Do you think the Thatcher Government would have ......
Discussion
Wasn't it Spitting Image that went a long way to bringing down Maggie - back in the days when people gave a toss about politics and SI was on mainstream telly at prime time.
Worryingly, MP expenses seem to be fading away at the moment, and little reform looks likely.
I know how I am voting for in the next election - with my feet.
Worryingly, MP expenses seem to be fading away at the moment, and little reform looks likely.
I know how I am voting for in the next election - with my feet.
Most of past governments had a very easy ride.
Not so long ago the BBC had a vote on the best/worst prime minister since the war.
What was realy surprising is how much of an easy ride some total muppets got. Perhaps people have short memories but I reckon the bunch that presided before the internet etc were truly rubbish.
Just think about the three day week, even under MrsT, Blair or Brown things never got anywhere near that bad. But somehow all this was forgotten and glossed over....
That's before we even get onto the ground nut scandle, devaluation, going into the EU, privatised industry, the winter of discontent. The list just goes on and on. In fact Brown and Blair are far better than some of these clowns. Just think about that. They really were that bad. Yes, I know it's hard to accept, but as I said above we haven't had anything like the strikes and three day weeks or dead being unburried yet have we? But we had that back then.
Not so long ago the BBC had a vote on the best/worst prime minister since the war.
What was realy surprising is how much of an easy ride some total muppets got. Perhaps people have short memories but I reckon the bunch that presided before the internet etc were truly rubbish.
Just think about the three day week, even under MrsT, Blair or Brown things never got anywhere near that bad. But somehow all this was forgotten and glossed over....
That's before we even get onto the ground nut scandle, devaluation, going into the EU, privatised industry, the winter of discontent. The list just goes on and on. In fact Brown and Blair are far better than some of these clowns. Just think about that. They really were that bad. Yes, I know it's hard to accept, but as I said above we haven't had anything like the strikes and three day weeks or dead being unburried yet have we? But we had that back then.
An interesting topic - maybe we are being desensitised to our 'leaders' shortcomings by the saturation media that is forever looking for the next story. Is the expenses scandal going to fade fast because they have found another story to fill their airtime with? One thing that always amuses me about Sky News is how every tiny development is accompanied with the banner 'BREAKING NEWS!'. They are the boy who cries wolf 24/7.
Sadly this environment has bred a generation of politicians who seem only capable of delivering soundbite politics where perception is of greater value than delivery.
Sadly this environment has bred a generation of politicians who seem only capable of delivering soundbite politics where perception is of greater value than delivery.
Bing o said:
Wasn't it Spitting Image that went a long way to bringing down Maggie - back in the days when people gave a toss about politics and SI was on mainstream telly at prime time.
No. It was completely excellent, though.SpittingImage said:
Vegtables, Ma'am?
They'll have the same as me...
They'll have the same as me...
JagLover said:
The advent of television has had a far bigger impact than rolling 24 hours news IMO.
Since then leaders have become younger and more telegenic.
Very much so. Since then leaders have become younger and more telegenic.
I would advise any prospective leadership candidate of any party to start working out regularly.
Shallow? Most certainly. Will it affect core voters? No. Will it affect floating voters? Not many. Will it affect some floating voters? Quite possibly.
The counterside... would the current media style have survived Thatcher?
I think a lot of what goes on, especially the feeding frenzies, is because hardly anyone in front-line government has the balls to step right up and tell the media when they're being irrelevant and petty.
If you watch interviews with Thatcher you can quite often see journalists trying the same tactics they do today - the difference being that where, say, Gordon Brown squirms, pulls faces and mumbles platitudes, Margaret Thatcher would just tell the hapless interviewer to shut up, stop being such an imbecile, and listen.
(Well. Maybe in not quite so many words.)
I think a lot of what goes on, especially the feeding frenzies, is because hardly anyone in front-line government has the balls to step right up and tell the media when they're being irrelevant and petty.
If you watch interviews with Thatcher you can quite often see journalists trying the same tactics they do today - the difference being that where, say, Gordon Brown squirms, pulls faces and mumbles platitudes, Margaret Thatcher would just tell the hapless interviewer to shut up, stop being such an imbecile, and listen.
(Well. Maybe in not quite so many words.)
Timberwolf said:
The counterside... would the current media style have survived Thatcher?
I think a lot of what goes on, especially the feeding frenzies, is because hardly anyone in front-line government has the balls to step right up and tell the media when they're being irrelevant and petty.
If you watch interviews with Thatcher you can quite often see journalists trying the same tactics they do today - the difference being that where, say, Gordon Brown squirms, pulls faces and mumbles platitudes, Margaret Thatcher would just tell the hapless interviewer to shut up, stop being such an imbecile, and listen.
(Well. Maybe in not quite so many words.)
Quite right. It wasnt just Thatcher who didnt mince their words. Tebbit springs to mind too, and Willie Whitelaw.I think a lot of what goes on, especially the feeding frenzies, is because hardly anyone in front-line government has the balls to step right up and tell the media when they're being irrelevant and petty.
If you watch interviews with Thatcher you can quite often see journalists trying the same tactics they do today - the difference being that where, say, Gordon Brown squirms, pulls faces and mumbles platitudes, Margaret Thatcher would just tell the hapless interviewer to shut up, stop being such an imbecile, and listen.
(Well. Maybe in not quite so many words.)
Ah, but you're harking back to an era of Politician who stood for something. So therefore it wasn't such a problem if they did tell Paxman to button it, as their popularity would be largely unaffected.
The British obsession with the cult of Celebrity sees politicians jostling to be the most popular, most votable, most whatever...
In effect we now have a Governmental largely system revolving around over-educated pillocks all trying to be Dale Winton.
The notable exceptions are Brown, although it's not for want of trying. Hague, and he stands out like a sore thumb as a result. The rest of them, despite largely being exceptionally intelligent people, exhibit less substance than Kerry Katona.
The British obsession with the cult of Celebrity sees politicians jostling to be the most popular, most votable, most whatever...
In effect we now have a Governmental largely system revolving around over-educated pillocks all trying to be Dale Winton.
The notable exceptions are Brown, although it's not for want of trying. Hague, and he stands out like a sore thumb as a result. The rest of them, despite largely being exceptionally intelligent people, exhibit less substance than Kerry Katona.
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