Thread for Clegg fanboyism and prophecies of doom (LibDems General Discussion)

[redcommander]

If one television debate had that dramatic of an effect on the campaign, is it possible that the Lib Dems could become the largest party in parliament if Clegg continues to do well. Plus he is now the most popular British politician since Winston Churchill according to the Times.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7100966.ece

[Sewer]

no

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-past-the-post

[redcommander]

I realize it would be difficult. They can in theory though swing enough votes from both the Conservatives and Labor voters to win at least the most seats.

[SvenssonRS]

I friggin' wish.

[Psychic Octopus]

No, although it would be epic. Most likely it would cause (humorously enough) Labour to remain the largest party, and force one of the most divided parliaments in history.

Then, whatever leader makes to most concessions to Clegg would end up in Downing Street for four to five years.

Interestingly enough, this is kind of like the British version of our 1992 Presidential Election. A quirky and popular third party, a young and up-and-coming leader, and a tired old war horse.

[Хahar 🤔]

Of course not. Don't be ridiculous.

This sort of rubbish speculation is probably the worst aspect of these debates.

[The Mikado]

No.  Not unless Gordon Brown and David Cameron are revealed to have an ongoing affair with each other that they held in a Trident submarine commanded by a Captain with non-dom status, and used taxpayer money in the coverup.

[MaxQue]

No, but they will gain seats.

[minionofmidas]

They won't, but theoretically they could.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

No. Even if (and this is a big if) they can hold onto the poll gains of the past few days and (this is a huge if) actually improve on them, their vote would almost certainly increase in a pretty uniform way. Places where they polled about 20% in 2005 would see them polling around 28% and so on; which is sort of what happened in the last two Centre Party surges (1974 (Feb) and 1983).

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loltimes

Most people hadn't heard of him until a few days ago, and all that they have heard (and seen) has been positive. That isn't popularity, as such. Just wait until the papers start attacking him and his party next week. One of the papers that'll do that will be the Times, of course.

[Хahar 🤔]

Let's keep all this stuff in one thread where I can ignore it.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Depending on the odds, if I were in Britain, I'd consider plunking down a bet on a Lib Dem plurality now.  Still doesn't look likely, but it does look possible, albeit improbable.

[RIP Robert H Bork]

I realize it would be difficult. They can in theory though swing enough votes from both the Conservatives and Labor voters to win at least the most seats.

It's very possible, I hate to say. The idea of a Prime Minister Clegg is scary.

I'm glad not to be living in Britain right now....

[ag]

Not likely at this election. However, if they do well and Parliament is hung (both likely), the resultant configuration would be dramatically unstable.  I wouldn't be shocked if LD become at least a contender at the next election (likely, an early one). And, in any case, it is quite likely they will have forced a major electoral system change by then, with a major shift to PR or STV. If that happens, I'd conjecture majority governments become rare thereafter.

So, for a major earthquake that would end British politics as we know it, it might be enough that they come in strong third, which they seem to be likely to do. Then, of course, Clegg hasn't yet faced a true scrutiny. But w/ the short British campaign, there might not be enough time for the true scrutiny. If Clegg continues doing well in the debates, he might make history
 

[Eraserhead]

Well, this is interesting...

http://politicalwire.com/archives/2010/04/18/liberal_democrats_take_lead_in_britain.html

[afleitch]

Occasional TV man Louis Theroux gets in on the act by declaring he was Nick Clegg's 'fag' at boarding school

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7604138/General-Election-2010-Louis-Theroux-claims-he-was-Nick-Cleggs-fag-at-public-school.html

[The Mikado]

Occasional TV man Louis Theroux gets in on the act by declaring he was Nick Clegg's 'fag' at boarding school

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/election-2010/7604138/General-Election-2010-Louis-Theroux-claims-he-was-Nick-Cleggs-fag-at-public-school.html

I've literally never seen the word "fag" used in that sense outside of books set in Victorian public schools.

[Phony Moderate]

Has anyone's head exploded yet?

[redcommander]

Actually reading more about Clegg, the more he seems dangerous for the UK. Supporting the adoption of the Euro for example is a very unpopular move for a British politician to make. Not to mention supporting amnesty and the lessening of criminal sentences.

[You kip if you want to...]

Actually reading more about Clegg, the more he seems dangerous for the UK. Supporting the adoption of the Euro for example is a very unpopular move for a British politician to make. Not to mention supporting amnesty and the lessening of criminal sentences.

If any other prominent UK politician came out and proposed half of most of the Lib Dems EU, Crime and Immigration policies, they'd be shunned by the media and the electorate. But, St. Clegg of Sheffield can do and say whatever he likes apparently. I hate such shallow politics/this X-Factor election.

[Phony Moderate]

Actually reading more about Clegg, the more he seems dangerous for the UK. Supporting the adoption of the Euro for example is a very unpopular move for a British politician to make. Not to mention supporting amnesty and the lessening of criminal sentences.

[afleitch]

'Nick Clegg Is Now Officially The Best Thing There Is.'

[Vepres]

Actually reading more about Clegg, the more he seems dangerous for the UK. Supporting the adoption of the Euro for example is a very unpopular move for a British politician to make. Not to mention supporting amnesty and the lessening of criminal sentences.

If any other prominent UK politician came out and proposed half of most of the Lib Dems EU, Crime and Immigration policies, they'd be shunned by the media and the electorate. But, St. Clegg of Sheffield can do and say whatever he likes apparently. I hate such shallow politics/this X-Factor election.

Now you know how many of us Americans felt about Obama in 2008.

[You kip if you want to...]

Actually reading more about Clegg, the more he seems dangerous for the UK. Supporting the adoption of the Euro for example is a very unpopular move for a British politician to make. Not to mention supporting amnesty and the lessening of criminal sentences.

If any other prominent UK politician came out and proposed half of most of the Lib Dems EU, Crime and Immigration policies, they'd be shunned by the media and the electorate. But, St. Clegg of Sheffield can do and say whatever he likes apparently. I hate such shallow politics/this X-Factor election.

Now you know how many of us Americans felt about Obama in 2008.

Barack Obama has substance and honour though. He didn't win his popularity (or his former popularity depending on your point of view) by "winning" one 90-minute "debate". That's a very "Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy," style comparison.

[The Mikado]

I'd just like to post a link to this old thread:

https://uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=83246.0

Posted a year and a half ago.