Gordon Brown.....

[Josedinho]

Agree with Sov. I've called people twats after a meeting to other people at work even when they weren't. Gord didn't think he'd handled her well which i think he did as she was a pain but instead of going over why he was annoyed he just came up with an excuse. He probably didn't mean it but was just annoyed, doubt it affected his work too much though

[TightPaulFolds]

lol @ all the people coming out saying what a twat gordon brown is.  how many times have you said something behind somebodies back even if it wasnt based on absolute fact?

I do it all the time, especially about tightend.

I'm certainly no fan of Brown, (Or any of the others for that matter) but I think it's a sad reflection on our country if elections are decided on issues as trivial as this.

I cannot stand the man and agree with the above posts.

I have lolled so much at the number of posters on this thread that you'll find on various other threads giving it the "freedom of speech" blether.

He had a thought about the woman, that she was a bigot (rightly or wrongly) he said so, where's his right to freedom of speech?

Get a life ffs

Geo

What he actually did/said isn't that interesting in itself, but the underlying problem is with his personality and judgement.

Basically if he can be such a tit after such a mild confrontation, how confident can you be that he won't go on political tilt at any political negotiation when something which is actually important is on the line?

comparing his private reaction to a woman giving him some abuse and that in a political environment is one of the most ridiculous things I've ever heard.  

He was in a car talking to an aide - he was at work, in a work setting, it's not like he was down the pub talking to friends.

I think it speaks volumes about his judgement and his ability, if he tilts that easily it doesn't exactly inspire confidence that he'll always be making +EV decisions.

at work or down the pub makes no difference to me, i slag more people off at work than i do in the pub!

John I have no idea what you do but have you never insulted someone after a meeting or a crap day at work. I know I have. Shit happens. I agree he should have dealt with the situation much better but saying what he said is hardly a slight on how he would govern.

FWIW I think Brown is uninspiring and uncharasmatic but that was before this incident

I don't know if it's so much about the ethics of slagging off a voter, even less to do with freedom of speech. The problem now is the perceived gap that exists between what he actually thinks and the stupid smiley fake persona that he puts on. This was compounded by his silly smiley speech outside her house and his radio interview. 'I'm sorry for what I said; I misunderstood her; I don't blame Sue, I blame myself'
Does he think anyone believes this?

[sovietsong]

i love these posters, doesnt make me want to vote tory but still makes me laugh on the way to work everyday!







his smile is beautiful

[Eck]

 - is this the kind of guy that should be running the country?

Probably not however is this:

[sovietsong]

 - is this the kind of guy that should be running the country?

Probably not however is this:

great post eck!

[thetank]

I don't think this will cost him the election (that ship has sailed)

It's just a gaffe. It's not going to change people's minds. People who are anti-Labour anyway will use it as a stick to beat him with and the news media will come along for the ride but I don't think the historians will point to this incident as being the game changer in 2010.

I think it might.

The white, working class, vote is one that Labour really needs. Many of these outside of the SE of England naturally gravitate towards Labour. They have genuine concerns about immigration but aren't racist - Gordon Brown has revealed what he really thinks of them. In recent years they'd drifted off to vote UKIP or maybe BNP, but the votes of those parties are collapsing. As the Tories are still too posh to get this vote those people were likely to come back to Labour in this election (hence the bounce in the polls they had in the run-up to the election).

Now Gordon Brown has been caught out placating them in public but then bitching about them when he thinks no one's listening, basically admitting that he thinks these people are stupid racists. He then goes round for a cup of tea and comes out, all fake smiles, saying everything is all right now.

Even if these voters don't turn to UKIP/BNP and just stay at home on election day they'll do a lot of damage, especially when the % share of the vote may be a factor in deciding balance of power in a hung parliament.

The other reason this is important is because it really highlights the 'Brown is a petulant child' narrative that, so far, has only been reported second hand (shouting at and hitting staff, the temper tantrums). The whole country has now seen Brown throwing a hissy fit  - is this the kind of guy that should be running the country?

You could well be right.

Just seen the 4 minute clip and she didn't come across as being bigoted or ignorant, just concerend. Very much the everypensioner in fact so yeah this could hurt Labour bad.

[sovietsong]

this woman is brilliant! 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8649174.stm

[bobAlike]

  - is this the kind of guy that should be running the country?

Probably not however is this:

Tonight Matthew I'm going to be ........... Spandau Ballet

[Jon MW]

 - is this the kind of guy that should be running the country?

Probably not however is this:

great post eck!

In what way?

What exactly is your point?

[kinboshi]

  - is this the kind of guy that should be running the country?

Probably not however is this:

Thought that might be a Bullingdon Club photo - but it's from Eton.

A world apart from 99.99% of the electorate. 

[Jon MW]

Agree with Sov. I've called people twats after a meeting to other people at work even when they weren't. Gord didn't think he'd handled her well which i think he did as she was a pain but instead of going over why he was annoyed he just came up with an excuse. He probably didn't mean it but was just annoyed, doubt it affected his work too much though

err, exactly he did it because he lost his temper and was annoyed - hence my tilt metaphor

And exactly, it wasn't a disaster, he handled it quite well - but his judgement was so far out that he handled it appallingly.

So he can't handle minor set backs, he blows them up out of all proportion and it results in him making mistakes - how can that not have any implication about his ability to do the job?

[nirvana]

is it........texture like sun ?

very good

[TightPaulFolds]

is it........texture like sun ?

very good

[ ] Never a frown

[George2Loose]

Agree with Sov. I've called people twats after a meeting to other people at work even when they weren't. Gord didn't think he'd handled her well which i think he did as she was a pain but instead of going over why he was annoyed he just came up with an excuse. He probably didn't mean it but was just annoyed, doubt it affected his work too much though

err, exactly he did it because he lost his temper and was annoyed - hence my tilt metaphor

And exactly, it wasn't a disaster, he handled it quite well - but his judgement was so far out that he handled it appallingly.

So he can't handle minor set backs, he blows them up out of all proportion and it results in him making mistakes - how can that not have any implication about his ability to do the job?

Is this a level?

[Eck]

 - is this the kind of guy that should be running the country?

Probably not however is this:

great post eck!

In what way?

What exactly is your point?

Pretty much what Dan said didn't really think you would need that explained to you Jon.