Labour leadership

[danny la rouge]

Hell, no. Daily Rectum supported 'No'. Unsure what to make of this Corbyn preference. Possibly building up in order to knock down later?

They're supporting Corbyn because they see him as a way to regain Scottish Labour's lost supporters from the SNP. Not so sure it'll work to any great degree, but it at least has a logic behind it.

But if anyone is tempted to think that makes the Record in any way progressive, remember the Record co-sponsored the homophobic Keep The Clause campaign to keep Section 2A (as clause 28 was known in Scotland), running horrendous stereotyping scare stories, including the infamous front page banner "Gay Sex Lessons For Scots Schools", and assisting Souter in perpetrating his bogus ballot.

They also ran the utterly shameful front page headline about the racist murder of Kurdish refugee Firsat Dag: "Stabbed Turk Firsat Conned his Way in as Asylum Seeker".

Amongst other crimes.

So, they are disgusting filth who should be shunned by decent people.

 

[frogwoman]

Is it just me or is anyone else finding the excited reaction of lots of radicals to this Corbyn thing really quite depressing?

It feels like people who should have better politics grasping at ever increasingly desperate straws uncritically: Syriza, The Green Surge, voting Labour/The Green Party, and now Corbyn... all of which so far have disappointed, as IMO Corbyn obviously will as well.

LDC

You're not the only one.

 

[Dogsauce]

So, is that a Kendall supporter?

It's probably Shapps if anyone.

(so yes.)

 

[ViolentPanda]

Why is he writing for far-right rag the spectator which has given a platform to golden dawn apologists? J Ed

For the money, and because he's a stinky Eustoner.

 

[ViolentPanda]

because that is totally consistent with his schtick of being a nominal left-winger that demonises the left, it's a big industry

And because the Speckled 'tater pays well.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Ive got nothing but utter contempt for that euston lot tho

Personally, I've got a soft spot for them.

It's near the biggest pond on Wimbledon Common.

 

[LDC]

You're not the only one.

Thanks for the reassurance frogwoman.

 

[ViolentPanda]

My partners a 3 quidder...

You some kind of anti-Semitic rhyming slang merchant, son?

 

[danny la rouge]

Is it just me or is anyone else finding the excited reaction of lots of radicals to this Corbyn thing really quite depressing?

It feels like people who should have better politics grasping at ever increasingly desperate straws uncritically: Syriza, The Green Surge, voting Labour/The Green Party, and now Corbyn... all of which so far have disappointed, as IMO Corbyn obviously will as well.

LDC

Being amused at the horrified reaction of the neoliberal establishment is not necessarily the same thing as expecting Corbyn to actually deliver anything (far less to implement socialism). But what has happened is that a public space has opened up where questioning austerity is actually almost a legitimate and permitted debate.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Is it just me or is anyone else finding the excited reaction of lots of radicals to this Corbyn thing really quite depressing?

It feels like people who should have better politics grasping at ever increasingly desperate straws uncritically: Syriza, The Green Surge, voting Labour/The Green Party, and now Corbyn... all of which so far have disappointed, as IMO Corbyn obviously will as well.

LDC

What the above all have in common, and what holds them away from actually being politically effective, is of course the very reason those "radicals" are falling in behind Corbyn - Parliamentarianism. Some people can't get away from the idea that only parliamentary politics is legitimate, sadly.

 

[ViolentPanda]

Possibly, but for me it's just the thought of actually having some possible opposition to the tories over the next 5 years. I can't see any of the other candidates giving any.

Oh, any of them would give some opposition, but from Kendall, Cooper or Burn'em, it'd be hair-splitting of a piece with the welfare bill abstention.

 

[LDC]

Being amused at the horrified reaction of the neoliberal establishment is not necessarily the same thing as expecting Corbyn to actually deliver anything (far less to implement socialism). But what has happened is that a public space has opened up where questioning austerity is actually almost a legitimate and permitted debate.

Yeah, I do get the 'opening a space for discussion' thing (although I largely think it's a load of bollocks). It's just that's exactly what everyone was going on about for all the other things as well, none of which even came close to matching the hysterical enthusiasm that loads of 'anarchists' and 'communists' I know seemed to have.

Personally I think it's partly a result of the shit state of radical politics in this country, combined with the individualized narcissism of FB, Twitter, etc. which encourages a certain type of easily digestible and quite liberal politics where people can feel part of the 'in gang' by jumping on the next wave of excitement for something that's reflected as important in The Guardian etc..

Oh, and add the Scottish Referendum to that list...

LDC

 

[Diamond]

Being amused at the horrified reaction of the neoliberal establishment is not necessarily the same thing as expecting Corbyn to actually deliver anything (far less to implement socialism). But what has happened is that a public space has opened up where questioning austerity is actually almost a legitimate and permitted debate.

On reflection, I think that this is a really, really important point but I'm not sure that it merits the kind of Pyrrhic victory that seems to be in the offing unless we're looking at the total collapse of Labour and something completely different, not paleo-solicalist nor centre-right, emerging...

 

[PursuedByBears]

Got my voting registration codes by email this morning and voted for Corbyn/Watson.

 

[Dogsauce]

It's like when Man U get stuffed by a team you don't particularly like, still feels good even if you don't have much truck with the winning side.

 

[LDC]

I think it's more like getting excited about a polo match cos there's not football on, and then after it's finished being a bit surprised it was really shit and you hate all the players too. But then doing it again the following week with hockey...

LDC

 

[Pickman's model]

I think it's more like getting excited about a polo match cos there's not football on, and then after it's finished being a bit surprised it was really shit and you hate all the players too. But then doing it again the following week with hockey...

LDC

you can't have a left-handed person on a polo team: fact.

 

[redcogs]

Only if the left handed player sat on the horse facing backwards (towards the tail)

 

[Pickman's model]

Only if the left handed player sat on the horse facing backwards (towards the tail)

arse. towards the arse. say what you mean, redcogs.

 

[Dogsauce]

you can't have a left-handed person on a polo team: fact.

Pretty sure you can in canoe polo.

 

[Pickman's model]

Pretty sure you can in canoe polo.

i'm talking about polo with horses not some dodgy aquatick derivative

 

[newbie]

Yeah, I do get the 'opening a space for discussion' thing (although I largely think it's a load of bollocks). It's just that's exactly what everyone was going on about for all the other things as well, none of which even came close to matching the hysterical enthusiasm that loads of 'anarchists' and 'communists' I know seemed to have.

Personally I think it's partly a result of the shit state of radical politics in this country, combined with the individualized narcissism of FB, Twitter, etc. which encourages a certain type of easily digestible and quite liberal politics where people can feel part of the 'in gang' by jumping on the next wave of excitement for something that's reflected as important in The Guardian etc..

Oh, and add the Scottish Referendum to that list...

LDC

yup, better politics is to sneer at ordinary w/c people who've been rather unexpectedly motivated to use this opportunity to express themselves. That's radical politics worth crying out for.

 

[ddraig]

yup, better politics is to sneer at ordinary w/c people who've been rather unexpectedly motivated to use this opportunity to express themselves. That's radical politics worth crying out for.

and what happens when them "expressing themselves" gets thrown in their face, AGAIN!?

 

[frogwoman]

Not sure how shes sneering at anything.

 

[frogwoman]

And im not sure how much ordinary people who arent part of the organised left are getting excited over this, at all

 

[frogwoman]

When people are describing corbyn as a 'miracle' or a 'gift' and knitting hand held soft toys of him im afraid thats impossible for me to take seriously as well as the defensive and aggressively sectarian attitude of a lot of labour supporters im afraid.

 

[DrRingDing]

When people are describing corbyn as a 'miracle' or a 'gift' and knitting hand held soft toys of him im afraid thats impossible for me to take seriously as well as the defensive and aggressively sectarian attitude of a lot of labour supporters im afraid.

It's finely balance if he'll get elected.....if he does the party may commit suicide. Then watch their little faces drop.

 

[LDC]

yup, better politics is to sneer at ordinary w/c people who've been rather unexpectedly motivated to use this opportunity to express themselves. That's radical politics worth crying out for.

How am I sneering at 'ordinary w/c people' when I specifically have been talking about radicals and those that consider themselves anarchists and communists already? (Excusing and pre-empting the obvious whinge of "But aren't we ordinary w/c people too?")

LDC

 

[frogwoman]

To all the Corbyn haters who just seem to be doing him favours by slagging him off...you may as well pack up now cos we've got our very own knitted Jez. Thanks for coming, thanks for going, goodnight. #VoteCorbyn Thanks to @cardiffnan on Twitter who made £80 for the campaign by auctioning this wonderful creation. Well done Nan!

Sorry im sure hes a great bloke and everything but people have fucking gone nuts.

 

[LDC]

Oh my fucking motherfucking god. Please tell me that's a joke? I need to un-see that too, can I get my memory wiped?