Maybe so, and I don't doubt they've done some good in reigning in some of the more esoteric Tory behind-the-scenes manipulationsBut it still shows political naïvety to end up the butt of all the bad press when every politician lives or dies by their press profile. Instead of raising the profile of the Lib Dems to raise their vote further in future, they're embarrasing themselves at every turn and showing they didn't deserve the share of the vote they got.
They only got a late boost in this election because of their high-profile promises on student fees inspiring new, young voters that they offered an alternative to the two-party race of old. Even in coalition, there was no need for them to go back on that particular promise as they had it in the agreement that they could abstain. Even Vince Cable could have gotten away with a yes vote if the others had stayed away, since he worked on the proposal. But Clegg still urged his party to vote in favour. Regardless of its financial or economic impact, that was the single biggest political disaster he could have made and he did it, and as a result we had riots on the streets of the capital. What a dickhead.
(They only got a late boost in this election because of their high-profile promises on student fees inspiring new, young voters that they offered an alternative to the two-party race of old. Even in coalition, there was no need for them to go back on that particular promise as they had it in the agreement that they could abstain. Even Vince Cable could have gotten away with a yes vote if the others had stayed away, since he worked on the proposal. But Clegg still urged his party to vote in favour. Regardless of its financial or economic impact, that was the single biggest political disaster he could have made and he did it, and as a result we had riots on the streets of the capital. What a dickhead.
joefish It's hard for thee to kick against the pricks,
Thu 16 Jun 2011, 16:39,
archived)