The tyranny of hope
Back in 1997 I took a vociferous and thoroughgoing bollocking from a good friend when I said that there was no hope in Tony Blair. After the turgid misery of the Thatcher era, people – my friend included – were desperate to embrace any kind of change. It’s one of the few things I’ve ever been completely right about.
I’m keeping my mouth shut today.
Posted on November 4th, 2008 at 11:48am under US Politics
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• 15 Comments |
“Coming up on FOX News, we take a look back at the tragedies and triumphs that brought us our first female President of the United States, and cross live to Washington for the inauguration. Sarah Palin has promised to fix the economy and get ‘back to basics’ with terrorists, and…”
You were already 3 years too late in coming to that conclusion mate. October 1994 when he announced he was scrapping Clause 4 for some tepid nonsense that no-one can remember… that’s what did it for me.
What was the actual reason for removing Clause 4? Obviously making way for NuLabour was the motivation, but how did the Labour Party get duped into making such an awful betrayal of principles?
You and me both mate. I said back in 97 that I was only voting for Labour as the lesser of two evils (I had some naive hope there were a few backbenchers that might be able to effect the narratives) but that was all.
When Kosovo happened I turned to the same friends and pointed out that this Blair guy likes the look of military action far too much for my liking and that it’ll lead to bigger things later. Man I wish I’d been wrong…
11 years ago I was mainly spaced out and didn’t take much notice of much. I knew Blair was going to be *really* bad when d*ream was chosen as the campaigns theme song.
I’ll always remember (i.e. it’s been seared into my memory never to be removed) the video footage of Prescott and Mandelson attempting to “bop away” to it
Nader 08?
Vader 08.
“War hero”? Check. Health problems? Check. Belligerence? Check.
And like McCain he’s also an enormous helmet.
Hark at you, Mr Cynical – you should get a blog.
Oh…
I for one am expecting happily singing anthropomorphic bluebirds to flit from country to country tomorrow, trailing rainbows from their tiny feet while singing songs of joy and peace, curing all diseases and putting an end to all war and hardship as the world comes together in a glorious new era of love and understanding.
At the very least, try this on for size: “former president George W Bush” – that’s got to bring a smile to your face, surely?
Somehow, it’s just not the same without handcuffs.
Heh that quote is almost good enough for my facebook quote section!
Democrats here in the US never lead the country. They follow social movements and polls. If Americans want real hope, we will have to get out there and make some.
Perhaps you haven’t correctly understood the concept of democracy? If you’re looking for strong leadership which pays no attention to the wishes of the people, then perhaps a dictatorship or monarchy would suit you better?
Not that I actually believe the Dems are particularly strong on the democracy front…