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politicsisfun

Listed below are comments made by politicsisfun between Thursday, 24th April 2008 and Monday, 6th July 2009.

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'A bonfire of the quangos'...? 1:18pm on 06 Jul 2009 WE need to be clear there are QUANGOs and there are Non Departmental Public Bodies (NDPB), I used to be a civil servant now I work for a NDPB, which means we are funded wholly by public money but do not count as civil servants.
NDPBs perform functions that were previously done by civil servants directly employed by the Govt. and as such all these claims about abolishing etc are rhetoric ubless you do not want these functions to be carried out. The Private Sector certainly isn't going to deliver many of these functions.
There does need to be more public accountability of NDPBs, staff who work for these organisations are cnscious that it is public money we deal with and in my experience make decisions based on the need to be able to justify how money is spent and that we do make a real difference.
By the way i am luck that I have a final salary pension, which on current forecasts will be worth about £8k pa.
Stretching America 08:03am on 05 Nov 2008 In many ways this election seems like Britain several years ago. Change was in the air, Obama is bound to disappoint, by how much we shall have to see. Powell for Defence Secretary probably not, possibly National Security Adviser.
Obama will want Republicans on board to counter charges of despotism etc. McCain very gracious in his statement to work together but what else could he say.
The Republicans (like Labour and the Tories after heavy defeats) will become introverted and soul seeking, Palin will rally the right wing nutters, is there such a thing as a moderate Republican wing? Barring some major disaster Obama will be a 2 term President.
Finally where does this leave Hillary? Can she realistically be left out of the Cabinet, yes given the scale of the win (like Labour's in 1997, Blair thought he would need the Lib Dems) he doesn't need her. She could very quickly become yesterday's person.
What would be interesting is to know the political make up of the Dems in the 2 houses will they thwart Obama and if they can have they the nerve.
Sinister motives? 08:10am on 04 Nov 2008 From what I have read in the American press (I am British) it would appear that none of this will matter if either candidate wins decisively and in the key swing states. Non Americans do not forget it is not about the popular vote, it is Electoral College votes that matter.
The American media has already reported that provisional holding legal objections are in place in a number of States.
The issue is provisional votes i.e if there is some doubt about your right to vote you can cast a provisional vote that may or may not be counted later, onviously if they are counted and the vote is close the loser will cry foul. Look at the conservatives and the whole fuss about ACORN, there is a hidden agenda going on, racism, subtley and severally the issue of race is raised by the Republican right.
They are already holding as someone termed it their pre morten as to why McCain lost. One of the issues will be voter fraud, Palin is already lining up as the heir presumptive for the fundametalist right wing.
Media bias will be another excuse as the BBC news reported most newspapers have endorsed Obama and the constant complaint from the right is that the press was soft on Obama and let him have an easy ride.
Lets see what happens, if it is close it will be nothing compared to Ohio in 2004 or Florida in 2000.
Holiday club fraud 10:29am on 22 Oct 2008 Writing as some one who was conned (and I like to think of myself as reasonably intelligent), I would welcome anything that stops these practices. The only thing in my favour is that we went for the cheaper option.
I must admit we were given lots of opportunities not to sign, I can only admit to my gullibility.
A friend of ours signed up fot the lifetime package and comparing our hotels ( booked with tour operators) we definitely are getting value for money.
Finally, whatever your views on the EU, this is apractice that needs European wide action. If one individual country clamped down what is to prevent them moving elsewhere using the same shady practices.
Nailing a sneezing maverick 08:01am on 25 Sep 2008 Why does anyone think what Barack Obama is doing is not motivated by political needs. He wants to win of course and this move is very astute as it clearly puts the spotlight on Bush and the Republicans. Of course it is now up to the Democrats in the House not to appear to be partisan, that shouldn,t be difficult though, as this crisis is obviously one created by Wall Street.
Those folk who say they should pay the price may not necessarily be economic literate but this is the precise political point that the Democrtas will benefit from. As they said how will the rescue package support Main Street.
Am I too giddy? 12:21pm on 22 Aug 2008 He said he was looking for not just a partner but a sparring partner. ‘I want somebody who’s independent, somebody who can push against my preconceived notions and challenge me so we have got a robust debate in the White House.’

This from the New York Times so it has to be Hillary
Obama casts Wright adrift 07:58am on 30 Apr 2008 Despite some of Rev. Wright's more bizarre views he does reflect the concerns of the black working class. These are issues that are yet to be resolved, if you're black you are more likely to be found guilty in courrt and given the death penalty. How many black draft dodgers were there in the 60s?
Remember the Oklahoma bombing, well there were some very fanciful theories about who was behind that.
Barack Obama does not represent black people, how can one individual do so, he represents a sliver of the black middle class. Hence his views on those folk in Pennsylvania and elsewhere.
Will black people be disappointed with a Barack Obama presidency no doubt, but then that will be nothing new either.
Lulling McCain? 08:02am on 29 Apr 2008 Sounds like 1992 all over again "its the economy stupid." It would appear from the UK anyway, that there is a clear anyone but Bush appeal, but that doesn't mean John McCain might not benefit from this. The Democrats troubles (or should that be democratic method of selection) enables McCain to ensure the Republicans do support him. As he quietly gets on with it out of the limelight.
I am still unclear about what exactly Barrack Obama stands for (I personally do not like his oratical style but that is just me). Fine if he wants to sound like John Edwards (but what exactly did he stand for).
There is no doubt race is the issue that dare not speak its name, Barrack Obama plays the race card as well anyone, he is certainly no fool.
Has foreign policy (since 1940 being a critical factor in American elections, you might argue 1968 but then the Vietnam War, was of a different dimension to Iraq).
So I go back to my original point, well not mine I plagarise "Its the economy"
What next? 08:23am on 24 Apr 2008 AS previously pointed out there is a popular vote but it doesn't necessarily count come the General Election.
Also adding to the Democrats mess is the question of Florida and Michigan, don't the voters there matter and given the chaotic nature of voting in individual states i.e who is entitled to vote in primaries it obviously is a mess.
Also why does the nomination have to be decided before the Convention, is the Convention merely an excuse to show off the candidate. Also as someone from the UK can the purpose of the Convention be explained, particularly in non election years.
A final point, I would have thought in the interests of unity and winning if Obama gets the nomination Hillary on the ticket, she obviously reaches parts Obama doesn't. Or if McCain was very clever a McCain/Clinton ticket would be a walk over. Especially as anyone is better than Bush apparently.

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