News Of The World

[rory_20_uk]

Strength is always perceived to be seen as never backing down, never sacking people. It seems having the human trait of making a mistake is just not possible. That they look more weak and out of touch when they belatedly bin them seems to be a lesson they don't want to learn.

But being on a boat with someone is not a crime, is it? If front benchers think they can be booted for being in the same place as a certain person they'd either rebel or be too scared to do anything, lest they are tarred with the association retrospectively.

Politicians are there to gain power and retain power. Having principles gets you nowhere: The Labour principles of the 1970's got them thrown out for over a decade, and more recently we've had Blair's ethical trade flounder on the fact that nasty countries buy weapons and Cameron's plans for the NHS being repeatedly watered down as every interested group ensure that they are safe from meaningful change.

[Adrian II]

Having principles gets you nowhere: The Labour principles of the 1970's got them thrown out for over a decade, and more recently we've had Blair's ethical trade flounder on the fact that nasty countries buy weapons and Cameron's plans for the NHS being repeatedly watered down as every interested group ensure that they are safe from meaningful change.

Politics is the art of forcing meaningful change despite these obstacles. In that sense of the word there are only very few politicians, there always have been very, very few. In the mean time we make do.

Anyway, anyone else seen Rupert and Son of Rupert testify?

"I knew nothing, I know nothing now, and I promise I'll know nothing in the future."

"Gee Dad, thanks for that."

AII

[InsaneApache]

Just watching it now. It's like trying to nail jelly to a wall.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Strength is always perceived to be seen as never backing down, never sacking people. It seems having the human trait of making a mistake is just not possible. That they look more weak and out of touch when they belatedly bin them seems to be a lesson they don't want to learn.

But being on a boat with someone is not a crime, is it? If front benchers think they can be booted for being in the same place as a certain person they'd either rebel or be too scared to do anything, lest they are tarred with the association retrospectively.

Yes, but it was who else he was on the boat with, and the fact that it appears to have been hushed up. He deserved to lose Cameron's trust for that and the (then) leader of the opposition should have demoted him on principle to, say, Health. Or, he should have Lamonted him as Banquo said a year ago and then replaced him with Clarke. The problem with Ken Clarke is that he is (also) quite intellectually intelligent but like some others on the front bench somewhat lacking in political empathy. Saying that drunk rapists might be given a lighter sentence than hold-still-or-I-kill-you rapists is a worthwile consideration when the prisons are bursting at the seems and the latter seems more likely to reoffend or later kill someone. Unfortunately it makes a dreadful soundbite.

On the other hand, Ken Clarke saying exactly what he thinks of investment bankers and ratings agencies would probably play well in the domestic market at least.