Converted Lurker Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Always fascinated me that under our archaic political system ministers are given new portfolios when they have no experience of such matters but Darling this morning quite frankly took the biscuit. Similar to his budget he managed to bluster hot air and padding and no substance, but he's utterly incapable of political spinning either other than referring to "its better than 15 years ago". This is surely by definition the second or third top job in UK plc and its given to someone so crucially out of his depth.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OzzMosiz Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Always fascinated me that under our archaic political system ministers are given new portfolios when they have no experience of such matters but Darling this morning quite frankly took the biscuit. Similar to his budget he managed to bluster hot air and padding and no substance, but he's utterly incapable of political spinning either other than referring to "its better than 15 years ago". This is surely by definition the second or third top job in UK plc and its given to someone so crucially out of his depth.... 15 years ago I was earning around 7.5K, now I earn more than 5x that, and I feel poorer! This country is a lot worse than 15 years ago for sure! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fancypants Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Always fascinated me that under our archaic political system ministers are given new portfolios when they have no experience of such matters but Darling this morning quite frankly took the biscuit. Similar to his budget he managed to bluster hot air and padding and no substance, but he's utterly incapable of political spinning either other than referring to "its better than 15 years ago". This is surely by definition the second or third top job in UK plc and its given to someone so crucially out of his depth.... Indeed. He will also soon come to regret continually falling back on the "low interest rates therefore low mortgage rates" mantra when it becomes apparent to all and sundry that he has virtually no control over it. (it still makes me titter to think that we don't hear so much about the "independent BoE" anymore either) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr House Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Darling has now convinced me that he has no emotion - basically he has one of the "a" words - psychological issue which afflicts many men who cannot empathise or understand their own context - just robots. I have known a few and they are deeply unsettling people to be around. Brown of course has much use for people like this - they are the perfect henchmen.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Converted Lurker Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 Indeed. He will also soon come to regret continually falling back on the "low interest rates therefore low mortgage rates" mantra when it becomes apparent to all and sundry that he has virtually no control over it. (it still makes me titter to think that we don't hear so much about the "independent BoE" anymore either) and wtf didn't the Tories batter him with "'ang on were have you accounted for Northern Rock in these figures? Oh don't tell us, you've casually moved that onto next years 'statement' thereby smashing apart all your future projections" Overall how pointless was that as a budget and where on earth are the political commentators savaging him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Converted Lurker Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 Darling has now convinced me that he has no emotion - basically he has one of the "a" words - psychological issue which afflicts many men who cannot empathise or understand their own context - just robots. I have known a few and they are deeply unsettling people to be around. Brown of course has much use for people like this - they are the perfect henchmen.... Sorry you've lost me (not difficult) are you referring to highly functioning autistics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yaakov Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Always fascinated me that under our archaic political system ministers are given new portfolios when they have no experience of such matters but Darling this morning quite frankly took the biscuit. Similar to his budget he managed to bluster hot air and padding and no substance, but he's utterly incapable of political spinning either other than referring to "its better than 15 years ago". This is surely by definition the second or third top job in UK plc and its given to someone so crucially out of his depth.... the whole cabinet is completely out of its depth. I can't remember a weaker set of people being in Government. Brown has surrounded himself with unthreatening and weak minions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Converted Lurker Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 the whole cabinet is completely out of its depth. I can't remember a weaker set of people being in Government. Brown has surrounded himself with unthreatening and weak minions. Its an unadulterated fukcin mess isnt it, we're facing financial apocalypse and the only leadership available would be if they brought Blunkett back.....his well trained dog provided great leadership Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orsino Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 the whole cabinet is completely out of its depth. I can't remember a weaker set of people being in Government. Brown has surrounded himself with unthreatening and weak minions. That's very true. I noticed Jack Straw sitting to Darling's right during the budget speech yesterday. He seemed very out of place in today's cabinet. Brown's flawed personality and deep insecurity has resulted in a cabinet of cowering underlings. The three most important posts - Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary and Chancellor - are occupied by people who lack credibility. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Converted Lurker Posted March 13, 2008 Author Share Posted March 13, 2008 (edited) That's very true. I noticed Jack Straw sitting to Darling's right during the budget speech yesterday. He seemed very out of place in today's cabinet. Brown's flawed personality and deep insecurity has resulted in a cabinet of cowering underlings. The three most important posts - Foreign Secretary, Home Secretary and Chancellor - are occupied by people who lack credibility. Whilst we could argue that sitting beneath, for example, Darling is a plethora of minions and educated acolytes who help steer policy and that he really is simply the 'treasury spokesman', some of his and Browns decision making is deeply suspect. Most notably NR when surely there was good advice ignored that it shouldn't be touched and just simply left to rot after investors savings were guaranteed. High time jobs such as these were exempt from political intereference from grossly unqualified individuals. I desperately wanted someone to ask Darling this morning, "what qualifies you to make decisions on the future, or current state of the UK economy when you appear to have no grasp of basic arithmetic?" never gonna happen though, shed have been sacked within minutes Edited March 13, 2008 by Converted Lurker Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Knut Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 (edited) Always fascinated me that under our archaic political system ministers are given new portfolios when they have no experience of such matters but Darling this morning quite frankly took the biscuit. Yes, I agree. The job of the chancellor is so crucial. It is staggering that somebody with so little vision or apparent depth of understanding on the subject should be in this position. The only reason I don't scream is that I have a, probably misguided, faith that there are competent civil servants and BoE economists guiding him quietly in the background. Worryingly, there isn't much evidence to support this hopeful view. I am still smarting from watching the pair of idiots grinning like fools whilst Cameron responded to the budget. I just wish Cameron had drawn the house's attention to their insolent demeanour. Edited March 13, 2008 by Knut Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fancypants Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 and wtf didn't the Tories batter him with "'ang on were have you accounted for Northern Rock in these figures? Oh don't tell us, you've casually moved that onto next years 'statement' thereby smashing apart all your future projections" Overall how pointless was that as a budget and where on earth are the political commentators savaging him? it seems the "youthful" Tory front bench signifies just how much that generation has gone hook, line and sinker for the piffle that has been spouted about the last 10 years economic performance. They're so embedded in that culture that they are unable to carry out their duty and apply some rigour to their questioning. Would be a good opportunity for them, but they're going to miss it. Seems they believe the Brownian myths as much as the rest of the punters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Selling up Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Okay, he may not have known what he was doing but he made the right decision: He did nothing in his budget. There was nothing he could have done that would have helped the current crisis. There was lots he could have done that would have worsened it. I think we have something to be grateful for. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen of Spades Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 The trouble is right now we need someone governing us who is of Churchillian stature. Not Darwinian. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eightiesgirly Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 Lets face it, the whole cabinet look like those kids that sit at the back of the class ,have nits and green cardigan sleeves from wiping the snot off. Flippin' bunch of regects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonewer Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 I think the Tories have dropped the ball here big time with Northern Rot, PFI and NetworkFail. If you included all of the debts from PFI, NR and NotworkRail then the borrowing would be massively over the risible "golden rule" Ali D seems to be able to bang on about how borrowing is less than under the last government but where are the Tories to point out that interest payments to service our debt have gone up 50%? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Authoritarian Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 The only way Darling can do his job properly is by admiting that his boss is an incompetent ass. I feel sorry for the guy, there's very little he can do at such a late stage in the game and when things go really pear-shaped Brown the 'puppet master' will still get the blame! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonewer Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 I feel sorry for the guy, there's very little he can do at such a late stage in the game and when things go really pear-shaped Brown the 'puppet master' will still get the blame! I dont feel sorry for him, I'd do his job for his pay at the drop of a hat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonewer Posted March 13, 2008 Share Posted March 13, 2008 (edited) Duplicate post Edited March 13, 2008 by jonewer Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarkG Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 The trouble is right now we need someone governing us who is of Churchillian stature. Not Darwinian. A man who'll bankrupt the country, give away the Empire (OK, the Falklands are about all that's left to give away now), and hand half of Europe to the communists? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marko Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 I think the Tories have dropped the ball here big time with Northern Rot, PFI and NetworkFail.If you included all of the debts from PFI, NR and NotworkRail then the borrowing would be massively over the risible "golden rule" Ali D seems to be able to bang on about how borrowing is less than under the last government but where are the Tories to point out that interest payments to service our debt have gone up 50%? Hang on guys - IRRC Cameron did raise the point that, including NR £100bn, the government borrowing is much larger than Darling claimed in his budget speech. I thought Cameron was excellent - he ripped them a new one on Wednesday. I also was disgusted as many others were by Balls' "so what?" comment in reply to Cameron highlighting our high rate of taxes, Balls, as a proper champagne socialist obviously doesn't think taxing the pips out of people is a problem (after all someone has to pay for his 'second home', the ****). Whilst I am on the subject of Ed Balls, has anyone noticed that he is getting increasingly jowly, and starting to really look like the proto-Brown he so obviously is? He is a f*cking arrogant, jumped-up little worm of a man - I would thoroughly enjoy horsewhipping him. Pure NuLabour. Anyway, another thing that appalled me was, as has been mentioned here several times, the disgusting schoolboy smirking and whispering going on between Brown and Darling. Despicable, and sums up the Brown psychology...namely 'I am going to ignore and belittle any criticism because it is obviously wrong and anyway I have a massive intellect everyone says so and so I can't be wrong and David Cameron is just a stupid toff and I am the saviour of the British people leading them to Utopia so why should I listen to him gosh this debating/democracy nonsense really is a waste of my time why don't we just get rid of it so I can focus on making the right decisions for Britain seeing as I am always right anyway.' I hate him, and if I saw him in the street I would spit on him. I also agree that Jack Straw looks like an anachronism on that front bench - when he starts looking like a heavyweight (actually I think he is OK), then this really does indicate the awfully poor quality of the rest of them. How ON EARTH did the British people allow this shower of idiots to be put in charge!?!??! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
R K Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 the whole cabinet is completely out of its depth. I can't remember a weaker set of people being in Government. Brown has surrounded himself with unthreatening and weak minions. I find it deeply worrying. Last night I had a bad dream about this. I can't remember the last time I had a bad dream about anything. It was a sort of Orwellian/Fascist nightmare which for some reason (deeply Freudian I suspect) involved Caroline Flint and Yvette Cooper, and not in a good way. There is something deeply concerning for our country when both Flint and Cooper have been responsible for housing policy and yet clearly know nothing about anything other than how to suck Stalin's d*ck and repeat his prescribed mantras. Cooper of course popped up again on the shoulder of Darling with his red box, since she and her equally obnoxious husband, Ed Balls, have been complicit in much of Stalin's financial wrongdoing. Brown/Darling/Balls/Cooper and now Flint. Responsible for govt. finances/Banking/FSA/Taxation/Spending/Housing/NRK/Currency/Interest rates No wonder I woke in a cold sweat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sourman Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 Okay, he may not have known what he was doing but he made the right decision:He did nothing in his budget. There was nothing he could have done that would have helped the current crisis. There was lots he could have done that would have worsened it. I think we have something to be grateful for. I think that was the whole point of the budget. He can't be seen to be doing anything other than support the economy when in matter of fact he knows that is the very last thing he should be doing!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doom and gloom merchant Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 A man who'll bankrupt the country, give away the Empire (OK, the Falklands are about all that's left to give away now), and hand half of Europe to the communists? If thats a reference to Churchill, You REALLY ! have no idea what your talking about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davidg Posted March 14, 2008 Share Posted March 14, 2008 I also agree that Jack Straw looks like an anachronism on that front bench - when he starts looking like a heavyweight (actually I think he is OK), That would be Jack "can't tell them darkies apart in this light" Straw. The foreign secretary who was so short sighted he couldn't recognize Robert Mugabe when he shook his hand? Or would that be Jack "zero tolerance on drugs... oh hand me a spliff William" Straw, who screwed up the home office? Jack Straw has no control over real ministry because he was useless, just like David "of course I'll sign that, whaddusit say again?" Blunkett. Beyond Frank Field it is hard to think of anyone in the NuLabour cabinet post 1997 who could be thought of as competent. Ok, some of them had principals which we don't see any more. But then the UK electorate only have them selves to blame... when I watched that grinning loon Tony Blair in conference in the mid-90s whittering on about "a laptop for every school child" I thought ooh,er this is not going to be good if he gets in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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