Blair can't be that discredited if Cameron craves it so much
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Blair can't be that discredited if Cameron craves it so much
Posted by
Russell Eagling
at
January 30. 2006
Cameron's about to make an interesting speech where he's trying to dress himself up as Blair.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4661024.stm
Blair was very popular - and only the "lies" about going to war really undid him. As he's leaving the stage maybe it makes perfect political sense to pick up his baton.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4661024.stm
Blair was very popular - and only the "lies" about going to war really undid him. As he's leaving the stage maybe it makes perfect political sense to pick up his baton.
Blair can't be that discredited if Cameron craves it so much
Posted by
Peter Davidson
at
February 03. 2006
Cameron and his team of advisors are pursuing a clever (but potentially dangerous) strategy.
I have no doubt that his team has significant resources exclusively devoted to the task of receiving feedback/soundings from his "real" audience - floating voters in marginal constituencies.
Blair isn't Cameron's target because he knows he won't be standing against him in three/four years time. It is noticeable that this phoney positive commentary from Cameron is being directed at Blair, not Brown.
This is tacit admission of two facts:
1. Political duels are fought (in our media orientated environment) on the basis of personality rather than substantive policy issues.
2. Mainstream parties all sound the same because they are the same! They're all trying to woo the same target voters - the ones mentioned above - because they're the voters that swing the balance of power and win you elections (under FPTP)
Cameron isn't too fussed about alienating some core (hardline?) Conservative voters in middle England, by spouting some soft liberal lefty type rhetoric, because what he loses on the roundabouts (in true blue constituencies like the one I live in - these are absolute bankers) he will more than make up for on the swings (target marginal seats)
Cameron's problem is he doesn't know how far (to the left in the political spectrum) he can go before the pendulum swings against this strategy.
Hence, he will keep coming up with "Social Justice" type policy ideas whilst his team is busy in the background taking soundings amongst his "real" target audience.
He can carry out this exercise now, relatively safe in the knowledge that he hasn't nailed his colours to the wall (manifesto wise) yet. He can just tweek the policies according to the soundings / feedback / opinion polls / focus groups, data he receives.
In other words Cameron's strategy is based on cynical manipulation of the electoral system. The apparent pressing of the self-destruct button by the Lib Dems has only presented him with an extra "gift wrapped" bonus.
Peter Davidson
Alderley Edge
NW.England
I have no doubt that his team has significant resources exclusively devoted to the task of receiving feedback/soundings from his "real" audience - floating voters in marginal constituencies.
Blair isn't Cameron's target because he knows he won't be standing against him in three/four years time. It is noticeable that this phoney positive commentary from Cameron is being directed at Blair, not Brown.
This is tacit admission of two facts:
1. Political duels are fought (in our media orientated environment) on the basis of personality rather than substantive policy issues.
2. Mainstream parties all sound the same because they are the same! They're all trying to woo the same target voters - the ones mentioned above - because they're the voters that swing the balance of power and win you elections (under FPTP)
Cameron isn't too fussed about alienating some core (hardline?) Conservative voters in middle England, by spouting some soft liberal lefty type rhetoric, because what he loses on the roundabouts (in true blue constituencies like the one I live in - these are absolute bankers) he will more than make up for on the swings (target marginal seats)
Cameron's problem is he doesn't know how far (to the left in the political spectrum) he can go before the pendulum swings against this strategy.
Hence, he will keep coming up with "Social Justice" type policy ideas whilst his team is busy in the background taking soundings amongst his "real" target audience.
He can carry out this exercise now, relatively safe in the knowledge that he hasn't nailed his colours to the wall (manifesto wise) yet. He can just tweek the policies according to the soundings / feedback / opinion polls / focus groups, data he receives.
In other words Cameron's strategy is based on cynical manipulation of the electoral system. The apparent pressing of the self-destruct button by the Lib Dems has only presented him with an extra "gift wrapped" bonus.
Peter Davidson
Alderley Edge
NW.England
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