Kennedy, stay or go?

[InsaneApache]

Now first off I'm neutral about this guys politics (apart from his stance on the EU), but I have to say I have mixed feelings about his troubles.

Good for him in admitting that he has an ongoing alcohol problem, and double good on him for getting some help, triple good on him for going public with it.

t'other side is he could be elected to government in the next general election, if the Labour vote collapses (which it will, now Camerons on watch) and a hung Parliament is the outcome.

Question is this. Should a man who deluded the public and his own party be allowed to obtain such an office, or should he be excluded?

Personally I have no problem with his alcoholism (as long as he abstains) but it was the deceit and untruths that make me feel uneasy. (Wait!!! noooo...he's a politician wtf am I on about )

After all isn't President Bush a recovering alcoholic? And he seems to do ok (on the drinking front my laughing friends)
clicky

thoughts anyone?

[Prodigal]

[QUOTE=InsaneApache]After all isn't President Bush a recovering alcoholic? And he seems to do ok (on the drinking front my laughing friends)
clicky
[QUOTE]
Didn't he do loads of coke & jump anything with a pulse too?

Nothing like a reformed sinner huh

[English assassin]

He's never had a proper job, and became an MP at the age of 24 for a joke seat less than half the size of the average English seat.

As far as I'm concerned he never earned the right to have a view on how I should be living my life and the sooner he buggers off to obscurity the better.

[InsaneApache]

He's never had a proper job

He's in good company them. Bliar, Straw and Cameron.

[Ja'chyra]

He's in good company them. Bliar, Straw and Cameron.

Half the people on this board...........

[Kanamori]

Until he's a recovered alcoholic I could see several good reasons why one wouldn't want him in office.

And I disagree with the notion that all of Bush's activities in college would be "poor qualities."

[Vladimir]

Half the people on this board...........

Good one. I say keep the old drunkard around, just don't get into a car with him if he's driving anywhere near a body of water. I want both of the senators from that state to remain in office if only for the comedic value.


Oh wait, I thought you meant Ted Kenendy.

[Kralizec]

This sums it up for me:

"People are not going to vote for a party because they feel sorry for its leader" - Mr. Davies

[Geoffrey S]

He's always struck me as a somewhat pathetic political figure, and can imagine he does the Liberal Democrats more harm than good.

[Al Khalifah]

Still, he has lead them to gaining their highest number of parliamentary seats since the days of Lloyd George. Not bad for a party that was all but totally discounted following the Ashdown debacle(s). The Lib Dems are doing their bit to prevent us from having a virtually 2 party system in England.

[Just A Girl]

I say let him stay.

Hes obviously trying to deal with his problem, And every 1 has some sort of monkey on there back.
His Public admital of his alcoholizm (although late coming) is a good step forward.

Personaly I say If hes trying Thats all I can ask of him.
I was never a fan of the lib dems any way,

never the less.
He has admited he has a problem and will deal with it,
Many other MP's or PM's Would refuse to comment or Strenuosly deny any accusation of this sort.
This honesty is a welcome change from MP's IMHO.
and i hope this trend stays.

Let the guy stay.
Hes trying and he told the truth. Im sure that Many others arent Man enought to do the same when such a valuable position is at stake.

[Taffy_is_a_Taff]

To be honest, I generally despise the Lib Dems and I think everybody knows that.

However, there are some decent people in the party. I do fear that Simon Hughes (is that his name) would win any leadership contest and I think he is just horrendous.

I find Charles Kennedy to be generally ok though.

I say stay unless he wants to watch Simon Hughes destroy the party (so maybe I should say go and let Simon in...).

[Scurvy]

I think hes a very good leader, and now he's admited his problem and is dealing with it, i see no problem

[Red Peasant]

Maybe I'm too cynical about politicians, but I bet he's only making this admission to save his political skin. The knives have been sharpening over this issue for a long time, and he has lied about it for a long time, and now he is desperately owning up to something before the media destroy him with it.

True, the LibDems have done well in the last few years, but that was with a very weakened Conservative party which now, however, seems to be recovering some poise and support. The feeling is that he has not driven the party as far forward as he should have done with his lacklustre leadership and the LibDems have missed their chance to force one of the 'big two' parties into third place in parliament.

[master of the puppets]

should'nt his political stances be more important than his personal problems on the election board?

[Slyspy]

You are probably correct, but it is still better than the old resign "to spend more time with the family" and corporate dirctorships ploy. Kennedy has done fine so far and he has a good team. Maybe a more dynamic leader would be useful, but this is the Lib Dems we are talking about!

[Duke Malcolm]

Ah, I've never liked him. Step up, Sir Menzies! (Although I wouldn't mind the former Viscount Thurso)

[English assassin]

Many other MP's or PM's Would refuse to comment or Strenuosly deny any accusation of this sort.

Rather as Charles Kennedy MP has been doing for the past 18 months and more...

This honesty is a welcome change from MP's IMHO

On the other hand the fact that Mr Kennedy belatedly discovered his honesty only when a journalist rang him up and told him they were about to run a story is business as usual for MPs...

[InsaneApache]

Yes the six O'clock BBC news last night, so I'm led to believe. No change there then. Anyone got owt on that little tinker Bliar? I can't wait for that one. The fying lart.