Comments on: A small cloud on David Cameron’s horizon http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/14/a-small-cloud-on-david-camerons-horizon/ now with extra source Sun, 12 Feb 2012 00:58:05 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Charles Richardson http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/14/a-small-cloud-on-david-camerons-horizon/#comment-41284 Charles Richardson Wed, 14 Oct 2009 17:58:27 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/14/a-small-cloud-on-david-camerons-horizon/#comment-41284 No, I didn't suggest Brown would run on the expenses scandal - I'm sure he'll avoid mentioning it as much as possible. My point is that the campaign Brown was always going to run, painting the Tories as elitists & out-of-touch, might get some subtle reinforcement from the expenses scandal, because it showed everyone how out-of-touch politicians can get. As to the question of "affection" - "enthusiasm" is probably a better word - I think there's such a thing as a party having popular support, as reflected in the polls, that is based on dislike of their opponents rather than any positive endorsement: Howard in 1996, Al Gore in 2000, Cameron now. Contrast, eg, Thatcher 1979, Blair 1997, Obama 2008, who roused some enthusiasm as well. Does it matter? No, probably not. But you never know for sure. No, I didn’t suggest Brown would run on the expenses scandal - I’m sure he’ll avoid mentioning it as much as possible. My point is that the campaign Brown was always going to run, painting the Tories as elitists & out-of-touch, might get some subtle reinforcement from the expenses scandal, because it showed everyone how out-of-touch politicians can get.

As to the question of “affection” - “enthusiasm” is probably a better word - I think there’s such a thing as a party having popular support, as reflected in the polls, that is based on dislike of their opponents rather than any positive endorsement: Howard in 1996, Al Gore in 2000, Cameron now. Contrast, eg, Thatcher 1979, Blair 1997, Obama 2008, who roused some enthusiasm as well. Does it matter? No, probably not. But you never know for sure.

]]> By: mtats http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/14/a-small-cloud-on-david-camerons-horizon/#comment-41119 mtats Wed, 14 Oct 2009 02:49:23 +0000 http://www.crikey.com.au/2009/10/14/a-small-cloud-on-david-camerons-horizon/#comment-41119 I'm not trying to be mean here, but what that hell are you talking about? "Although they enjoy a commanding lead in the polls, there is no sign of any real popular affection to match.".. um, sorry? Do the Tories want to marry their constituents, or get elected. And the party in charge for the last umpteen years is going to run a campaign based around an expenses scandal that has, well, scandalised everyone in a parliament that they run? Please. What is your day job? Advising Malcolm Turnbull on creating party unity? ok, that last one was a bit mean. I’m not trying to be mean here, but what that hell are you talking about?

“Although they enjoy a commanding lead in the polls, there is no sign of any real popular affection to match.”.. um, sorry? Do the Tories want to marry their constituents, or get elected.

And the party in charge for the last umpteen years is going to run a campaign based around an expenses scandal that has, well, scandalised everyone in a parliament that they run? Please.

What is your day job? Advising Malcolm Turnbull on creating party unity?

ok, that last one was a bit mean.

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