And Kennedy is down.
- Thread starter Fong
- Start date
Pickman's model
Starry Wisdom
down the boozer
ViolentPanda
Hardly getting over it.
Looks like some of the less power-hungry lib-dems are manouvering to have Ming Campbell in as a "caretaker".
Kid_Eternity
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
tobyjug said:
I'd say the "reaction" on here has been quite sympathetic, why would it be any different if it was a drug problem?
pilchardman
Dances With Penguins
Indeed. An unedifying spectacle from the Liberals.editor said:
The funny bit is they have nobody with the recognition factor Kennedy had.
darren redparty
a very bad man
what this is about is less kennedys personal failings and far more the libdems need to reposition themselves as a potential partner to a tory led coalition following the failiure of the previous tactic of aiming to be the junior partner in a minority labour government.
Unfortunately kennedy and ashdown before him failed to realise just how far to the right new labour were to go and thus found themselves appealing to many who were on the left of the blair govt. This has made much of the leading figures of the libdems very uncomfortable as the last thing they want is political principles that might impede their chances of political maneuvering and coalition politics.
even before the last election there were moves around the 'orange book' in order to reset the libdems as free market liberals and the way in which the libdems won more votes from dissafected labour voters and not from tories, who it was argued were put off by the anti war, higher taxes rhetoric from the libdem front bench.
There were also fears that the anti war people who had voted lib dem might actually jion the libdems and be a impediment to the opportunist swinging from left to right that is liberal politics.
Unfortunately kennedy and ashdown before him failed to realise just how far to the right new labour were to go and thus found themselves appealing to many who were on the left of the blair govt. This has made much of the leading figures of the libdems very uncomfortable as the last thing they want is political principles that might impede their chances of political maneuvering and coalition politics.
even before the last election there were moves around the 'orange book' in order to reset the libdems as free market liberals and the way in which the libdems won more votes from dissafected labour voters and not from tories, who it was argued were put off by the anti war, higher taxes rhetoric from the libdem front bench.
There were also fears that the anti war people who had voted lib dem might actually jion the libdems and be a impediment to the opportunist swinging from left to right that is liberal politics.
nino_savatte
No pasaran!
My money is on Lembit Opik, who seems to have more personality than Oaten and Hughes.
Hughes will definitely be one candidate, though as party President (and therefore responsible for the running of the election) he'd have to stand aside from the post at least temporarily. He's hugely popular amongst the members I believe and polled 43% in the last election when Kennedy won.
The others? I don't believe Oaten, Cable etc will stand a chance against Hughes. The only one who could give him a proper fight would be Menzies Campbell I reckon.
The others? I don't believe Oaten, Cable etc will stand a chance against Hughes. The only one who could give him a proper fight would be Menzies Campbell I reckon.
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it really fucking peculiar that the leader of a UK party that isn't actually in power gets the boot for the same addiction that the cunt who runs America has? Although I can see a distinction between a dry drunk and a recovering alcoholic - it's a verrrry small one. 
bristol_citizen
Well-Known Member
He didn't get the boot because the Lib-Dems had some moral problem with alchohol or alchoholism. He was sacked because it was increasingly impossible to work with him because he was drunk so much.sojourner said:Is it just me, or does anyone else find it really fucking peculiar that the leader of a UK party that isn't actually in power gets the boot for the same addiction that the cunt who runs America has? Although I can see a distinction between a dry drunk and a recovering alcoholic - it's a verrrry small one.
Most people presented with a permanently pissed boss or colleague would eventually do the same.
It's the old adage about when your problem becomes someone else's problem then they can act. Personally, I don't care what people do or consume but if their doing this started to adversely affect my work, life, home or family then I'd do something about it. Why should their problem affect me?
The difference is that Bush made it very plain from the start that he is an alcoholic, and has (as far as we know) been dry for decades.sojourner said:Is it just me, or does anyone else find it really fucking peculiar that the leader of a UK party that isn't actually in power gets the boot for the same addiction that the cunt who runs America has? Although I can see a distinction between a dry drunk and a recovering alcoholic - it's a verrrry small one.
IMO Kennedy should either have said that he never talks about personal health issues or he should have said that he has seen professionals regarding his drinking and it's under control.
nino_savatte
No pasaran!
MC5 said:
I'm not much of a gambler as it happens...which is just as well.
bristol_citizen
Well-Known Member
Newsnight on Thursday night referred to at least 3 occasions when he was pissed and unable to perform duties. The press is also focussing a lot on that press conference at the general election where he looked and sounded pissed.sojourner said:
All those unusual 'illnesses' at conference and in the commons begin to make sense now too.
I'm not condoning alcoholism, but none of us really know how bad it was do we?
Kid_Eternity
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
I don't think it's the frequency it the critical timing of it. Also people being on edge all the time because they don't know if he going to turn up drunk and fuck things up publicly can't be a nice enviroment to work in....
Kid_Eternity
Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?
sojourner said:
I know people that have worked for him. Critical timing like the budget report a couple of years back would be one.
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