January 7, 2020 - 4:57pm
Clive Lewis’ pitch to be Labour leader is based on the idea of a progressive alliance. I imagine this is supposed to be an inclusive proposal. But I do wonder how many of those who abandoned Labour for the Tories were remotely enamoured by that Whiggish, Tony Blair-inspired “things can only get better” thing?
Some of us wince at all this talk of progress — the belief that history is some continually running escalator from barbarism to civilisation. Progress is often code for getting rid of all that outdated stuff like Kings and Queens, the nation state, religion. Part of what makes people feel comfortable with the Tories — at least the old school Conservatives rather than the free-market loving libertarian variety — is their respect for tradition, their conviction that the past contains a wisdom that is too easily broken in the quest for the ever new. So come on Labour. There really are a lot of us. Let’s hear it for left wing regressives!
Yes, of course, the Tories often fantasise about the past. But the left fantasises just as much about the future; as if by the very passage of time, things will improve. And indeed, by concentrating on the future, the left won’t have to dwell too long on all their mistakes. Forget the election result. That’s done and dusted. Onward and upward. Poop poop, goes Mr Toad in his new car, as he drives once again and full speed towards another crash.
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SubscribeIt isn’t Biden’s age that is the problem, it is his failing mental acuity and the disastrous policies he is signing off. And this? “I have a lot of time for Sleepy Joe, a politician with brains, decency and the common touch”. Not from what I’ve seen and reported, but perhaps someone with more knowledge of this career politician can fill me in.
Indeed. Two very good points.
Quite right! That quote struck me as well and made it quite clear that the author has fallen for the well polished media Joe.
“brains”?? – Joe was never near the top of his classes and was caught plagiarizing more than once
“decency” – he lied about the death of this 1st wife at campaign events and uses his son’s death as well. Let’s not forget the hair sniffing, inappropriate touching, and credible sexual assault claim, you know “Joe being Joe.”
He has the brains of a weasel and the decency of an alley cat, and his common touch is creepy. 47 Years of climbing the greasy pole of Party Politics means huge debts he owes, and his boot prints on thousands of backs and shoulders.
This is why Trump (who is a total nut, but a patriot) was so refreshing, he was not someone who had made that climb, which is one none cane make with any personal honour and integrity left.
The Parties on both sides are owned by ‘The Donor Class’, the real wealth who gate keep at every level. Right out of University they let you mentor under the right guy, they give money for campaigns, and the machinery – and in USA, it is the party backing which allows you in the game (we have no independents in USA). Once in OFFICE at any level they OWN YOU in most cases. Your vote is not yours, but is owed to the people who let you rise up the Political greasy pole. Exceptions exist, but mostly not.
Being an old person myself, the answer is ‘Yes’, he is too old. However well he reads an autocue, he can’t deal with the speed of everyday life nor really understand what is really going on in the modern world.
That is subjective. Many people are old at 60 and some people retain their faculties and mental acuity for many more years. Age cannot be a rule – where would we be then? I do think that public servants like politicians of a certain age should all do tests.
You are, of course, correct. The article asks a question and that is my subjective answer.
Can he or she do the job? That is the question, and those who don’t rush about doing everything, but appoint the right ministers and let them get on with it. Bismarck, Reagan, and Churchill were great leaders because of that. Mrs May, Callaghan, and President Carter not good, even if young(ish). Up to the voters really, though in Biden’s case maybe it didn’t work when a choice between two crazy old men!
Exactly. If you go too young you get a Macron. A balance is needed as with all things. I would draw the line at 70 in the President’s job description.
Trudeau!
Biden is a classic politician-scumbag. We know this because he likened modest voting reforms to Jim Crow. Only a scumbag and demagogue would foment racial strife for political advantage. He got into politics for the old-fashioned reason: the money. Saying he’s smart and decent doesn’t make it so any more than me changing my name to Kareem will make me able to dunk.
Agreed it is not Biden’s age. Thomas Sowell is 91. Listen to him speak even for a few minutes today and compare same with Biden. It is not age.
There was a time when citizens of the now defunct Soviet Union (me among them) thought we were condemned to be ruled by gerontological specimen. There were so many jokes and breathless admiration and envy about countries led by people who did not require “assisted technologies” to walk-n-talk (and think). Then we got finally lucky and got Mikhail Gorbachev. On the other hand, age is not a panacea – just look at Prime Minster Trudeau. It’s not the age, it’s the brain.
It’s not his age, it’s his broken brain that’s the problem.
“favourite Winston Churchill stories”. This ‘story’ sounds unlikely. Churchill was dead set against the 1951 Festival and did his best to destroy any evidence of it at the end of the year.
The WinstonChurchill.org website confirms the wonderful escalator story but refutes the demolition story. https://winstonchurchill.org/publications/finest-hour/finest-hour-174/1951-festival-of-britain/