Becoming a full-time blogger
November 14th, 2007-
Changes planned for the New Year
After trying to run the site and cope with demanding jobs for nearly four years I am leaving my post at the Open University at Christmas so I can focus much more on Politicalbetting.
This is a big change for me but it has become inevitable because trying to do both has become almost impossible. This has been accentuated by the intensity of the Brown-Cameron battle, the Lib Dem leadership changes, all the facets of the 2008 White House race as well as Boris Johnson’s bid to oust Ken Livingston in London.
There’s a lot of work on the site that I need to be doing and things like the “recorded wagers” pages need regular updating.
I am also having to pass up many opportunities to promote PBC in the media because I don’t have the time.
Although the site is now covering its costs there’s a lot more that needs to be done to boost the revenue to make it more sustainable in the long term. This is going to be necessary because the step I am taking involves, alas, giving up my salary.
Mike Smithson
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good luck mate, and thanks for keeping this going all that time whilst working. its one thing pretending to work and reading posts, but actually moderating and running the site is a noble task indeed.
Don’t have any qualms about trying to make this site earn more money, Mike. You have every right to gain an income from pb.c - it’s the best political blog there is.
bahhhh these professional politicians…..disgusting I tell you….congrats mike, just goes to show how important your site is that you can even contemplate this move. I appreciate all your efforts with the site and all the other people who contribute.
Are you thinking of going down the registration fee route? Or just putting out the begging bowl, like Iain Lindley?
Once again, many thanks for all your efforts, and also to Robert (I think) for the clean and user-friendly design here.
Hope it pays off Mike. Hopefully advertisers will relaise the potential of sites like this and reward you accordingly.
Big decision Mike, hope it works well for you. Thanks for all your hard work. Be good to see Politicalbetting.com go from strength to strength.
Mike,
I could never understand how you gave up the comforts of Lonsdale Road, the birth place of pbCOM, and a nice job with Oxford University, to moving to Bedford, and your horrific planes, trains and bicycles commute to Milton Keynes.
I guess this is wonderful news for us site junkies. The days when you control the activities with more than one leader have truly been spectacular, and quite simply the only way to follow political events.
Hooray. When I saw the photo for a split second I thought the worst. P.S. going back to the last thread, I’ve just seen Stewart Jackson speaking in H/C. No one could accuse him of being a posh Tory. Did a marvellous job winding up Sion Simon, though.
Mike- by the way my wife was at an international publishers conference last week. One presentation was focussing on online communities.
Basicially the site organisers need to know and understand the needs of their communities. They need to nourish them with information about what sustains their interests, but also allow for gossip, meandering, and lateral thought. pbCOM was cited as one to look at.
They also mentioned that these sites will provide a treasure trove for future historians.
I wonder what our historians of the future will make of the “creatures.” Obviously I will be seen as a beacon of enlightenment, insight and intelligence, but that as we all know is a given.
The very best of luck.I rarely comment but read this site avidly.Working in advertising I can see how many Advertising Agencies are starting to believe in the power of blogs.I have no doubt at all that it won’t be long before this blog can do much more than ‘cover its costs’ for you.
Best of luck Mike. This site has been a real revelation for me. Onwards and upwards.Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time.
Please put up the Begging Bowl details ASAP.
I am very new but love the site. Onwards and upwards.
Wow - big decision Mike, but you’ve never been shy of a gamble and as far as I can make out, usually come out the right side of them. As far as the site is concerned, it’s obviously very good news. Already it’s an excellent forum and fine resource and I look forward to seeing how you’ll develop it further. Good luck.
Mike Good luck, but you best cash all the donation cheques you receive.
Best of luck from one of your newer posters. I work in HE admin myself.
Good luck Mike…
Very best of luck, I think you’re onto a winner.
I’m only an occasional poster but I may be able to contribute a small amount if you need donations in the future. Coming on here really livens up my day.
Good luck, Mike. It’s very good news for us, and a brave step on your part.
Best site. More power to you.
Absolutely the right decision Mike, you have an absolute gem - keep it well polished!
good stuff. def a winner
Good luck Mike, looks like good timing
Good luck from your most addicted French reader!
The very best of luck with it all Mike. PBC is wonderful and a real tribute to you and your family. Great news for all us regulars.
This is excellent news - PB is by far the most readable and informative of all the UK political sites. The unique combination of betting info and all party partisan comment is both enjoyable and occasionally profitable.
The occasional meanderings into trade policy in 16th Century Europe and British Army troop deployments during the Indian mutiny only add to the richness of the site.
Very best of luck.
Good luck wiht this venture.
I am a lurker but frequent reader of this excellent site (and the comments). I have given up my security to start something new and unproven (commercially) on several occasions. Unless you get very lucky it is one of the hardest and thoroughly challenging things you can ever do. It is also one of the most rewarding. I wish you every success.
Go for it Mike.
There’s no reason why a Site this good should not be a commercial success.
If you need any help, you’ve got my number.
Mike good luck with your new venture.
9. History really is getting dumbed down isn’t it. Actually it is interesting to see what some of us were writing a couple of years ago. I often head into the archives when I have insomnia. For instance this time 2 years ago, I reported the Tory leadership hustings from Leicester saying Cameron seemed to be in front based on conversations there. Amazing what’s happened in 2 years.
Excellent news Mike, hope everything works well in your new career!
I hope it works out. PBC is well run.
Does this mean you will be getting up later so no new posts at 4 am? Back to work Mr Smithson.
Seriously I hope it works out - get the media money!
Perhaps, the next Pb.com party might be something of a fund raiser too?
It is a natural and neccessary evolution.
Eventually you will turn into online magazines and news outlets, challenging mainstream media. Blogs are organic and are less prone to control by Stalinist Politicians or Media Moguls.
I hope to see other successful blogs make the transition. TheoSpark is another likely to see transition.
Yeah good luck & cheers for all you do now
Good luck Mike - onwards and upwards !
Mike - good decision I am sure you will make a commercial success of the site. May I suggest you create 2 sites. One would be free and the other would require an annual sub of say £20. The subscription site would be focussed on the betting and the free site for general political blogging.
Good luck Mike!
Mike; I hope you won’t take offence but I urge you to reconsider.
I prize anonymity but I know a bit about this topic. The biggest blogs are not money-spinners. I think it is highly unlikely that you could ever replace a proper full time salary by doing this site. It may make a modest profit but that’s about it. This is no slam on one of the best sites on the internet, rather, it is a sober examination of what bloggers make.
Really - please be careful on this one.
Of course I wish you the best in whatever you do (although I will be gutted if the early threads disappear
! )
Bear in mind that there are very many posters who could not pay for the site, myself included, as to do so would reveal our identity.
Mike,
I wish you every luck but wouldn’t going part time be a happy halfway point.
43. Time to do an Ashcroft and come online Test!!
Re 42: University lecturers do not get a “proper full time salary”! The opportunity to make some real money (albeit with some risk) lies with pb.com.
Mike
All the best….yes its a big step but always better to do something you enjoy.
42. Blogs are still just coming into their own so who knows what the future will bring. This site has a particular advantage in that its author is not simply commenting on events from “his side” as it were, meaning that it attracts all sorts of visitors with different views. Also, the excellent comment section is structured so people can write long posts which are displayed nicely, unlike, say, Iain Dale’s.
I imagine the money will come in through advertising. Any fee charging service would obviously lose the vast bulk of visitors.
49. Thats why I suggest 2 sites - see 40.
49 I think there’s something in that idea, Goupillon.
I have often thought that a fee paying section would not only help Mike with his finances, it would discourage CATs [Creatures, Astrotufers and Tarquins].
50. Exactly!
50: ‘CATs [Creatures, Astrotufers and Tarquins]‘
What’s a Tarquin?
50. And discourage all those of us with means and willingness to pay, but unwillingness to reveal our identities. The number of posters that use pseudonyms should be some guide there.
52. Scallywag/Yellow Peril/Yawn/Zzzz/Captain Spinning was one. A poster who adopts multiple names so they won’t receive the disapproval of regulars when they chime in with a puerile insult.
53 - Would you be willing to give your name to Mike when paying, but stay as Test on the site? I would trust Mike’s discretion.
All the best with this new venture Mike.
Here is Wikipedia’s stuff on “Tarquin”:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tarquin
I do not think johnL is a “tarquin” though!
54 Yes Test, there are number of posters for whom it is important that their identity is not revealed - JackW for example. It’s not an insuperable problem.
54.Perhaps the term should be “harlequin” or “chameleon”?
59 I think it was UKPaul that came up with the name. It somehow fits, and doesn’t have unhelpful connotations.
40. But what makes the “general political discussion” on this site so interesting is the ways its focused in a “what will happen in the future” way. That will evaporate if the betting section is removed from it - and will also deprive the general discussion people of the intelligent insights of the capable gamblers. There are many future betting predictions that are the prime USP of the site for non-betters like me.
54. There used to be a poster called ‘commentator’ who specialised in priggish and pompous effusions - and then turned into ‘test’.
Apparently this person is so important that he/she feels the need to tell us all how crucial it is that his/her true identity is never revealed. How exciting.
62 That’s not a Tarquin though, Zauberer. Test told us of the name change and has been perfectly frank about the need for anonymity, as have other posters with the same need.
You may not like Test’s posts, but you cannot question the author’s integrity or motives.
re 53 Test, if Jack W (late of this parish) could trust Mike with his identity then I’m sure you could. I’m sure he wouldn’t be averse to notes either if you’re really worried, and GMail or Hotmail won’t want to see your ID card so setting up an anonymous email account wouldn’t be a problem either.
I changed my name once out of a further desire to preserve anonymity, but, unlike zauberer (presumably Scally again) I have never used more than one name at a time and have only ever had the two handles.
I don’t think anonymity is about importance, and don’t see myself as important - just that it’s better to remain anonymous. I think a large number of commenters here are in the same boat.
re 57 ah the late lamented Lt Cmdr Boaks brings it all back. They don’t make them like they used to - and today’s MPs are a healthier bunch as well.
Good luck, Mike
63. Your memory fails you Peter. The ‘name change’ was rumbled by other posters and only admitted to grudgingly later.
68 My memory often fails me these days, Zauberer.
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn’t you used to post under the name of Arschloch?
69. Leider nicht, mein lieber freund.
Gute nacht, wir sehen uns wieder
As soon as somebody asked me, I copped to it - something you as Scallywag repeatedly failed to do, but of course you are a Tarquin with multiple identities - as I told you, I have only ever had one at a time.
The Tarquin is the regular poster who adopts a new name, like yours, to hide from criticism in a cowardly way. Usually (like you) they will have six or seven posting IDs.
It would be great if Mike would prevent that by IP logging. I wouldn’t comment, but it would make reading/lurking that much more pleasurable.
68- yes zauberer, our man “test” was rumbled right and proper. He mysteriously left this site the very night when Benedict had somehow got his mucky paws on some insider info on cash for honours.
He then materialised as “test”, major cheerleader in the winning strategy to keep Brown off a 2007 election, and now has morphed fully into Test, the pragmatic Camaroon.
But, Test was the man who called Cameron’s fightback, and got one of pbCOM’s best scoops ever by calling THE poll here that showed that Brown’s honeymoon was over.
So in historical terms, and for the archives our man Test/ Commentator ranks easily in the top 10, if not 5 important posters on this site.
72. Test is a woman.
70 Gluck auf!
71 test- when I was student at Edinburgh a “Tarquin” was a posh Scot. A kind of Scottish old Etoninan if you like, a Scottish Cameron with a bit of Osbourne, a touch of Boris, and a sprinkling of Letwin to boot.
Maybe in a few years time we will be calling people Cameron’s on blogging sites. A kind of blogging word for a very, very posh Toryboy, who pretends to be a man of the people and makes up stories about Kate Moss. You never know.
Good luck Mike. Great site!
Thank you Tyson (I think). But I have *always* been a pragmatic Cameroon!
Anyway, if you do decide to go for it Mike, best of luck. It’ll be fascinating to see if blogging can deliver a paying model. PB.com, if I had to pick just one website, would be my pick. Nick Palmer, Stewart Jackson, Nick Clegg, Snowflake, Tyson, Andrea Rik W, Marcus, Roger, PtP, PfP, even Sean T, to take a small selection - it’s a fascinating slice of political debate in Britain.
77- test- it was genuine. You have a habit of being around and informative (and of course that famous poll scoop) when things get very interesting on pbCOM
71 “It would be great if Mike would prevent that by IP logging. I wouldn’t comment, but it would make reading/lurking that much more pleasurable.”
Agreed, and it’s possible, but it’s tedious and time-consuming work of the type that has made it impossible for him to continue with the Site and a full-time job as well.
Maybe under the new arrangements he’ll give the matter some thought…which of course takes us full circle back to Goupillon’s suggestion.
re 71 but what’s the difference between hiding from criticism and hiding from revealing your identity? If you would say something differently anonymously than you would if your identity was known aren’t you being a tad hypocritical?
re previous thread. BBC news leads with browns terror measures so it seems his strategy worked.
re 77 well if pb.com does take off like Google I hope that there will be some share options for us long-time posters
80-Chris A- some people erghmmm, “cough”.. post when they are supposed to be at work. Especially those ergmm…, “cough” (a bit of an embarrassed shuffle) who are reasonably well paid by our state.
Not naming names, or implicating anyone mind.
So anonymity rocks for some.
’twas indeed myself who coined the name Tarquin, used to refer to someone whose argument gets shot out of the water and who returns as someone else to escape their reputation. A subsection of ‘troll’ I suppose but different to a sockpuppet.
I think the idea comes from when I posted on digitalspy and started a tradition of calling any swivel eyed BNP type Dave as it was easier than referring to them individually. Of course, Dave has other connotations now!
I think the main thing is that you take the criticism in your PB self. As commentator and test, I’ve ccepted that. Scallywag, posting tonight as zauer, never has; she always refused to admit, when asked, even her obvious IDs like Yellow Peril, Yawn etc.
I value snowy’s posts although she’s Labour; I comment on her as snowflake 5 and don’t need to have her real name rank and serial # for that.
81- sp- it will not work. The people want good confident leadership, not this fear raising nonsense that is mostly just about politicking. I think it is utterly contemptuous that Brown is playing the fear card to get him out of this political hovel.
I have the horrible feeling that on one side we have the Tories praying for economic calamity, and on the other Brown and his coterie praying for terror and fear.
I think that I will be collecting an easy 10 squid from Nick Palmer as ICM drifts below 34% this year for Brown and Labour.
PS and who needs the real name of the nation’s favourite impartial commentator, Ave It 07, to enjoy his posts?
80. Quite. People posting under assorted assumed names complaining about other people doing likewise is laughable.
I wonder what it is safer to be in Pakistan, a political leader of the opposition, or coach of the cricket team?
86 i think you are correct. merely commenting on mikes post of earlier. the bbc news has not shown browns lamentable performance at pmqs today so i guess his politicking with terror has worked. labour will fall a further 5% in the polls over coming weeks if gb carries on with current strategy.
87- are Ave it 07, and Martin Day not the same? They both possess the same tell tail traits, the prolific smiley faces which I have forgotten how to do.
I also think both are hugely enjoyable, and sometime very canny.
Ave it 07 and Martin Day are not the same person.
80 - you’re Scallywag again, right? Watch; Tarquin won’t answer. 80 is a classic example, brand new name trotted out because scally can’t admit her 50 aliasesm
94. wrong!
sp- maybe not 5%, but I think into the low 30’s. We really are the realms of Laurel and Hardy politics. Brown (Laurel) cannot go too low, as useless as he is, because the people are hardly falling over themselves rushing to Hardy’s Conservatives.
We are in the realms of a new kind of politics. 2 pretty useless leaders, outdoing each other in their blunders, failings, and incompetence. Game on, but not really in a good way.
re 88 I’ve used that name - which is my own - for every single post I’ve ever made on here.
95. Make it 51!
Tyson - cameron is not failing though. Instead he is revolutionising two party politics. Like hf pointed out, tories are close to 45% saying they’d vote for us.
Good luck Mike. I’m sure you know what you’re doing and it’ll be successful in a Liberal sort of way. So no sackclth and ashes and no Tory ‘get rich quick’.
OT. I’m doing an Xmas ad with a celebrity and I had a serious argument with him about IHT! I’m obviously losing my marbles. If anyone wants to know what the ad is look for an actor with a snarling face!
Most interesting tit-bit of the week I thought was the information that Stephan Kisko’s incompetent QC was none other than David (Lord) Waddington Maggie’s Home Secretary. Unbelievably he was and is a staunch supporter of the death penalty! You couldn’t make it up!
96 the game is up for GB methinks. lebanon was the final nail in labour, GB is just hammering the final nails in the coffin. DC has yet to show he is the real deal but is the only prospect for better government.
100 sorry should read “lebanon was the death of labour”
Tyson. As one of the most entertaining and lively posters on here please tell me you are joking when you say Martin Day is either “highly enjoyable” or “canny”?
97 etc - I’m pretty sure that Chris A is a real person from the last pb.c party unless you hired a body double for the day!
A bold step Mike and I wish you well, it will be fascinating to see the new heights you can take this site to with the additional freedom it may bring. I’d buy a few shares in the site myself if the offer came in. But whatever was it about Milton Keynes that didn’t do it for you? I thought you were a man of great taste, no?
101 It’s OK. Didn’t make any less sense first time.
Has Brown spoken on the subject of Lebanon?
99. I remember reading that a couple of years ago. Unbelievable. Luckily he didn’t last long as Home Secretary.
98- Test- really Cameron has blundered, blundered, and blundered again. Tony Lit, flying all those contradictory policy reviews, going for Boris, his remorseless infactuation with marketing and PR. You know what I am talking about.
But unlike his predecessors he is lucky. Lucky because Blair was on his last legs, wrapped in sleaze, scandal, and just people being fed up of him. And now he is challenging the most inept Labour leader since… well ever. Brown is useless. In fact Brown gives a bad name to useless.
Any half decent Labour leader in a relatively strong position would have safely dispatched of Cameron. Except, yes.. Labour are not in a strong position, and Brown is useless.
It would be interesting though to see how Cameron’s ratings go after 18 months as PM. I would guess not very well.
103 Yeah, I met Chris too, but I still have my suspicions. Far too bloody normal to be real.
104 laphroig
re 108 PtP I’ll take that as a compliment then
102- Roger- Martin Day has these very lucid and quite witty moments, honestly. You have to be kind of persistent though, and read what he is saying which relies on a degree of persistence because a lot of his posting is nonsense, puerile and drivel. But if you persist you find the odd nugget. Honest.
110 LOL! Take it how you like, Chris, but it was meant as a compliment.
Excuse me, but I just typed in 100 entries in the Tote Ten To Follow competition, and I’m feeling a bit unreal myself.
107. Brown seems to be going through a bad patch and his capitulation on IHT was both inept and irritating but after Cameron’s delve into rape I realized that he just can’t help himself in his grotesque lurch for centre stage and Brown will have to mess up really badly before enough people will trust Cameron to take over.
109.Or Laphroaig?
111 I was going to make the same point Tyson, so can I just say ‘ditto’?
111.I agree.
Hate to raise the referendums/referenda topic again but what would the feminine of Tarquin be? Origin was Tarquinius. Tarquinia? or perhaps to be a bit Victorian Tarquinette?
Brave move Mike - and good luck. In a way I am happy, because it means the best for PB.com
I cannot believe now that I have said this, but looking at all the options by far the best option for Labour was John Reid. Shame that he didn’t have the real guts to force Brown into a contest.
I really hate all this authoritarian, populist, illiberal, fear raising Labour nonsense, but what I find worse is Labour having such an incompetent as leader.
Reid was a nasty, authoritarian, egotistical piece of work. But he was not a stuttering incompetent.
119 - had Reid become leader, I think the LDs and Tories would now be truly in bed with eachother.
re 112 I’d forgot. Hope it wasn’t too tiresome. We’ll all be able to retire next Spring then
Couple of interesting articles from Benedict Brogan today, something to cheer up Tory and Labour posters, but alas no mention of the Libdems.
The bunker problem and Boris ‘in danger of bombing’ What has Boris been up too?
113. Brown couldnt help himself delving into rape either today at pmqs, using it to justify the DNA data base. Also, another clear example of followship from brown.
I asked Ave It if (s)he was somebody else recently and ‘e denied it. I do find it strange that such a prolific poster limits him/herself to such shallow, though entertaining, jokes. Why would you wade through all the stuff on betting and politics just to post something like
TORIES GAIN HAVANA!!!!!!!
:) 
Ave it and Martin had a long exchange agreeing with each other here during a fallow period recently. If they are the same person, he should really stop talking to himself.
“Boris ‘in danger of bombing’ What has Boris been up too?”
I would still be surprised if Boris makes it as far as the ballot paper. I just sense something will happen to prevent it.
113- Roger- I think you’ll find it is a bit more than a bad patch (for Brown), but certainly it is not game over because Cameron is just so….. just uninspiring, wet, gimmickry, too clever by half. Cameron is a ghostly, pale imitation of Blair.
The next election will be like one of those dismal no score draw matches between Middlesborough and Birmingham which just relies on each team becoming so dulled by each others lack of flair, that it just kind of dies a death and people are delighted to hear the final whistle.
122 What has Boris been up to? as regards getting himself elected nothing much unfortunately.
119.Tyson, Brown would have benefited from a couple of strong figures like Reid in his cabinet, but only if he had been prepared to trust them and if he had the ability to listen and take their criticism or advice.
He sees other strong capable politicians as a threat to his spotlight, but it will be the lack of them in his cabinet which will be his ultimate undoing. He has developed that bunker mentality and surrounded himself with yes men and women after 10 years in the Treasury, something that people like Mrs Thatcher and Blair did not achieve until the end of their premiership, a big mistake.
127-Ted- To put Boris in such a high profile role this coming May was just another of Cameron’s blunders. Only this one will make the Lit affair look to be a complete non event.
Gimmickry and too clever by half. Stand up Mr Cameron.
127. I read somewhere (ConHom I think) that Osborne had a chat with him to make that point?
124 - I can’t speak for anyone else, but a potential reason for posting frequently is that people remember who you are and you feel like you are engageing, even if only superficially with the other posters. Personally I’ve noticed that I’m posting less of recent, not that I’m reading the threads less often, I just find that if I had a vaguely sensible point to make, no doubt somebody else has made the same point in a much more lucid and well written fashion, and there’s little point just posting ‘ditto’ every so often…
It does mean that I start to feel less engaged in the thread conversations though, so swings and roundabouts as to how different people interact.
129.Tyson, Boris won an open primary to become the candidate. So not Cameron’s blunder but democracy at work.
128- I agree. The LD front bench now looks and feels the strongest. Who could have said that 2 years ago?
PS - Very Good luck to Mike in the new stage of pb.com
Test - I expect Mike will be concentrating on getting revenue through advertising rather than though subscriptions anyway. If he does though, can’t you pay for things through paypal while only revealing an email address? (That’s more of a question for people who might have a better idea than I do than a suggestion, I’ve never used it to receive a payment for anything so I know what info you get).
123. I missed it but with Cameron’s egocentricity and Browns lack of self confidence maybe they should get together.
re 132 well it’s a tenuous link but I was having the discussion at work today on how caucuses work.
Do you invite all your friends round for tea and crumpets and have a discussion about politics and then a show of hands at the end of the evening and the organizer phones in the result to some central point and they get collated?
128 - “He sees other strong capable politicians”
Yes, after 1992, the Labour front bench looked impressive, and more statesmanlike that the Tory front bench. 1997 gave us Blair, Brown, Cook and Straw in the top 4 offices. Today’s top 4 just does not compare to the class of 1997. The Tories just about give them a run for their money, and probably have as much talent lower down the ranks - with many fewer MPs to choose from.
Being partisan, I can’t help but mention that the LD top team of today, pending leader, is much better than in 1992. Now there is Clegg, Cable and Mike Moore. Ashdown aside, who were the other three back in 1992? - Beith as treasury?..Steel (foreign), ???
the problem is, who else could the tories have put forward as there candidate who commands the press as he does? fair enough, its not always good press, but every time he says or even does something, the papers report it. During the mayoral contest, boris will get as much, if not more attention and publicity than ken. If he does win, its a massive bonus for the tories. if he doesnt win, aslong as he isnt behind the lib dems, its a good result as they will have remained in the papers at a time when ken and labour couldve blocked them out.
133 - Some of the Liberal front benches of the past were awful. Russell Johnston was deputy leader by default, as most senior MP, though nobody actually knew he was - and when they found out he was they changed the rules. Alex Carlile was spokesman for Trade…ahh! And wasn’t Cyril Smith spokesman for hanging or something?
137 They’re really bizarre Chris but yes, kind of like that - except they use School Halls and other similar meeting places. Some of these are so remote that you just get a handful of people discussing over drinks who they’d like to vote for and then somebody phones through the result of this genteel deliberation.
Weird.
136. haha, thou if u did that, cameron’s PR + gordon’s spin, we’d have blair!!!
maybe thats what happend, he split himself into two, thus guarenteing himself he’ll be leader in some shape or form at the next election!
141 - “you just get a handful of people discussing over drinks who they’d like to vote for and then somebody phones through the result of this genteel deliberation.”
A bit like when the 1922 committee chose Douglas Home over Butler.
Tyson. Yes wigan Birmingham is about right. I’ve got this awful feeling Brown’s going to do something unforgivable soon equivalent to Blair’s support for the bombing of Beirut. Something so bad that many Labour voters just wont be able to vote for him-as I wouldn’t for Blair if he’d stood again. He seems so uncoordinated at the moment and as you say so right wing that if Cameron wasn’t so totally phony and narcissistic you might start taking him seriously.
Best of luck to you with this endeavour Mike - the site is excellent already and I don’t expect making it even better will be any mean feat. Thank you for all the work you do and the hours of enjoyment that you provide for political anoraks like me.
133&138.On a partisan note I would say that the Conservative shadow front bench looks much stronger and more capable than their colleagues across the floor of the HoC, I also think they are more well known with the public now than some of the present cabinet.
Cameron has been wise to put a team together of old and new faces which resembles a wide diversity of party opinion.
Brown had two problems neither Cameron or Blair had, he wanted to clear out the Blair baggage to enhance his message of change while making sure that he did not allow anyone else a power base such as the one he created for himself while Blair was PM.
But part of Blair’s strength was the people he surrounded himself with, something that Cameron has also done. Brown appears a weaker figure because of the pygmies he has surrounded himself with.
146 - “I also think they are more well known with the public now than some of the present cabinet.” This is a key thing. The Tory front bench may come to be regarded as the establishment. Just the same position Labour found themselves in after “losing” in 1992.
Talking about “Ave it”, where is he?
once again, the papers front pages are taking a negative approach towards browns security announcements, particulary the telegraph and daily mail. Brown has totally lost the media control of blair, and if the right wing press are denouncing his security policies, then he’s in real trouble during the 28 days extension call. the guardian is leading with the embarassing sea admirable story. thou at least hes pleased the sun, thou with the eu looming, not for long!
It’s a brave move, Mike. I hope it pays off for you, and you can generate a long-term revenue stream from these activities.
99 - It’s surprising as most political lawyers, even in Waddington’s day, tended to be abolitionists - even Sir Nicholas Fairbairn, hardly most people’s idea of a social liberal.
145 Mike - I’m sure you already know this, but please refrain from introducing any form of subscription fees - this would inevitably result in a major hit on your “hit” levels and therefore on your potential advertising revenues, which is where the serious money in this business is to be made.
I’m sure Test meant well in sounding a warning as regards income prospects, but I wonder whether, whoever he or she is, has any real understanding of the potential revenues from a blog as popular as this, whose traffic is still growing exponentially - I rather doubt it somehow.
Quite apart from the financial rewards, I suspect you have reached a stage in your career when, more than anything else, you want work to be about being fun, as opposed to just money.
149-The Telegraph leader is hardly that critical, actually, is very balanced(in my opinion!)
Mike, Sir, you are a brave man and all credit to you.
Good luck. Unshallah it will be a great success.
re 8, FR, Have you got a link to our own Stewart Jackson laying into the pratt for Birmingham Erdington Sion Simon?
Good luck, Mike!
148 Probably Aving It Away somewhere.
156- LOL (as he says)
154.I thought it would not appear until tomorrow on Hansard?
156.PtP, don’t encourage him to diversify from a footie or Tory winning scoreline.
So many references on this site this evening, referring to “good luck” and to Mike being “brave”.
Mike is hugely experienced in fund-raising and with respect he doesn’t need to be either lucky or brave to be very successful in this business. In many respects the high risk aspect and much of the hard graft are behind him in building this blog to what it is today.
The thing he really does now need is the time to exploit his leading position in this sector of the market.
One only has to look at any number of patently inferior and far less popular websites which are stuffed solid with advertising to understand the potential here.
The only surprise to me over the past three years has been the almost total absence of advertising on this blog or of any associated product or event marketing.
There are so many messages on so many threads on here that I usually skim through them quickly to see if I can spot any golden nuggets of information or debate, but I don’t bother to read through everything properly. It was much easier this time when most of the thread is full of obsequious flummery instead of large tracts of revolutionary fervour.
159- I said “good luck” because I could not think about anything else, and I really wish the best for Mike and for the site =)
Re 72, Tyson, “68- yes zauberer, our man “test” was rumbled right and proper. He mysteriously left this site the very night when Benedict had somehow got his mucky paws on some insider info on cash for honours.”
Whats with this mucky paws slur? My owner keeps them well washed
Re 83, Tyson, “Not naming names, or implicating anyone mind.”
Re 86, Tyson, “I have the horrible feeling that on one side we have the Tories praying for economic calamity, and on the other Brown and his coterie praying for terror and fear.
I think that I will be collecting an easy 10 squid from Nick Palmer as ICM drifts below 34% this year for Brown and Labour. ”
I will be at the next PB bash, and indeed so must you. We must chap. I would be deeply disappointed if you do not turn up.
Roger “Stephan Kisko’s incompetent QC was none other than David (Lord) Waddington Maggie’s Home Secretary.”
I heard on the radio or on TV that he was also the Home Secretary who had the case reviewed as the submissions made to him gave him serious doubts.
If so he did the honourable thing despite any damage to his reputation for being Kisko’s brief.
Re 99, Roger, “Most interesting tit-bit of the week I thought was the information that Stephan Kisko’s incompetent QC was none other than David (Lord) Waddington Maggie’s Home Secretary. Unbelievably he was and is a staunch supporter of the death penalty! You couldn’t make it up!”
You know a good brief by how they think out of the box.
Re 107, Tyson , “In fact Brown gives a bad name to useless.”
I hear he speaks well of you
My final thought for the day - I think there should be a party in the New Year to celebrate the start of your full time involvement with PB.com. There should, of course, be an entry fee of £10-£15 as before, to deter the free loaders, but one of your first challenges Mike, should be for you to find a deep-pocketed sponsor - last time you may remember that I suggested Betfair.
Also, perhaps you should introduce a party donation “box” - I think you might be surprised how much this might raise, especially from those of us who have benefited financially from your betting recommendations.
Re 113, Roger, “107. Brown seems to be going through a bad patch and his capitulation on IHT was both inept and irritating but after Cameron’s delve into rape I realized that he just can’t help himself in his grotesque lurch for centre stage and Brown will have to mess up really badly before enough people will trust Cameron to take over.”
I thought Labour would be happy with that, but have you read this:
http://aconservatives.blogspot.com/2007/11/toughening-rape-laws.html
Mike, good luck with the new venture. I hope you can sort out a business plan which does what you need while keeping the unique nature of the site. Its current form seems very influential and many a journalist or politician seems to have sensibly nicked ideas and arguments from comments made here.
Or is it that great minds think alike?
Life would be boring without the betting purists, the sensible political commentators, nutty or straight spinners, party hacks and caustic commentators all mixed up in your unique cocktail.
Just think, without pb.com we would have to read the newspapers or contribute to second rate blogs like…. well probably best not to say, heh?
170 Just think, without pb.com we would have to read the newspapers or contribute to second rate blogs like…. well probably best not to say, heh
171 Witan - Are you thinking about whom I’m thinking about?
O/T
“Sen. Hillary Clinton has a large lead over her rivals among Nevada Democratic caucus-goers, according to a new CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll released Wednesday”
http://edition.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/11/14/nevada.poll/
165. IIRC, Lord Waddington was also the defence barrister for one of the innocents accused of the murder of Carl Bridgewater; he did the illogical double-defence of saying (a) he didn’t do it, but also (b) if he did do it, it was only manslaughter and not murder because of X, Y and Z.
Daily Mail has:
English Taxpayers to pay for Council Tax freeze in Scotland
http://tinyurl.com/36u99x
Nothing new there then!
170.One of PB.com’s biggest strengths and a real credit to Mike and the many regular posters who comment here is the fact that so little moderation is needed. The way the site has grown in popularity and expanded with at times up to a thousand comments a day makes that a truly remarkable feat in the political blogsphere. It is also vital to the betting fraternity that news and events are so quickly posted.
175.Right PfP, can you set out how the English taxpayer will be financing this council tax freeze?
I have digest the headline and then the first sentence which claims “English taxpayers will be picking up the bill for a council tax freeze next year in Scotland.”
Come on, where is the extra money being paid out by the Treasury above our allocated budget to pay for this, I note that the Mail did not answer that question anywhere in the rest of the article!!
172 PfP I couldn’t possibly comment, even anonymously.
177 Chris - Apologies, I’ve read the piece again myself and I cannot see how the claim in the headline is supported.
In my defence, I assumed that because it appeared in the Daily Mail, it simply had to be true!
A little