Brown sticks his foot in his mouth

Exocet

Apologies for coming late to this, and not reading entire thread.

I loved it, very funny, and couldn't happen to a more deserving person in my opinion. Unless of course it had been Mandelson. Did you notice how quickly he was wheeled out, like a crap version of International Rescue, to yet again point out what Brown meant to say or why it was no big deal. I hope no one in the country, Labour or otherwise, believes a word of that snake charmer.

Apparently Brown didn't understand what she was saying. That's great. Just who you need in complex fast moving international negotiations - someone who cannot keep up intellectually, or grasp simple concepts.

Of course it is unfair. But here is a man who is known for being a bully getting shown up. Not very often the tables get turned - so I for one enjoyed it immensely.

As LIR said - the mealy mouthed apology. Something like "if I were the sort of person who would say those things" - like a toddler trying to pin the blame on their imaginary friend.

And finally. How exhausting for him, as he slumped into his seat in the car, to have spent five minutes talking with a voter, having to listen and keep the smile going. What pressure, to be questioned on the same issues that are raised week in week out in Parliament. But maybe it's different there, when you have 200 mates roaring on every pre scripted 'joke' and barb.

tbh - pathetic. And hopefully a moment when the game was finally up.

A._Badger

lostinrates wrote: »

I think this is key for me.

It is for me, too. Brown demonstrated the sort of routine contempt for traditional, working class supporters that has hallmarked 'New' Labour since it was hatched.

I'm only surprised we haven't reverted to the tactics of the 'good old days' - like when Labour's spinners smeared the ladies of the WI who dared slow handclap Blair, by suggesting they were somehow connected with the BNP.

As I've said before - what does Brown have to do before the tribal fanatics will admit he is deeply flawed - take up cannibalism?

lostinrates

Exocet wrote: »

Apologies for coming late to this, and not reading entire thread.
As LIR said -....

you read the important bits.

chucky

what most people have missed on this thread about Mr G Brown is that one of his main character traits was highlighted... his inability to take critisism...

she knocked him and he didn't appreciate it... it's him all over and his leadership style...

btw - with the microphone issue... would as much fuss have been made if Tony Blair or David Cameron would have said it... i think not... they were more popular with the media...

lostinrates

chucky wrote: »

what most people have missed on this thread about Mr G Brown is that one of his main character traits was highlighted... his inability to take critisism...

she knocked him and he didn't appreciate it... it's him all over and his leadership style...

btw - with the microphone issue... would as much fuss have been made if Tony Blair or David Cameron would have said it... i think not...

I think you might be right about Mr Brown. Again, I don't see it as an insurmountable issue in a strong leader....

the fuss, well, again, I think similar fuss was made in the example I cited of Blair and Bush. A lot of ''America's lap dog'' etc etc.

Gorgeous_George

I always smile when Brown is referred to as a bully. Anyone care to remember Thatcher?

Our press only cares about how many papers it can sell to idiots and how favourably the next government might treat their big businesses.

GG

Sir_Humphrey

I am getting bored to tears with this now. I am bored with the Tories who still seem to expect to win by default because Brown is inept at PR. I am bored with the desperate spinning from both sides.

As I expected, the media have overplayed their hand with this. Brown was slapdash, amateurish and foolish. The whole episode is cringe inducing and makes him look like a berk. But Brown's behaviour here is not as bad as the media have tried to make out. It was bad behaviour but not as bad as they are making out.

I would expect Labour to lose votes on this, but do not expect them to necessarily switch to the Tories, at least not in the Pennines.

Exocet

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

I am getting bored to tears with this now...

It's only been a day! Elections are pretty boring things and this event has been a highlight, for me anyway. Of course the Tory owned media has made a meal of it, and right wing mentalists such as myself are trying to cause trouble - but hey - that's politics. Perhaps, above all, the one thing you might expect of the next PM would be the ability to be a politician rather than a socially awkward embarassment?

And please, spare me the moral compass stuff.

A week to go...

Sir_Humphrey

Exocet wrote: »

Perhaps, above all, the one thing you might expect of the next PM would be the ability to be a politician rather than a socially awkward embarassment?

Bluntly, I am more interested in how they will run the country than how they deal with 65 year old ladies.

This whole episode has allowed all three parties off the hook on explaining how they are going to deal with the country's problems over the next five years.

Dance to the tune, little voters... :whistle:

Exocet

Sir_Humphrey wrote: »

Bluntly, I am more interested in how they will run the country than how they deal with 65 year old ladies.

This whole episode has allowed all three parties off the hook on explaining how they are going to deal with the country's problems over the next five years.

Dance to the tune, little voters... :whistle:

I figure that if he can't deal with a 65 year old lady who was unprepared, and is not, as far as I am aware, a professional politician - how the hell can he deal with anything? We, the grubby voters, can only decide on what we see.

S'alright for you, you already got a Knighthood.