UK election.

[tigerbob]

It was cool to watch! But my damned internet connection went down and only just came back!

The thing that really surprised me was that they closed the polls when people were still lining up to vote! OMG!

I guess the thing that surprised me is that people knew the polls were closing at 10pm and left it until evening to go. I always used to vote very first thing in the morning.

That said, the turnout is surprisingly high.

 

[California Girl]

It was cool to watch! But my damned internet connection went down and only just came back!

The thing that really surprised me was that they closed the polls when people were still lining up to vote! OMG!

I guess the thing that surprised me is that people knew the polls were closing at 10pm and left it until evening to go. I always used to vote very first thing in the morning.

That said, the turnout is surprisingly high.

Turnout was 65%, and they were saying that people had been waiting since 8.30pm to vote and still didn't get to vote.

One station brought everyone inside the hall and gave them voting slips so they could vote before the close but huge numbers of stations appear to have closed before everyone voted. That's not good. Particularly in the close run areas.

It's all really interesting to me.

They keep talking about something called 'proportional representation'.... I don't know much about that but it seems that it would, in effect, rule out a Conservative victory ever again.

 

[tigerbob]

It was cool to watch! But my damned internet connection went down and only just came back!

The thing that really surprised me was that they closed the polls when people were still lining up to vote! OMG!

I guess the thing that surprised me is that people knew the polls were closing at 10pm and left it until evening to go. I always used to vote very first thing in the morning.

That said, the turnout is surprisingly high.

Turnout was 65%, and they were saying that people had been waiting since 8.30pm to vote and still didn't get to vote.

One station brought everyone inside the hall and gave them voting slips so they could vote before the close but huge numbers of stations appear to have closed before everyone voted. That's not good. Particularly in the close run areas.

It's all really interesting to me.

They keep talking about something called 'proportional representation'.... I don't know much about that but it seems that it would, in effect, rule out a Conservative victory ever again.

It would rule out any single party having power. Look at the % of the vote, translate that into seats and for all intents and purposes, that's PR.

The share of vote since WW2 for the winning party is as follows:

2005 - Labour 35%
2001 - Labour 40%
1997 - Labour 43%
1992 - Conservative - 42%
1987 - Conservative - 42%
1983 - Conservative - 42%
1979 - Conservative - 44%
1974 - Labour - 39%
1974 - Conservative - 37%
1970 - Conservative - 46%
1966 - Labour - 48%
1964 - Labour - 44%
1959 - Conservative - 49%
1955 - Conservative - 49.7%
1951 - Conservative - 48% (even though Labour got 49%)
1950 - Labour - 46%
1945 - Labour - 49.7%

Introduce PR and a lot of people will be drawn away from Labour and Conservative who, at present, benefit from the view held by many that a Lib Dem vote is a wasted vote. There will still probably be 2 parties with a significant majority, but the small parties will get a LOT more seats. Not saying this is a good thing or a bad thing, just a political reality.

The result will be that policies will be watered down and there will be no periodic lurch right or left, or at least not as significant a lurch.

 

[Modbert]

After looking policies and watching the debate, Clegg is clearly the best of the three. However, Cameron will probably win. But least the Lib Dems will have a say because it's likely to be hung.

I'm heading to Vegas.

 

[Si modo]

After looking policies and watching the debate, Clegg is clearly the best of the three. However, Cameron will probably win. But least the Lib Dems will have a say because it's likely to be hung.

I'm heading to Vegas.

*cringe*

 

[Modbert]

*cringe*

What?

 

[Si modo]

*cringe*

What?

Quoting yourself...Look at me! Look at me!

Dante-ish. Not your style.

 

[Modbert]

Quoting yourself...Look at me! Look at me!

Dante-ish. Not your style.

You are right in saying I never do it. But I was making a joke though about I should gamble while lady luck is accompanying me in predicting.

Care to come? I don't know what your game of choice is, but long as it's not slots, we'll win big. Besides, someone has to give me cover since some Casinos probably don't let anyone under 21 in.

 

[Colin]

Besides, someone has to give me cover since some Casinos probably don't let anyone under 21 in.

Don't worry. You may not be able to gamble or drink if you're under 21, but your government cordially invites you to lay down your life for them!

 

[Modbert]

Don't worry. You may not be able to gamble or drink if you're under 21, but your government cordially invites you to lay down your life for them!

Nice of them isn't it? I always found that to be screwy personally.

 

[Colin]

Electioneering

While walking down the street one day Lord Mandelweasel is tragically hit by a truck and dies.
His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.
'Welcome to heaven,' says St. Peter. 'Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see an exalted personage around these parts, you see, so we're not sure what to do with you.'
'No problem, just let me in,' says His Magnificence.
'Well, I'd like to, but I have orders from Higher Up. What we'll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.'

'Really, I've made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,' says His Importance.
'I'm sorry, but we have our rules.'
And with that, St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course. In the distance is a clubhouse and standing in front of it are all his friends and other politicians who had worked with him, as well as the boy from Brazil.
Everyone is very happy and in evening dress. They run to greet him, shake his hand, and reminisce about the good times they had while getting rich at the expense of the people.
They play a friendly game of golf and then dine on lobster, caviar and champagne and guacomole (mushy peas, really).
Also present is the devil, who really is a very friendly & nice guy who has a good time dancing and telling jokes. They are having such a good time that before he realizes it, it is time to go.

Everyone gives him a hearty farewell and waves while the elevator rises....

The elevator goes up, up, up and the door reopens on Heaven where St. Peter is waiting for him.

'Now it's time to visit Heaven.'
So, 24 hours pass with the MP joining a group of contented souls moving from cloud to cloud, playing the harp and singing. They are all very courteous and friendly and he quite enjoys himself. Again, before he realizes it, the 24 hours have gone by and St. Peter returns.
'Well, then, you've spent a day in Hell and another in Heaven. Now choose your eternity.'

His Great Importance reflects for a minute, then he answers: 'Well, I would never have said it before, I mean Heaven has been delightful, but I think I would be better off in Hell.'

So St. Peter escorts him to the elevator and he goes down, down, down to hell.
Now the doors of the elevator open and he's in the middle of a barren land covered with waste and garbage.
He sees all his friends, dressed in rags, picking up the trash and putting it in black bags as more trash falls from above.

The Devil comes over to him and puts his arm around his shoulder. 'I don't understand,' stammers Mandelweasel. 'Yesterday I was here and there was a golf course and clubhouse, and we ate lobster and caviar, drank champagne, and danced and had a great time. Now there's just a wasteland full of garbage and my friends look miserable.

What happened?'

The devil looks at him, smiles and says, 'Yesterday we were campaigning... ...

TODAY, YOU VOTED!!

 

[Tom Clancy]

BBC News - Gordon Brown 'stepping down as Labour leader'

Gordon Brown 'stepping down as Labour leader'






Gordon Brown is to step down as Labour leader

Gordon Brown has said he is stepping down as Labour Party leader - as his party opens formal talks with the Lib Dems about forming a government.

Mr Brown, prime minister since 2007, said he hoped a successor as Labour leader would be in place by September.

The Lib Dems have been negotiating for days with the Tories - who won the most seats and votes in the UK election.

But the Lib Dems have asked for formal talks with Labour. Mr Brown said it was in the "national interest" to respond.

Mr Brown's statement will be seen as a move to smooth the way to a deal between Labour and the Liberal Democrats to form a government.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson said it was an audacious bid by Mr Brown to keep Labour in power - and himself in power for a limited period - and Tory MPs would be furious.

Woot!

 

[California Girl]

Even if the Lib Dems and Labor do a deal, they don't have enough votes to take on the Tories.

 

[tigerbob]

Even if the Lib Dems and Labor do a deal, they don't have enough votes to take on the Tories.

I suspect Gordon Brown's resignation is as much about pulling the rug out from under Lib / Tory negotiations as it is about recognizing that his position is untenable. With Brown gone, the pressure for Clegg to talk to Labour (who are a closer fit with Lib Dem ideology and have offered a referendum on P.R.) will become more intense than it is already.

I seem to remember Labour promised a referendum on the E.U. Constitution and then weaseled out of it. Wonder if they'll screw the Lib Dems like they screwed the British public....

 

[California Girl]

Even if the Lib Dems and Labor do a deal, they don't have enough votes to take on the Tories.

I suspect Gordon Brown's resignation is as much about pulling the rug out from under Lib / Tory negotiations as it is about recognizing that his position is untenable. With Brown gone, the pressure for Clegg to talk to Labour (who are a closer fit with Lib Dem ideology and have offered a referendum on P.R.) will become more intense than it is already.

I seem to remember Labour promised a referendum on the E.U. Constitution and then weaseled out of it. Wonder if they'll screw the Lib Dems like they screwed the British public....

I find it odd that the guys that won don't form the Government and the two parties that lost do. Weird.

 

[tigerbob]

Even if the Lib Dems and Labor do a deal, they don't have enough votes to take on the Tories.

I suspect Gordon Brown's resignation is as much about pulling the rug out from under Lib / Tory negotiations as it is about recognizing that his position is untenable. With Brown gone, the pressure for Clegg to talk to Labour (who are a closer fit with Lib Dem ideology and have offered a referendum on P.R.) will become more intense than it is already.

I seem to remember Labour promised a referendum on the E.U. Constitution and then weaseled out of it. Wonder if they'll screw the Lib Dems like they screwed the British public....

I find it odd that the guys that won don't form the Government and the two parties that lost do. Weird.

If there's a Lib / Lab deal, there would have to be accommodations made to bring the nationalists on board (Plaid Cymru / SNP). That would be a disaster.

 

[Colin]

 

[Baruch Menachem]

What do the SNP and the plaid people want? Maybe the tories can find some way of dealing with their needs rather than their desires?

I don't think England needs PR. It just results in everyone being hostage to the fringe.

Places with PR change their system every election to deal with one factor of zaniness or another. I think the Italians used to do it that way, but did away with it.

I do know it causes a lot of heartache in Israel, and Germany has set up a huge threshold to deal with zanies.

 

[tigerbob]

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Colin again.

 

[tigerbob]

What do the SNP and the plaid people want? Maybe the tories can find some way of dealing with their needs rather than their desires?

I don't think England needs PR. It just results in everyone being hostage to the fringe.

Places with PR change their system every election to deal with one factor of zaniness or another. I think the Italians used to do it that way, but did away with it.

I do know it causes a lot of heartache in Israel, and Germany has set up a huge threshold to deal with zanies.

Whatever they need (or desire), they can't fucking have it. Unless they want full independence of course......