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Voting for Jeremy Corbyn - the political equivalent of buying a Harley Davidson

(705 Posts)
kittylester Sun 17-Sept-17 18:18:55

A quote from an article by Nick Cohen in Saturday's (I think) Guardian

My phone isn't letting me do links - sorry! But try googling it if you are interested.

nightowl Tue 19-Sept-17 18:31:31

I don't recognise what I know about momentum from that description - totalitarian and not allowing any difference of opinion. I'm not a member, have no interest in becoming a member, but I know a few people who are. They're actually quite a mixed bunch, and they pay their taxes and help out in their communities as well. Amazing.

durhamjen Tue 19-Sept-17 18:45:09

Nobody will believe you, though, nightowl.

The only people I know who call momentum members totalitarian are those writing for rightwing newspapers.

kittylester Tue 19-Sept-17 18:49:09

And, I didn't say they didn't - did I?

Just that Annie and I do too.

I know quite a few people who belong to the labour party and/or support momentum. How about that.

Off for a Bellini and dinner - please make political points as you please!

Anniebach Tue 19-Sept-17 18:52:19

I am surprised Labour Party members don't receive emails from .labour first, they always proudly mention momentum , one arrived today

maryeliza54 Tue 19-Sept-17 18:56:00

Jolly good kitty

petra Tue 19-Sept-17 18:58:15

Kittylester
I know you don't often dip your toe in the politicle pool, but now that you have, and felt the chill, do you think you might take the plunge smile

kittylester Tue 19-Sept-17 19:07:50

Did anyone read Paul Mason in today's Guardian? An awful lot of fair points but totalitarian or what? Agree with us or you are out!

maryeliza54 Tue 19-Sept-17 19:19:13

That was a quick cocktail and dinner

kittylester Tue 19-Sept-17 21:06:04

I didn't know you would be worried!

We were delayed in going down for dinner as a friend of DD2 needed some professional advice from DH.

I don't really have the heart or the time for this generally petra. But don't like people ganging up on other people in such a nasty way.

nightowl Tue 19-Sept-17 21:44:05

I give up. Some of us are just supposed to 'suck it up' while others can throw around insults and then garner sympathy for being victims of bullying. You couldn't make it up.

kittylester Tue 19-Sept-17 22:03:42

Your post is a little cryptic for me. nightowl but, if I have insulted you, I apologise. Maybe you could point it out to me.

GracesGranMK2 Tue 19-Sept-17 23:12:30

Good night nightowl. You are not really in a parallel universe - it just feels like it sometimes.

kittylester Wed 20-Sept-17 06:58:41

And that sort of cryptic, 'all pals together', 'the rest of you are thick' post is just why I can't generally be a***d to argue post on threads like these.

nightowl Wed 20-Sept-17 07:28:16

You have not insulted me kitty. I think I've made it clear who has frequently insulted me, and others.

Thank you GracesGran. It's not about 'friends together' but it helps to know I'm not going completely mad.

Anya Wed 20-Sept-17 07:58:16

I admit to having my doubts about Corbyn when he was first elected Labour leader, but I listened very carefully during the last election to what all party leaders were saying. What struck me was how he was the only one who answered questions straight on and honestly, which was a refreshing change. He also showed himself able to think on his feet and tackle head on some of the issues raised by Anniebach and others upthread.

I compared that with the way TM slithered out of answering, and simply trotted out 'safe and strong' and continued with what she wanted to say, which bore little relevance to the question asked.

I've watched how TM's government has performed since. Her 'promises' meant absolutely nothing. I've seen how she mishandled and misjudged the mood after Grenfell. I've watched her dither about Brexit and alienate those in Europe we need to work with if we are to get a reasonable exit deal. In other words, her poor performance prior to the election continues into a poorly performing government.

Back to Corbyn. He impressed me, and I was a sceptic and not easily impressed. He also impressed and inspired many of my friends and family, from those of a more 'working class' background to those in the professions. From the younger ones to those of us who are retired. Across the generations and across varied backgrounds.

This is why TM's majority was reduced to nil. It's worth keeping that in mind. TM went to the country and misjudged their mood, just as she's misjudged everything since.

gillybob Wed 20-Sept-17 08:05:58

I agree with some of things you have written about TM etc. Anya but feel (personally) that JC has won so many people over on false promises that he can't possibly deliver. He is coming across (again personally speaking) as some kind of savior to everyone (well except anyone in business that is) and many are blindly following like lambs to the slaughter. I worry where he would eventually lead the country?

maryeliza54 Wed 20-Sept-17 08:18:51

But gilly what about TM's false promises? Her speech after she first became PM, her concern for JAMs? Her uniting the country? Can you list all JC's false promises? How do you know people are blindly following him? I don't know anyone who does - they are clear eyed about him and his positive and negatives but they are as sure as anything that continued austerity is not the answer.

kittylester Wed 20-Sept-17 08:19:50

Anya - but where was Corbyn during the referendum? If he had bailed his colours to the mast we might not have voted to leave. And, he bribed younger voters with his University Fees promise.

Nightowl, I'm glad I haven't insulted you. I have been insulted on this thread, as has Annie. And, to a person every so slightly to the right of centre, I find the whole tone of this thread reminiscent of the cliques that were rampant, and made my life quite miserable, at school. And they ensure that I won't be taking the plunge too often.

I found maryeliza's and petra's post very aggressive and personally challenging. That attitude doesn't help people understand anyone else's point of view.

maryeliza54 Wed 20-Sept-17 08:25:36

I'm not going to take the bait on that one kitty

durhamjen Wed 20-Sept-17 08:29:07

So you start a thread to have a laugh at people who support Corbyn. When they carry on supporting Corbyn you get huffy, and complain that they are still supporting Corbyn, and that's why you don't like going on threads like this.

How weird.

maryeliza54 Wed 20-Sept-17 08:45:04

Exactly durham. Noone needed a crystal ball to know where starting a thread like this would go. Job done maybe?

durhamjen Wed 20-Sept-17 08:47:54

Agreed, maryeliza.
Oh dear, I'd better go and do something else, or we will be accused of being a clique again.

durhamjen Wed 20-Sept-17 08:51:11

Gillybob. from Bloomberg.

"Clarity Please | Some 73 percent of firms in London told the Confederation of British Industry that uncertainty over Brexit is their top concern and 69 percent said they have developed or are developing contingency plans. Around a quarter said they are planning to move part of their operations abroad. "What we need is clarity and consistency," Ken Frazier, chief executive of Merck, told May in New York. In an interview afterwards, he said he wanted to "understand what the regulatory requirements will be" after Brexit."

That's a lot of businesses, and nothing to do with Corbyn, although I am sure you will blame him for not persuading enough people to vote remain.

lemongrove Wed 20-Sept-17 08:57:53

I understand what you say about May Anya and I agree with it.However, she is not the whole Cabinet or the Party.
May has performed dismally for most of the time as PM, but because she is not very good, doesn't mean that Corbyn would be better! I think that he is actually a very weak character, not a strong one, and is led by those around him,not least John McDonnell, who is now the shadowy power behind the throne, they keep him hidden most of the time, and also led by 'Team Corbyn' a powerhouse of ambitious and very left wing driven people, plus of course,
That grassroots soon to be powerhouse of Momentum.
Both main Parties now have poor Leaders.For the sake of stability for the country I hope that May stays for now, but is replaced within 2 years with a better Conservative Leader, or, at a push, if there was a General Election then a better more able and less very left wing Labour Leader.I can see the latter happening unfortunately, the way things are going with the Labour Party.

dbDB77 Wed 20-Sept-17 09:17:23

I agree Lemongrove - TM's incompetence doesn't mean that JC would be competent. And they are not the whole story - I would prefer to see our economy in the hands of a Tory government (even though I'm not a Tory) than let McDonnell become Chancellor.