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Yeah, but has anyone short a hunting partner in the face?
by Byron
....At least no one's shot a dog yet...
Posted: 19:34 Mar 03 2006
All hail Emperor Ming
news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4763646.stm
Sir Menzies "Ming" Campbell has taken over from Charlie "wee dram" Kennedy as leader of the Liberal Democrats. Getting on a bit at 64, will he revitalise the party? Personally I'm not sure, on lots of things he strikes me as another Liberal ditherer after supporting the disgraceful smoking ban he said he personally opposed, but he's got plenty of experience and could be the stabilising influence the party needs to recover from the recent string of scandals. (At least no one's shot a dog yet.) Can only hope he sorts out the party into a decent left-wing opposition, we're in more desperate need of one now than ever.
Sir Menzies "Ming" Campbell has taken over from Charlie "wee dram" Kennedy as leader of the Liberal Democrats. Getting on a bit at 64, will he revitalise the party? Personally I'm not sure, on lots of things he strikes me as another Liberal ditherer after supporting the disgraceful smoking ban he said he personally opposed, but he's got plenty of experience and could be the stabilising influence the party needs to recover from the recent string of scandals. (At least no one's shot a dog yet.) Can only hope he sorts out the party into a decent left-wing opposition, we're in more desperate need of one now than ever.
9 Replies and 1681 Views in Total.
Posted: 19:34 Mar 03 2006 
I agree that his experience will be valuable. I personally think the trouble with the current Prime Minister is his lack of Real World knowledge, he seems to have gone into politics too soon, similarly with David Cameron, too much, too young, too little common sense 
It is as if the requirement to have a figurehead is far more important than having a leader, which is a shame
That`s just me though.
It is as if the requirement to have a figurehead is far more important than having a leader, which is a shame
That`s just me though.
Posted: 23:49 Mar 03 2006 Campbell was a Liberal Party Chairman before he hit his thirties, Tony Blair was 30 when he became an MP, so they both entered politics at a similar age. Frankly I think almost anyone by the age of 43 (How old Blair was when he became Prime Minister) has a decent level of real world knowledge so i find your point somewhat baffling.
by MonSTeR
I agree that his experience will be valuable. I personally think the trouble with the current Prime Minister is his lack of Real World knowledge, he seems to have gone into politics too soon, similarly with David Cameron, too much, too young, too little common sense
Posted: 00:51 Mar 04 2006
One of our best Prime Ministers was also the youngest: William Pitt got the top job aged 24. Other top contenders -- Gladstone, Churchill -- also entered parliament very early on. Westminster's a very closed world, but so is the background most government ministers come from. Public school and Oxbridge upbringing mixed with a professional job inevitably creates a pretty distorted mirror on the world whenever you enter Parliament.
I certainly can't see how Blair would have been any less of an unhinged fanatic if he'd waited another 10 years.
I certainly can't see how Blair would have been any less of an unhinged fanatic if he'd waited another 10 years.
Posted: 01:10 Mar 04 2006 Wouldn't call either Blair or Cameron a figurehead, certainly not Blair. Despite my loathing for the messianic fruitloop and his sorry band, I'll readily agree he's an extremely talented and ruthlessly sucessful leader, and Cameron's doing a bang up job of turning everything we thought we knew about the Tories on its head.
by MonSTeR
It is as if the requirement to have a figurehead is far more important than having a leader, which is a shame
Charles Kenedy was the most obvious figurehead leader, and they got sick of him: Ming was clearly itching to lead the party the whole time Golden Charlie had the job.
Posted: 01:16 Mar 04 2006 Erk!!! I wasn:t aware of this. (removes foot from mouth) oh well, just another worrying point then
by Sydney
(quotes)
Campbell was a Liberal Party Chairman before he hit his thirties, Tony Blair was 30 when he became an MP, so they both entered politics at a similar age.
I think anyone who enters the world of politics when they`re still only in their late 20s early 30s, especially if they have a decent education, tends not have time to gather ANY real world experience. Life becomes academic, its the same where folks try to apply models to any situation, it simply doesn`t work as well as they calculate it will
by Sydney
(quotes)
Frankly I think almost anyone by the age of 43 (How old Blair was when he became Prime Minister) has a decent level of real world knowledge so i find your point somewhat baffling.
Posted: 09:17 Mar 04 2006 