With thanks to Mr Dale, I was directed to a great piece by Matthew Parris explaining how Johnson will be the next PM and not Brown. I haven’t laughed so hard since the last “news†letter I got from my MP.
Mr Parris says that Brown’s only leadership skill is that of his running of the economy, (because controlling the money of forth/fifth largest economy in the world is just so easy). He then goes on to list all of Brown’s, apparent, bad qualities and then to say that as he can’t think of any good ones there obviously aren’t any. I especially like the bit when Parris says that Brown isn’t a thinker (again, because controlling the money of forth/fifth largest economy in the world doesn’t involve using your brain).
But I am forced to wonder whom the article was directed towards. After much pondering I must conclude that its intended audience is us the bloggers.
Think about it this way: If people keep talking about another viable candidate for the leadership, regardless of how insane they think it is, by talking about another viable candidate they create another viable candidate (got it? (not sure if I have)).
So anyone who talks about Parris’ story is just helping along the cause……
……ah bugger…oh well, written it now.
Loading ...
In what sense does Gordon “control the money” given he gave up those powers to an independent Bank of England with a Monetary Policy Committee?
He controls fiscal affairs - you know tax credits, pensions and the budget. Not exactly greatly successful.
Guido Fawkes said this on June 4th, 2006 at 10:26 am
Yes, ‘cos he doesn’t have any control over tax itself.
Glad to see you and RM have made up Guido.
Dr. Freling said this on June 4th, 2006 at 10:32 am
Mr Parris’s turgid stuff is perhaps worth speed reading but only because whatever he predicts is pretty well certain not to happen.
Hughes Views said this on June 4th, 2006 at 10:41 am
Dr F, what would be wrong with a proper contest? A coronation would be a disaster for Labour, and thus the country. Leadership elections help redefine the party in the view of the electorate and renew interest in the party from members.
If Labour doesn’t have one, whoever takes #10 is doomed in 2009/10.
MatGB said this on June 4th, 2006 at 12:40 pm
But “controlling the money” doesn’t qualify you as a leader. As I’ve already said on my blog Brown is a fantastic chancellor but has to do something (anything) to demonstrate he even remotely has the skills to be a leader. He doesn’t deserve it because it’s “his turn” he has to show he’s got something more to offer than he does as chancellor.
Stuart Bruce said this on June 4th, 2006 at 1:52 pm
It like the New statsman..If thay say somthing is defenetly goeing to happen… It won’t
Howler Monkey said this on June 4th, 2006 at 3:21 pm
ergh, if you think Matthew Parris (who is a top writer incidentally) is winding you up to blog then don’t do it, what are you Dr F, some kind of puppet? and a “coronation” (which Tony Blair’s election as leader 12 years was incidentally) would not be a “disaster” - how much better would knife-sticking and back-biting be exactly?
janestheone said this on June 4th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
and Cucumber, who are you calling a left-winger? not me I hope though I am on the left, I do not want to be associated with any Guardian-reading cardigan wearers. I have voted several times now on the poll on this site, none of them for CS, all you have to do is go to a different computer and it lets you vote again.
janestheone said this on June 4th, 2006 at 3:54 pm
“I have voted several times now on the poll on this site, none of them for CS, all you have to do is go to a different computer and it lets you vote again.”
Aha, Recess Monkey in US style Election Fraud shock!!
matt said this on June 4th, 2006 at 8:16 pm
Controlling one of the world’s largest economies does indeed require thinking if you do it right. If on the other hand you inherit an economy already in good shape, and then proceed to slowly wreck it through a combination of control freakery, blind ideology, and the bleeding white of the productive sectors in order to foster an army of petty bureacrats whose sole purpose in life seems to be to make the rest of the population (except criminals) as miserable as possible - why that doesn’t require asny thought or ability at all.
Alex Swanson said this on June 5th, 2006 at 6:24 am
We both know that Gordon will never get the top job because he does that funny thing with his mouth. Mind you, housewives may detect the pseudo-sexual undertones of that.
Oz Warren said this on June 5th, 2006 at 8:32 am
“and Cucumber, who are you calling a left-winger?” (Jane)
I did not intend it as an insult.
“I am on the left” (Jane)
But not a left-winger? :S
“I do not want to be associated with any Guardian-reading cardigan wearers.” (Jane)
Please enlighten me on your choices of newspapers and clothes.
“I have voted several times now on the poll on this site” (Jane)
Tut tut.
Jane, you say you’re not a left-winger, which is why you didn’t vote for CS. I said that I’d expect leftists to vote for CS. So forgive me for failing to see what point you’re trying to make.
By the way, I voted for CS because, although not a Socialist/Marxist/Communist myself, I’d rather go for a “nice” left-wing candidate than a Blairite
Confused Cucumber said this on June 5th, 2006 at 10:30 am
tsk tsk cucumber, I didn’t say I didn’t vote for CS because I am not a left-winger. I did say I am on the left but not a left-winger - by left-winger I mean reader of the Guardian, lover of totalitarian dictatorships which are not liked by “Bush and Blair”, and espouser of cultural relativism. I read several newspapers, favour the Sunday Telegraph and the News of the World at weekends and the Times in the week, with forays into the Mirror. As for clothes, I like DKNY but it is usually out of my price range, Long Tall Sally fits me pretty well and M&S will do for a lot of things. I’m a Labour Party member. I’m not a fan of the dead-tree media in general. though.
janestheone said this on June 5th, 2006 at 5:30 pm
What’s nice about CS? She has no principles whatsoever apart from Blair-bashing which is hardly a principle! And she has a face like a monkey’s backside! She’s a total loon!!
bornin84 said this on June 5th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
The Telegraph? The Times? Are you sure you know which side of centre you’re on Jane?
What on earth is the difference between the Left and the Left Wing?
I know you’re a Labour party member, thanks for reminding me.
Confused Cucumber said this on June 5th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
Aren’t all leftists “nice” or is it just propaganda?
Do the monkeys on this site have backsides like CS’s face?
Confused Cucumber said this on June 5th, 2006 at 10:21 pm
oooh, you people are the easiest in the world to wind up. but how did you know I was a Labour Party member? have you bought a list from a CLP? Do you work in membership? what is my membership number?
janestheone said this on June 6th, 2006 at 7:29 am
What people? Cucumbers? OK, I don’t know whether you’re still in the Labour party (I doubt it, given the circumstances) but I know you were.
Confused Cucumber said this on June 6th, 2006 at 10:58 am