I might vote Tory but that doesn't make me a bad person

I've changed my mind. I think you two have much more in common!

I think there are Political Activists on GN. Probably put in place. Now that.s a thought.

(not sure what you meant by your post, jo1book, it was just a joke about our views being similar - the sock puppets thing was just an aside if you cared to follow it up, that's all)

You've got to be kidding!

Soontobe. You need to ask those who know me. I rather like a ruck! Can I say, I like your posts. You seem a very reasonable person.

I think you're something of a stirrer yourself, soontobe.

You ask a lot of questions Soontobe sure you're not a journo?

Ana. Wow. Me or them? I do wonder about some people who loudly bang a drum.

So you are both stirrers?

Yes! Are you me? Are we sock puppets? (see the Pointless thread).

OMG Someone agrees with me XXX
Most of what I say is tongue in cheek. But then I am a bit of a wicked stirer and know where the reactionary riposte will come from on GN.! What larks!

Most GNs probably think they have a wonderful SOH, but when they actually start posting on here PC-ness strikes ( it's catching!) and suddenly they're part of the po-faced brigade!

I know. Mind you, I shouldn't spar with grannies. They could be 90 odd and frail. I just think that some people, when filling in their personal profile, could not put GSOH. Not you, of course!

My post was in reply to GrannyTwice, jobook1, but this thread is getting so muddled I don't suppose it matters much!

I think image has always been a factor with how people perceive politicians.
Michael Foot suffered badly though he was very sincere, much like Ed.
Back to kitty's op. DH voted Conservative, I voted Labour......it makes for an interesting household.

I could watch Ed Miliband for hours (well, minutes)
He fascinates me, his expressions, the way he speaks.
More so than DC.

Day6 I can empathise, however I was lucky enough to have DH who was lucky enough to be able to carry on working until nearly 70. Just when I thought I would be able to go back to work I was ill again.
At least incapacity benefit paid my stamp towards my pension although it was a pittance.

No, it was the newspaper review. I may have got the paper wrong, but the remarks came from the Labour viewpoint, and they are right. Personal insults are part of the game - look at the Cartoons in the Press and acceptable in the modern age of Image. Although I do see why pensioners find it difficult to handle. It's a very tough age we live in and don't you think the people being insulted don't know it themselves.
I have been called a Bossy Old Cow with the look of Medusa! Bring it on.

Hmm...the DM and the Sun. Aren't they supposed to be Tory-supporting newspapers? Seems an odd thing for them to have on their front pages, insulting comments about the appearance of members of the coalition government.

And they love him as well. Which makes him a rich man. It still doesn't make personal comments acceptable, against anyone, and Ed has come in for them relentlessly throughout his leadership. As older people we should have learnt how wrong that is by now.

Oh dear. Cat among the pigeons! Can't claim the "odd" remark for myself. Coined by Kevin Macquire of The Mirror on breakfast TV. How about, not happy in his own skin (The Times). Macquire, a staunch leftwinger, said the next leader must be charismatic to be listened to. Sorry I can't find a post for all the insults hurled at poor Ed. Too many pages. But he loves his Wife and children. Bless.

None of that was acceptable POGs but the fact it happened doesn't detract from the fact that it's wrong here as well. We should all be better than that

Ana

'The Ginger Rodent'.

That was so kind a remark Hariett Harmen made about LibDem Danny Alexander wasn't it. Oh how they laughed !

I think some need to think about the remarks made about Eric Pickles and Michael Gove on GN let alone in the House of Parliament..

I think the worst I ever witnessed was the opposition benches, well the Labour MP's not the others, literally taking the mick out of the conservative MP Paul Maynard who has cerebral palsy. Now that is a disgrace.

Oh yes Ana - I saw those comments about DC and DA week after week on the front page of the DM and the Sun. The issue is not so much do the politicians care but that the press do it to make the electorate think it matters. And what do you know, some of them end up thinking it does.

Exactly. He probably doesn't care any more than DC cares when he's mocked for looking like a red-faced Iggle Piggle, or Danny Alexander did when he was likened to Beaker from The Muppets!

I think eloquence is very important in politics. But even that most eloquent of politicians, Robin Cook used to say 'my face is against me'. Thus far I can't say that any of the Labour leadership candidates seem very inspiring. I wish we could go back to having elder statesmen of the Smith and Callaghan type who don't have to walk around holding hands with their wives.