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Smiths_United

Listed below are comments made by Smiths_United between Tuesday, 22nd July 2008 and Friday, 25th July 2008.

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Campbell to the rescue? 3:10pm on 25 Jul 2008 Re #23 from the-real-truth:

If New Labour is such a busted flush why is Cameron going to such lengths to be "the heir to Blair" and keep the whole concept going? Believe me that's what he's doing, albeit with some conservative twists about marriage etc.

Basically the philisophy works and is popular: marry the free market to decently funded but reformed public services which can respond to real needs and modernise the ancient culture of our democracy (and attitudes to things like civil partnerships etc).

You need to distinguish between the personalities and inevitable tensions of politics (and tiredness after long years in power) from the actual policies and there impact. This country is a lot wealthier, a lot more modern and relaxed and a lot safer than it was ten years ago. Our cities have been transformed by regeneration and our public services are miles better. The tories will not veer off the course very far if they get power.
Campbell to the rescue? 5:00pm on 23 Jul 2008 Re #14from Brownedov

Agree with much of what you say, but, whilst I think the MPs expenses system is ludicrously outdated (like much of parliament) and vulnerable to corruption, I don't agree that there's much corruption as such. I think we're probably still one of the least corrupt countries in the world and you wouldn't believe that if you looked at our press.

Besides there is nothing wrong with the Labour Party employing Mr Campbell - no rules have been broken - so what is the issue? No. Crick thinks its a story because he's fixated by the "he was TBs right hand man and now GB (who hates him) is in such a pickle that he has to ask for his help" angle - puerile playground nonsense dressed up as journalism.

btw If you read the biogs you will see that AC was far more than just a spin doctor - understanding how things play with the public and what matters to people is a big part of a policy maker's job - its not always about "spinning".
Campbell to the rescue? 5:39pm on 22 Jul 2008 Dear Mr Crick (and Sir Michael Lyons) -

The quote at the top of your blog is a disgrace and goes a long way to explain why there is such disillusion with politics in this country (and no I am not exonerating politicians of blame but at least some of them admit they are partly to blame unlike you journos).

Yes you could define your job as exposing the information that you presume politicians don't want us to know, but you could also assume that your job is to inform us about the real issues and what the different parties want to do about them, thereby providing a useful service to democracy.

Its like the old song "you're so vain I bet you think this [election] is about you.." well actually its not about journalists being oh so clever and cynical its about the people of Glasgow East and their needs and aspirations. But no, silly me, that would be far too uncool a subject for the likes of you.

Have you thought about what advice Mr Campbell might be giving in terms of policy priorities (i.e. what matters) or are you just interested in proving how clever you are at finding things out (as your blurb suggests)? Leave this sort of journalism to the tabloids, its not what the BBC is about!

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