Just been looking at the self-satisfied sanctimonious ramblings on www.theleftcoaster.com. This used to be a highly respected US Liberal blog - yet the way they’re responding to Edwards’ endorsement making Obama the unofficial presumptive nominee is churlish to say the least. This site has got to resemble one of the biggest intellectualised jokes on the blogosphere.

Still, they did say that Gore was a dead-cert last time - so they must be right!

When the popular vote shows Obama ahead at the end of the process they will have sunny-side up egg on their faces.

They do Senator Clinton, who is slowly recovering her soul, no good at all.

Just thought of one - Brown a really untalented ventriloquist with Darling as the dummy!

Let’s say it as it is about this Labour government. It’s an utter shambles - and they couldn’t run a McDonalds let alone an economy.

First, there was the cynical tax grab from lower earners to give as an election bribe to middle-income earners.

Second, there was the spun out gesture to Mr Field that was then dissected and rejected.

Now there’s this hotchpotch of a curate’s egg designed to buy off Mr Field a second time.

The first was for the election that never was, the second for local elections that were the most disastrous in living memory while the last is for the 22nd May - methinks that there’s an ongoing historic theme here - anyone told Mrs Shenton (Mr Timpson doesn’t need the money with his mansion lol).

Has there ever been such utter and total political incompetence since 1992?

This has been one political, economic and psephological disaster zone - let’s hope Gordon Brown stays!

What’s totally clear is that either a) GB is the worst political Prime Minister ever or b) he simply can’t add up - either way we would be asking him to please step aside.

With Vince as our Treasury man it’s time to get him everywhere to show up the Brown/Darling show.

A fascinating insight from an analyst in the US:

http://progressillinois.com/2008/05/11/features/obama-over-the-top

It seems that it’s not so much a race thing but to do with genetic background! Obvious answer to the problem: When Obama gets the nomination get Hillary out on the stump in the Appalachian mountains!

http://cicerossongs.blogspot.com/2008/05/final-tally.html

Excellent posting - also reminded me that the Tories are stealing some of this ground.

Devolution is the magic bullet that could provide a TINA moment for our supporters and those that might vote for us.

We have the policy or at least an aim of raising 75% of public money locally; it’s whether or not we can say the unsayable and show how this could happen.

Here are some suggestions:

1. Ensure central government has discrete roles - ie Foreign Policy, International Trade etc

2. Review Barnett and simply hand the requisite amount `lock,stock and barrel` to Local Govt

3. Mandate independent assessors to do a yearly check on each Council - looking at spread of resources across a local authority area, efficiency in spending money etc etc - then allow local electors to decide what they think of those evaluations. Let the press etc name and shame those that don’t stand by their most deprived citizens.

4. Strike out the law that allows directly-elected mayors without cabinets - reason: halt any trend towards mini-dictators

5. Get rid of at least 150 MPs and transfer that money/power to Councils

6. Beef up local authorities and create more city regions

7.  Make it law that PR is used in all local elections

8.  Turn Parliament into a tourist attraction - British citizens could get in free

9.  Move the Parliament to the Midlands or North

These ideas might be beyond the pale to some people -  if we don’t expound at least some of them though it’ll only be time before the Tories do - then we’ll be battered.

No-one that isn’t already Labour wants to carry on with this mildly-Stalinist central command type of relationship with local authorities - my worry is that, as with economic competence, the Tories just have to say nice words as a refreshing contrast to those looking for a new home.

Take for example the following words from a Labour election leaflet in May in our target ward (that was won from Labour): `The Multi Games Area on Lancashire Hill was the brainchild of the Lancashire Hill Tenants Association. It was nothing to do with the Council. It was the LHTA group who consulted with the youth and then found ways of funding it through government initiative.`

Has your jaw dropped? First, the idea that Lancashire Hill (which is an area of multiple-deprivation) wouldn’t be on the Liberal Democrat Council’s radar for extra games areas is a complete nonsense - since that very area was chosen for neighbourhood renewal scheme a couple of years back. Second, what business is it of the government where a council puts a muga! It’s time for the government to stop controlling money for local projects in its psychotic way and just give the money to local councils to do with as they wish.

I’ve mentioned before on this blog about the creepy relationship the Labour party wants to have with local people - in effect cutting out local politicians. It’s all about power and control.

Gordon Brown et al - you’re not winning, you don’t look funny, get yourself off our backs!

Labourhome are getting their pants in a twist over a Lab leaflet in Crewe -

http://www.creweandnantwichlabour.org.uk/dont_be_conned_by_tory_boy

It’s one of those leaflets that make you realise that Labour are flailing about for ideas - this is real core core vote stuff and offensive on grounds of taste and decency.

Will it work?

Interesting to see Nigel Ashton’s blog - here in the NW we are awaiting the decision of another Council to hit the Tories/Labour with.

http://www.nigelashton.org.uk/news/000054/southport_out_in_the_cold_as_conlab_pact_takes_over_sefton_council.html

I saw the very good blog http://libdemrevolution.blogspot.com/2008/05/are-lib-dems-afraid-of-their-own.html and have to disagree with it.

It’s not because there’s anything wrong in proving we can be entrusted with power by `getting into bed` with one party or another - it’s just that it would be a game orchestrated by the other players. As it stands we have front bench spokesmen and women that could knock the other parties into a cocked hat. If you watch BBC Parliament you will see brilliant contributions every day from our party - from my recollection Norman Lamb MP on Zimbabwe sanctions comes to mind or Mark Hunter on BBC World Service. These are just two examples of work behind the scenes.

The problem is that the path to power has to be smart and courageous. I can only see a few ways forward.

1. Building up even further a Local Government base - in Stockport we have done just this by sheer hard graft and streetfighting. We ensure the Council is well-run, delivering on what people want, then we publicise this through Focus. We consider ourselves as not just campaigners but `warriors` - we don’t give up territory lightly. Agents in target seats are encouraged to be `chief of staff of localised warriors`. Genghis Khan is the only way to be!

2. Saying nationally that we have solutions - without regard to what others are saying. Presenting those solutions and policies fearlessly. No looking over shoulders!

3. Tackling the media relentlessly - let’s face it journalists are lazy and want nothing more than an us against them fight. They are not really interested in scrutinising Cameron anymore than he is. It’s our job to say to the BBC and others `OI! get off your fat arses and tell the real truth`. I wonder whether this really is happening - I sometimes doubt it!

4. Believing in ourselves and just punching them down when they misrepresent us. Another truth: locally we used to let the opposition parties get away with murder not wanting to `rock the boat`. Now we let them get away with a lot less and guess what there’s no complaints as it’s a fair fight and they actually respect us! Even when issues are taken to their nth degree of consultation when the time’s to say `enough’s enough` then we just stop say we’ve come to a decision and let the electorate decide.

5. Remember elections are just a modern form of warfare between tribes - it goes right back to ancient times in our DNA - once the warfare ends and the dust has settled we then can see where the ground lies and work out policies with the system that is on offer (assuming we fight them the way they have set the system up!). Then is the time to sit and work with other parties!

The reason i give is that he handsomely won a contest that was only open to Democrats and Indies (unaffiliated).

He didn’t win by 2% one that was open also to Republicans.

I fear that he didn’t because of sly Republicans voting for Hillary as the weaker choice for November. Could I be right? Has anyone crunched any figures on this issue?

Although we have done creditably well on May 1st - we need to start being braver and putting forward our solutions. This will contrast highly with the Conservatives and Labour.

We need to show how we’ll hand down power to the most appropriate level.

We also need to be a lot tougher with the opposition parties - as well as with the BBC. We need to change the whole system of what purports to be balance.