Question for all those who say Labour are "the same as the Tories" and Blair was "the same as the Tories" - hence Labour's lead now and Blair's three election wins.
You do realise what you're saying is that the British electorate must be quite massively Tory?
You do realise what you're saying is that the British electorate must be quite massively Tory?
And if the British electorate is, based on your argument, quite massively Tory, exactly how do you suppose a left wing platform will ever win?
By the way, it *isn't* quite massively Tory. Like most electorates, it wants a combination of competence and compassion.
By the way, it *isn't* quite massively Tory. Like most electorates, it wants a combination of competence and compassion.
But forced to choose between one and the other, it will always favour the party it sees as more competent. Because elections are not charities.
- Labour always has to neutralise its electoral weakness on the economy
- The Tories always have to neutralise their electoral weakness on healthcare
The Tories are in the process of blowing both components sky high. And hence: they're in deep trouble.
- The Tories always have to neutralise their electoral weakness on healthcare
The Tories are in the process of blowing both components sky high. And hence: they're in deep trouble.
The Tories lost their reputation for economic competence - it was shredded totally - on Black Wednesday. Yet the economy recovered VERY fast and began a long long period of sustained growth.
Yet despite that, the Tories were smashed. You should ask yourself why that was.
Yet despite that, the Tories were smashed. You should ask yourself why that was.
Sometimes, the left is accused of preferring losing constantly to winning and making a difference if winning involves being moderate. The 'purity' thing, in other words.
I'm just beginning to appreciate that for those this applies to, it isn't lose-lose. It's win-win.
I'm just beginning to appreciate that for those this applies to, it isn't lose-lose. It's win-win.
1. If you win on a moderate platform, that doesn't count because it's "Tory" - so you can keep attacking the leader and the platform
2. If you lose on a left wing platform, then it's all the fault of the media/the MPs/the voters themselves - but never the plafform or leader
2. If you lose on a left wing platform, then it's all the fault of the media/the MPs/the voters themselves - but never the plafform or leader
3. If you win on a left wing platform, a miracle just occurred.
But given that 99.99% of the time, it's option 1) or 2), it means you don't have to do any critical thinking, any serious analysis... and can feel good about yourself while blaming everyone else.
Win-win.
But given that 99.99% of the time, it's option 1) or 2), it means you don't have to do any critical thinking, any serious analysis... and can feel good about yourself while blaming everyone else.
Win-win.
PS. I've written again and again about the horrendous power of the UK media. Most of my followers are preaching to the choir.
So exactly how do you think you can bypass the media and win on a left wing plafform? It's like trying to voyage around the world without using the sea.
So exactly how do you think you can bypass the media and win on a left wing plafform? It's like trying to voyage around the world without using the sea.
- X is popular because he's a Tory!
- Y is unpopular because he's not a Tory!
- Boo X!
- Yay Y!
In a world which, first and foremost, is about winning (which is achieved by being popular), it's no way to run a railroad.
- Y is unpopular because he's not a Tory!
- Boo X!
- Yay Y!
In a world which, first and foremost, is about winning (which is achieved by being popular), it's no way to run a railroad.
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