The 2005 general election is nearly upon us. Which way will you vote, and you reasons why. Here is a brief list of the potential contestants, please add your own.


More tax!
Less tax!
Dont know!
Death to all infidels!
Who gives a shit?

The great pretender.

Now we are really talking turkey! Can Souness persuade Shearer to give it another season: no! Can Shepherd: no! But might Shearer decide himself to go for another season: yes! First, jackie's record. Second: he's enjoying himself hugely at the moment. Third, fourth and fifth: the fans!

Regards, Eric

Come off it Eric, you said.......................................

"Howard is outpointing Blair every round so far but I suspect the contest doesn't have enough rounds." Ends, where do you get that from???????????????. I say he was like a football thug this afternoon on his reply, but Blair wether you like him or not will be retuned 90 plus seats majority. We need stability in this country especially for the market, the Torys will mess that up for sure. We dont need boom and bust again. Oh and by the way I am an Economist in fact a PHD Economist, "primary competency" you said? think again Eric please.
Theres no need to fall, out here. Im just taking it very light hearted. It aint worth taking it any other way.

Stanber where have I sworn (and if I have my sincere appologies) and please stop being petty re- to the English language, this is not a personal debate and Im sure your a very nice person no matter what your political preferences are. Please take it in the nature it was set up for. At the end of the day we should all remain online buddies , were just having a good tounge thrashing surely?.
Lets face it theres nothing else to do on rotten days like today.

GF.

Forget democracy, one man will choose the next government - Rupert Murdoch

The New York Times reports that The Sun, Britain's most widely read newspaper, followed Murdoch's lead in dropping its traditional conservative affiliation to endorse Tony Blair, the New Labor candidate. News Corp.'s other British papers, The Times of London, The Sunday Times and the tabloid News of the World, all concurred. The papers account for about 35% of the newspaper market in Britain. Blair backed "a communications bill in the British Parliament that would loosen restrictions on foreign media ownership and allow a major newspaper publisher to own a broadcast television station as well a provision its critics call the 'Murdoch clause' because it seems to apply mainly to News Corp.

Tony dances to his tune! Also it was Murdoch who pushed for and backed the invasion of Iraq openly saying "for it's oil".

That's why I refuse to register to vote - It's a set up!

An excelent set up Brian. LOL.

GF.

kshammas and apple - ive always been a labour supporter all my life and waited 18 terrible years for them to get in. The problem is Tony Blair is a liar, how can you trust a thing the smug git says. I'd like labour to stay in but get rid of b'liar.

Tony blair good at what he does? try telling that to an Iraqi.

So when will fony step aside for the grabber? Surely people can see the set up for what it is.


As for the budget, when will we get the real details? Cos the reality sure as hell wasnt presented by fun loving gordon.

loving the B'liar! never thought of that...someone send that to Murdoch!

Kivver,

All politicians are liars!

They have to lie to get elected, get used to it!

However, Blair has truly earned the title BLiar because his record on Iraq was so bad it takes your breath away.

The only thing that takes your breath away even more is the fact that so many people believed him.

I could see through it so why couldn't the majority of other people?


BTW
Did you see Howard on the news last week parading his kids in front of the cameras?

They were saying, "My dad's always right & he always knows what's best for me & you can trust him."

Oh please! Treat the voters like grownups for goodness sake!

What would you expect them to say?
Some kids get on with their parents & some don't.
They wouldn't be anywhere near the camera if they didn't get on with their parents.

They agreed to do it & they were probably given a script.

They think that the voters are so naive that they will fall for such pewtrid crap.

The worrying thing is that some people will fall for it.

GF.

Sincere apologies! It was not you. It was someone who was replying to you and
I took offence.
As for wrong usage, forgive my being pickie. Being a proud Tory it grated a little.
Forgiven?

moneyplus,

You want me for PM ????????

I don't think so.

I would take the job if I could just start tommorow BUT I don't think I could face all the hassle I would have to go through to get there.

All the parties would be sharpening their knives to get me.

The Murdoch media empire would set out to get me, there would be no privacy, it would be a living hell.

Would I risk all that with such a low chance of winning?


That is the system we have got.

We need better laws for elections that are nailed down in a constitution that can not be changed by the politicians, only by the voters.

I support state funding of political parties, he who pays the piper calls the tune.
It should be illegal in any way give money to a political party that has got seats. Those with seats should be funded by the taxpayer with the top 2 parties getting 10million per year & the others getting a proportion of 10million related to the number of votes that they got at the preceding election.

This would put end to such things as Formula1/Tobbaco donations to parties.


As for having someone in charge so who do I back?

NOT Just 1 person?????????

That is part of the problem, the PM has the power to hand out cabinet posts, that is too much leverage.

I think that parliament should legally have to elect the PM after every general election & in the middle of each 4.5 year term & the cabinet every year but be able to take an extra vote in between if they want to.

On balance, I want to see a coalition of Liberal & Labour.

The priority is to keep the economy growing & not have any sudden changes in economic policy to put that at risk.

Hopefully, the Liberals would curb the worst excesses of Blairs right wing agenda.

There are of course no guarantees.
After all we are talking about politicians.

Excellent post Apple. I wish there was a lot more debate like this instead of the forced TV programmes where the politicos seem incapable of answering Paxman and co. with a straight yes or no! waffle while brain engages it seems to me.
Trouble with a coalition of any sort is the parties are so wide apart on their pledges nothing would get through--only in war situation does coalition appear to work. Agree on the money points you made--it's not worth all the abuse and contempt heaped on you as a politician but they brought it on themselves--power sex money and greed is a strong brew!! I think look at each individual MP if they've done a good job for their constituents vote them in again. If they do as their told and don't bother to show up in Parliament ditch them. I'm never going to favour any but the Tories though. :)

moneyplus,

You said, nothing would get through.

That would be a good thing.

Year in, year out, they pass more & more & more laws.

Why do we need all these new laws?????????

They need them more than we do, they have to keep passing more laws to pretend to justify their existence.

In practice though, it wouldn't be nothing, the really urgent & important things would go through & THERE WOULD A LOT MORE DEBATE.

That is a problem for them, not for us, they would hate it.

It would be heated debate & that would attract media attention so the voters would be better informed.

So a coalition could be a very good thing.

Its got to be howard,,,,,,,frankie howard,,the season ticket holder.

Get an idea today, pass a law tomorrow. Through on the nod. Stupid.
Get rid of 'em.

Nice one standber,bunch of free loaders!!

standber,

It seems you how I feel about the situation.

did you know that bin laden has a degree in economics

Stanber, no problems lets face it we are all having a good time here I feel because the markets are lousy. I just feel we are all letting off steam. No one should take offence at remarks made on this thread, we all get wound up now and again and go over the top me especially.

I hope You Eric and others havent been upset by any remarks I have made, I trully take in the other persons point of view and then use it alongside what I already have as knowledge.

I hope the best party win.

cheers GF.

GF
We'll have a pint when you have made your second million ~:-))
Cheers.