Gordon Brown is on the run...

by **antiaristo** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 9:54 am

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>Campbell is people’s choice for Lib Dems SIR Menzies Campbell is the narrow preference of all voters to become the next leader of the Liberal Democrats, according to today’s Sunday Times-YouGov poll. But among Lib Dem supporters alone, Simon Hughes is clearly ahead, writes David Smith. The poll, of more than 1,600 people, carried out on Thursday and Friday, shows that the three candidates have yet to make a public impact, despite recent media exposure, including last week’s BBC television debate and surprise parliamentary by-election win in Dunfermline and West Fife. Asked to choose between Campbell, Hughes and Christopher Huhne, 56% said “don’t know”. Even among Lib Dem supporters a third opted for don’t know. Overall, Campbell was backed by 18%, Hughes by 16% and Huhne, the least-known of the contenders, by just 10%. Campbell, who is 64, is backed by older voters. Middle-aged and younger people are less enthusiastic. Among Lib Dem supporters, Hughes, 54, the party president, is well ahead on 34%, followed by Campbell on 21% and Huhne, 13%. The findings are a blow for Huhne, 51, a former Guardian journalist who has been an MP for only nine months. Polls of Lib Dem members have suggested that he has been the “dark horse”. However, today’s YouGov poll indicates that among the wider electorate, and Lib Dem supporters, he faces an uphill task to secure the leadership. Election ballots were sent to the party’s 73,000 members last week. The ballot closes on March 1, and the result is expected to be declared the following day. The election will be conducted using the single transferable vote system, under which members list preferences. The least popular candidate is eliminated on the first round and his preferences allocated to the two remaining contenders.<hr></blockquote> <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-2036534,00.html">www.timesonline.co.uk/art...34,00.html</a> Only Lib-Dem supporters actually get to vote, so why is the headline about something else? It's clear who Murdoch wants to win, no?

by **antiaristo** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:07 pm

He's practsing his sophistry skills <blockquote>Quote:<hr>Speech fuels PM succession rumours Press Association Monday February 13, 2006 10:48 PM Gordon Brown has defended the Government's anti-terror plans in a further sign of his transition to Number 10. The Chancellor detailed the case for ID cards and a new law to outlaw the glorification of terrorism. And he outlined further plans to boost security, demonstrating he is extending his remit beyond usual Treasury matters. Mr Brown said the Government would do "what is right" to protect the country. And he accused opponents of being "soft" and posturing. Former minister David Blunkett last month said there was a "new understanding" between Mr Brown and Tony Blair that would see him take over as Prime Minister within two years. On Sunday Mr Brown denied reaching a deal on the succession. And he played down suggestions by Home Secretary Charles Clarke that he and Mr Blair were operating a "dual premiership". But he indicated he and the Prime Minister were jointly planning policy. In his speech to the Royal United Services Institute in London, Mr Brown said it was perfectly proper for a Chancellor to be at the heart of anti-terror policy. He said the Treasury had become a department for security, working to cut off the sources of terrorist funding. Ahead of the crucial vote on ID cards, Mr Brown insisted the controversial scheme would help disrupt terrorism as well as tackling identity fraud. And with another vote looming on Government plans to create a new offence of glorifying terrorism, Mr Brown pointed to the more extreme placards wielded in protests at the cartoons of the prophet Muhammad. He said they showed the need for a clearer framework for quick intervention. Mr Brown also backed calls for police to be able to detain terror suspects without charge for more than 28 days. And he promised to look at the case for a single security budget - an indication he could agree to Tory demands for a homeland security minister. In his lengthy speech Mr Brown also pledged funding for a memorial to the victims of the July 7 attacks, championed a National Veterans Day and set out plans for a massive expansion of the cadets scheme. Mr Brown concluded: "We will do what is right to protect the security and liberties of our citizens and country and in the face of global terrorism we will prevail."<hr></blockquote> <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-5616288,00.html">www.guardian.co.uk/uklate...88,00.html</a> Nah. Brown ain't no mason. It's all out in the open now.

by **antiaristo** » Tue Feb 14, 2006 11:44 am

<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/cartoons/martinrowson/0,,1709316,00.html">www.guardian.co.uk/cartoo...16,00.html</a>

by **antiaristo** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:11 am

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>Lib Dems recover from leadership crisis Tania Branigan, political correspondent Tuesday February 21, 2006 The Guardian The Liberal Democrats have bounced back from their leadership crisis, while Labour is at its lowest ebb since the general election, according to a Guardian/ICM poll published today. The Lib Dems - who will next week announce their new leader - are back at 21%, recovering the two points they lost between December and January when they weathered the dual resignations of Charles Kennedy and Mark Oaten. The results suggest the furore over MPs' personal lives has not caused serious damage to the party, with 72% of respondents saying that the leadership contest had made no difference. Detailed analysis suggests that a few voters have switched from the Lib Dems to Labour since the last election, but far more have travelled in the opposite direction. Labour has dropped two points to 34% since last month, a point lower than the party's share of the vote at the general election and its lowest ICM rating since last May. That has increased the Tories' lead to 3 points, as they remain at 37%. The findings are likely to reassure Conservatives concerned that Mr Cameron's attempts to reform the party could alienate traditional supporters without attracting a substantial number of new voters. The main advance in the Tories' fortunes came late last year, just after David Cameron's election as leader, when December ICM polling put them just ahead of Labour, 37% to 36%, for only the second time since 1993. The Tories would need a swing of around 7% to win the next election outright. The 3% swing they have enjoyed since last May would probably be enough to deprive Labour of its overall majority, but would still leave it as the largest party. ICM interviewed a random sample of 1,002 adults from across the country over the weekend. ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules.<hr></blockquote> <a href="http://politics.guardian.co.uk/libdems/story/0,,1714189,00.html">politics.guardian.co.uk/l...89,00.html</a> Why the title? Mr Murdoch is now blocking me from reading ANY of his arsewipe "newspapers"! I think I get the best out of that deal. Small people, those Freemasons.

by **antiaristo** » Tue Feb 21, 2006 8:21 am

There's many a true word spoken in jest.... <blockquote>Quote:<hr>Revealed: the very slow suicide bomber Tony Blair and Gordon Brown answer your questions about terror Armando Iannucci Sunday February 19, 2006 The Observer At a round-table discussion held at the offices of my column, I was pleased to have a frank chat with the Chancellor and his PM. At the table, they sat exactly equidistant from each other and from me. Freedom Armando Iannucci Mr Blair, if I can start with you, do you think the ban on smoking and outlawing of the glorification of terrorism mark a creeping restriction on the tradition of free expression this country has always held dear? Article continues -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gordon Brown Before Tony answers that, could I just say that these issues concern freedom, human rights, national security and health and, therefore, fall under my remit as Chancellor of the Exchequer? Iannucci How? Tony Blair Yes, how? Brown So, first of all, can I say, on the issue of identity cards, we remain absolutely committed to their introduction? Blair Which is exactly what I was going to say. Though can I stress, at this stage, ID cards will be entirely voluntary? Brown That's a bit feeble, isn't it? Blair Well, we have promised another vote before it's made compulsory. Brown Though I think it's only fair for people's security that those at this stage who haven't volunteered to have an identity card will be obliged to wear a T-shirt saying 'I Haven't Got an ID Card and Am Therefore a Threat to Security', and have their names and addresses published on a website. Terror must be crushed. Blair I couldn't put it better myself. Though, I could if I wanted to, since I'm ultimately in charge. Terror Iannucci On the issue of terror, why did you feel the need to bring in an extra law banning the glorification of terror? Blair Well, you see, Armando, you don't sit where I sit and see day in, day out the intelligence reports... Brown I see those as well... Blair Really? I didn't realise you... anyway, we get the intelligence that says people are up to no good, but in ways that don't flout existing laws. The police tell me they're seeing people commit offences all the time, but that at the moment these are legal offences. The police need to be able to see if someone's committing an offence, then bring in a law afterwards to tell them what that offence is. Like glorification. Brown I'd go further. Yes, we're bringing in a law to make glorification illegal. But you can also break glorification down into its three constituent parts. Iannucci and Blair Can you? Brown Yes. Smiling, exaggerating and being sarcastic. There are people who smile when they hear about terrorism, or who exaggerate how successful a terrorist act has been, or are sarcastic whenever we come on the news. It only needs three of these people to come together in co-ordinated attack for them to collectively commit glorification. Blair Precisely. I think. Brown Or two people being sarcastic and one smiling. It works in different ways. Blair Really? Smoking Iannucci Can we talk about the smoking ban? Blair Well, I think it's only right that we're very very tough on this. Brown Even tougher than we are on terrorists. Because smokers are killing themselves and others over a number of years and are, effectively, slow terrorists. Blair What? Brown Someone who smokes in a public place is effectively a very slow suicide bomber. Blair These are just figures of speech Gordon's using, you understand? Armando, can we stop for a minute? (Blair and Brown leave the room. There is the sound of muffled words. They come back in.) Brown Can I just reiterate everything the Prime Minister's just said? Or will say. Iannucci What's your reaction to the newly released images from Abu Ghraib and the video footage showing British soldiers in Basra beating up Iraqis? Blair Can I say that what I saw was absolutely appalling and must be condemned without equivocation, without in any way implying that all our armed forces are like that, because they're not, they do a magnificent job and they deserve our continued support? Brown Can I also echo that by saying that what I saw was absolutely appalling and must be condemned without equivocation, without in any way implying that all our armed forces are like that, because they're not, they do a magnificent job and deserve our continued support? And can I go further? Blair I'd like to go further, too. Brown... and say that what we saw was just... Blair... the work of one or two bad apples. Brown Rogue apples. Blair Yes, rogue apples. Hundreds of them. Brown Who must be crushed. Blair And I'm determined to crush these rogue apples to make... Brown... cider. Freedom cider. Blair Another figure of speech. Iannucci OK. Well, finally, I have to ask. There's been a lot of speculation that you're both acting as joint Prime Ministers. Is this the case? Blair No, I totally refute that. I am Prime Minister and I alone. Brown Can I reiterate what Tony's just said? I am Prime Minister and I alone. Iannucci So, Mr Brown, the shots of you wearing a stylishly pink tie aren't showing you in the process of a makeover? Brown No, it's just a colour. I like pink. I'm not gay, though. Blair No, we're not gay. Brown (laughing) Though, come to think of it, Tony, I rather like the idea of a civil partnership. What do you think? Shall we book a register office? (Brown laughs and laughs and laughs) Blair Everything Gordon's said has been a figure of speech... you understand, Armando? ... you understand! Say it! (They leave in separate cars)<hr></blockquote> <a href="http://politics.guardian.co.uk/backbench/story/0,,1713106,00.html">politics.guardian.co.uk/b...06,00.html</a>

by **antiaristo** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 5:51 pm

This is quite amazing. It's less than a year since the General Election. They can allow up to five years to pass. Yet the Leader of the Opposition is putting his Party on a possible war footing. Something big is up. And he's using language strikingly similar to my own. <blockquote>Quote:<hr>Cameron issues election alert Press Association Friday March 3, 2006 7:33 PM Tory leader David Cameron has put his party on an early election footing, claiming that Gordon Brown could "cut and run". The next General Election need not be held until 2010 but Mr Cameron claimed that options were closing in for the Chancellor, widely expected to succeed Tony Blair. Warning Scottish Conservatives of the need for new ideas and fresh thinking, he declared: "I warn you today that we have to be ready for anything. "Gordon Brown is running out of money. He's running out of ideas and he's running out of time." Mr Cameron said: "Don't assume we have three years or more until the next election. "We must be prepared for Gordon Brown to cut and run. "So we must not only show that the changes we're making are built to last - we must also make those changes fast." The Tory leader sounded his warning in a speech to the Scottish Tories' annual conference in Perth where he dismissed the Chancellor and new Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell as yesterday's men. "The choice in British politics is becoming clearer every day," said Mr Cameron. "The Liberal Democrats made their choice, and I wish Ming Campbell well. But I would say to him, as I say to his neighbour Gordon Brown, your old-fashioned ideas are yesterday's men with yesterday's solutions - and it's time to get out of the way."<hr></blockquote> <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uklatest/story/0,,-5661348,00.html">www.guardian.co.uk/uklate...48,00.html</a>

by **Darklo** » Fri Mar 03, 2006 8:14 pm

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>This man, Mr Gordon Brown, is Scottish. He's telling us English what to do about OUR church. It's none of his business. But then the "supremo" of the English Courts is Lord "Charlie" Falconer, who happens to be Scottish as well. My message to both men is this. Fuck off back to where you came from. And take your stinking rotten Scottish Rite Freemasonry and its Talmud based class system with you.<hr></blockquote> Antiaristo, Im quite prepared to consider your arguments but not if your going to make small minded rascist rants, its quite offensive.

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