The PBC Posters of the Year - the nominations
August 29th, 2007
These are the nominations for the 2006/2007 PBC Posters of the Year election. First round voting will begin this evening and will last for twenty four hours. The two that top the ballot in each section will go forward to the overall PBC Post of the Year Election which will be published on Thursday evening.
Two people, SeanT and JackW don’t naturally feature in any of the first round sections and because of their prominence I have decided that they are automatically in Thursday evening’s ballot.
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If you do not want your name to go forward for these elections then please contact me before 1830 tonight. My email is here.
If candidates or supporters want to make statements to support their case then please us the comments thread below.
In this election I make the rules and all involved should remember - Mike is right even when he is wrong
Conservative poster of the year nominations
Benedict White
ChrisD
David Herdson
Marcus Wood
Sean Fear
Steven Whaley
TJM
Labour poster of the year nominations
Coldstone (AKA Grumpy Old Man)
HenryG
Nick Palmer MP
Red Flag
Roger
Snowflake5
StJohn
Tyson
Lib Dem poster of the year nominations
Augustus Carp
ColinW
Icarus
Mark Senior
SBS
Stodge
UKPaul
Specialist poster of the year nominations
Alexander Drake
Andrea
Chris from Paris
Jan from Norway
Peter the Punter
Sea Shanty Irish
Yokel
Mike Smithson
MessageSpace Advertising
Shouldn’t Tyson and Roger be entered in the doubles competition, rather than the singles ? “Brilliant analysis, partner”.
Mike, typo for SBS I think.
So the ‘Labour’ nominations include one poster who denies being a Labour supporter (albeit unconvincingly) and two who admit to not having voted Labour in 2005.
Why no Sean Fear in the Tory list?
I’ve never been “prominent” before!
*sob*
4. Yes, shurely shome mishtake re Sean Fear? He got a lot of nominations.
Sean Fear is a shocking omission from the list.
I refuse to vote if Fear’s not there.
I think Sea Shanty Irish should be listed in nominations for specialist poster (his specialism, obviously, being the 08 presidential election).
Sean Fear omission is a mistake. My apologies. I’ve added his name. I agree also on Sea Shanty Irish.
British athletes in medal success shock!
******The Vote For ColinW Campaign Launches*******
3 people were present at the launch of the Vote for ColinW campaign this afternoon. Asked to explain the poor showing a spokesman for Mr W said that ‘to be fair it was 3 more than we were expecting’.
When quizzed as to why Mr W would not be campaigning in person, a spokesman replied that they were worried about assassination attempts, and that they had received ‘a couple of thousand separate threats, most of which we are taking seriously’.
Mr W’s campaign is expected to consist entirely of 1 word insults, delivered from a safe distance, directed at anybody who he believes may be more right wing than himself. Which is generally considered to be just about everyone.
Asked if he could spare a word for his opponents, Colin replied ‘Imbeciles’, before sloping off with what looked like a rather large bottle Gin and a funnel. Mr W is now expected to be unavailable for comment until sometime tomorrow afternoon.
Further updates will be provided.
Re 11, Cerrig,
May I commend our glorious hosts wise decision to progress your humble servant to the Thursday round of voting.
This is indicative of the profound munifiscence that he displays on a day to day basis in ensuring that PB remains the nations premier political resource.
What illustious company I stand with.
In a typical leftie way- I want to plug 4 my competitors. Coldstone finally started to use paragraphs, and his usually excellent posts became more readable and so more excellent.
HenryG and Redfag- what is there not to like. Urbane, generous, insightful. Clearly deserved on all accounts.
NikkyP- well his life is full of accolades- headling the Nottingham Post surely must surpass this tribute, and so although it would of course be deserved for him to go into the final I want you to vote 4
snowflake5-yes I know that secretly many of us are infatuated with her, especially the Tories. All those statistics- enough to drive a man insane. And she is the only woman on here- and in the absence of women only shortlists we need to prove that pbCOM is egalitarian, and fair. So vote snowy- you know you want to.
and of course the one and only Roger. His posts are always beautifully written- whimsical, lyrical, charming, funny- but underneath the sharp wit that infuriates many Tories, is a bloody good mind.
So snowy and our Roger to go through
14. ‘Redfag’…???
15-sorry redflag
“RedFag” sounds to much like an eccentric from Eton. But I did note that all the Tories agreed with one of his recent postings.
Yes, in the field of economics, Snowy is absolutely peerless on PB.com. However, I find that in many other areas (e.g. civil liberties, and other areas in which a great knowledge of statistics is no great help) she carries over a misplaced confidence in the strength of her argument, which can make her irritating rather than enlightening…
Would be nice to see a pic of her though…
Oh no!
I had installed the phone lines, prepared my campaign leaflets for delivery, written my acceptance speech, booked the limo and hired a tuxedo.
Then horror of horrors. Not nominated! The shame of it all!
***ELECTION NEWS***ELECTION NEWS***ELECTION NEWS***ELECTION NEWS***
***PUNTER DISMISSES TALK OF DISCRIMINATION****
In a spirit of friendly rivalry rarely seen amongst rival candidates for a major political award, Peter the Punter refused to be drawn on the question of whether the ‘free pass’ to the run-off handed to two of his opponents, the Jack ‘the Celt’ W, and Cornishman SeanT, amounted to discrimination.
‘As the only Englishman on the slate’, he commented from his kennel in Walthamstow ‘I regard it as a matter of National pride not to become involved in crude mud-slinging of any kind. If our beloved Leader, Sir Michael Smithson, sees fit to hand an advantage to that Scottish nerk and that cider swilling piece of pasty, who am I to question his wisdom? In any case, the overwhelming majority of the electorate consists of true-bred Englishmen who, I am sure, can be relied upon to put Johny Foreigner in his place, when the time comes, regardless of any advantage they may have handed by Our Great and Wonderful Inspiration.
‘I shall not be appealing, or referring the matter to the ECJ, despite the flagrant flouting of my human rights under EU and Geneva Conventions, not to mention the rules of dog racing.’
‘I and my team fight on. We have no need of favoritism.’
Ladbrokes have eased the price of PtP out to 2000-1.
Mboy- nice of you to have mentioned me yesterday- but isn’t that true of politcians all over. They might be good at one ot two things, yet have to provide answers about many othr areas they do not have the slightest clue about.
I mean Cameron talking about crime, broken society, the environment bla, bla. Granted- the guy probably knows a great deal about hunting (favourite sport), or drinking games, great Smiths as well, and knows how to roll a good spliff. All admirable qualities people may think. But when he starts veering away from his comfort zone and starts blathering on about how to deal with the British underclass he sounds like a whiny, vacuous, clueless, upper class Etonian irritant.
I am of course plugging for the Tory votes here!!!
19 Commisserations, StJohn.
Would you like to join my campaign team? I’m afraid I cannot afford to pay you, but if successful, I can perhaps arrange for you to be made up into a Pearly King.
If any of the other Apostles are free, they will also be very welcome.
Ladbrokes not taking any more bets on Nick Palmer…
18 Mboy
Mboy- nice of you to have mentioned me yesterday- but isn’t that true of politcians all over. They might be good at one ot two things, yet have to provide answers about many othr areas they do not have the slightest clue about.
I mean Cameron talking about crime, broken society, the environment bla, bla. Granted- the guy probably knows a great deal about hunting (favourite sport), or drinking games, great Smiths as well, and knows how to roll a good spliff. All admirable qualities people may think. But when he starts veering away from his comfort zone and starts blathering on about how to deal with the British underclass he sounds like a whiny, vacuous, clueless, upper class Etonian irritant.
I am of course plugging for the Tory votes here!!!
Peter the Punter- you are in a bloody tough catagory there- and unfortunately I may have to go for Jan- feeling terrible obviously. Guilt and all. Could change my mind though.
At least in the other catagories there are some imposters- Bendict White a Tory- please…, UkPAUL a loveable, tree hugging lib dem- don’t think so. Makes one’s life a bit easier- now if they swopped parties that would be difficult again.
Tyson - May I tempt you?
The position of Pearly Queen is still available…
Firstly excellent witty post Cerrig.
Secondly can I object to the candidate UKPaul flying under false colours. If he’s a Lib Dem then Sean Fear is Respect!
Thirdly as a Labour supporter I’d obviously like to look for opportunities to rig this election. Collecting unfilled in postal votes and filling them in as appropriate is impossible with online voting so I think allowance should be made and an extra weighting be given to Labour nominees.
The Labour nomination has to be Tyson. Always combative and the poster I nearly always agree with. If it wasn’t for his admiration for SeanT which I don’t share he would be the perfect poster.
Nick P should probably join JackW with a bye for poster of the year. He’s probably the boards outstanding poster but so far does he bend over backwards be even handed that I can’t nominate him for LABOUR poster.
The choice for second nomination has to be between Henry G and Snowflakes. Henry is an excellent insider and incredibly predicted Miliband for foreign Secretary when it seemed impossible!
However Snowflakes is just terrifying. Her grasp of facts and figures drives even the most mild mannered Tory into grotesque insults which she ignores with a panache SeanT can only dream about. So my nomination for Labour posters are Tyson followed by Snowflakes.
25 - Negative campaigning again?
I’m sure that Benny would admit how socially conservative he is, anathema to any lib dem, he’s fine where he is; I doubt my social liberalism, love of PR and federalism and my Oatenesque prison ideas (no jokes please!) would enamour me to any tory either.
I’d prefer to be in an independent field rather than a party one but there are a lot of lib dem strands represented from Icarus on the left omwards so it’s a good list and an honour to be a part of. Same with the tory one from the very liberal Steven Whaley to the right wing Sean Fear and the labour one with Snowy’s new labour through to your pseudo-Marxism.
Vote for your ultra-liberal candidate - free love and beer for all!
11. Hate to correct you, but it’s actually Dr. W, not Mr. W: (It’s in biochemical toxicology before you ask)
27 - More negative campaigning from the labour side! I appeal to those true believers in liberty who want hope for all our futures, those who want a return to a true labour party (or failing that that nice Mr Miliband) and to any tory who hates Melanie Phillips!
The specialist one’s a really tough call, I’ll have to make a decision in the voting booth I think (this is a secret ballot isn’t it?)
11.Tsk, I never drink spirits. ( I’m a biochemical toxicologist after all, don’t touch deadly stuff like alcohol) Give me some acid & weed though & I’ll be more than happy.
29 Toxicology?
That’s poison, isn’t it Colin?
Peter the Punter. “You know it makes sense” is a little bit Lib Demmy if you don’t mind me saying so. I think you could try something a little harder hitting. How about “No More Mr Nice Guy!” Remember to win this you need Tory votes and what could be more appealing to Tories?
“(It’s in biochemical toxicology before you ask)”
I think we guessed.
27. Roger, darling, you managed to mention me twice in a disparaging way while ostensibly talking only about Labour posters.
My bye into the second round hasn’t slightly… irritated you… has it?
33 OK Roger, you’ve got the job. PR man for the Punter Campaign.
Usual rates apply.
OK, I sacked the typographer.
O/T to Mike from prev thread
177. Mike their position is no different to Scottish Labour’s official policy on the union.
I found out that at least half of all Scottish Labour Party activists support full Scottish independence and I was surpised thay had not joined the SNP or the more left wing SSP but when they are questioned they cite ‘Kier Hardy’ because he was a true socialist but a Scottish patriot, unlike the global internationalists who now control Labour. What shocked me so much about Scottish politics was that Scottish nationalism is predominantly left wing, Europhile and bordering into marxism. Conversely Scottish unionism tends to be centre right while the English left appear very unionist, anglophobic, and the English right wing are usually patriotic and Eurosceptic. This is the fundamental difference between English and Scottish nationalism because all nationalist movements in Europe are right wing or at leat centre right - why the SNP, PC, and SDLP all left wing someone please explain.
37. I think someone needs to have a ridiculously bland, meaningless, focus group created slogan on the lines of “the people’s poster”, “fairness for all posters”, “it’s not racist to disagree with Tyson/Roger” or “tough on bad posts, tough on the causes of bad posts” (of which this post may fall under
good luck to all the runners
Sean.”My bye into the second round hasn’t slightly… irritated you… has it?”
It certainly has!! If I was the ruler of this kingdom you would be put in a special first round category with Tapestry and francis. It could be called ‘Obsessives’.
francis: That’s because Scot/Welsh/Irish nationalism exists in the context of dominant right-wing English (i.e. British) nationalism in the form of the Tory party. I.e. Celtic nationalism only exists as a reaction to right-wing English/British nationalism, and is therefore left-wing.
I see the government has threatened to send striking prison officers to prison.
Let me think about that for a minute……
How the heck did I get in the nominations? I think the only one nominating me was Red Alternative for satire! My inane drivel certainly does not deserve to compete with the incisive analysis of David Herdson or Sean Fear!
Yes, ukpaul, I did a double-take about that too, but it seems to have worked on those striking in Bristol, who have now returned to work.
I’ve just come home, to find out I’ve been nominated as ‘Labour’ I’m not too sure if I’m happy, (well I’m grumpy after all) I’m sceptical about all politicians. I just think I should even things up a bit, some of the Tories are a bit too optimistic for my liking.
Still thank you all very much, do I get flowers?
44. lock ‘em up its the only language they understand
Speaking of obsession, there’s a very curious piece by Irwin Stelzer in today’s Torygraph, about Brown and the EU. Stelzer says:
“One issue on which Brown feels no need to walk a line is the EU treaty. He is convinced that the British opt-outs mean that no transfer of sovereignty is involved, and that therefore Labour’s referendum pledge is inoperative. Labour MPs who think they can shake him had better have a re-think. Besides, the PM can put this issue to rest by stating in the new manifesto that he intends to have Parliament decide.
Even those voters who know he is wrong will make their decisions based on other issues. So the Prime Minister believes. And since he is a man who keeps his “eyes wide open all the time”, he might well be right.”
Bizarre. Stelzer is close to Brown and to Murdoch. He is known to be fiercely eurosceptic, like his boss Rupert. Yet here he is siding with Brown on the matter of the referendum.
Hmm…
Sounds to me like he’s had a chat with Brown, and Brown has clearly intimated that he’s going to call an election with the EU pledge - not to have a vote - written in the manifesto. This would sidestep the problem with the previous promise (though incur the wrath of eurosceptic papers during the election).
What it also means is that Brown must be basically set on election in 2008, as the Treaty is meant to be signed by 2009.
So that’s Brown’s intention, I reckon. Call an election in Spring 2008, with a pledge for parliamentary ratification.
This is risky, as the EU might become a major issue of the election, losing votes, but it removes one longterm headache for GB - a confrontation over Europe and a lost vote.
Of course, this could be wheels within wheels.. Stelzer subtly undermining Brown’s position by revealing his thinking…
See Comment 1
“The Labour nomination has to be Tyson. Always combative and the poster I nearly always agree with. If it wasn’t for his admiration for SeanT which I don’t share he would be the perfect poster.”
Roger
“and of course the one and only Roger. His posts are always beautifully written- whimsical, lyrical, charming, funny- but underneath the sharp wit that infuriates many Tories, is a bloody good mind”
Tyson
Working effortlessly as one, dominating the net.
I’ve been meaning to ask you seant about Cameron’s latest anti-crime proposals. Cameron wants to clamp down on the internet, and films/TV/DVD’s etc, y’know the usual stuff that gets the blame, when things screw up,sounds a bit nanny state to me. How does all that fit in with your libertarian principles, perhaps Cameron is just a socialist at heart?
18. Piss off, she is out of her depth. Can be dogmatic and very rude if someone disagrees. If she was really good at the “dismal” science she would be able to accept that in Economics you never really get agreement - just because you don’t agree with someone does not mean you are wrong.
I don’t agree with her on many issues but that does not mean i am right or “she” is wrong.
I have said before Snowflake5 is nothing more than a “naff” Labour party invention. Who the hell would put on thier website “i voted LD last time but returned home to Labour now”. If someone quit over Iraq and came “Home” to Labour before Blair had even gone - which “she” claimed to do. Does this not strike you as odd?
Thank you Tyson for your nomination or mention, whilst obviously nobody else seems to share your perception/ view. You will be surprised at where and what i have done in the past and continue at the present and am likely to do in the future!
48. Perhaps both can be put in a special category for ’smug mutual backslappers’
LATE ADDITION TO THE LABOUR LIST - STJOHN
43.”How the heck did I get in the nominations? I think the only one nominating me was Red Alternative for satire! My inane drivel certainly does not deserve to compete with the incisive analysis of David Herdson or Sean Fear!”
tjm, I am just thinking the same thing! I am the first to admit that I just blether away on here while enjoying the excellent political analysis from some of the above mentioned posters.
41. No. Right wing English nationalism is a reaction to extreme left wing anglophobia and anti-English policies via New Labour! New Labour are anti-English racist bigots.
Spin:
http://www.labour.org.uk/new_job
Labour are that understaffed that either they cannot find the resources to update their website or have had not done so for fear of embarassement as the “Job cupboard” is bare. All posts advertised are now beyond their deadline date. Or maybe nobody wants to work for them due to job insecurity?
It is not such a case of Labour being Chicken for October
but been unable to rise to the occasion 
A sort of political impotence :lol:!!!!:lol:!
45 - I nominated you tjm, I’m not fishing for votes of course….
53 - ChrisD - I think you should go for the Harman gambit, use that usp mercilessly!
41
I’m not sure isn’t all nationalism by its nature right wing? Didn’t labour used to refer to the SNP as Tartan Tories?
Whats the difference between patriots and nationalists?
Patriots love their country, nationalists hate everybody elses.
1 & 48-Roger- I think we have a stalker on our hands at 48 with Lord Goderich. I have noticed these sniping comments intermittently for quite a time now
50 Martin Day- I was quite honest really- sometimes you show glimpses of inspiration (seldomly of course) in your rather monotone, partisan posts- especially when you veer onto the psychology of politicians. For that I would have you in the Tory list.
50- Martin Day-Thank you Tyson for your nomination or mention, whilst obviously nobody else seems to share your perception/ view. You will be surprised at where and what i have done in the past and continue at the present and am likely to do in the future!
Martin- I have worked in mental health services for many years. I would never be surprised by what people are capable of.
57 I am an English nationalist and love England and the English. I certainly do not hate any other nation or any race of people in fact I like other nations - the only haters in this country are the anglophobes of New Labour, the PC brigade and those who enforce unwanted multiculturalism.
60.
Are you going to help SeanT with his book then?
To be nominated is extremely flatering but to be nominated in a category including Andrea is tough: all others fight for second place!
And to be a French candidate vying for English votes is not particularly easy as well…
The field in this category is extremely good and I stil don’t know how I will vote: probably not for Andrea (he doesn’t need my vote) and a tough choice between PtP JfN and Yokel
57 Labour called the SNP ‘Tartan Tories’ to stop Scottish Labour voters from switching to the SNP and also encourage the SNP to take votes from the Scottish Tories, and this has resulted in the Scottish Labour Party becoming a Scottish nationalist party while remaining part of the UK wide Labour Party.
61
Therefore you obviously don’t hate New Labour, the PC brigade and those who enforce unwanted multiculturalism, ‘cos they’re the only haters in the country, I’m so pleased to know that francis!
59. Tyson. Martin Day….Hmmmmmmm! Perhaps SeanT isn’t the only poster we don’t see eye to eye on! If there was a category for numbers of ’smileys’ he’d get my vote easily but I can’t remember reading anything of his that might get me queuing at the blue rosette shop
65. I hate New Labour and the PC brigade because they are anti-English and hate England. We don’t mind foreigners just as long as they don’t interfere in our country and culture in a detrimental way. Unfortuantely at the moment multiculturalism has been enforced in a way that kicks the avarage Englishman/woman in the teeth - diplacement fron inner city areas by unlimited immigration and the use biased race relations laws designed to annoy the England that encourage minorities to play one upmanship over the English in the areas of employment, education, culture, etc. etc.. Labour was behind it all, and they were aided and supported by the Lib Dems. ‘New Britishness’ has no support all except the newcomers that Labour needs to drive down wages. This is only the tip of the iceberg and you are being found out.
francis. Tyson has worked in the mental health field for many years. Can’t you ask him for an appointment? Maybe after he’s finished with Martin Day….
I thought it was established beyond any reasonable doubt a while back that there are only 3 people who actually contribute to PB - they just have a bewildering variety of pseudonyms. Therefore the chances are that we (assuming that I am also just the figment of one the mighty 3s imagination as well) will probably all get an award in one or other of the categories .
Breaking News. Mike wasn’t wrong about Cameron’s core vote strategy. He’s now going on about immigration!
71. Labour don’t care about immigration ? Tell that to Beverley Hughes and John Cruddas….
68 I see the anglophobic left have to resort to personal insults again. Down with the lot of you and your weak Tory opponents.
Yes francis, that’s right. Honestly, the people who whinge on about British culture being under threat make me laugh. Have you ever been abroad? I guess not, because if you had you would surely have seen that Anglo-Saxon culture currently stands astride the world like a Colossus!
English is the de-facto international language. The Anglo-Saxon style free market has smashed every other system and is currently dominating the world. Anglo-Saxon Protestant religion dominates the world, despite what the Pope would like to think, and to the great annoyance on Osama Bin Laden.
English language films dominate the world, English language music dominates the world, English language books dominate the world.
English, English, English, ENGLISH!
Are you getting the picture yet francis?
In every other non Anglo-Saxon country of the world they fret about how their culture is being crushed by the English behemoth…but here in England we have the little-Englanders still whinging that they are under threat.
Yawn…
70. I wonder why Cam was going on about immigration…
From ConHome :
The Tory leader is on Newsnight at 10.30pm but News 24 have already broadcast the whole encounter between Mr Cameron and Gavin Esler, Michael Crick, Stephanie Flanders and Mark Urban. I missed the preview but here are three toplines from the interview:
Under repeated questioning David Cameron says that immigration is too high in Britain;
He says that Tories will raise taxes on air travel;
He concedes that frontbenchers may be spending too much time on outside interests.
71 Labour wants more and more immigration and uses it as a means to bash the English. Why are there no immigrant cities in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland? The answer is simple ….. anglophobia is so deep rooted and wide spread in the Labour Party that it wants to destroy England and is succeeding.
70 - Hardly “going on about immigration” he was asked it about it and responded to it… not exactly a “lurch to the right” and hardly a case of “banging on about it”.
I am shocked that there is no specialist nomination for Jimbo Jones - the only man to spot the vital importance of proper shaving to a politician’s career
he single handedly derailed Milliband’s leadership campaign by pointing out he can’t even shave properly.
anybody who believes snowflake has more than a basic grasp of economics hasn’t studied economics - the machine gunning of statistics is a thin mask for a very tenuous understanding - but for all that she deserves to be nominated - she is capable of quite inventive invective and her sheer machine-like tenacity is impressive.
tjm,
I also nominated you as one of my nominees - I felt that your posts warranted it. You seem to have been more active on pbc of late, so that also helped (quantity alone doesn’t help, but quantity allied with quality makes a positive contribution).
73 If our culture is so strong then how can we be ‘Little Englanders’. Perhaps you are a ‘Wee Scotlander’ or ‘Miniscule Welsher’ but definately an anglophobe.
French maverick candid
75. Francis, there are estimated to be around 20,000 Poles in Edinburgh alone. I suggest you do some basic research before talking about Scotland.
French maverick candidate stresses family values in last minute push
One last minute reason to vote for me: my second son, born last night, needs to be proud of his father!
(I know this is a bit of american-style campaigning but the fact is true!)
Re newsnight - I wonder what the chances are of Gordo facing up to some tough questioning from 3/4 interviewers on Newsnight any time soon ?
When was the last time he faced Paxo ? Has he ever faced Paxo ?
He normally prefers the gladitorial combat of er.. tea on the warm sofa with cuddly “Andy” Marr.
75 - ‘why are there no immigrant cities in Scotland’ - Francis, there are substantial ‘immigrant’ populations in many parts of Scotland. Invernsss, for example, has about 6000 Poles at the moment. Small pockets of the west coast are flooded with up to 30% of their population coming from…England!
Any chance of a new nomination category, “Most missed”? Of the top of my head the likes of Tabman, Printz (sic) and Sarah J (even more sic) spring to mind.
84 - Good point where is Tabman these days?
83. Jamie, I was wondering: has he ever been on Question Time?
81 Scotland has no equivalents of Leicester or Bradford or even London which have very large ethnic populations of 50%, 40% and 45% respectively. Ethnic minorities comprise only around 1% of the Scottish population, but 10% in the UK overall. England is overcrowded but the left wants more and more ‘pets’ to look after.
86. Not that I can remember - anyone know ?
My labour voting family and many in the northern cities and towns will be very happy to see Cameron going on about immigration. He needs to steer clear of the xenophobic element who might try and hijack it (yes, Winterton that includes you) but there is a clear worry about it.
I admit that it impacts little on me and I’ve never really thought about it as a reason for voting this way or that (Howard’s attempts at the 2005 election were particularly crass and boorish) but I’m in nice cosy Surrey with a middle class lifestyle (apart from when I go visiting) so I would say that.
My labour voting family and many in the northern cities and towns will be very happy to see Cameron going on about immigration. He needs to steer clear of the xenophobic element who might try and hijack it (yes, Winterton that includes you) but there is a clear worry about it.
I admit that it impacts little on me and I’ve never really thought about it as a reason for voting this way or that (Howard’s attempts at the 2005 election were particularly crass and boorish) but I’m in nice cosy Surrey with a middle class lifestyle (apart from when I go visiting) so I would say that.
My nominations would be :
Benedict White the most reasonable well spoken fair minded balanced conservative I have read.
Roger like his style, and we had something in common, saying cash for honours would end with no charges brought, whilst we were shouted down by the many not the few.
Ukpaul always intresting but surely not a Lib Dem, against authority, government, his own description maybe.
And finally Seant the most flamboyant controversial poster on here by a country mile.
Bet he is good company in the pub to go for a drink with.
What a magnificent trophy - is it 24 carat mud?
82- congragulations- chris from paris- I tell you what you gone to extreme lengths just to get this award- you need it mind, you are in the toughest catagory- there are 8 in mine, a collection though of burnt out of old lefty lags.
Cunning strategy though with Andrea- yeh, yeh- everyone needn’t bother, shoe in and all that- bing bang bong the dude is sitting in the bath holding the baby.
86. Reading this it appears he never appeard during his 10years as chancellor (!)
http://comment.independent.co.uk/columnists_a_l/dominic_lawson/article2720053.ece
87. The 2001 Census shows nearly 13% of residents of Scotland born outside Scotland.
92-dez- erghh- Benedict White a Tory? ukPaul a LD? And the point about the drink with seanT- they said that about Bush.
Agree though on Roger- every vote counts, and it would be a pbCOM travesty not to see Roger in the final play off.
Do we get to see ten Rogers if he wins?
83
Here I go balancing things up: Of course Cameron now refuses to go on Channel4 news ever since they asked him about his ‘alleged’ drug abuse.
The voting begins
I’d like to put in a word for ChrisD. One of my favourite Tory posters. Uncompromising in her support for Cameron and however rude she tries to be (and with me that can be quite rude!) her inate polite Scottishness always restrains her! Altogether a good Tory egg! (Not that common this side of the border)
francis, you think that everyone who doesnt think we are under assault from foreigners is an “anglophobe”. I am a proud Englishman, but unlike you I am not insecure about my nation.
An Englishman worrying about the strength of English culture is like a Chineseman worrying that the Chinese arent numerous enough, or a Roman worrying that his culture wont be remembered.
NB. I’d also like to ask why Robin and Ted aren’t there?
Is it too late to nominate Martin Day for best Tory poster?
…Yes, it clearly is. Never mind, I’ll get here earlier next year.
96,
True Tyson but that beer test worked in 2000 for Bush against Gore much to my dismay at the time.
But you could see it coming he was more affable in the campaign.
100. “I’d like to put in a word for ChrisD. One of my favourite Tory posters. Uncompromising in her support for Cameron and however rude she tries to be (and with me that can be quite rude!)”
Roger - is there something we should know about the two of you?
102 Thanks Roger but to save my obvious embarrassment at not being on the list (and certain knowledge of no votes if I was) may I in the name of the great General William Tecumseh Sherman let it be known”"If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve.”
p.s. yes what is going on with ChrisD and yourself, is that the reason for so many trips to France
Just read my post and to be to be clear meant les weekends romantic a Cotes d’Azur not suggesting in a menage a trois with Chris from Paris.
75, 81 and 87. Immigration to Scotland published figures appear to be out of date. Over last couple of years or so there has been a proportionately very high increase (from low base) due to earlier dispersal of asylym seekers with linked family re-unions, the last Scottish Executive encouraging skilled foreign workers and an East European migration not inconsistent with other parts of UK.
Goven constituency in Strathclyde has a large Asian population.
101. English culture and American culture aren’t the same thing.
Extremely honored - and flabergasted - to be nominated in such distinguished company! What was it Groucho Marx said in a similar situation???
US POLITICS - LARRY CRAIG LAYS A POTATO
American politicos are still reeling from Monday’s bombshell revelation that US Senator LARRY CRAIG (R-ID) was arrested and plead guilty to charges steming from lewd conduct in an airport men’s room. The first report by Roll Call (a DC publication covering Congress) was amplified by a blockbuster story in the Boise Idaho Statesman describing other similar allegations about the conservative “family values” senator. Craig’s response has been to deny that he is gay or that any of these “incidents” ever happened. As for his guilty plea, he says he made a mistake pleading guilty without legal advice, that he was hoping to keep the whole episode quiet.
This is NOT going over well in the Belway, in Boise and the rest of ID or anywhere in-between. Republicans are stunned by yet another scandal - and a very juicy & highly public one - just months after revelations that another GOP & “family values” conservtive, US Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) was a frequent (and apparently satifisifed) customer of the (latest) infamous “DC Madam”.
Previous rumors about Craig’s sexuality coupled with his guilty pleas mean that politically he’s a dead man walking. Vitter may be surviving (if hardly thriving) in Louisiana but Boise is NOT Baton Rouge!
Virtually certain Craig will NOT run for reelection in 2008; even if he wanted to, Idaho GOP establishment will cut him off at the knees; they certainly don’t want to risk loosing a US Senate race to the Democrats for the first time since 1976! Real question is whether or not Craig is forced to resign; IF he is, Republican Gov. Butch Otter will appoint a GOP replacement. Meanwhile, back in the Beltway the GOP senate leadership just announced they were stripping Craig of his senior committee assignments.
PRESIDENTIALLY one of Craig’s first acts after the story broke was to step down as MITCH ROMNEY’s Idaho state campaign honcho. And the next day, Mitch made a point of denoucing his former supporter and calling for the senator to resign.
And today JOHN McCAIN got on that bandwagon . . . note that he and Craig have served together in the US Senate together since 1990. Another senator & presidential hopeful SAM BROWNBACK said resignation would be premature; will be interesting to see how long he maintains THAT position, given the fact that the religous right is now howling for Craig’s head.
For more details, check out Idahostatesman.com
Also see story in today’s New York Times re: impact of Craig affair on the GOP’s already sinking morale:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/29/us/politics/29repubs.html?_r=1&oref=slogin
PS- Idaho’s nickname is “the Gem State” but note that for many year’s the state’s vehicle license plates proclaimed “Famous Potatoes”. Politically the state is split geographically, economically, culturally and politically between North Idaho (mining, wheat, lakes, non-Mormon, formerly known for Democrats and cathouses) and South Idaho (potatoes, nukes, deserts, Mormons, few Democrats but relief is just across the Nevada state line).
PPS - Former Idaho Republican US Senator WILLIAM BORAH was a legend both in ID and DC as a leading progressive and isolationist. Less well known (certainly at the time) was his long-standing affair with ALICE ROOSEVELT LONGWORTH, daughter of Teddy Roosevelt and wife to US House Speaker Nicolas Longworth. ARL’s own daughter was almost certainly Borah’s child; indeed at first the mother wanted to name her “Deborah” until Longworth protested!
RE: LARRY CRAIG
Pundits in DC and ID are interpreting Senator Larry Craig’s loss of his seats on major congresssional committees as a clear signal to him and to the Idaho GOP establishment that national Republican leaders want Craig gone, and pronto.
Larry Craig has been reasonably popular & respected in Idaho because he had considerable power in Washington and used it to benefit the state. Note that Idaho has a small population AND that most of its land is owned outright by the federal government. So it is more dependent than most states upon the federal treasury AND congressional clout.
It’s not a question of, “what have you done for me recently? but rather, “what can you do for me tomorrow?”
101 ‘I am a proud Englishman, but unlike you I am not insecure about my nation.’
What kind of pride do you have for England? …… wanting Scottish MPs often hostile to English interests voting on English only matters (Tuition fees, foundation hospitals, etc. etc), paying 90% of UK taxes but receive less public spending per person than Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, English NHS budget cut by £2 billion by Brown but Scottish/Welsh NHS bugets left intact, denying the existence of England as a nation ie ‘regions of Britain’, denying England its own national Parliament, non availability of certain cancer drugs in England but available in the other home nations, lack of free care for elderly unlike Scotland, unlimited immigration hoping to displace English population out of inner cities, need I go on …. etc, etc…
If this is what a proud Labour supporting Englishman like yourself wants then I get extremely worried about your fellow England haters in the (Scottish) Labour Party want for England - perhaps they want to exterminate us English by putting us into Gas chambers as punishment for Anglo-Scottish wars fought 500 years ago.
Please dont equate American, Scottish, Irish or Welsh culture with English culture. Much of the English speaking world is hostile to England because they are usually of Scottish or Irish ancestry and please don’t confuse England with Britain.
Go back into the political abyss where your beloved anglophobic Labour scum party belongs. The sooner England is rid of anti-English Labour the better.