Comments on: What sort of year has it been? A review of 2006 for Liberal Democrats, and a look ahead to 2007 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html Our place to talk - an independent website for supporters of the Liberal Democrat party in the UK. Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:36:11 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Rob F http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-37256 Rob F Tue, 01 Jan 2008 16:20:04 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-37256 Well, I think my predicitions were almost completely wrong! I'll keep my mouth shut this year... Well, I think my predicitions were almost completely wrong! I’ll keep my mouth shut this year…

]]> By: Big Mak http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-3000 Big Mak Fri, 29 Dec 2006 23:46:09 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-3000 Angus slightly OTT but agree with the majority of your post! Angus slightly OTT but agree with the majority of your post!

]]> By: Angus J Huck http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2994 Angus J Huck Fri, 29 Dec 2006 21:55:12 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2994 Paul, I have nothing against road pricing in principle. What I do object to is satellite surveillance. You can be sure that Blair, and the people who turn the key in his back, do not give a stuff about the environment. What they want is a population of robotic slaves. And they will get it; for the Orwellian state is coming. First, identity cards. Those opposed support crime and terrorism. Next, transponders in cars. Those opposed support global warming. Then comes the end-game - the micro-chipping of the population. Those opposed support child abduction. The first two are about to happen, the third will surely happen. Unless we start protesting. Unless our politicians overcome their terror of the Murdoch press and tell the people the truth. Paul, I have nothing against road pricing in principle. What I do object to is satellite surveillance. You can be sure that Blair, and the people who turn the key in his back, do not give a stuff about the environment. What they want is a population of robotic slaves. And they will get it; for the Orwellian state is coming. First, identity cards. Those opposed support crime and terrorism. Next, transponders in cars. Those opposed support global warming. Then comes the end-game – the micro-chipping of the population. Those opposed support child abduction. The first two are about to happen, the third will surely happen. Unless we start protesting. Unless our politicians overcome their terror of the Murdoch press and tell the people the truth.

]]> By: Richard Huzzey http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2992 Richard Huzzey Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:44:44 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2992 Hm, re: Daisy Sampson... I heard that she had a source for her story that wasn't herself. (i.e. she may have known it all anyway, but she had a proper source, and hence never violated the technicalities of her confidentiality agreement or a certain ethical line). This may just be complete rumour that got passed on to me, of course. I accept there's no value in raking over painful memories, but it will be an interesting task for someone, someday, to ascertain who it was that enabled Sampson to run her threatened story. Hm, re: Daisy Sampson… I heard that she had a source for her story that wasn’t herself. (i.e. she may have known it all anyway, but she had a proper source, and hence never violated the technicalities of her confidentiality agreement or a certain ethical line). This may just be complete rumour that got passed on to me, of course.

I accept there’s no value in raking over painful memories, but it will be an interesting task for someone, someday, to ascertain who it was that enabled Sampson to run her threatened story.

]]> By: Paul Griffiths http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2991 Paul Griffiths Fri, 29 Dec 2006 19:32:58 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2991 Angus, IIRC, national road user pricing is Lib Dem policy, most recently endorsed by the 2006 Autumn Federal Conference (policy motion F43). Angus, IIRC, national road user pricing is Lib Dem policy, most recently endorsed by the 2006 Autumn Federal Conference (policy motion F43).

]]> By: Ali http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2990 Ali Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:40:20 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2990 Good post.. but ahem haven't you failed to mention somewhere that also has elections next year, and where things are loking rosy ;-) Good post.. but ahem haven’t you failed to mention somewhere that also has elections next year, and where things are loking rosy ;-)

]]> By: Angus J Huck http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2989 Angus J Huck Fri, 29 Dec 2006 18:18:45 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2989 A good summary of the year past. (But why spoil it with a picture of Oaten?!!) I think Ming and his team have done remarkably well to maintain support at its present level, given the total lack of media interest in anything other than scandals and tittle-tattle. Perhaps we need to be rather bolder in some areas. Such as civil liberties. We could point out, for instance, that ASBOs have nothing to do with combatting anti-social behaviour, but are a proto-mechanism for an Orwellian state to silence anyone inconvenient to its interests. Similarly, road-pricing has nothing to do with protecting the environment: it is an excuse to introduce satellite surveillance of motor vehicles - every one of us who drives will be watched by the state. As David Icke points out, the Orwellian state (or at least its framework) is here already. Should be not be pointing this out? A Lib Dem MP you could have mentioned is Norman Baker, who succeeded in getting the "Daily Mail" to publish his account of his investigation into the "suicide" of Dr David Kelly. If ever the Kelly paper trail leads back to No 10, and Blair's complicity is proved, we can say with pride that it was our own Norman Baker who uncovered it. Also, what have the Lib Dems had to say about the government's outrageous decision to retain the mandatory retirement age - and to pay lawyers to defend it in the courts? Now, bear in mind, this is a government which claims to be opposed to prejudice and discrimination and believes in social inclusion and the "right to work"? Should we not be exposing their humbug and whimpering cowardice in the face of big business? Now, I would urge Liberal Democrats to stop moaning about the way Charles Kennedy was deposed. That is history now. What matters is the future, the coming year, and in particular the elections in May. We need to win as many seats as possible, against Labour in the cities, and against the Tories in the shires. A good summary of the year past. (But why spoil it with a picture of Oaten?!!)

I think Ming and his team have done remarkably well to maintain support at its present level, given the total lack of media interest in anything other than scandals and tittle-tattle.

Perhaps we need to be rather bolder in some areas. Such as civil liberties. We could point out, for instance, that ASBOs have nothing to do with combatting anti-social behaviour, but are a proto-mechanism for an Orwellian state to silence anyone inconvenient to its interests. Similarly, road-pricing has nothing to do with protecting the environment: it is an excuse to introduce satellite surveillance of motor vehicles – every one of us who drives will be watched by the state. As David Icke points out, the Orwellian state (or at least its framework) is here already. Should be not be pointing this out?

A Lib Dem MP you could have mentioned is Norman Baker, who succeeded in getting the “Daily Mail” to publish his account of his investigation into the “suicide” of Dr David Kelly. If ever the Kelly paper trail leads back to No 10, and Blair’s complicity is proved, we can say with pride that it was our own Norman Baker who uncovered it.

Also, what have the Lib Dems had to say about the government’s outrageous decision to retain the mandatory retirement age – and to pay lawyers to defend it in the courts? Now, bear in mind, this is a government which claims to be opposed to prejudice and discrimination and believes in social inclusion and the “right to work”? Should we not be exposing their humbug and whimpering cowardice in the face of big business?

Now, I would urge Liberal Democrats to stop moaning about the way Charles Kennedy was deposed. That is history now. What matters is the future, the coming year, and in particular the elections in May. We need to win as many seats as possible, against Labour in the cities, and against the Tories in the shires.

]]> By: Rob Fenwick http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2979 Rob Fenwick Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:45:48 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2979 Hi - Good point re Daisy Sampson. I did have a longer version of the leadership / Oaten sentence that made the chronology clear, but rewrote it to make the post shorter. As the two events (dropping out, and 'outing') were only three days apart I don't think it matters all that much :) Hi – Good point re Daisy Sampson.

I did have a longer version of the leadership / Oaten sentence that made the chronology clear, but rewrote it to make the post shorter. As the two events (dropping out, and ‘outing’) were only three days apart I don’t think it matters all that much :)

]]> By: Peter http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2978 Peter Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:31:32 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2978 Sorry for the duplication - I blame my one-year old. Sorry for the duplication – I blame my one-year old.

]]> By: Peter http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2977 Peter Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:29:37 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2977 Good post, Rob. I have two quibbles though. The Kennedy resignation section ought really to mention the Daisy Sampson revelations. And Oaten dropped out before he was outed. Good post, Rob. I have two quibbles though.

The Kennedy resignation section ought really to mention the Daisy Sampson revelations. And Oaten dropped out before he was outed.

]]> By: Peter http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2976 Peter Fri, 29 Dec 2006 16:27:39 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2976 Good post, Rob. Two quibbles though - the Kennedy resignation story is hardly complete without reference to the Daisy Sampson role. And Good post, Rob. Two quibbles though – the Kennedy resignation story is hardly complete without reference to the Daisy Sampson role. And

]]> By: Rob Fenwick http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2972 Rob Fenwick Fri, 29 Dec 2006 15:33:15 +0000 http://www.libdemvoice.org/what-sort-of-year-has-it-been-a-review-of-2006-for-liberal-democrats-and-a-look-ahead-to-2007-399.html#comment-2972 I've deleted a comment as it was a duplicate from another post. I’ve deleted a comment as it was a duplicate from another post.

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