Reply to: How the hell...

[Nipple Clamp]

I thought he was these parts

Yes but he's round as well.

[wendigo100]

Mr Murdoch also warned Gordon Brown if he succeeds Mr Blair not to "cheat" the British public with a snap election.

That would spoil Cameron's long-term planning, wouldn't it?

[GreenerGrass]

How the hell did it get this bad without people realising WTF is going on?

Cowboy Bob has it, Alistair Campbell is the spawn of Satan. I think he must have had a job on the side persuading the US public that Iraq was behind 9/11.

There is still hope, if The Sun decides Dave is better than Gordon then white van man could tip the balance.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5127284.stm

[BoredBloke]

I thought he was these parts

[DimPrawn]

Isn't Threaded from around those parts?

[BoredBloke]

From the beeb

Top 10 obese towns

Easington
Corby
Knowsley
Sedgefield
Sandwell
South Tyneside
Bolsover
Barnsley
Sunderland
Wansbeck

All Labour and all fat. Therefore foes not voting labour make you slimmer? To reduce Obesity shouldn't we all vote Tory?

[AlfredJPruffock]

Never ever over estimate the ability of the British public to think for themselves.

Your comment reminds of the quote by Hitler

What good fortune for governments that the people do not think

[Flubster]

Any small swing in a key marginal is also an important factor to consider with our first past the post system.

Fully agree, but that would suggest we should go for the Lib Dems choice of proportional representation if we want our Government to represent the majority of the electorate.

I say we hand power back to the monarchy and let them run the country. How much worse could it get...

[Fleetwood]

Any small swing in a key marginal is also an important factor to consider with our first past the post system.

Agreed. I much prefer the French system over two rounds, where, in the overwhelming majority of cases, the person elected has more than 50% of the vote, considerably more in some cases. No tactical voting and greater voter choice of parties, without the crap of proportional representation.

[BoredBloke]

But the spin doctors need a press which does not question the bollocks they spout. The simple fact is, News Corporation enjoy a nice cosy relationship with whoever is in power. They don't question the party line, so long as they get to keep their favourable tax position. So having a left wing BBC and the biggest newspapers who promote the NL party line is a double whammy for NL.

I don't go for the 1% thing though. When I was at Uni, I did a politics module as part of my degree and one essay I wrote was on the decline of the Labour party. (late 80's) Much of it revolved around the decline in heavy industry where Labour traditionally got its votes (and money) from. Also there was an aspiration to become middle classed and vote in accordance. What changed in the mid to late 90's was Labour. The fact that their spin doctors spoke about being a centre left party and making it alright to vote NL. They tax like old labour, but talk their way out of it and the poodle press report it - so it must be true.

Any small swing in a key marginal is also an important factor to consider with our first past the post system.

[Flubster]

What does affect the undecided electorate?

They're still undecided.

[Cowboy Bob]

What does affect the undecided electorate?

Being told a load of bollox that they believe hook, line and sinker by the various spin doctors, which the parties never have any intention of implementing. Best spin doctors win the election every time.

People didn't vote for Tony Blair, they voted for Alastair Campbell. Just they didn't know it...

[CaribbeanPirate]

I remember doing this in my Government & Politics 'A' level

FFS, who let all this riff-raff into the room.

[BrilloPad]

Studies show (I remember doing this in my Government & Politics 'A' level) that newspapers have about a 1% affect of the UNDECIDED electorate.

What does affect the undecided electorate?

[Flubster]

Never ever over estimate the ability of the British public to think for themselves. If the Sun supports a party then they will get in. Simple as that really. Because NL courted Murdoch in the same way Maggie did, so the Sun started to portray NL in a good light and the Tories in a bad one. The sheep then vote accordingly.

I disagree. Sun readers during the 80's thought that the paper was a Labour supporter...because of the 'red top'. Sun didn't make the switch until it was obvious Labour were going to get in. The Daily Mail switched to supporting Labour after they got in (they have subsequently reverted to type).

Studies show (I remember doing this in my Government & Politics 'A' level) that newspapers have about a 1% affect of the UNDECIDED electorate. The vast majority of us never change who we vote for, a large proportion vote the same way as our parents, and another larger chunk go for personality. God help us...