Election 2007: The Debate
Monday, April 30, 2007
The leaders went head to head, but only after each giving a two minute pregeth to the nation. I have no idea why politicians insist on this kind of unrestricted airtime. Someone should tell them that debate programmes are about people holding them to account and speaking their minds, not sitting captive so they can be brainwashed. Anyway, since Martin Shipton has lifted the taboo on elaborate (and subjective) ranking features, I've come up with my own:
Rhodri Morgan (Labour)'... And that's 500,000 reasons to vote Labour.' What, in two minutes? I was jotting them down and only got to number five by the time he started freestyling. Stumped by Mike German and Ieuan Wyn Jones and heckled by the audience. Not his finest hour.
5/10
Ieuan Wyn Jones (Plaid)Yap. Yap. Yap. But less so than normal. Probably the audience's favourite with two heartening rounds of applause. Nick Bourne asked him if people really wanted Plaid's policy of a seat in the United Nations, to which he replied 'of course not'. Right, so why bovva then?
7/10
Nick Bourne (Tory)Came out fighting after a tough week. Made the Conservative case very clearly and was untroubled by all that was thrown at him. Except that bloke wearing the patch at the end, but surely everyone thought he was a bit weird?
6/10
Mike German (Lib Dem)Won the two minute spiel and was otherwise competent. Managed to avoid sounding too cocky about the fact he'll soon be leaving such events in a ministerial car. Also won the battle of the postures. A good night, will probably celebrate with a ryvita and some half-fat cream cheese.
7/10
Labels: Assembly Election 2007, BBC Wales, debate, Ieuan Wyn Jones, Mike German, Nick Bourne, Rhodri Morgan
posted by Blamerbell @ 12:00 am,
20 Comments:
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At 12:45 am,
said...
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Are you the love-child of Martin Shipton, by any chance? Your skewed ratings are rather similar to the gutter journalism that Shippo has displayed over the last week.
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At 6:21 am,
said...
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They were all rated too high! Surely this can't be the best Wales can produce?
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At 6:28 am,
said...
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What a mistake giving St.Rhodri such a low mark. Don't you realise that the man is a political genius who single handed has created the new confident Wales(joke). Sadly he was poor again last night as he was on Dragon's Eye and has been as First Minister. He might be affable but he has is also bone idle and doesn't master his brief. Without the Ron and Alun Michael fiascoes he would long ago have left the political scene. After a lack lustre negative campaign based on the lie of a Tory First minister and a lack of vision Labour does not deserve to form a government after May 3rd. When you throw in some of the weakest AMs in the assembly and a non existent political organisation in many parts of Wales the result is a political disaster waiting to happen.
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At 7:52 am,
said...
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I am amazed that the polls show that however craply Laboru does, Rhodri is still liked. Why? He flim flams, bumbles, can;t answer straight questions, and appears to know nothing about politics. It's staggering really. Yet he's Labour's big asset.
That said, whoever came up with 'Vote Plaid get Tory' as the main election 'strategy' should be hung out to dry.It's backfired badly, or so it appears.It means they have 3 days to look lik ethey;re saying somehtign positive.
Stand by to see Leighton Andrews and Huey Lewis and the News thrown their hats into the leadership ring. That will limit Labour's appeal even further, even in their own 'home' (I use the word advisedly) patches.
as the the usual question about Wales at the UN - why not? it seems logical, if you're an independent nation, to have a seat at the UN.Better than having your head up David Cameron or Tony Blair's arse like the rest of them, or God forbid, Ming's. I thought IWJ was better than usual, but that's not saying much.
DR -
At 8:12 am,
said...
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What debate were you watching last night?
Rhodri Morgan was better that the other three put together. The other three kept on fighting against themselves; it shows what a coalition between those three would be like.
Rhodri was the only one in his two minutes that showed what the Labour Government had done in the last 8 years to better the people of Wales and what they will do in the next 4. The other three spewed out gimmicks, how will they pay for all these I want to know.
Rhodri was more of a 7 or 8 out of 10. -
At 8:27 am,
said...
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What has Labour achieved? The lowest GVA of any region in the UK.They were all poor as usual nad that is the reason most people will be sun bathing on Thursday instead of voting.
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At 8:32 am,
said...
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If they are sunbathing then, their employers will have something to say about that.
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At 8:45 am,
said...
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saddo 'on message' Labour anon is back, in fightign form, this beautiful monday morning. Give the man a 'Big Conversation' mug!
DR -
At 9:19 am,
said...
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If I was watching last night I would be horrified to think that Nick Bourne, Mike German or Ieuan Wyn Jones could lead this country.
I think it would be the last person to leave, please turn off the lights. -
At 9:37 am,
said...
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It;s rather tellin that the last Anon commentator uses The Sun's line on Neil Kinnock in 93 as his current line on the others. It's a revealing sign that New Laboru have adopted the tactics and ideology of the right, so much so they can;t even come up with their own slogans.
Nice one Anon! 'The Sun Says...' what other gems from the right-wing press arsenal have you been trained on.
DR
PS If you want lightswitch-manning volunteers, count me in. But only if you really promise to leave!
Dave Rodway -
At 10:14 am,
said...
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Well if the Tories get in you could use their free energy saving bulbs to put them back in, because that is the only thing they will give you, they will take everything else.
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At 10:51 am,
said...
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Rhodri Morgan was better that the other three put together. The other three kept on fighting against themselves; it shows what a coalition between those three would be like.
Give it a rest, Andrew -
At 11:02 am,
said...
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WE ALL KNOW THE PLAID REALLY WANT PLAID TO LOOSE A SEAT UP NORTH MOST PROBS IWJ SEAT SO TAHT THE REAL LEADER CAN LEAD THEM AGAIN.
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At 11:08 am,
Marcusian said...
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I dont think anyone really shone much more than the other...and before every starts flinging mud, just remember it is a PERSONAL opinion how you think the leaders done. Im sure for every 3/10 shippo gives there might be 100 constituents whose personal experience is a very positive one of their AM...I do think this mark out of ten thingy needs to be put to bed though before we start using it as political ammunition, it aint bloody top trumps!
The programme...
Mike German- quite frankly the guy can say what he likes, because he knows NONE of his actual real policies will be brought through. He just basically said what everyone wanted to hear.
Nick Borne- i think he did quite well, always seems to. But again you felt he was happy to hold back and not give anything away.
Iueann Wynne Jones- Needs to calm down, he is too shouty a politician and gives plaid that 'pressure group' appearance. He was pretty quiet when nuclear was discussed. He also made a point that 'there is no point having opinions without influence', hmmm...That goes against the treatment he has gave Rhodri over Iraq and Trident is it not?
Rhodri Morgan- he is there to be knocked down, he did well enough i thought. But his point is a good one, none of the opposition parties can promise that their manifestos wont be subject to deals with other parties, and often with very different ideologies.
I think Plaid and the Lib Dems have promised the earth knowing they dont have to deliver it. Does anyone take the 100% renewables commitment seriously? Does anyone really believe that Plaid can deliver all those laptops, homeowner grants, student loans payoff and award pay rises for all public sector employers without the power to raise tax? Or a better question, if they really had a chance of majority government or close to it, would they have made those committments? Any non-labour coalition will involve the tories, they simply will not allow Plaid's spending to get through, lets be honest.
The coalition argument was not giving enough time really, i felt that the questions from the audience were at times too personal. We got half hour with the leaders, lets get down to the Wales-wide issues. -
At 11:32 am,
The views of a Welsh man said...
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I TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU Marcusian
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At 12:19 pm,
said...
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The debate was as expected. Frightened leaders, only one who could be totally honest and he shined quietly through a programme of desperate mish mash from the others. Oh -shakes head- I have never seen Labour look so bad. Intelligent voters will have noted that about this campaign and Lab knows it. What they say about if you ignore history you will have to repeat it is true. Lab does not recognise its mistakes and it was as clear as glass in that debate.
When Ieuan Wyn Jones pointed it out to Rhodri the end of the programme to was told "not to be arrogant"!!!! So a BULLY as well? -
At 2:37 pm,
The views of a Welsh man said...
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why did u compare E.T with Nick Bourne E.T is far mare good looking
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At 2:57 pm,
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LabourMark said...
why did u compare E.T with Nick Bourne E.T is far mare good looking
oooo!
so I'll share my pastime of turning the tv down when John Hatton is on and imagining him singing the welsh national anthem... -
At 3:23 pm,
The views of a Welsh man said...
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DO YOU MEAN JOHN REDWOOD ANON?
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At 8:09 pm,
said...
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DO YOU MEAN JOHN REDWOOD ANON?
NO.
I really said John Hatton.
There's one in every party.
Sorry, Blamers does not like cruelty but had to share my joke.
smack smack on the back of my hand in true labour style :-)
