U.S. Presidents and their legacies

The Dude

I have not blogged in a while, to be honest I had thought about just not bothering full stop. There is a certain self importance that I attach to blogging that assumes that other people might want to know what I think. Why would they? If I was that insightful I’d get paid by Sky News to give my wondrous points of view on election night, I’m not paid by Sky News so I’m guessing I’m not exactly the next Shane Greer or Danny Finklestein. I have however decided to start blogging again, because it does make me feel slightly saner after having vented on the keyboard and into the great depths of the internet device thing, so here we go again…

I have been giving a lot of thought to the Presidential race in the U.S. recently, not just about the election but also about the incumbent George W. Bush, a man who signally sparks either ferocious vitriol or excited admiration from members of the general public. There was a piece in the Independent newspaper a few weeks ago asking, “Did we get him wrong”. That question coming from such a renowned liberal paper as the Indy is quite something and set my brain going, how are Presidents remembered after they leave office and who truly excelled in the post? Let’s start by looking at Clinton, a man whose final days in office were a joke, so much so that Aaron Sorkin had to write a seven season show displaying a witty, elitist Liberal as President, a man who would never look at any other woman than his first lady Stockard Channing. Clinton is also remembered for his fudged first 100 days and the gays in the military agenda which stalled his education and health policies and ensured that he could get next to nothing past a GOP Hill.

Clinton’s predecessor, George H.W. Bush, a one term President who had also been CIA chief earlier on in his career before becoming the Old Gipper’s VP, is remembered as a wise Foreign Policy wonk. His domestic agenda success doesn’t seem to flash in neon years later and as I was only nine years old when he lost the White House I have no recollection. (Despite great temptation I’m not going to go through Wikipedia and list everyone’s successes and failures, largely because I cannot be bothered).

Prior to Bush Snr. was the man of the ’80s Ronald Reagan, Mrs. Thatcher’s best mate and the man who demanding Gorbachev bring down the Berlin Wall. Reagan was certainly a political heavy weight and his historic importance cannot be overvalued, he fought the Commies, he steered the US through a horrible economic era and he did revitalised a party which only five years earlier was in serious trouble thanks to a character we’ll pick up later.

Carter didn’t seem to do much of anything; I’m sure if this is because he didn’t or because no one remembers, he is another one termer and is now just remembered as another US President who sat in the White House doing not much. Oh yes, sorry, he was there when the Iranians had that crazy party in 79′, what a huge success story Carter’s policy (was there a policy…? He seemed to just twiddle his thumbs quite a lot) turned out to be there.

Nixon should be next, but Tricky Dicky had to leave the Big Brother White House early due to some irregularities that were dug up by two pinko Liberal Washington Post press men, Bernstein and Woodward. Instead we are onto Gerald Ford, a man who did two things, firstly he made sure his former boss couldn’t go to jail and secondly he helped stop the meltdown of the GOP. Pretty impressive to say that he was only in half a term, there was something else I think, yes that’s right he oversaw the withdrawal of US troops from the biggest Foreign Policy blunder in the Democratic Parties history, Vietnam.

Nixon spent his years cultivating relations with the East, China to be exact and helped bring this Communist regime onside. He also started peace negotiations with North Vietnam (even though the US was never technically at war with the North) and in his spare time bugged (allegedly the Democratic Party Headquarters prior to elections). In my view a very sound man. He also did the unthinkable and turned his back on nearly 30 years of economic policy, reigniting an overspent economy which required serious reform. SOUND.

Now we come on to LBJ, what can we say… he got the job because Kennedy needed a Southern man on the ticket to have a cat in hells chance of beating the better man for the job, Dick Nixon (VP under Ike) and after Kennedy got shot in the South (in my book that is ever so slightly ironic) LBJ inherited the estate. Johnson did four things as far as I can see, he did make quite a lot of progress on the Civil Rights movement, he swapped the Automatic M16 issued to G.I.’s going to fight in Vietnam with the Semi-Automatic version (they kept using all the bullets at once and then got killed when they ran out…), he introduced a fascinating new weapon to large scale warfare NAPALM! and single handedly sparked the creation of three of the all time greatest war films – Full Metal Jacket, Platoon and Apocalypse Now!

Kennedy seemed slightly more restrained after winning the 1959 General Election, he calmed down a bit after accusing his rival of stirring up public fears about his Catholicism… Seemingly unfounded by the way, JFK was the man banging on about it. Anyway, back to the point… what was the point…? Ah yes, Kennedy’s legacy and what he actually did. Well, he avoided nuclear war when most around him were advising an attack on Cuba, he introduced the Peace Corps (say what you like about it being a club of anti-war Liberal pacifists but it wasn’t a bad move) and he made a nation fall in love with him, despite having blatently stolen the election. He is the pin up of American liberalism and thusly be always loved by the left, admired by the moderate right and hated by those further to the right.

I’m not inclined to go any further with this as I think that the point is a President is usually only remembered for the one of two biggest events of their time in office and how they dealt with them. Bush has arguably had the roughest ride in the White House since FDR. The advent of the USA being subject to a violent and graphic coordinated attack seven years ago, the response to it and of course in recent weeks the finance crisis. Will Bush be remembered as the war monger and a financial dufus or will history look upon his foreign policy as being what seemed to be necessary at the time? (Referring to the wider foreign policy of co-operation on security matters – extraordinary rendition and use of foreign intelligence services being two of the most hotly debated). Only time and those who right our history will tell. I for one am off to bed, it’s 00:39…

P.S. – I have three words for you – Kitchen sink debate. Nixon rocked!

The Fringe, year seven

Day five at Edinburgh Fringe 2008 and my seventh year here and things are… interesting. So far I have caught the obligatory Fringe Flu, lost my rag once and been out almost every night I have been here. There are several people here that have been before, among who are my good friend Gwen from Louisianna, but who now lives in New Haven Conecticut. Also my brother William is here for the first time this year, albeit only for a week as he is off to V Festival to watch teen bands. We have had some fun with tickets, that is all I will say on that, and an amusing issue today which saw the whole front of house staff and stage tech staff having to lift up the dance floor, the boards underneith and then replace them all in record time, all in all we did about 7 hours work in 45 minutes.

Right I have to go and deal with box office issues.

Polling from YouGov

Good news or bad news for Gordon?

It depends on how you look at it, yes the P.M. is still more popular than Miliband, but only by one point, if this coverage continues will the numbers look the same next month. Please note that the polling for this took place over Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of this week so recent news stories will have had an effect on these numbers, it will perhaps be more interesting to look at what happens when things have died down, that is presuming they do dies down of course. There is of course much more data in this than just Brown vs Miliband but as it is 03:55 I’m not writing any more.

For more coverage of this I would think that Political Betting will be covering this in some depth later this morning.

I am going on my annual jaunt to Edinburgh Fringe Festival tomorrow and won’t be back until the 18th, I will of course try and upload a few things whilst I am there. This will include links to some stuff I am doing for Patrick Sullivan’s new, or rather old but relaunched, blog, more details on this will follow.

A terminal condition?

There was once a time, hard as it may be to believe now, that the New Labour movement wanted the character above to exit the stage leaving the way clear for Gordon Brown. The coup came in September 2006 and brought forward an exit strategy which saw the champion of New Labour, it’s Martin Johnson type figure deposed of power and the man who had craved the job for so long took office on a wave of public rapture, the media even joined in, despite the fact that Brown had refused any possibility of a real contest. It all went well, that is up until October of last year when Gordon’s minions underwent a campaign of briefing journalists, columnists and everyone else who mattered, the election was coming Gordon was going to the country for his mandate. Then in the course of a week, Gordon jetted off to Iraq in the middle of the Conservative Party Conference, everyone new it was a political move and nobody liked it, George Osborne announced Conservative Party plans for inheritance tax and stamp duty and then D.C. made his pitch to Britain, it was done without notes and was he said “just him”. The polls began to move away from Labour for the first time since the summer when the new occupant of No.10 came in and then Gordon went on the Andy Marr show and said that he was not calling an election. THAT was the final nail in his coffin, Brown has been a walking dead man ever since, primarily because nobody believes him, but it is in fact worse than that, it is not only that nobody believes him it’s that he was meant to be the change, suddenly he is front and centre lying to the British people, the British people who he had told he had “listened to and learnt from”. This phrase has been popped out by the P.M. every time the Government or more specifically he has got into trouble. What has given the Labour movement an air of death however was not this, Labour as a party could have recovered, it has been the slow deteriation of the national economy and the advent of Northern Rock, the rocketing food and fuel prices and the Government’s insistence that it isn’t their fault. Of course it is not directly their fault, but the public now want to know why it is that Labour spent so much and saved less than nothing, spending Britain into a massive defieit which is now only getting bigger. The public are having the same issues as Government, they cannot meet their costs, they are having to borrow more and more money to do so. The issue is that where the Government can get loans, many ordinary people cannot. Government can theoretically raise cash through tax, not that this is particularly good idea, but when did that ever stop Labour?

People have for 11 years seen one man as being responsible for the economy, he bloated his image so impressively that it cannot now be shaken, nobody honestly believes that Alastair Darling is running the economy they still see Mr Brown’s hand on the tiller, to use a well worn and awful analogy. Now the assassins are circling Brown, can he survive as his predecessor did up until 2007? I highly doubt it, for several reasons, people disliked Blair for two reasons, he wouldn’t apologise for Iraq and they were bored of him. The Colgate kid had become the norm and they, as the public always do, wanted something new, they didn’t get it. What they got was more of the same, … no that’s wrong, Blair would I do not think have ever allowed things to get to this point, either he would have done something or said “goodbye” and handed it over to his mortal enemy, oh sorry yes that is what he did do. Brown has been with us for 11 years, many trusted him, somewhat foolishly after raiding the pension funds, introducing tax after tax, borrowing more and more and still selling “prudence”, he is old and his ideas are old, he cannot relaunch because he has nothing to relaunch. So, what now?

Well this man (above) for some reason unbeknownst to me wants his job, he all but said so yesterday on Radio 2, I know I heard him. The question is though, WHY? Is he stark raving mad or does he think he actually has a snowball in hell’s chance of turning this thing around. Surely the best he could do would be to stop the Conservatives from completely demolishing Labour, giving him a chance at 2014/15. I’m not sure he could even do this to be honest, by going on a cutting out expedition against Brown and his allies he would aleinate a good proportion of the Parliamentary Labour Party and the Constituency Labour Party, even those who don’t like Brown so much, such as Bob Marshall Andrews wouldn’t wear it. Milibands venture could, if successful (in one degree of the word) cause a complete split in a national party, the likes of which we haven’t seen since probably Joe Chamberlain left the Liberals over 100 years ago. Doubtless the media wil build the whole thing up, because there is nothing more than the media like than a political civil war, they revelled in mid 1990’s Tory rebellions and attempted coup’s, whether the British people with wear it is another matter, this entire episode, whether successful or not could see a total national break from Labour and the destruction of them at the hands of not only the Tories next time round, but also the LibDems, and I will say this much, I would much rather have Labour as our main opposition than that set of bastards.

Something

Mr Chris Wales Asleep on the road from London to Leeds

As it has been a good few days (or weeks) since I blogged I thought I should put something up.

I am not entirely sure what to write as life has been fairly boring since I returned from Haltemprice and Howden, however, I did have two old friends, Chris Wales and his lovely other half Nina Rosen, over for dinner this evening where we talked about politics, ambitions and the folly of self importance. Chris is a dear friend of mine, he is probably one of the first people I met in Conservative Future and although he is slightly arrogant he is a genuinely fantastic chap. We talked about mutual friends and what they were doing now, we talked about our ambitions in life and what we like to make of ourselves, we spoke of the fact I am on course to lose £500.00 at the next general election, in a bet I made with him shortly after David Cameron was elected leader (I bet that it would either be a Tory loss or a hung Parliament, thanks Gordon).

Perhaps most importantly we talked about a row we had last year, we were able to laugh about it, the pure stupidity of student politics and the way that we really do sometimes believe we are greater figures than we are. I apologized for acting like a total ass and I believe he accepted my apology.

Anyway I am slightly tipsy, after half a bottle of red, near all a bottle of Champagne and a couple of whiskeys I have nowhere near the alcohol tollerence I once did. This I believe is something I can work on. That at least is something.

Home again

Well I am home, I got back at 5.30 this afternoon after 15 days in Haltemprice and Howden working for David Davis. Was it worth it you ask? Absolutely. I still believe what he did was the right thing and on top of that I have met some superb people whom I shall stay in contact with. I was billetted with several local party members over the course of the two weeks and will be writing to them to express my thanks, everyone was so welcoming and understanding (after a 12 or 13 hour day political conversation isn’t always top of the list for evening activities).

As I did not have a ticket for the count I managed to get in the back door, I was able to stay undetected for about 20 minutes until the security got wind of the fact a few people had found another way in and soon threw us out. The viewing gallery was just that, in that there was no sound what-so-ever. Evidently when they picked the local sports centre they didnt take into account that the parties may have people there who couldn’t get into the count and may actually want to hear the speeches. We therefore ended up going in force to stand in the main doorway to listen and plainly refusing to move when the little Corporal on the door tried to move us on. It helped that we had a 6ft 5 local councilor who is built like a brick shit house backing our corner, Cllr. Paul Robinson (find a link to his blog on the right) was spot on with his response.

Following the count we went back to the Wilerby office for drinks and then walked back to our billetts in Kirk Ella. After about 4 hours sleep we got up packed up, cleaned up and went for an early lunch at Prezz’s favourite Chinese restraunt Mr Chu’s in hull,from there it was homeward bound (by the way a big thankyou to Pete who got the bill, very good of you, especially after our heated debate at the after count party). When I got back to Leeds there was an awful moment where I thought I had lost my ticket but on finding it I went for a quick pint in the Scarborough and then it was home to get changed for Mum and Dad’s anniversary dinner… A long two weeks. But thoroughly enjoyable!

Haltemprice and Howden update

Hello from Haltemprice and Howden, well what a couple of days it has been! The campaigning has been relentless and amazing. We have today had Iain Duncan Smith, Chris Grayling and Jeremy Hunt up from London for a full day of campaigning. CF have been hitting the ground running again delivering thousands of leaflets and making sure that the public are totally aware of the campaign and the issues at stake. We have had brilliant feedback for David, with people who have previously voted LibDem and Labour now coming out for David in his campaign against the Governments neglect of our civil liberties.

On our travels we have also seen the “Socialist Equality Party”, yet another splinter Socialist group who tried to convert a number of us to their strange ways and interesting views. After this interesting event a good pub lunch was had and then we were on our way again in the hot summer’s day which has helped us so much today, another two boxes done and it was time for a coke and sit down.

Messyrs Duncan-Smith, Grayling and Hunt headed back to London-town this evening; tanned and slightly worn out after a full day of it, but I think it would be fair to say fairly pleased with a hard days work. It was great to see them and it is going to be an exciting week as we see more front line Tory MP’s come to support D.D. in this campaign.

A new week starts in Haltemprice and Howden

Well, I say a new week, it has sort of blended into last week. I have done some more leafletting, put up some more posters and sent off my report to National CF. It is an interesting campaign as we have Conservatives saying they won’t vote for David, but staunch Lib Dems who have said they definately would. The next days will, I suspect, get even more interesting.

Haltemprice and Howden

Well I have been here for 36 hours now. I have experienced a number of emotions, some of which are not publishable. I was at the launch this morning (now yesterday morning but for all intents and purposes) which saw gubbins here along with some CFers from Hull dressed up in the most ridiculous T-shirts and made to do a “hip hip horray” thing about 4 time for the photographers. Needless to say I felt like a fool, but nevermind, as this afternoon I have cut and helped paste over 40 poster boards and learned some intestering thigns about where I am staying. I would at this point like to thank Cllr. Paul Robinson and his wife Nicky and Daughter Katy for putting up with me for a second night. Without their kind hospitality I would either be on a floor in an office somewhere or else just not in the constituency at all.

Anyway after a long day it’s bed for me. Night all. 

A response to D.D.’s support of 28 days

I have just tried to post a response on D.D.’s campaign website, for some reason it won’t let me, so I’ll post it here.

I agree with Mr Davis on a number of points. Firstly, the government is trying to Salami Slice our liberties away. I know they deny it but what else is introducing four weeks detention without charge, attempted introduction of Identity cards and an ever increasing fascination with CCTV culture. It is a disturbing development which should really have the full attention of the British people. That is why I wholeheartedly support Mr Davis’ bid to take this to a national debate through forcing a by-election.

Secondly, if the authorities already have enough to charge, but perhaps not enough to convict on then it is surely only right to allow post-charge questioning, I see no issue with this just as I see no issue with using intercept evidence. These two things are tools which can be used to convict, this is not an issue as if the evidence is not there then the defendant will have the chance to defeat the proscecution,  this is a non-starter for suspects being held without charge, chiefly because the suspect cannot defend him/herself against unknown charges.

I do however not agree with Mr Davis on the point of 28 days. For me, 28 days is as repulsive as 42 and the arguements against it are the same. Four weeks behind bars, without knowing the nature of the charges against you is far too long. I note that in the United States Authorities can detain persons for up to 24 hours and then have to appeal to the courts for a 24 hour extention if needs be. Some may say that this increases the risk of attack from “terrorists” or whatever it is you would call them, I disagree, you would see an increase in attacks if you did not fund the security services properly, the Americans however do and consequently have some of the best technologies and expertise in the world for gathering evidence. Funding therefore is a much better option than cutting costs and putting the Liberty of human beings at risk, is this really too much to expect?

Detention without charge, for any extended period will alienate those who suffer at its hands. Surely Irish internment and Guantanimo Bay have shown how dangerous this act can be, it not only offends the detainee but also those around him/her and could easily alienate yet more young people against the British State just when we dont need to.

I will be going up to Haltemprice on Wednesday to help out on the campaign until Polling day, so blogging will be sporadic, but hopefully fairly interesting.