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Pass the bucket....

(42 Posts)
Nanadogsbody Wed 19-Sept-12 22:13:22

Is it me or did anyone else think the 'apology' by Nick Clegg totally insincere. Does he think we're taken in so easily? [sick making] emoticon.

Ana Wed 19-Sept-12 22:23:25

What a creep! And what a suspicious hair colour....

glassortwo Wed 19-Sept-12 22:28:52

I thought it was just me. In fact I wouldn't trust him as far as I could throw him.

POGS Wed 19-Sept-12 22:50:51

The fact he said he shouldn't have made a promise without knowing how to fund it when there was no money left was an O.K. move.

The problem for me is the fact that he became so popular with the students and parents of those going to university he had a lot of votes, I would assume, from people who would not normally vote LibDem. Now we have . b----y coalition government. Gordon Brown was so useless during the televised debates Clegg probably gained Labour votes too.

I hate coalitions, they do not work. They are dangerous, stupid and sadly where we will be next time around too. I for one would like to see either Labour or Conservatives win outright and rise or fall on their own merits.

Just watching Vince Cable admitting they knew it was unaffordable on Newsnight. As Paxman said 'It was a stunt'.

Ana Wed 19-Sept-12 22:54:35

I watched that too, POGS. Paxman had Cable rattled at first, but of course he (like all politicians) weaseled his way out of it by the end of the interview. All parties promise unaffordable policies just to gain votes.

NfkDumpling Wed 19-Sept-12 23:10:20

Sorry, I stopped listening after the first sentence. And I stopped believing politians many, many years ago. Why is anyone surprised that they exaggerated and fibbed. It's what they all do - to varying degrees. At least we don't have to put up with twerps like that Romney bloke.

Joan Thu 20-Sept-12 04:18:10

They are just as bad over here in Australia. The (Tory) opposition leader, Abbott, is a nasty attack dog with an entirely negative agenda , our Labour PM got the job through a political coup and has not been forgiven by many Labour supporters, the Greens just say NO to everything....

Then there is our State government - newly elected in a landslide that most people regret, they are using supposed mistakes by the past government to impose far-right idealistic policies, and now everyone hates them because they broke so many promises.

I'm glad I'm retired with a pension, because no job is safe these days.

Greatnan Thu 20-Sept-12 07:12:16

I think somebody once said that anyone who wants to be an MP should be debarred on those very grounds!
There are some very decent people in the UK parliament, and they must feel very frustrated when they see their party taken over by the self-servers, greedy and dishonest members.

JessM Thu 20-Sept-12 07:28:22

I think the idea goes back to Swift's Gulliver's Travels where he sees a man being dragged off unwillingly to be PM

Notsogrand Thu 20-Sept-12 07:35:00

Politicians from a party that hasn't been in power for decades and doesn't look as though it's going to be in power any time soon, can promise the earth with a clear conscience can't they?

It was getting into government that tripped them up.

Greatnan Thu 20-Sept-12 07:39:01

I'll bet Milliband is praying for another defeat!

Nanadogsbody Thu 20-Sept-12 08:08:28

Good point notso. Ah...but which Milliband greatnan? Sometimes suspect the brother David is quite pleased he didn't get elected this time round and is waiting quietly in the wings.

Greatnan Thu 20-Sept-12 08:08:39

I thought I was past being disillusioned after Tony Blair, but Clegg is just one more privileged 'toff'.

Barrow Thu 20-Sept-12 08:58:42

I agree with notsogrand The Lib Dems were able to make any promise they could think of as they thought they didn't stand a chance of getting into power, when they did they were thrown into confusion. Clegg is completely out of his depth.

When listening to politicians I can hear my grandfather saying "you can always tell when a politician is lying - his lips are moving"

annodomini Thu 20-Sept-12 09:07:45

The Lib Dems always hoped for a hung parliament as their only hope of getting some power. In 2010 they really did expect it. Whatever else anyone tells you, politics is about power, not about what they can do for people. There are honourable exceptions, but not in leadership roles. I never supported Clegg for the leadership but who was the alternative? Geoff Huhn and look what's happened to him!

absentgrana Thu 20-Sept-12 09:10:51

annodomini Isn't he Chris not Geoff? Whatever – not a good choice as leader either.

Bags Thu 20-Sept-12 09:18:19

The Poke version on YouTube is good for a laugh.

Bags Thu 20-Sept-12 09:18:42

Still nauseating, but funny with it.

absentgrana Thu 20-Sept-12 09:24:24

Bags Well it was more convincing than the original. smile

annodomini Thu 20-Sept-12 09:52:33

Yes, of course, absent - was obviously getting him confused with the erstwhile Labour defence secretary, Geoff Hune!

annodomini Thu 20-Sept-12 09:53:47

HOON, even! May get it right eventually. blush

Movedalot Thu 20-Sept-12 10:12:58

Agree with Nfk. Why would anyone be surprised? They all do it, anything they think they can get away with to get more votes. He has to apologise now in order to position himself before the next election. They are all the same. As someone once said "don't vote for any of them, it only encourages them!" I still do though.

Ana I thought that about the hair too and saw a few different colours in different clips. Why do we notice that? We don't with women? grin

Greatnan Thu 20-Sept-12 10:15:43

I think women MPs get even more discussion of their appearance - who can forget Theresa May's shoes?
I think TV has a lot to answer for - nobody discussed MPs personal features in the 1960's because we didn't know what most of them looked like.

Butternut Thu 20-Sept-12 10:21:06

B - Brilliant in eeeuuww kind'a way grin

baNANA Thu 20-Sept-12 12:29:17

I can't stand him, I think he's a grade A bullshitting career politician who is totally out of touch. A while ago someone asked him if he knew what the weekly pension was and he replied I think it's about £30. For heaven's sake could anyone live on that! I also don't care that he has to take it in turns to take his kids to their CATHOLIC school, him being an atheist and all, so angry looking Miriam can get into the office early and earn sheds loads of money as a human rights lawyer. Ditto Cameron don't care if you can put rice crispies in a bowl and talk to your children at the same time, so what! That's the trouble with toffs they think we care about all this crap, it's all a load of flim flam. Hope Clegg loses his seat then he can sod off back to the Eurozone and cause chaos there.