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Politics: Discussion of Politics. Heated discussions are expected with this subject matter. If you don't have a thick skin, stay away. If you would like to block posts from this forum, see here. | |||||||
04-05-2005, 12:46 PM
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| long-time addict   Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep:  (423) Rep Power: 11
| Now we get a turn at an election thread! http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politi...ge/4409935.stm I'm not sure my version of "a driving mission" is the same as Prime Minister Blair's.
__________________ Change is as good as a rest! | |
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04-05-2005, 6:42 PM
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| Join Date: 03-02-2004 Location: Melb/Vic/Aust
Bike(s): 98 Blade Silver on black RS-3 slip-on Age: 29 Posts: 1,174
Rep: (29) Rep Power: 6
 | Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! So whos the early money on? Is Blair a shoe-in? |
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04-05-2005, 7:29 PM
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| Compromise    Join Date: 07-12-2004 Location: Huntsville AL
Bike(s): '04 CBR1000RR, '84 Ascot, '02 RC51 Posts: 13,776
Rep:  (1358) Rep Power: 31
 | Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread!  I had my eye set on king, but my last presidential bid didn't win soooooo. I'm in vote Blue for PM!
__________________ SheepOfBlue for president in '08 |
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04-06-2005, 4:43 AM
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| long-time addict Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep: (423) Rep Power: 11
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Well, Sheep, so am I, but in the UK that means voting Conservative! Consensus is Labour victory with 50-100 seat majority but the popular vote could be close. For those interested in electoral systems, it's generally reckoned that our electoral system gives the ruling Labour party a 30-40 seat advantage compared to the popular vote. During the election campaign, the third party Liberal Democrats usually pick up more of the uncommitted votes. Turnout will be critical, with a lot of Labour supporters half-hearted after the Iraq war whereas the Conservatives have an older demographic which tends to give a higher turnout. One of the interesting issues is whether Blair or Chancellor Brown comes out better from the election. An unconvincing victory will give Brown more leverage to replace Blair. A convincing victory will enable Blair to move Brown from the powerful Chancellor post.
__________________ Change is as good as a rest! |
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04-06-2005, 7:25 AM
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  Join Date: 02-10-2002 Location: Hoosierland, USA
Bike(s): CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 Posts: 11,098
Rep: (1302) Rep Power: 31
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! I find third world politics fascinating....  
__________________ Sith Apprentice CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 "There is a grey blur, and a green blur. I try to stay on the grey one..." - Joey Dunlop |
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04-08-2005, 3:41 AM
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| long-time addict Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep: (423) Rep Power: 11
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! The latest, which you'll have seen, is that our only home-owned volume car producer, MG Rover, is being put into liquidation. This after take-over talks with a Chinese company failed. I note the slip where the media calls it our only UK volume car producer, whereas Nissan, Ford, GM, Toyota, Honda, BMW and Peugeot are all UK volume producers. An embarassing event for a government up for re-election, but probably not politically important as the Birmingham constituencies most affected are not close to marginal constituencies, and all Labour. Edit: here's a site for anyone who wants to follow voting intention surveys: http://pollingreport.co.uk/voteALL.html and another to see odds on number of MPs per party to be elected: http://www.igsport.com/content/lp_in...gi&priceType=S
__________________ Change is as good as a rest! Last edited by oldfogey : 04-13-2005 at 8:19 AM. |
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05-04-2005, 8:30 AM
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| long-time addict Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep: (423) Rep Power: 11
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! The day before election day, and the campaign results look pretty much in line with expectations, except that the conservatives have steadily faltered in the polls and the expected Labour majority is around 90 from the betting services against around 70 as the campaign began. As predicted the Liberal Democrats have benefitted from being the sole anti-Iraq war party and from their leader being less untrustworthy in the public's mind than the other two. Part of the cost to Mr Blair of being re-elected is his having to give Mr Brown a public vote of confidence, so no chance of reducing his power base now. Interest now centres on exactly what the voting patterns will be in the the three-way marginal seats where the increase in Liberal Democrat voting could produce some unexpected results. You should have a result Friday morning US time.
__________________ Change is as good as a rest! |
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05-04-2005, 9:03 AM
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| Join Date: 02-10-2002 Location: Hoosierland, USA
Bike(s): CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 Posts: 11,098
Rep: (1302) Rep Power: 31
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! I'll wager a pint on my man Tony....  We'll see if the "Pill Factor" works on boths sides of the pond.... 
__________________ Sith Apprentice CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 "There is a grey blur, and a green blur. I try to stay on the grey one..." - Joey Dunlop |
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05-04-2005, 12:32 PM
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       Join Date: 05-26-2001 Location: Concord, NH, USA
Bike(s): 2001 929 Age: 33 Posts: 4,720
Rep: (835) Rep Power: 20
 | Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Wait a minute... The PM gets to pick when the election takes place? It's not a set date?  |
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05-04-2005, 6:21 PM
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| Join Date: 03-02-2004 Location: Melb/Vic/Aust
Bike(s): 98 Blade Silver on black RS-3 slip-on Age: 29 Posts: 1,174
Rep: (29) Rep Power: 6
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Quote:
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05-05-2005, 5:50 AM
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| long-time addict Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep: (423) Rep Power: 11
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Indeed: gives a certain bias in favour of the incumbent.
__________________ Change is as good as a rest! |
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05-05-2005, 7:42 AM
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| Join Date: 02-10-2002 Location: Hoosierland, USA
Bike(s): CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 Posts: 11,098
Rep: (1302) Rep Power: 31
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Unfortunately some asshat has bombed the UK consulate in NYC....  http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=stor...itain_election
__________________ Sith Apprentice CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 "There is a grey blur, and a green blur. I try to stay on the grey one..." - Joey Dunlop Last edited by Baketech : 05-05-2005 at 7:43 AM. |
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05-05-2005, 8:13 AM
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| long-time addict Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep: (423) Rep Power: 11
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! I'm not surprised the terrorists had a go, just pleasantly surprised it wasn't here (fingers crossed  ). Commuting into London on trains, jam-packed as usual, has had an extra level of sensitivity over the last few days.
__________________ Change is as good as a rest! |
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05-05-2005, 8:18 AM
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| Join Date: 05-26-2001 Location: Concord, NH, USA
Bike(s): 2001 929 Age: 33 Posts: 4,720
Rep: (835) Rep Power: 20
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Quote:
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05-05-2005, 10:00 AM
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| Join Date: 02-10-2002 Location: Hoosierland, USA
Bike(s): CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 Posts: 11,098
Rep: (1302) Rep Power: 31
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! I am so puzzled right now....  The early reports have Blair in favor....yet every bit of news for the past 2 years has been an attempt to show him being out of favor with the populace... How can this be.... 
__________________ Sith Apprentice CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 "There is a grey blur, and a green blur. I try to stay on the grey one..." - Joey Dunlop Last edited by Baketech : 05-05-2005 at 10:00 AM. |
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05-05-2005, 11:53 AM
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| long-time addict Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep: (423) Rep Power: 11
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Quote:
__________________ Change is as good as a rest! Last edited by oldfogey : 05-05-2005 at 12:03 PM. | |
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05-05-2005, 12:02 PM
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| long-time addict Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep: (423) Rep Power: 11
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Quote:
One amusing incident was when the three party leaders were on the same tv programme with a representative audience (Blair refused any debate). Conservative leader Howard was calling Blair a liar over how he presented the Iraqi war case and a member of the audience asked Howard how it felt to be less trusted by the populace than the man he was calling a liar. The polls show around 66% of the population don't trust Blair and 68% don't trust Howard. Howard also stated clearly in that programme he would have gone to war without any WMD evidence. The polls weakened for the Conservatives immediately. I'm glad of my fellow citizens' cynicism over their politicians, I just wish we had less of the strong consensus in favour of big government at the moment.
__________________ Change is as good as a rest! | |
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05-05-2005, 6:42 PM
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  Join Date: 07-23-2001 Location: Motor City, Michigan
Bike(s): '01 CBR929 Age: 49 Posts: 7,848
Rep: (777) Rep Power: 22
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! It looks like Tony is back for a third term... |
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05-06-2005, 4:27 AM
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| long-time addict Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep: (423) Rep Power: 11
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! For anyone who wants to look at the detail: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politi...es/default.stm Much as predicted, but Liberal Democrats doing well as a left-wing, anti-war alternative in safe Labour seats and thus the Labour popular vote falling more than expected. Young voters overwhelmingly voted Lib Dem, which helped also in cities with student populations. Surprise of the night was ex-Labour MP and friend of Saddam Hussein, George Gallaway, getting elected in London against an otherwise popular afro-caribbean, woman, Labour, sitting MP who supported the war in a heavily-muslim Asian area. Our new Labour government, which will have a house of commons majority of around 65, will have been elected by the lowest percentage of the voters of any UK government ever (est 36.4%). A look at the national map coloured according to winner on the site above will give an interesting picture.
__________________ Change is as good as a rest! |
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05-06-2005, 8:32 AM
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| Every ride a gift...  Join Date: 03-02-2003 Location: Idaho, USA
Bike(s): '02 RC51; '05 DR-Z400SM; '06 CBR600RR Age: 46 Posts: 4,132
Rep: (1101) Rep Power: 21
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Quote:
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05-06-2005, 8:36 AM
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| Join Date: 02-10-2002 Location: Hoosierland, USA
Bike(s): CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 Posts: 11,098
Rep: (1302) Rep Power: 31
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Quote:
 The lefty-press spewed their propaganda for months, but still could not convince the voters....on either side of the pond apparently. My read? People inherently know what needs to be done even when they disagree with some of the reason....thus Bushy and Bliar were re-elected to do the dirty work. I'm more distrusful of the news media than my politicians... 
__________________ Sith Apprentice CBR929 - VFR800 - VFR800 "There is a grey blur, and a green blur. I try to stay on the grey one..." - Joey Dunlop Last edited by Baketech : 05-06-2005 at 8:37 AM. | |
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05-06-2005, 8:54 AM
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| long-time addict Join Date: 06-28-2004 Location: UK
Bike(s): VFR800, BSA Lightning Posts: 2,070
Rep: (423) Rep Power: 11
| Re: Now we get a turn at an election thread! Latest is that Howard, the Conserva |