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DavidGinsberg

Listed below are comments made by DavidGinsberg between Tuesday, 23rd September 2008 and Monday, 19th January 2009.

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What the reshuffle tells us 5:43pm on 19 Jan 2009 It's a great move by Cameron to bring back the one tory politician who survived the Major administration with his repautation enhanced. He's done his stint in government and opposition so knows all the angles. It gives the Conservative team a credibility it was lacking. It also goes some way to show that the old political divides in the party over Europe are forgotten.
Will Ken return to the Tory front bench? 1:27pm on 09 Jan 2009 I had the pleasure of meeting Ken Clarke at No11 when I was a final year student in 1996. He gave a talk to about 40 of us and shared a drink with us afterwards. He was totally natural with us, explaining economic policy in a readily accessible way and appearing a normal man doing an extrodinary job. In such times of gloom it would be a first class idea for David Cameron to have on board a national figure who is trusted and respected by the public. He is head and shoulders above Mandelson.
'Shovel ready' schemes 11:31am on 18 Dec 2008 Problem for Nick Clegg is whatever he says all the polls point to the LibDems losing seats at the next election as the electorate switch to the two main parties. The other problem for him is that his own Sheffield seat could be one to go. It is not a traditional Liberal area and I can see the Lib Dems shrinking back to their traditional areas in rural Scotland and the South West.
Change we can believe in? 1:24pm on 08 Dec 2008 Hi Justin, I think you are mistaken about the impact of this proposal. When Eisenhower and FDR commisioned big public works programmes it was a lot easier and quicker to get them moving. All I can see this money being spent on is legions of planning lawyers, personel officers and Health and Safety experts. You will the creation of another huge monolithic federal agency burning it's way through large amounts of cash without achieving a great deal. If you look at the most impressive public works and engineering programmes around the world this is done largely on the back of cheap labour. The USA doesn't have this unless the Obama plan is dismantle the border with Mexico. This is the sort of announcement you get when a government is looking for easy sympathetic headlines.
Obama's community army 5:14pm on 04 Dec 2008 38 AsaScot.

I am always dubious about political parties masquerading as volunteers. in the UK we have a far right organisation called the BNP who have built up their support in various deprived areas by getting activists to go around helping out in the community. I'm in no way comparing the Democratic party to the BNP but I do question some peoples motives which are cynically political rather altruistic.
Obama's community army 1:54pm on 04 Dec 2008 Has he pinched this idea from Hugo Chavez in Venezuela? His local political councils sounded very similar to the Obama proposal in that they provide a challenge to established organs of local government. It is also open to all sorts of abuse especially if you think about the reputation the Chicago political scene has had. Back to the drawing board Mr President elect!
The tax debate continues 1:47pm on 03 Dec 2008 Hi Justin, I think you have really hit the nail on the head with your comment about still having to pay for petrol at the kiosk in the UK. The US is so much more customer focused and customer friendly than we are in the UK. Businesses and individuals are prepared to push so much harder for your custom. Some of the retail dinosaurs suffering over here would do well to see how much better you are looked after in the US. Yes, we know it isn't altruistic but when the money in your wallet is so badly needed you need to take care of the wallet owner properly. I don't even mind the 20% tipping in the US because you really get a better meal and experience than you do here.
Clinton risk? 1:58pm on 02 Dec 2008 Hi Justin, have you seen the daily mash's brilliant take on the story? They reckon Hilary's appointment will lead to and end to the arab isreali conflict as both sides desperatly try to avoid her making a visit to the region.
6pm. Bank bosses to meet Darling 3:52pm on 06 Oct 2008 Maybe he has got them round to organize a whip round for Peter Mandelson's next leaving drinks?
Gordon gets personal 2:16pm on 23 Sep 2008 Hi Nick, I think the whole context of the speech highlights the problem for Gordon Brown. He was unanimously elected by the Labour Party not long ago and here is he is having to make the speech of his life to keep his job. It highlights not so much his failings as prime minister but divisions in a parlimentary labour party that has lost it's way.

Gordon Brown might have been better to skip the conference and remain in London playing the national leader in a time of crisis. One reason Tony Blair was such a successful leader was that he paid lip service to a party that was ill at ease with him. He always tried to appeal directly to the electorate which gave him huge personal authority and ultimatly political authority with the labour party.

A lot of MP's owe their seats to the Tony Blair factor which just can't be said of Gordon Brown. I think he might have been better to take a leaf out of John Major's book and directly address the nation like he did during the first gulf war. It allowed him to build a relationship with the electorate which served him well in the 1992 election.

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