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Anyone else absolutely fascinated by the current UK political machinations? (Original Post) Nye Bevan Jun 2016 OP
Yeah. I am paying close attention. Meldread Jun 2016 #1
The Corbyn crew is a spaced out bunch of antisemitic loons Albertoo Jun 2016 #5
I think Corbyn is a weak leader for the Left. Meldread Jun 2016 #7
My preference goes to Blair/Clinton over Sanders/Corbyn Albertoo Jun 2016 #9
"it does indeed make "House of Cards" look like the Teletubbies" Denzil_DC Jun 2016 #2
I love it! Even their crazy people are better than ours. shenmue Jun 2016 #3
More confused than fascinated Sanity Claws Jun 2016 #4
I was fascinated by the in-your-face demagoguery of the Brexit leaders Albertoo Jun 2016 #6
"We must now quickly back away from this mess without looking weak or offending anyone" struggle4progress Jun 2016 #8
Run away! Wounded Bear Jun 2016 #10
+ struggle4progress Jul 2016 #11

Meldread

(4,213 posts)
1. Yeah. I am paying close attention.
Thu Jun 30, 2016, 07:55 PM
Jun 2016

I am watching everything come crashing down, and trying to figure out how real Leftists can seize control of the Labor Party and then take over the country. Tory's will carry the responsibility for taking the U.K. out of the EU, but if Labor is able to move strongly to the left in order to combat the rise of the far right, then maybe they can find some way to help the U.K. benefit from the turmoil.

 

Albertoo

(2,016 posts)
5. The Corbyn crew is a spaced out bunch of antisemitic loons
Thu Jun 30, 2016, 08:10 PM
Jun 2016

If you follow British politics, you must have seen a flurry of articles saying Labour as it is is committing suicide. Even Thomas Piketty resigned his advisory position in disgust.

Labour took the wrong turn when it chose the wrong Milliband.

Meldread

(4,213 posts)
7. I think Corbyn is a weak leader for the Left.
Thu Jun 30, 2016, 08:36 PM
Jun 2016

However, I think he will actually win the election. All the resignations only help him. Right now there is a strong anti-elitist mood washing over most of the Western World. Most of those who stepped out were dedicated to the Tony Blair Third Way Agenda. This was strongly rejected by Labor voters when they put in Corbyn. He is like the Bernie Sanders of the Labor Party, he represents an old school liberal view of the world dating back pre-1990's, but he lacks the political skills to actually achieve tangible results for the Left.

The best hope that we can foresee in Labor is more Leftists rising up to take power in the party, purging the existing establishment, and then ultimately replacing Corbyn with someone more suited to the job of actually furthering the Leftist Agenda. In the mean time I think of Corbyn more of a placeholder than anything else.

Besides, now would be a horrible time for Labor to take power. The last thing anyone should want is to have any responsibility for what is going to unfold as the UK disentangles itself from the EU. Let the Tory's own it. Then when things go poorly, as they inevitably will, the Left will be able to campaign against their failure.

 

Albertoo

(2,016 posts)
9. My preference goes to Blair/Clinton over Sanders/Corbyn
Thu Jun 30, 2016, 08:58 PM
Jun 2016

As you rightly said, " Right now there is a strong anti-elitist mood washing over most of the Western World".

At times of economic stagnation and income disparity (triggered and fueled by the insane GW tax cuts), populists prey: populist RW (Farage, Trump, Le Pen), populist LW (Corbyn, Chomsky)

Denzil_DC

(7,188 posts)
2. "it does indeed make "House of Cards" look like the Teletubbies"
Thu Jun 30, 2016, 07:59 PM
Jun 2016

Nearly.

It's like House of Cards with the cast replaced by the Teletubbies.

Sanity Claws

(21,822 posts)
4. More confused than fascinated
Thu Jun 30, 2016, 08:07 PM
Jun 2016

I thought Boris was supposed to be stuck with Brexit repercussions. Why would anyone want to get his fingerprints on the utter mess that is going to follow ?

 

Albertoo

(2,016 posts)
6. I was fascinated by the in-your-face demagoguery of the Brexit leaders
Thu Jun 30, 2016, 08:14 PM
Jun 2016

Damn! Just days after the election, they all turned coat and matter-of-factly conceded their campaign claims were fibs.

• Farage admitted the "billions for the NHS" was a lie
• BoJo said he would preserve free trade membership, which comes with freedom of movement of people, which is what he said Brexit would put a stop to.

The Brexit campaign will end up as a textbook case of demagoguery.

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