skill or talent on my part as I was also lucky enough to have the brightest boy in the school in a decade in my class - so he pulled the rest of us the academic ladder.

I have as many grade 'A' A-levels as you have CSEs - and I'll willingly accept that you worked harder and achieved more with your CSEs than I did for my qualifications.
It was not until I entered the world of work that I ever had to do any serious work - exams have always been easy (even TOO easy) for me.

I have

32

I only said educated on the issue in question.....keep yer titfer on!!

26. At 8:02pm on 25 Jun 2010, kered wrote:
13 FOM

" But then, I never gained a doctorate by writing about some obscure Scottish politician who had about as much impact on UK life as a bacon butty at a Jewish wedding..."
The proverbial kidologist! rather an unorthodox reply.
Well! no doubt you'll continue with your fantasy stuff aided by the thought that "Pork" is more sacred than Lamb.

Hi, Kered,

Some folk believe that pork and some shellfish should not be eaten (I understand or fancy because they found that they caused health problems, which can still happen today, although I enjoy both. Not just a few people in Israel - I rather think that the followers of Islam also feel the same way).
Some folk won't eat cattle meat because there are religious connotations.
I don't agree with their views, but happy to tolerate them.

Kered,
Life is an illusion.
I tend to buy and eat stuff I enjoy and can afford. And tell the people running the supermarket when a pre-packaged bit of meat is going off...
What do you do?

"Ah, the appeasing aspect of fluffness! when in doubt support Merkel...LoL! Carry on Doc"

Hello Derek....

Appeasing? It has nothing to do with you or me whether Germany decides that some belt-tightening is needed when countries who should never have been allowed into the Euro-zone demonstrate their weaknesses.
If the idiots who drove the "European Vision" couldn't be bothered to check the viability of national economies before allowing countries like Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Italy to "join the Euroclub", what has that got to do with you or me?

Maybe the one thing that Brown got right. Telling Blair to shove off and wait a while before dragging the UK into a financial union within which individual economies can't adapt rapidly.

Goodness knows. If Blair had opposed entry, maybe Bown would have forced us in...

36 & 37.

I must be getting sensitive in my old age.

Antway,Nick's post must have been less than stimulating judging by the rapidity the posts have drifted off topic.

This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.

39

He has been somewhat frivolous of late....maybe the rumours are true and he is leaving soon

25 Lefty

The Election night saw some intersting results - Some sitting MP's who were expected to lose their seats come through. In some cases of course big % swings occurred.

The new HoC looks quite strange. Take away the familar faces on both sides of the House and how many back benchers from either side can you name let alone know what they stand for. Where for instance is the next party rebel?

Take out the Lib/Dems and the Tory front Bench appears quite weak. The Labour Front bench not the same as when GB was there. On political programmes such as the Daily Politics/Newsnight/QT All parties appear to be happy to roll out the same old faces. I believe that Labour could try a new trick here and take the long term political advantage. When for instance Newsnight ask for a spokesman then Labour should unleash one or two of their new faces.... The political big guns of the future if you like. Time to move to the future and start planning for the next election.

This comment has been referred for further consideration. Explain.

#42.

Agree on para two. Lots of unfamiliar faces.

I have a suspicion, and I do not seek to make any party political point here as I believe it is true for both sides of the House, that there are a large number of career politicians. They all look,apart from the colour of their rosettes, the same.

Say what you like about folk like Prescott or Clarke for example, at least they have personality and...how can I put it...fire in their bellies.

FOM,

"If Blair had opposed entry, maybe Brown would have forced us in"

I think that’s very possible. These personal psychology factors can be underestimated as significant drivers of events. This is why I’m able to postulate with a fair degree of confidence that one of the main reasons (perhaps the main reason) for this government being more aggressive than Labour on the timetable for deficit reduction is simply George Osborne’s desire to make a name for himself.

44

It is an indisputable fact that there are loads of new faces in HOC

I think it is right to say a lot of career politicians are similar...Miliband x 2, Balls

To be fair to the Conservatives, they have taken in more Asian MPs than any party before, and the 'intake' are supposed to be the best quality for many a year...time will tell

As you would expect I know less about the Labour Party, although from what I have seen, they still need to adjust to being out of power, and I think the delayed leadership election, leaves them a touch directionless until the leader is chosen

Clearly this makes being a new Labour MP a little stranger and more demanding than being a new Conservative MP I would expect

I don't agree with Mr N re the COnservative front bench, although no doubt you will think I am being biased (I am not)

Actually, I think Labour are in desperate need of some new blood, as the Labour Government were starting to look tired and out of ideas and energy coming up to the election (not unlike the Conservatives in 1997)

If they take as long as the Conservatives to realise things have changed (8 years!!!!!) then...a tough time for their supporters awaits

Paddy Ashdown has been savaging David Miliband this week, blaming him for the Lib/Lab pact failing, and defending Nick Clegg, saying at least he had the guts to do something

The Labour Party are now paying a heavy price for having Brown as such a control freak, as there is a vacuum after his departure

It is also gong to be possible for Cameron to accuse any leader of cowardice in not carrying through the coup, as was done in Australia.....

Like Cameron , or not, I don't think that there is any doubt that he has shown courage and strength as a leader, and even if you don't agree with the actions taken, the reality is he has taken action, and not ducked anything

Considering the election was seven weeks ago, I believe that the work the coalition has got through is astonishing

Politics is starting to be devoid of characters, and hopefully this is a passing trend

i have to say, I have never found Prescott appealing, a rather ignorant and snide man

Ken Clarke and Boris Johnson are two universally popular Conservatives....trying to think of Labour equivalents, and without being cheap, I really can't think of any beyond respected politicians, such as Frank Field and Robin Cook...although they aren't really 'liked'

Anyway, that's my non-partisan view to add to the debate

45

George Osborne will make a name for himself, by being the best chancellor in a long time, and for getting it right

Not in the tribal manner who suggest, though

45. At 10:11pm on 25 Jun 2010, sagamix wrote:
FOM,

"If Blair had opposed entry, maybe Brown would have forced us in"

I think that’s very possible. These personal psychology factors can be underestimated as significant drivers of events. This is why I’m able to postulate with a fair degree of confidence that one of the main reasons (perhaps the main reason) for this government being more aggressive than Labour on the timetable for deficit reduction is simply George Osborne’s desire to make a name for himself.

Hi saga,

You are probably right. Or left. Who cares?

I'm going to be the guy hanging from a beech tree branch. All this stuff is rediculous.

GU something should find me. So a bloke from the soft under-belly of the "English dominated" UK. I came from further West but who cares?
You know, as you are a bloke from NE London (Hampstead) with odd attachments to Swindon.

Just hope that whoever picks up the poisoned chalice of the Blair/Brown years can work out how to build some sort of positive UK. You know, real benefits from every tax-pound taken. Yeah, I know there is no Government track record for decades, but there are lots of good managers who could deliver that!!!!!! You know...
Take a tax-pound if you need it.
Spend a pound if you have to.
Invest a pound if you can see a clear longer-term benefit.

I like that "United" Kingdom bit, but lots of others obviously don't. Sad

35. saga
i guess your right, although where i live the CONS have been in since the dark ages. super safe blue seat. glad to see glenda got in where you are.
i still find it dificult to accept the coalition...in the respect of all the policies and subsequent u-turns/massive compromises of the lib dems, moreover the strong "a vote for us will keep the tories out, we are your only chance to do this" campaign that they fought. that bitter taste is not going away and honestly, i would never ever vote for them again!

Gee I'd love to hear your partisan view then, Kevin (46). Don't really get your "in tribal manner" comment at 47 - I'm not accusing Osborne of being tribal. Not accusing him of anything, actually ... bar the very understandable (and deeply cynical) qualities of venal personal ambition and heartless political calculation.

45. At 10:11pm on 25 Jun 2010, sagamix wrote:
FOM,

"If Blair had opposed entry, maybe Brown would have forced us in"

I think that’s very possible. These personal psychology factors can be underestimated as significant drivers of events. This is why I’m able to postulate with a fair degree of confidence that one of the main reasons (perhaps the main reason) for this government being more aggressive than Labour on the timetable for deficit reduction is simply George Osborne’s desire to make a name for himself."

Saga,
Who cares?
Politicos come and go.
Agree legislation or regulation they didn't truly read or understand.
Stuff up people.
Then move on.
Somtimes into money-rich but moral-light "futures".

Tired of all this nonsense.

You should be too.

38 FOM
" Some folk won't eat cattle meat because there are religious connotations.
I don't agree with their views, but happy to tolerate them"

Sometimes it's nothing more than say a Vegetarian habit.

"Life is an illusion.
I tend to buy and eat stuff I enjoy and can afford. And tell the people running the supermarket when a pre-packaged bit of meat is going off...
What do you do?

I tend to think that an illusion is a bit like a mirage.
Yeah, I'm also carnivores but i like the butcher to distribute an even cut. Not really keen on some getting fatter slices than others.Yip, nothing wrong with drawing attention to a hazzard.

"If the idiots who drove the "European Vision" couldn't be bothered to check the viability of national economies before allowing countries like Greece, Spain, Portugal, Ireland and Italy to "join the Euroclub", what has that got to do with you or me?"

Well, i think the drivers were right to try and stop the devisions in Europe, god knows, it's been the cause of many a fight.Language barriers, nor religious believes shouldn't be a good reason for countries not to unite under a programme for betterment.

Opinions are fine! one mans like is anothers dislike.

Can't really accept the idea that Brown would just do one because Blair did or didn't.

I'm going to tell you a little story.

I once had the pleasure to listen to H and S, officer (Phil Munn)
Phil told me how he had been called into a Glasgow hospital, to try and solve a problem with the cleaning staff.

8 members of the cleaning staff had been dismissed, for time keeping, they had all taken time off because they burst-out in a server rash with high tempatures. The cleaning staff said that they thought that they picked the rash and fever up while at work.

They were all part time staff that worked from 6pm to 10pm mon to fri.

Of course the hospital senior staff that had dismissed them said, said there was no proof they had an illness and was certainly nothing to do with their working enviroment.

So Phil entered the argument and of course went to the hospital to investigate. Phil spent 4 days trying to come up with a suitable answer as to why the cleaners were breaking out in a rash and for three days he had no luck.

On the fourth day he went to the hospital at the same time as the cleaners would have gone 6pm, Phil decided to look into the ground floor department where the cleaners would washed and buff the floors.

While Phil was in that perticular area, he was sure he had felt a bite on his right arm.

Phil them made a phone call and had a strope light delivered ASAP. HE TURNED ALL THE LIGHTS OFF AND PUT THE STROPE LIGHT ON, and their floatting about in their masses were parisites.

The ground floor happened to be the mortuary, through the day the doors where left open and the parisite would disperse into the corridors.

When the cleaners arrived the parasites would then land on them and bite them. Causing the rash and illness.

Of course all the cleaners were reinstated.

Moral of the story! if you dig hard enough the truth is always there.

42 mrnaughty2
at the moment i feel quite flat about the labour leadership. i mean centre ground might appease the majority right wing press, but its not going to radically change things....ie....address inequality, the environment etc.
its a sad situation that the uk will still have the one of the very highest inequality stats in all the wealthiest western world and the highest retirement age too. im sure theres a SMALL FEW doing ok with all this, but the large majority just slave away to pay for them. i remember when i worked self employed for a multi millionaire property developer. he had 7 guys working for him (not employed so he didnt have to pay holiday pay)
we were paid average salary and every christmas we got a £300 bonus in our christmas cards. most of the guys were gratefull but i used to think how tight it was. we all grafted hard and we could have got 2k each and it would have still been super small change to him. he must have been making well over a mil a year and it was just his sideline/hobby.
kind of how the country runs...but just in minature!

fairly @ 51

"Agree legislation or regulation they didn't truly read or understand. Stuff up people. Then move on."

Yes, that's pretty much bang on. Atomised and reductive job descriptions can be shockingly accurate ... "22 men chasing a round object around a field," for another example. Nonsense, as you say, but it doesn't mean it is nonsense.

53 lefty10

"at the moment i feel quite flat about the labour leadership. i mean centre ground might appease the majority right wing press, but its not going to radically change things....ie....address inequality, the environment etc."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Age old problem - ideological purity versus power.

I can see why you are feeling flat, there is no candidate that represents change, except Abbott, who would be a disaster for you. The rest represent the Blair/Brown years.

Is there no new talent coming through?

50. At 10:59pm on 25 Jun 2010, sagamix wrote:
Gee I'd love to hear your partisan view then, Kevin (46). Don't really get your "in tribal manner" comment at 47 - I'm not accusing Osborne of being tribal. Not accusing him of anything, actually ... bar the very understandable (and deeply cynical) qualities of venal personal ambition and heartless political calculation.

Rather like Frodo at the end of Lord of the Rings, you are fading away.....almost with each post now

Trouble for you Lefty, is you ARE a socialist, and socialism is never going to happen in the UK

SO wanting something that will never happen is making you feel angry, and will create great disillusionment

The closest leader to your views, is probably Diane Abbot, although she sends her sone to a private school, and thinks black mothers are better than white mothers, each of which I know you won't agree with, as they contradict your principles

So, I don't think you are going to have much to celebrate politically for a very long time

Rather like 1992 to 2010 for me

50. At 10:59pm on 25 Jun 2010, sagamix wrote:
Gee I'd love to hear your partisan view then, Kevin (46).

Instead of mocking from the sidelines, tell us all the names of two universally popular Labour politicians then?

I really tried, and could think of none

If you can't name any, then that simply proves my point all the more

'Diplomats may breathe a sigh of relief but true footie fans may be puzzled as to how our nation's leader can even contemplate watching a crunch match with "the enemy".'


What a bizarre statement.
Are Cameron and his aides supposed to lock themselves away in a room to watch it?

Mind you true footie fans are puzzled by many things.

In stead of discussing foot ball tactics with the German chancellor he should be discussing if she will engage more of her troops in the bitter conflict in Afghanistan with the possibility of getting our men home sooner.
and then give the united kingdom a refund for the time we spent after the war years looking after the place? I/e Gatow berlin, And fassburg, etc.
We need some help in getting out of the hole dug by A Mr g brown.

"tell us all the names of two universally popular Labour politicians then?"

No problem.

Do they have to be alive?

61

yes

#61 Saga your pushing it a bit there ?
Blan.............................................................k

57. kelvinb
you havent got anything to worry about at the moment as you are happy with this govt, cameron and osborne and their ideology. whereas i can see clearly that the country is now being run by a govt mainly consisiting of and implementing right wing and imoral policies.
over time more and more policies will be inacted to the detrement of the majority in society. more inequality, little for the environment as this form of capitalism with the philosophy of ever increasing production simply cannot continue long term as it is not compatible with the worlds finite resources. then we have the middle east. nothing will be substantially done here, our ties to america and the hawkish powers of washington and their pro israeli stance. anyway anyway....off on a tangent and simply not enough time, energy or inclination to list all the uks problems and how it will get worse under the cons.
more closer to home and fresh off the press. Consevative Nadine Dorries has been put on the Health Select Committee. i did an article on her a while ago. beggars belief. but not suprised. many strange and extreme members at the foundation of your party. god help us.

Okay Kevin good (62). And just to clarify (per your 46), you'd like me to name a couple of Labour politicians who are as "universally popular" as Boris Johnson, is that right?

65

You just can't do it...

Definitely can if I want to. Just have to decide whether I want to.

68

You just can't and as usual just wriggle...pathetic

I'm not wriggling, Kevin - wriggling is for worms, not clear thinking progressives - I'm merely evaluating whether or not I have the time (in my busy weekend) to footle around naming a brace of "universally popular" Labour MPs. Time consuming bit is not so much coming up with the two, it's reducing it to only two.

70

Worm?

What a great analogy

Simile you mean, Kevin - at a push, metaphor.

As in ... "Osborne wriggled wormlike as Harman tore into him".

you mean like.....wriggling is for worms....

Not only did you write that helpful analogy (which I referred to) you then proceed to enact it

Helpful of you, thanks

"Osborne wriggled wormlike as Harman tore into him".

He grimaced at the shrill screeching, comforted only by how the awfulness of the noise was disproportionate to it's effectiveness. Bit like one of those tiny dogs that yaps and yaps.

Have you noticed how many people have urged the Harpy to stand as leader of the Labour party? Not many.

Pleasure. But it is (strictly speaking) more of a simile. Anyway, it's your lucky day; I've managed to hone my list of Labour politicians who are as "universally popular as Boris Johnson" down to the final and definitive 250 ... only 248 to throw out and we're there. Couple hours max.

Hello Andy. It's not compulsory for you to write that sort of post, hope you realise. You could contribute - you know, like Kevin tries to do.

Hello Sagamix. Truth hurts, huh?

I've contributed enough to lead you back to a realistic view of the world but, as they say, "there's none so blind as cannot see".

75. At 6:01pm on 26 Jun 2010, sagamix wrote:
Hello Andy. It's not compulsory for you to write that sort of post, hope you realise. You could contribute - you know, like Kevin tries to do.

Sorry, you have just blown my anti-pompous software......

Just popping out to upgrade to v9.33

74 - I've just surveyed a cross section of society and not a single one of those 250 came even close to the popularity of Boris.

Typical comments being:

"Labour people have no personalities, only pomposity"

"Oh, dear God, save me from having to talk to a Labour 'drone' at a party"

"Boris is funny. Labour aren't. Their 'chit-chat' holy grail is the search for the ultimate politically correct joke, which like the Holy Grail itself, doesn't actually exist"

"I've learnt to switch off when Labour people are talking, it's the only way"

77 - More and more, Saga resembles the armless, legless Knight who denies his wounds in the Python film.

Hopelessly defeated and out-fought he clings to the madness of his own little world.

80

He certainly is incapable of pulling a 'killer rabbit' out of a hat...that's for sure

I'm guessing there's a point in there somewhere, Andy, just not too sure what it is. Clowns are good for a giggle, is that it? As regards Mr B. Johnson, yes he has his fans, I'm (sadly) aware of that - but only in certain circles. Nothing "universal" about his popularity. Last time he came to our neck of the woods he was given the bird; and after that he got a raspberry. I note the "pompous" charge, btw - from both you and Kevin - but it's a bum rap. Slightly resent it, actually. What you're doing is mistaking a progressive sensibility, plus a certain weighty concern with inequality in society, for pomposity. Suggest you retract.

81

Retract?

That whole post is pure undiluted Sagamix 12 " on the Pompos Label

Retract?

No chance...nails you good and proper

Must install that antipompous software......

Apparently it also blocks self-righteousness, so you might need to tone it down a bit

A bum rap?

Not the best phrase to be using near the Heath...is that a new deli special?

We add homophobia to the (ever growing) list of problem areas for you to work on.

83

I said this the other day, you mock, then you smear....

Here it is, sagamix strategy all laid out

You really are having some word problems today, aren't you? What with mixing up analogies and similes, pompous with progressive. And here we go again; "smear" means malicious and unfounded accusation.

85. At 9:37pm on 26 Jun 2010, sagamix wrote:
You really are having some word problems today, aren't you? What with mixing up analogies and similes, pompous with progressive. And here we go again; "smear" means malicious and unfounded accusation.


Precisely

Cut.

I hope that Mr Cameron takes a chance to have a good long talk with the Canadian PM (perhaps before slipping away to watch the football?) to learn some lessons about how to become low tax - low deficit nation.

• 74. At 5:51pm on 26 Jun 2010, sagamix wrote:
Pleasure. But it is (strictly speaking) more of a simile. Anyway, it's your lucky day; I've managed to hone my list of Labour politicians who are as "universally popular as Boris Johnson" down to the final and definitive 250 ... only 248 to throw out and we're there. Couple hours max.

I've been agog since 1951 - hours that is!

• 74. At 5:51pm on 26 Jun 2010, sagamix wrote:
Pleasure. But it is (strictly speaking) more of a simile. Anyway, it's your lucky day; I've managed to hone my list of Labour politicians who are as "universally popular as Boris Johnson" down to the final and definitive 250 ... only 248 to throw out and we're there. Couple hours max.

PS: I would certainly consider it a metaphor rather than a simile, albeit without doubt not an analogy

87. At 10:01pm on 26 Jun 2010, sagamix wrote:
Cut.

Isn't that what gorgeous George is doing?

#8 so 1 win in 3...... and 1 world cup triumph in 80 years is 100 per cent record..ok you need to check out your facts.

Interesting - given the mood music about "all being in this together, all following the same rulebook", can we now take it that an important football match grants all of us the right to bunk off work? If so, can anyone remember the last time a Tory government extended the rights of employees?

33. fairlyopenmind15 wrote:

So just who did Gordon talk to when he went up the mountain and came down with a load of tablets he tried to force down everybody else's throats?

He didn't need to do that, did he?
But he "knew" he could "save the world".
Problem is that nobody else believed him...

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

And so it was left to David of Westminster, who climbed the mountain & came back down again with another load of tablets (sic) that he promised to discuss with the British People, but shoved down their throats anyway.

He didn't need to do that, did he?
But he "knew" he could "save the world".
Problem is that nobody else believed him....especially when he promised to maintain budgets for foreign aid, nuclear weapons, Afghanistan et al; whilst planning to cut the Education budget by up to 25% & throttle any chance of a recovery for the next generation; never mind the current.

He pinched the pennies from the eyes of their parents as well, but true to his belief, looked after his small band of followers.

They still remember his rallying call “We are all in this together, now get on your bikes & ride to the Promised Lands of Wales and the north-east of England (but only if you live in a Council House).

And then the people began to realise that another phoney Prophet had been exposed & they returned to their Temples & began to prey for a miracle – England to beat Germany.

From the Great British Bible of Democracy-(Recently translated for Taiwan).

john @ 90

Hello there. I'd say simile is better for "he verbed like a noun".

93. At 08:44am on 27 Jun 2010, dinosaur wrote:
Interesting - given the mood music about "all being in this together, all following the same rulebook", can we now take it that an important football match grants all of us the right to bunk off work? If so, can anyone remember the last time a Tory government extended the rights of employees?


Keep your eye out for improvements to paternal leave rights

Kev

Squelchy bum time as kick-off approaches.

I'd like to offer my neighbours "GUID LUK"

The Vindaloo is on order "Ghandi's revenge may be possible"

My prediction' The team with the best discipline will win!

97

Cheers

I think it will be close.....IF England beat Germany, I think they will win the World Cup

Rooney to score, 2-1 my prediction

I am glad these meetings are so important that they can find time to watch football.

Personally I'm just waiting to see Angelika hug David in her excitement!