The printed version of the Eastern Daily Press has a small story about the County Council Greens demanding that Norfolk County Council's Pension Scheme should no longer hold any investments in BP following the oil spill in the Mexican Gulf.
This is typical Green Party grandstanding with no concept of the economics involved.
Aside from the fact that The Green Party has very much taken the US line of "attack BNP" rather than accept that whilst BP have ultimate responsibility, the Rig was owned and run by Transocean, a US firm, it is worrying that the Green Party in the first instance choose to attack a UK based firm rather than look in to the facts in more detail. But as we know from the Iraq War, the Green's chose to attack the Lib Dems for supporting a motion in parliament which offered the support of parliament to UK troops, even if the Lib Dems did not support the war. So we shouldn't be surprised to see the Green Party putting Britain last.
But what about the economics of the Green Party's policy on BP. Is it really good sense for the Norfolk County Council Pension Fund to sell off their shares in BP when the value of those shares has tumbled ? As a "blue chip" stock that has in the past paid out very good dividends, we should assume that BP forms a large part of the pension fund's investments. If they sold now they would make a huge loss with no hope of making up this loss. So who will then pay for the hole in the Council's pension fund ? No doubt when taxes rise to find this black hole, the Green's will attack this tax rise too ?
It just goes to show that the Greens know little about economics but a lot about rabble rousing.
Showing posts with label Greens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Greens. Show all posts
5/07/2010
The sanctimonious duplicity and double speak of the Green Party in Norwich South
Update : Before I start, and for the sake of clarity (since some Greens reading this article keep going on about Lib Dem bar charts in the comments), can I make clear this article is not about the Greens use of bar charts. It does, however, highlight that the Greens claims that Lib Dem bar charts are wrong, and only theirs are right, is a hollow lie. Please read and address the points I have made about the Green's use of statistics from two separate elections using different voting systems and the Green Party's own stated objection to the Lib Dems doing this. Also note that the Greens are still complaining about Lib Dem claims that the Greens were in 4th place in Norwich when the result last Thursday showed that the Greens were in 4th place ? Confused ? Read on.
Main article starts
The Green Party have been the darlings of the local media in Norwich for some time. Their success in local elections has allowed local news media outlets to have easy copy on politics issues that seems different and quirky, whilst those same media outlets never expose the Greens to cross examination of their policy, the conduct, their behaviour and their sheer duplicity which those of us who have analysed them for sometimes can see plain as day.
The media had something of a wake up call during the Norwich by-election when the Greens ramped themselves up, and the media fell for it hook, line and sinker.
BBC East gave the Green candidate Rupert "I was once a Lib Dem" Read a seat on the special by-election debate, at the expense of the UKIP candidate, whilst Radio 5, ITV and Sky News frothed with excitement as the Greens told the story of how they were going to cause a major upset.
The Green campaign also got plenty of press attention for a meaningless campaign pledge that the Lib Dems refused to sign for the simple fact that it was meaningless. The media made great play of the Lib Dems refusal to sign the pledge, but printed not one word when the Greens leaflets actually started to make personal attacks on the Lib Dems, despite the fact that the Green "campaign pledge" had supposedly promised not to make such attacks.
At the Norwich North Count, the extent to which the media had been suckered in by the Greens was evident when two reporters from Sky News asked me what was happening and the order of the finishers. When I said the Greens were in 5th place, they simply couldn't believe it and said "Poor Rupert". They had bought the lie, as had the BBC in their special debate. The UKIP candidate who was not on the debate panel came a very well placed 4th and beat the Greens by some distance.
The media had started to see the Greens as not always a trusted source of information. The Greens knew this and according to the EDP (in the print edition, not online) they brought up a high level delegation to speak to the local press and media to persuade them that the Greens could win Norwich South with the EDP going as saying that Adrian Ramsay was made deputy leader for the purpose of giving him a higher media profile). It appears the press learnt from this.
The Norwich North by-election should have been the springboard for the Greens Norwich South campaign, instead it had the opposite effect. The Greens had made fools of the media and would take their comments with a large dose of salt.
The Greens like to talk up the prominence of their councillors and how many they have in Norwich, but in all their literature, offer no solutions to the issues facing Norwich. They run petitions to save this, preserve that, stop the other, but never get round to looking for an answer or coming up with a realistic alternative. it's opposition for oppositions sake, only it isn't when it comes to council votes.
All too often the Greens fail to vote against Labour, leaving it to Lib Dems and Tories to vote against, knowing that Labour have more seats than the Lib Dems and Tories combined, whilst the Greens sit on their hands an abstain when Labour really could be beaten.
So on to this campaign, and the rank hypocrisy, insults and double speak of the Green Party that is endemic in the campaign.
For many months now the Green's have been complaining about the Lib Dems use of the 2005 general election statistics to show the Greens were not best placed to beat Labour. The Greens instead insist on using the most recent local election results or Euro election results.
I should stress, I am not moaning about the barchart. I am however making the point that the Greens moan about Lib Dem bar charts, but are no less willing to use bar charts to make whatever point they want to make. The difference is that the Greens only see it as wrong for the Lib Dems to do this, not for them !
This leaflet shows the statistics the Greens like to use.
You will note that it claims the Greens are in 34% and the Lib Dems on 25%. Theses figures are from the Euro elections. Is this a fair or accurate figure to quote when referring to a parliamentary election ?
Well according to the Green Party's own Norwich North candidate, Rupert Read, it almost certainly isn't.
He bemoaned the use the Lib Dems made of a bar charts showing general election votes when campaigning in the Euro elections in an article he wrote for Liberal Conspiracy.
Rupert Read said using bar charts from differing electoral systems was was
Of course, the result from the General Election has proved very clearly that the Lib Dems assertion that the Green Party were in fourth place was completely correct, and the Green Party were wrong.
You'd think they might just accept that they made a mistake, but this has been compounded by the comments made by their defeated candidate today. Speaking on the local news today, Adrian Ramsay claimed the Green vote had doubled, and the Lib Dem and Labour vote was falling. Now this is only true if Mr Ramsay now accepts the Lib Dems use of the last general election results were correct, something that the Greens totally reject on their leaflets.
So not only do the Greens peddle leaflets with statistics that they would themselves condemn in articles if they had been delivered by another party, they then decry other parties using the correct figures and then use those correct figures when it suits them to "spin" their way out of a bad result.
And the Greens have form here.
Just a few days ago the Greens were complaining about an opinion poll that put them on 19% in Norwich South. Interestingly, the Lib Dems chose not to complain and just got on with campaigning. Interestingly, the 19% the Lib Dems were given in the poll underscored the Lib Dems final voe by 10%, but the 19% the Greens got overrated them by 2%. It's the only time in political history that a political party had complained that they were being made to look good, but it highlights the Green Party's delusions that they somehow have a divine right in Norwich South.
So it is this driven from the top or is it endemic in the Greens ?
Well if you search the blogs and twitter, you will similarly see what the Greens are like if you scratch the surface.
One comment that caught they eye was this from a Green activist who was in Norwich yesterday before the final result was announced.
Who was that again ?
So let's finish with Rupert Read's own words in the earlier article for Liberal Conspiracy when he wrote
Main article starts
The Green Party have been the darlings of the local media in Norwich for some time. Their success in local elections has allowed local news media outlets to have easy copy on politics issues that seems different and quirky, whilst those same media outlets never expose the Greens to cross examination of their policy, the conduct, their behaviour and their sheer duplicity which those of us who have analysed them for sometimes can see plain as day.
The media had something of a wake up call during the Norwich by-election when the Greens ramped themselves up, and the media fell for it hook, line and sinker.
BBC East gave the Green candidate Rupert "I was once a Lib Dem" Read a seat on the special by-election debate, at the expense of the UKIP candidate, whilst Radio 5, ITV and Sky News frothed with excitement as the Greens told the story of how they were going to cause a major upset.
The Green campaign also got plenty of press attention for a meaningless campaign pledge that the Lib Dems refused to sign for the simple fact that it was meaningless. The media made great play of the Lib Dems refusal to sign the pledge, but printed not one word when the Greens leaflets actually started to make personal attacks on the Lib Dems, despite the fact that the Green "campaign pledge" had supposedly promised not to make such attacks.
At the Norwich North Count, the extent to which the media had been suckered in by the Greens was evident when two reporters from Sky News asked me what was happening and the order of the finishers. When I said the Greens were in 5th place, they simply couldn't believe it and said "Poor Rupert". They had bought the lie, as had the BBC in their special debate. The UKIP candidate who was not on the debate panel came a very well placed 4th and beat the Greens by some distance.
The media had started to see the Greens as not always a trusted source of information. The Greens knew this and according to the EDP (in the print edition, not online) they brought up a high level delegation to speak to the local press and media to persuade them that the Greens could win Norwich South with the EDP going as saying that Adrian Ramsay was made deputy leader for the purpose of giving him a higher media profile). It appears the press learnt from this.
The Norwich North by-election should have been the springboard for the Greens Norwich South campaign, instead it had the opposite effect. The Greens had made fools of the media and would take their comments with a large dose of salt.
The Greens like to talk up the prominence of their councillors and how many they have in Norwich, but in all their literature, offer no solutions to the issues facing Norwich. They run petitions to save this, preserve that, stop the other, but never get round to looking for an answer or coming up with a realistic alternative. it's opposition for oppositions sake, only it isn't when it comes to council votes.
All too often the Greens fail to vote against Labour, leaving it to Lib Dems and Tories to vote against, knowing that Labour have more seats than the Lib Dems and Tories combined, whilst the Greens sit on their hands an abstain when Labour really could be beaten.
So on to this campaign, and the rank hypocrisy, insults and double speak of the Green Party that is endemic in the campaign.
For many months now the Green's have been complaining about the Lib Dems use of the 2005 general election statistics to show the Greens were not best placed to beat Labour. The Greens instead insist on using the most recent local election results or Euro election results.
I should stress, I am not moaning about the barchart. I am however making the point that the Greens moan about Lib Dem bar charts, but are no less willing to use bar charts to make whatever point they want to make. The difference is that the Greens only see it as wrong for the Lib Dems to do this, not for them !
This leaflet shows the statistics the Greens like to use.
You will note that it claims the Greens are in 34% and the Lib Dems on 25%. Theses figures are from the Euro elections. Is this a fair or accurate figure to quote when referring to a parliamentary election ?
Well according to the Green Party's own Norwich North candidate, Rupert Read, it almost certainly isn't.
He bemoaned the use the Lib Dems made of a bar charts showing general election votes when campaigning in the Euro elections in an article he wrote for Liberal Conspiracy.
Rupert Read said using bar charts from differing electoral systems was was
"a pre-determined, deliberate attempt to undermine the Green campaign using indefensible statistics"So we are clear, using statistics like this is considered to be wrong by the Greens. So why have they then claimed, on the basis of the Euro election results (under a form of PR) that they are therefore
"the main challenger to Charles Clarke"Surely doing this is, in the words of Rupert Read, was a cynical attempt to
" misrepresent the voting system and our prospects."Of course, as Rupert added at the end, in deliberately doing these things, people will rightly say
"we will never let you – nor the public – forget the wrong that you perpetrate, each time you draw a misleading graph, cite an irrelevant statistic, deliberately mislead readers about another Party’s chances…"Indeed Rupert, these are lessons the Green Party needs to take heed of. You like to portray yourselves as cleaner than clean and above politics. Your party campaigns in Norwich almost as a "None of the Above" party, who can always be trusted. But every time you seek to criticise the opposition for being poltiical parties and fighting political campaigns, you expose your party as hypocrites.
Of course, the result from the General Election has proved very clearly that the Lib Dems assertion that the Green Party were in fourth place was completely correct, and the Green Party were wrong.
You'd think they might just accept that they made a mistake, but this has been compounded by the comments made by their defeated candidate today. Speaking on the local news today, Adrian Ramsay claimed the Green vote had doubled, and the Lib Dem and Labour vote was falling. Now this is only true if Mr Ramsay now accepts the Lib Dems use of the last general election results were correct, something that the Greens totally reject on their leaflets.
So not only do the Greens peddle leaflets with statistics that they would themselves condemn in articles if they had been delivered by another party, they then decry other parties using the correct figures and then use those correct figures when it suits them to "spin" their way out of a bad result.
And the Greens have form here.
Just a few days ago the Greens were complaining about an opinion poll that put them on 19% in Norwich South. Interestingly, the Lib Dems chose not to complain and just got on with campaigning. Interestingly, the 19% the Lib Dems were given in the poll underscored the Lib Dems final voe by 10%, but the 19% the Greens got overrated them by 2%. It's the only time in political history that a political party had complained that they were being made to look good, but it highlights the Green Party's delusions that they somehow have a divine right in Norwich South.
So it is this driven from the top or is it endemic in the Greens ?
Well if you search the blogs and twitter, you will similarly see what the Greens are like if you scratch the surface.
One comment that caught they eye was this from a Green activist who was in Norwich yesterday before the final result was announced.
When I challenged her via twitter to justify herself and explain why Simon Wright, a former teacher who has had a real job in the real world, was a, in her words "careerist git !" where as Adrian Ramsay, a full time politician who has been on the city council since leaving university isn't a careerist
Her reply was that it was different for Adrian (presumably because he is a Green)
So ignoring the fact that Simon's family live in Norwich, he lives in Norwich, his wife is a City Councillor, he is a "careerist git".
Still worse was the Green activist's comments on Simon's unsuitability compared to Adrian Ramsay based on their life experience and professions. It seems that the Green Party don't think teachers should be MPs becaus she then wrote
To be fair, some hours later (possibly realising that twitter leaves a paper trail) she did offer her congratulations to Simon. nut it speaks volumes about the Greens' self righteous attitude that anyone else wanting to stand for the area they grew up in is a "careerist", but when a green does worse and has never had a real job and instead has devoated his whole life to one aim, that is being a politician, so long as he is a Green, that is okay.
Perhaps I should return to Rupert Read, who writes today that
"We knocked on every door – which is more than all the other Parties put together did"
Now does he know this to be true ? Can he prove it or is it a political statement based on an assertion of his ? After all if he was being 100% honest he would surely need some proof ?
And in a stunning example of ignoring the facts, he goes on to state
" a typically-untruthful LibDem campaign going on and on about the seat being allegedly a ‘two-horse race’ between them and Labour"Er ... Rupert. Check out the result. It was a two horse race. Lib Dems were first, Labour second, Tories third and you came fourth. The problem is, only one party was fibbing when it claimed that it was "the main challenger to Charles Clarke"
Who was that again ?
So let's finish with Rupert Read's own words in the earlier article for Liberal Conspiracy when he wrote
"Such a betrayal of trust will not easily be forgiven; at least, not without an expression of contrition and a sincere promise not to re-offend."
Of course, the difference was that Hereward Cooke, the former leader of the Lib Dem group on Norwich City Council offered an apology for anything that was misleading in Lib Dem leaflets in local elections a few years ago.
Even today, the Greens are telling lies about the Lib Dems conduct in the campaign yet totally ignoring their own double speak and lies.
Forget claiming you are better than everyone else. Politics is what it is and the Greens play as dirty as anyone else.
4/07/2010
Desperate Greens go touting for interviews
Step forward Adrian Ramsay and Rupert Read of the Green Party. You know, the Green Party who like to appear to be different from everyone else (although if you live in Norwich you will know all they do is oppose everything and make uncosted promises about how everything will be better under the Greens).
Desperate, desperate stuff and possibly as vain as any politician could be.
1/20/2010
Norfolk's nutty Greens show just how nutty they are
The Green candidate in Great Yarmouth is standing down in order to support and help the Tory candidate.
You really couldn't make it up, but it sums up what many of us find about the Greens here in Norfolk. The oppose things they support, the offer no solutions, only criticism, and they even support other parties which are widely acknowledged as being the most sceptical when it comes to climate change and have the poorest eco credentials.
People in Norwich South ought to take note.
You really couldn't make it up, but it sums up what many of us find about the Greens here in Norfolk. The oppose things they support, the offer no solutions, only criticism, and they even support other parties which are widely acknowledged as being the most sceptical when it comes to climate change and have the poorest eco credentials.
People in Norwich South ought to take note.
12/17/2009
Green Christmas Hypocrisy
I noticed a house which sported a "Vote Green" poster in the recent Norwich North by-election has shown its owners up to be true to the values of the Green Party. In true "Do as I say, not as I do" style, the house is festooned with Christmas lights outside it.
Presumably the lights are all powered by someone inside the house on an exercise bike with a dynamo ?
Presumably the lights are all powered by someone inside the house on an exercise bike with a dynamo ?
8/26/2009
What have the Green Party achieved in Twickenham ?
Apparently nothing, according to their website.
Note the blank space where they list their achievements.
Note the blank space where they list their achievements.
8/25/2009
More Green problems ?
You may have read on this and other blogs a couple of weeks ago about the cancellation of one of the Green Party's own internal elections.
There is a new twist to the story the ERO who suspended the election has resigned; he isn't giving much away on his blog, but there is clearly an under-current.
On a more positive note from the Greens, Derek Wall has praised our own blogging peer and all-round good egg Eric Avebury.
There is a new twist to the story the ERO who suspended the election has resigned; he isn't giving much away on his blog, but there is clearly an under-current.
On a more positive note from the Greens, Derek Wall has praised our own blogging peer and all-round good egg Eric Avebury.
8/14/2009
Here's a challenge for the local press in Norfolk
Following the story about Rupert Read and the abuses that appear to have happened in internal elections in the Green Party, lots of people have commented about whether the local press will follow up on the story. My guess is that they won't. The local press love the Greens and with a former high profile journalist running the Green PR in Norwich, the press seem scared to print anything that would paint the Green Party in a bad light.
So will the press report on what is happening ? I know you read this blog.
So will the press report on what is happening ? I know you read this blog.
8/13/2009
The not so clean Green Party
Rupert Read gained himself a lot of publicity (but few votes) for his so called "Clean Campaign Pledge" in the Norwich North by-election. the Lib Dems, knowing what he is like and that this was a worthless pledge refused to sign, and the local press fell over themselves to tickle Rupert Read's belly and give his campaign more credibility which the result itself didn't justify.
Well now the truth has come out about the "Clean Campaign" that Mr Read is currently running.
It appears, as well as carrying a scathing attack on one of his opponents on his campaign website, someone has been contacting Green local parties with further attacks on one of the candidates.
The election has now been suspended.
One wonders how certain Greens have the nerve to lecture us all on clean politics when their own internal elections are so downright dirty.
Update - There is more interesting stuff on the Greens HERE.
Well now the truth has come out about the "Clean Campaign" that Mr Read is currently running.
It appears, as well as carrying a scathing attack on one of his opponents on his campaign website, someone has been contacting Green local parties with further attacks on one of the candidates.
The election has now been suspended.
One wonders how certain Greens have the nerve to lecture us all on clean politics when their own internal elections are so downright dirty.
Update - There is more interesting stuff on the Greens HERE.
8/11/2009
The murky politics of the Green Party
There is some interesting stuff on the the blog "Another Green World" about some really rather dodgy internal party politics and the Stalinist nature of the Green Party.
A membership list, it appears, were being used without permission, in order for one side to campaign on the internal referendum on the issue of a single leader for the Green Party. Then it is alleged that people are being thrown out of the Green Party for raising issues of concern about party procedures being broken, with a kangaroo court using a catch 22 situation in order to force people out.
From a local perspective we read in the comment section of the post that at least one Green Party Councillor in Norwich has been forced out of the Green Party for a period of five years, but remains (oddly) a member of the Green Group on Norwich City Council. It seems odd that the Norwich Greens are so at odds with their own national party that the national party can exclude someone from membership of the Greens yet their own deputy leader (who sits as a Norwich City Councillor) can work with this excluded member in his own council group. What does this say about Norwich Greens or the views that their deputy leader has of the Green Party nationally ?
There was an interesting comment made to me by a journalist at the Norwich North count who mentioned that the Green Party had in its deselection of a local candidate in favour of another in Norwich North and through its other internal problems which have started to appear, discovered that it is a political party with egos, factions and all the same problems and divisions of any other political party.
So are the Norwich Greens going to tell us which of their members has been thrown out of the Green Party nationally ?
A membership list, it appears, were being used without permission, in order for one side to campaign on the internal referendum on the issue of a single leader for the Green Party. Then it is alleged that people are being thrown out of the Green Party for raising issues of concern about party procedures being broken, with a kangaroo court using a catch 22 situation in order to force people out.
From a local perspective we read in the comment section of the post that at least one Green Party Councillor in Norwich has been forced out of the Green Party for a period of five years, but remains (oddly) a member of the Green Group on Norwich City Council. It seems odd that the Norwich Greens are so at odds with their own national party that the national party can exclude someone from membership of the Greens yet their own deputy leader (who sits as a Norwich City Councillor) can work with this excluded member in his own council group. What does this say about Norwich Greens or the views that their deputy leader has of the Green Party nationally ?
There was an interesting comment made to me by a journalist at the Norwich North count who mentioned that the Green Party had in its deselection of a local candidate in favour of another in Norwich North and through its other internal problems which have started to appear, discovered that it is a political party with egos, factions and all the same problems and divisions of any other political party.
So are the Norwich Greens going to tell us which of their members has been thrown out of the Green Party nationally ?
7/24/2009
Greens split on Norfolk County Council ?
One of the area committees on Norfolk County Council threw up an interesting insight in to Green politics in Norwich.
After discussion with the two Labour County councillors and the two Lib Dem county councillors in the Norwich area, it was agreed that the Green Party group leader (Boswell) would chair the committee and that Lib Dem and Labour would rotate vice chairmanship. So what happened at the meeting ? Lib Dems and Labour support their Green Group Leader but the rest of the Green group vote against their leader and put someone else in as chairman.
Questions about arses and elbows might apply, but it tells us something of the internal problems the Greens are having with strong rumours also circulating about relationships between senior Greens in Norwich appearing to be somewhat strained.
After discussion with the two Labour County councillors and the two Lib Dem county councillors in the Norwich area, it was agreed that the Green Party group leader (Boswell) would chair the committee and that Lib Dem and Labour would rotate vice chairmanship. So what happened at the meeting ? Lib Dems and Labour support their Green Group Leader but the rest of the Green group vote against their leader and put someone else in as chairman.
Questions about arses and elbows might apply, but it tells us something of the internal problems the Greens are having with strong rumours also circulating about relationships between senior Greens in Norwich appearing to be somewhat strained.
7/08/2009
This is the way the Green Party campaigns - Telling the truth at all times ?
The Greens yesterday got some publicity, with their Tory friends, for claiming to have signed up for a campaign pledge where they apparently promise to tell the truth at all times.
Interestingly the Green Party candidate in the Norwich North by-election likes to take the moral highground on this issue, but it is clear from his own blog that he really is the last person we should look to for lessons on not telling lies in campaigns after he was caught out during the recent Euro elections where he was the Greens lead candidate.
Telling the truth at all times ? Green hypocrisy ? Politics and cynically winning votes ?
Make up your mind.
Interestingly the Green Party candidate in the Norwich North by-election likes to take the moral highground on this issue, but it is clear from his own blog that he really is the last person we should look to for lessons on not telling lies in campaigns after he was caught out during the recent Euro elections where he was the Greens lead candidate.
Telling the truth at all times ? Green hypocrisy ? Politics and cynically winning votes ?
Make up your mind.
7/05/2009
Why are the Greens so political ?
The Green Party like to make out that they stand aside from mainstream politics and they are not professional politicians. They want to be seen as something different and stand out for that. Yet whenever they get involved in anything non political they seem to want to politicise it.
Take a planning meeting, held in public in North Walsham a few months ago. This non political public meeting was chaired by the local County Councillor, local representatives turned up to hear what was being said along with more than 200 people. They all accepted it was a local issue and nothing at all to do with Party politics. So which Green Euro candidate chimed up from the back of the hall to speak announcing "I am from the Green Party". Instantly the chairman intervenes to make clear that it was not a political meeting. Then in solidarity with the chairman some of the public started booing the Green. An opportunity to speak wasted, a chance to prove that party politics could be ignored was lost.
Then yesterday in Taverham we had our annual fete. The Tories were in attendance, but as I saw, not wearing rosettes and generally speaking, chatting and joining in with the fete's activities. Well done to them. It's never nice for those who organise events to suddenly have them hijacked by party hacks. But not everyone went down so well. Who turned up in his Green rosette playing the role of the party candidate ? The good people of Taverham were not so impressed with a certain failed Euro candidate. Still, at least some people in Taverham have heard of him now, after all, we have still yet to see a leaflet from them.
Take a planning meeting, held in public in North Walsham a few months ago. This non political public meeting was chaired by the local County Councillor, local representatives turned up to hear what was being said along with more than 200 people. They all accepted it was a local issue and nothing at all to do with Party politics. So which Green Euro candidate chimed up from the back of the hall to speak announcing "I am from the Green Party". Instantly the chairman intervenes to make clear that it was not a political meeting. Then in solidarity with the chairman some of the public started booing the Green. An opportunity to speak wasted, a chance to prove that party politics could be ignored was lost.
Then yesterday in Taverham we had our annual fete. The Tories were in attendance, but as I saw, not wearing rosettes and generally speaking, chatting and joining in with the fete's activities. Well done to them. It's never nice for those who organise events to suddenly have them hijacked by party hacks. But not everyone went down so well. Who turned up in his Green rosette playing the role of the party candidate ? The good people of Taverham were not so impressed with a certain failed Euro candidate. Still, at least some people in Taverham have heard of him now, after all, we have still yet to see a leaflet from them.
6/25/2009
Do as the Greens say, or not, as the case may be
The Greens in Norwich have reacted badly to certain facts about their candidate being publicised by the Lib Dems, according to the EDP.
Isn't funny how the Greens like to bandy about quoting things the Lib Dems have said and done, but when the Lib Dems point out things the Green Party candidate said 5 years ago, they seem to think that it is irrelevent to the ongoing campaign and nothing to do with the Green Party itself.
A candidate is elected under a party banner, but represents their own views and these are totally relevent to their wish to become an MP.
So the Greens are saying do as I saw, except they aren't because in this case they are saying that what they say is not what they are actually saying ??? Get it ??? No. Thought not.
Isn't funny how the Greens like to bandy about quoting things the Lib Dems have said and done, but when the Lib Dems point out things the Green Party candidate said 5 years ago, they seem to think that it is irrelevent to the ongoing campaign and nothing to do with the Green Party itself.
A candidate is elected under a party banner, but represents their own views and these are totally relevent to their wish to become an MP.
So the Greens are saying do as I saw, except they aren't because in this case they are saying that what they say is not what they are actually saying ??? Get it ??? No. Thought not.
6/08/2009
A few illusions shattered ?
A colleague of mine started extolling the virtuous of the Green Party today at work. She was polite enough and is someone I generally get on with and respect. However, I got the distinct impression that her view of the Greens was not one that matched up with the reality of what they are like. But I guess we only judge from our own perspectives.
The saintly Greens, were simply not capable of being like the other parties. She refused to believe that a senior Norwich Green tried to spoil and gatecrash his way in to a Liberal Democrat meeting at the last General Election in Norwich. She refused to believe that female Lib Dems present at a meeting were shoved and jostled by a Green activist and she didn't believe that a senior Norwich Green sent an abusive letter to my father some years ago because of his support for the Norwich Northern by-pass.
When I said I could provide proof of these things, indeed I urged her to ask her Green friends about these things, and directed her to one particular Green who would know the truth and another Green who we both should mutually know who could back up what I said, her response was words to the effect of "No, you're a Lib Dem and they lie and the Greens don't do things like that".
So either they are brainwashing people or their voters really believe the Greens are some sort of second coming. The funny thing was though for the first time this might have showed this particular Green voter that actually the Greens are not as saintly as they claim. She wanted to deny it, but similarly, I hope she would know I was not lying.
I don't think any political party every reaches the heights that even it most ardent supporters could aspire to and perhaps it is a natural feature of politics that people who practise politics are human, so naturally sometimes, even Greens make mistakes ?
The saintly Greens, were simply not capable of being like the other parties. She refused to believe that a senior Norwich Green tried to spoil and gatecrash his way in to a Liberal Democrat meeting at the last General Election in Norwich. She refused to believe that female Lib Dems present at a meeting were shoved and jostled by a Green activist and she didn't believe that a senior Norwich Green sent an abusive letter to my father some years ago because of his support for the Norwich Northern by-pass.
When I said I could provide proof of these things, indeed I urged her to ask her Green friends about these things, and directed her to one particular Green who would know the truth and another Green who we both should mutually know who could back up what I said, her response was words to the effect of "No, you're a Lib Dem and they lie and the Greens don't do things like that".
So either they are brainwashing people or their voters really believe the Greens are some sort of second coming. The funny thing was though for the first time this might have showed this particular Green voter that actually the Greens are not as saintly as they claim. She wanted to deny it, but similarly, I hope she would know I was not lying.
I don't think any political party every reaches the heights that even it most ardent supporters could aspire to and perhaps it is a natural feature of politics that people who practise politics are human, so naturally sometimes, even Greens make mistakes ?
6/03/2009
The logic of the Green Party "We have not got a clue", admit Green Party
THIS is a great article highlighting that even leading lights in the Green Party know that their party policies are barking mad !
Sadly it reflects poorly on voters that they can be taken in by a party that does not have a clue. But what does anyone expect in the current political climate ?
The truth is though that the Green's attempt to label themselves as a non political party and as a result they pick up votes from those dissillusioned with the traditional parties. When people see them in power, which is likely in Norwich next year, and Greens have to make decisions about cuts, raising charges and taxes and a host of other hard decisions, they will no longer be able to stand aside from being a political party and people will, I believe, see them for what they really are.
Sadly it reflects poorly on voters that they can be taken in by a party that does not have a clue. But what does anyone expect in the current political climate ?
The truth is though that the Green's attempt to label themselves as a non political party and as a result they pick up votes from those dissillusioned with the traditional parties. When people see them in power, which is likely in Norwich next year, and Greens have to make decisions about cuts, raising charges and taxes and a host of other hard decisions, they will no longer be able to stand aside from being a political party and people will, I believe, see them for what they really are.
5/28/2009
How many lies will the sanctimonious Greens tell in order to win votes ?
I was amused to read a link to one of my postings yesterday from a Green Party activists entitled "Lib Dem Barcharts Always Lie".
Interestingly he decided to take only one of my barcharts I produced as a bit of fun in order to justify that all Lib Dems are liars.
Why did he take only one of those graphs if, as he claims, all Lib Dem bar charts lie ? Well it does not take a genius to work it out. It's because the other bar chart is almost completely accurate, as was the one I produced last week. Had his blog an easy system for leaving comments I might have responded politely to him, but in the typical Green control freak way, his blog has one of the most god awful systems possible designed to stop people leaving comments.
So in essence, his headline should have the subtext "Only certain Lib Dem barcahrts lie and others that I choose to ignore tell the truth".
But in order to clarify matter a little bit more for the Green, after all the Green Party are not noted for their financial and mathematical knowledge (just check out their manifesto pledges which fail to add up). I should point out that not all bar charts have to start at 0%. It is interesting that this type of bar chart appears in Year 6 SATs tests regularly. Obviously the UK government have a point about not scrapping SATs in England if the Scots do not understand it !
It certainly sums up the sanctimonious pomposity of virtually every Green I have ever met. Their overt " we know best" attitude is both patronising, sanctimonious and misplaced. When looking through my Euro ballot paper I would have voted for almost any other party on the list except the Greens and the BNP.
The is another point though. The posting I made was also slightly tongue in cheek, with the point being that it is ironic that a Lib Dem produces a bar chart which does not show the Lib Dems in first or second place.
Sense of humour and the Greens ? Don't be silly !
Interestingly he decided to take only one of my barcharts I produced as a bit of fun in order to justify that all Lib Dems are liars.
Why did he take only one of those graphs if, as he claims, all Lib Dem bar charts lie ? Well it does not take a genius to work it out. It's because the other bar chart is almost completely accurate, as was the one I produced last week. Had his blog an easy system for leaving comments I might have responded politely to him, but in the typical Green control freak way, his blog has one of the most god awful systems possible designed to stop people leaving comments.
So in essence, his headline should have the subtext "Only certain Lib Dem barcahrts lie and others that I choose to ignore tell the truth".
But in order to clarify matter a little bit more for the Green, after all the Green Party are not noted for their financial and mathematical knowledge (just check out their manifesto pledges which fail to add up). I should point out that not all bar charts have to start at 0%. It is interesting that this type of bar chart appears in Year 6 SATs tests regularly. Obviously the UK government have a point about not scrapping SATs in England if the Scots do not understand it !
It certainly sums up the sanctimonious pomposity of virtually every Green I have ever met. Their overt " we know best" attitude is both patronising, sanctimonious and misplaced. When looking through my Euro ballot paper I would have voted for almost any other party on the list except the Greens and the BNP.
The is another point though. The posting I made was also slightly tongue in cheek, with the point being that it is ironic that a Lib Dem produces a bar chart which does not show the Lib Dems in first or second place.
Sense of humour and the Greens ? Don't be silly !
1/29/2009
Green PPC opens his mouth and shows his ignorance
The local news this evening featured a Green PPC spouting on about how unfair it is that councillors do not have the right to overrule a planning inspector.
Let's be clear about this, the planning inspector applies the law of the land and like it or not, this should be the basis on which planning applications are made.
Does this dim Green want a return to the bad old days when applications could be turned down on a whim with no way of redress ?
Sadly it was just blatant populism from the Green and showed exactly why he is a Green and not in a party capable of winning a parliamentary seat.
Let's be clear about this, the planning inspector applies the law of the land and like it or not, this should be the basis on which planning applications are made.
Does this dim Green want a return to the bad old days when applications could be turned down on a whim with no way of redress ?
Sadly it was just blatant populism from the Green and showed exactly why he is a Green and not in a party capable of winning a parliamentary seat.
1/15/2009
People who really should stop preaching
Was I the only person who felt rather annoyed to see Oscar winning actress Emma Thompson lecturing us all on the need for less flights in the light of the go ahead for a third runway at Heathrow ?
I am assuming that Emma Thompson, when working on each film she has done in America, has not chosen to cross the Atlantic by cruise ship and I doubt very much that I will clock up as many air miles as her if I lived for one thousand years, so in the same way as the Green Party in Norwich have some of the most travelled councillors you would ever meet who like to lecture us in these parts on air travel, I get rather narked when receiving lectures from people who say do as I do, not as I say.
I am assuming that Emma Thompson, when working on each film she has done in America, has not chosen to cross the Atlantic by cruise ship and I doubt very much that I will clock up as many air miles as her if I lived for one thousand years, so in the same way as the Green Party in Norwich have some of the most travelled councillors you would ever meet who like to lecture us in these parts on air travel, I get rather narked when receiving lectures from people who say do as I do, not as I say.
11/10/2008
Green Party out in the cold
The Green Party today launched its Euro manifesto. Yes, I know it is more than six months until the Euro elections. Yes, I know that launching your manifesto this early seems ludicrous, but then again I am not in the Green Party.
Apparently their manifesto includes such items as investing in renewable energy (yes, I know that energy is an area under the control of national governments, not the EU) and a promise to insulate all home (yes, I know this too is an area not within the remit of the EU).
Now I am not suggesting the Green's have not got a clue but ...
Apparently their manifesto includes such items as investing in renewable energy (yes, I know that energy is an area under the control of national governments, not the EU) and a promise to insulate all home (yes, I know this too is an area not within the remit of the EU).
Now I am not suggesting the Green's have not got a clue but ...
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