Soldiers of misfortune
Monday, April 19, 2010 Isn't it odd how politicians love to use the rhetoric of war? In the Mail on Sunday yesterday Gordon Brown told Ben Fogle: "Show me a soldier who's made no mistakes and I'll show you a soldier who's won no battles." The implication was clear. Gordon is a soldier. A general, perhaps.
Some years ago I interviewed Mark Oaten when he was chairman of the Liberal Democrats. As I noted at the time:
I sense that Oaten likes to operate with military precision. Indeed, for a party opposed to the conflict in Iraq, its chairman is remarkably keen to invoke the language of war.
"With the polls suggesting that we are a position to overtake the Conservatives, we recognise that if we are to make the next step forward we need to have what we call an air war victory as much as a ground war victory, if you understand the two analogies.
"It's the two coming together that will bring us the next wave of seats beyond the ones we would normally have targetted."
Mark Oaten has stepped down as an MP but I wonder if we can expect similar comments from his old colleagues. After all, there's a war on, battles to be won, etc etc.
Reader Comments (7)
Ben Fogle is now a first rank political journo?
We're all doomed, DOOMED!
Gordon brown a General?
Does he mean like Lord Chelmsford (zulu wars) perhaps, or Lord Lucan and Lord Cardigan (Crimea/Light Brigade) or even George Armstrong Custer (Little Big Horn)?
I'd rather have a Wellington, a Montgomery, Grant or Lee, even an Erwin Rommel they at least knew how to lead! Mistakes they may have made but not on the scale of those in the previous paragraph, even those poor examples of generalship never lost a whole country like General Brown!
I wonder if in the traditon of military nicknames General Brown will be remembered as General "Disaster" Brown?
If only Brown was a Japanese general ?
Camercon should take on board the idea of battles and war if he has any chance fo forming a government. He cannot just act like a spoilt rich kid, stamp his feet and expect the keys of Number 10 to be given to him by the electorate.
It is incredible that it is now odds on that there is a hung parliament despite the unpopularity of Brown, Blair,the wars etc. I am finding this election very entertaining as who would have believed that the Tories could be out of office for another four or five years. Only a couple of months ago the Tories were unbackable to win an overall majority whereas now they are struggling to be the largest party.
What sort of general does that make Camercon to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory?
If you go to political betting at Paddy Power, you will see the odds as follows:
General Election Winner
Conservatives 2/7
Labour 10/3
Liberal Democrats 10/1
At this moment in time it still looks like it could be a hung parliament, which of course would be a total disaster for Britain and send the pound plummeting. But with 2 weeks still to go, who knows what will happen?
The second "debate" for want of a better word, is still to come, and I will be very surprised to see Clegg score anything like he did in round one, when he was still the new kid on the block. Everyone loves an underdog, and he certainly was at that point, but as his policies, or perhaps that should be "non policies" become exposed this week, let's see how loved he is then? This guy is lefter than Brown or indeed anyone in his cabinet, and his ideas are frankly "loony". If we end up with a hung Parliament, which he participates in, it will be "abandon ship all who sail in her...and as quickly as damn-well possible"
Watch Cameron's "new" political party address tonight, I have a strong feeling he will be addressing the Clegg intervention.
Just been out canvassing for the Tories here are some choice quotes:
I was looking for my fellow canvassers as we had become separated and was smoking. Had my rosette on and the lady was quite elderly and asking whether she had seen anyone said "I would not vote for anyone that smokes."
Knocking on a door one of my colleagues said "Don't worry we are not Jehovah's Witnesses," and they replied "but we are."
I said (above) that I have a strong feeling that Cameron will be addressing the Clegg intervention on tonight's broadcast.
I have just watched it and he doesn't mention Clegg at all, but what he does do, is talk about the change that is needed, and "who" you should be looking at to implement this change, so without using the dreaded Clegg word, he has done the job. If you want to see it, click here