David Miliband Joins International Rescue

[reggie]

[Loz]

Given the age of this news, I can see you spent a long time thinking about and composing this. I'd hazard a guess at about 2 minutes and 47 seconds.

[Annette Curtain]

I hate Sly & Reg http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2013/03/27/article-2299988-18F4B262000005DC-982_634x458.jpgDuh - Me too!

[silverfox]

Labour's loss.

Thank the voting system.

[Atticus]

Wasn't a big fan of either Miliband (epitome of career politicians) but think David had a little more substance. As for Ed, can't bring myself to warm to a guy who'd shaft his brother so openly.

[Huguenot]

What was the problem with the voting system Siverfox?

[LondonMix]

I always really liked David and was so disappointed when Ed wom the labour contest. David was probably the only politician in recent years that I actually thought came across as both a statesman and someone who really understood the issues facing the nation.

[El Pibe]

I'd always rather liked Ed, several times on interviews I saw him being frank rather than toeing the party line, something that was otherwise endemic to nearly stalinist extremes under both Blair (ok, campbell) and Brown.

David was only ever heir to blair, even down to his mannerisms and faux glottal stops, he makes me want to punch him with gloves of sharpened glass.

Ed hasn't transferred well to leadership, you can see his instincts are all wrong for the soundbite friendly, charming smile dependent image politics of today, but I do have some admiration for the guy, especially his repositioning of Labour (though quite possibly to a place where only defeat awaits).

Leaving politics, if sincere he is, may well be the making of David; after all the once loathed Portillo is one of my favourite broadcasters.

[Otta]

What ElPibe said.

Ed is bright, and speaks well. He reduces Cameron to basically shouting him down at PM Questions nearly every time. DC just doesn't have the ability to out argue EM.

BUT we live in a pathetic society that won't vote for him because he talks a bit funny and isn't a smiley t@at.

[El Pibe]

" As for Ed, can't bring myself to warm to a guy who'd shaft his brother so openly."

I'd have thought that ability has been the true mark of real statesmen through the ages, I don't want to warm to a leader I want the him to be a ruthless bastard. It's his politics that count and there I actually think Ed echoes my own much more so than third way David.

Of course I won't vote for him, Labour is still Labour, give them power and they'll just be obsessed with power for its own sake again, I won't even mention Iraq.

Oops.

[*Bob*]

Watching him on C4 news last night, talking of making decisions 'in the round' and 'getting on the pitch'.. let's hope he can leave this sort of nauseous vocab at the political door when he leaves.

[Huguenot]

I wonder how one would say those things without resorting to cliche?

[*Bob*]

Gosh, you're right. The English language really is quite limited when you think about, isn't it?

[Huguenot]

Well I suspect any alternative would be rather long winded, no?

[StraferJack]

No

[*Bob*]

No

With the added advantage of not sounding like a 'The Apprentice' wannabe.

[Huguenot]

Well I don't really want to get dragged into a slightly disappointing debate about it, but it's clear that as a metaphor 'getting on the pitch' conveys an array of ideas about teamwork, motivation, rules and discipline, goals and ambition.

It's also quite nice to hear it as an English idiom (Americans don't use the term 'pitch' as a matter of course, although I'm sure you'll try and jump down my throat with 'proof' that they do).

But if you want to be obtuse about it be my guest.

[RosieH]

I disagree Huguenot. "Getting on the pitch" means nothing to me, beyond maybe "having a go". And while I agree with Orwell that new metaphors are a good thing and to be recommended, I do think opaque sporting references from noted geeks hit a bum note.

In the broader argument, I'm pro-Ed. I voted for him over his brother because his politics better reflect my own. Neither do I subscribe to this idea of his shafting his brother - are we saying that being the first born gives you automatic first dibs? I could never get my head round the notion that Ed should just let his brother have it.

[*Bob*]

I guess unimaginative recycled management cliche speak is your bag.

When he said 'getting on the pitch' it didn't convey thoughts of teamwork, motivation, rules and discipline to me. I just though he sounded like a bit of a dick and I wanted to throw a spoon at the television.

[Huguenot]

Ah, interesting point.

Is the quality of a metaphor defined by what was implied or what was inferred? Is it degraded as an artform if the audience is unfamiliar with context?

My own answers are contradictory - I'd tend to feel the quality of a metaphor can only be crafted, not accidental, but then I don't think a great work of art ceases to be one if the audience doesn't appreciate it.

[Huguenot]

You'll notice I managed to get through that without insulting you *Bob*. A shame the same could not be said of you.

[*Bob*]

oh piss off

[maxxi]

*Bob* Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> oh piss off

metaphorically speaking

I think the broad view is probably right - that DM had to go so Labour could shed the 'New' tag and all the warmongering associations and start again - substance over style this time even if it does take a while to catch on.

[Huguenot]

Cheers *Bob*, as predicted it was always going to be a disappointing discussion. Have a great day.

[Atticus]

Ruthlessness in politics is one thing but standing against your brother, the heir apparent is just wrong. This tells me more about his character than anything else. As for PMQs, he comes across as a snotty sixth former, with no ammo other than tired rhetoric. Until, he can come up with a viable, coherent answer to Cameron's 'what are your economic policies?' we will continue to live under a coalition, one way or another.