http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94lW6Y4tBXs

Hey, he looks a bit like Senator Bob Casey. (Perhaps I should duck for cover now.)

Another baby faced conservative flavor of the month.  All though you did pick a good replacement for the affection you had toward George.  Karma for that.

I do like him. I like his flawless recrimination of the Prime Minister. I also like his other videos where he exposes the EU for what it really is.

Man, does that cat have the world's hottest poker ups his ass or what?
:P

He certainly has a way with words. I am not British, and I know admittedly little about their internal affairs, but if the numbers he cited are in fact true, he and other Britons have every right to demand an explanation and to demand better.

This video has already gone viral. Gordon Brown inherited over 10 years of Labour legacy that was bound to include many mistakes, as any long government tenure will. That said, he hasn't been able to make things any better.

This has happened time and again in nearly all Westminster régimes. A long-standing PM ducks out before any shît hits the fan, and leaves it to the one foolish enough to be his/her successor to deal with what's coming. In Canada it happened to Kim Campbell and Paul Martin. It happened to John Major in Britain. It will surely happen again. The pendulum swings back and forth.

I am not British, and I know admittedly little about their internal affairs, but if the numbers he cited are in fact true, he and other Britons have every right to demand an explanation and to demand better.

Not worth wasting our breath...barring some kind of unheard-of change in fortune, Brown's as good as out in about a year!

This has happened time and again in nearly all Westminster régimes. A long-standing PM ducks out before any shît hits the fan, and leaves it to the one foolish enough to be his/her successor to deal with what's coming. In Canada it happened to Kim Campbell and Paul Martin. It happened to John Major in Britain.


Well, Major didn't 'duck', he resigned after an election defeat...but if you're looking for a legendary 'escape' act then try Harold Wilson back in the 70s, or a fantastic example by a certain T. Blair a few years ago... ::)

Hannan is pretty cool.

What I find particularly interesting about Hannan is that he seems to be a more consistently small government conservative.  The neocons here could learn from this guy.

Many bloggers have referred to Hannan as the Ron Paul of Europe.  The title would seem to be accurate.

It saddens me to see how liberals in countries like the U.K. support more consolidation of power in things like the EU.  It's a much smarter idea to decentralize power, strengthen national sovereignty, and reform most positions so that they are directly elected by the people.  Conservatives in the U.K. seem to support these things.

It would also be good for Europe to disband its archaic monarchies.

Again, if conservatives in America actually stood more consistently for decentralization of power, I'd find them a lot more palatable to vote for.  Unfortunately, neocons would seem to favor bigger government with things like the Patriot Act.

It would also be good for Europe to disband its archaic monarchies.



In the UK the monarchy is little more than a figurehead - the Queen has no real power at all.

It saddens me to see how liberals in countries like the U.K. support more consolidation of power in things like the EU.  It's a much smarter idea to decentralize power, strengthen national sovereignty, and reform most positions so that they are directly elected by the people. 

This is the EU you're referring to...'reform' of its outdated, outmoded and bloated ideas is an alien concept to them!

Until someone can convince me of the benefit of this glorified 'gravy train', I shall remain proudly sceptic of it...

...trouble is, you're then known as a 'little Englander' with that attitude!

Conservatives in the U.K. seem to support these things.


Well, divisions on Europe did them no favours in the past, so I'd imagine they're papering over the cracks on this one!

In the UK the monarchy is little more than a figurehead - the Queen has no real power at all.


For the most part, yes, but they still often have powers on paper that are rarely used but still could be.  These powers are typically the sorts of things that contradict democratic principles.

 

This is the EU you're referring to...'reform' of its outdated, outmoded and bloated ideas is an alien concept to them!

Until someone can convince me of the benefit of this glorified 'gravy train', I shall remain proudly sceptic of it...

...trouble is, you're then known as a 'little Englander' with that attitude!

Are any of the parties in the U.K. against the use of all those cameras scattered among public places?  That would also seem a bit Big Brother-esque and a waste of taxpayer money.

Well, Major didn't 'duck', he resigned after an election defeat...but if you're looking for a legendary 'escape' act then try Harold Wilson back in the 70s, or a fantastic example by a certain T. Blair a few years ago... ::)


I'm afraid you mistook what I meant. I suppose I didn't make it very clear either, but I meant to say that Major was the scapegoat for anything that went wrong during Thatcher's tenure. The woman was an exemplary PM, but like any long-tenured government, mistakes and small failures will be made, and when Thatcher saw the writings on the wall, and support for her within the Conservative party wavering, she resigned, leaving Major to deal with what came next.

In Canada, Mulroney did it, leaving Campbell to pick up the pieces. Then Chrétien left his messes to Martin. In both cases, their respective parties suffered harsh electoral punishment when the general elections came round. I expect the same thing will happen to Labour, if history repeats itself (which it usually does). 

It would also be good for Europe to disband its archaic monarchies.



I think you would find many Europeans living in constitutional monarchies in disagreement with you, especially conservatives, who generally defend a country's traditional values and institutions.

I think you would find many Europeans living in constitutional monarchies in disagreement with you, especially conservatives, who generally defend a country's traditional values and institutions.




Well, if I'm not mistaken, in the U.K., Conservatives are usually the ones that lobby for the end of the figurehead monarchy.  At least, some of them do.  I believe Hannan is one of them.

I'm afraid you mistook what I meant. I suppose I didn't make it very clear either, but I meant to say that Major was the scapegoat for anything that went wrong during Thatcher's tenure. The woman was an exemplary PM, but like any long-tenured government, mistakes and small failures will be made, and when Thatcher saw the writings on the wall, and support for her within the Conservative party wavering, she resigned, leaving Major to deal with what came next.


Hm...not sure about 'exemplary', but she certainly was one of the strongest-willed bastards even to grace the floor of the house...male or female! And it was this 'will' that founded the cornerstone of that long tenure...

The chink in her armour proved to be the public opposition towards our 'poll tax' (leading to rioting in London's streets in 1990), but then again, did the powers-that-were in Europe have a hand in forcing her out? Had she still been at the helm in 1992, would she have ratified the Maastricht Treaty without a blink, or would she have dug her heels in like she had in the past?

In any case, that year Labour was predicted to sweep into power, but the Tories somehow held on (an exact reversal of the 1970 election)...the years that followed proved to be the Tories' undoing, with the accusations of 'sleaze' (something that the incumbent Labour lot would do well to be aware of!)


Well, if I'm not mistaken, in the U.K., Conservatives are usually the ones that lobby for the end of the figurehead monarchy.  At least, some of them do.  I believe Hannan is one of them.


I tend to look at Labour for that. Quite apart from being the party for the 'working class' (whoever they are!), it was no secret that Blair and his other half were no great fans of HM...as their name implies (and as McDonald rightly pointed out), 'Conservatives' normally base their ideas on traditional 'conservative' values (though with Thatch, it was sometimes difficult to tell!)

The British Monarchy? With the way the population is changing, I'll give it another 50 years tops...

I don't think the Monarchy in Canada has a big chance of surviving the Queen's eventual passing, especially if old Floppy Ears ascends to the Throne. If William gets it, the Monarchy will still have a chance.

As it is now, most Canadians couldn't imagine not seeing the Queen on our coins, on the $20 bill, not talking about the Crown (the State) etc. The Monarchy is at the basis of our entire Westminster system of government. Getting rid of it would require immense constitutional changes, which are next to impossible in Canada as it is. I honestly don't know what will happen.

I do know that, given the necessity of re-opening the Constitution, the suppression of the Monarchy will either destroy Canada as we know it, or make it infinitely stronger. That is the gamble of messing with the status quo; you don't know how you'll pan out.

The day this country, or any other, decides to get rid of its age-old institutions, it will first have to decide upon and be sure about what it's going to replace them with.

The British Monarchy? With the way the population is changing, I'll give it another 50 years tops...


True, you might have an Ayatollah before it's over with.

Hm...not sure about 'exemplary', but she certainly was one of the strongest-willed bastards even to grace the floor of the house...male or female!

I was going to comment on the use of the word "exemplary" - in a way I agree with it, though: she was a fantastic example of what I *don't* want a prime minister to be like: unable to conceive of his/her own failings, systematically weeding out all possible contenders so that the leadership left when she went was virtually non-existant.  Major might have had a chance if the Tory back benchers hadn't felt the whiff of freedom after years of being trod underfoot, then starting to behave like rebellious teenagers.

It's also worth remembering that before the Argentines invaded the Falklands, she was the most unpopular prime minister since records began.

On-topic: Daniel Hannan is OK as an MEP, but he didn't say much that an awful lot of people aren't thinking at the moment anyway.


This is the EU you're referring to...'reform' of its outdated, outmoded and bloated ideas is an alien concept to them!

Until someone can convince me of the benefit of this glorified 'gravy train', I shall remain proudly sceptic of it...

...trouble is, you're then known as a 'little Englander' with that attitude!

I have the problem of being a Europhile that cannot stand the undemocratic, corrupt and self-serving EU institutions.  I'd love to be able to argue the benefits of being in a European Union without there always being the "but..." as ridiculous idiocies stream out of the place (note, I'm not talking about the Daily Mail sort of stories that are usually made up anyway, I mean things like the EU's anti-corruption police going after the whistleblowers rather than the offenders.. that sort of thing).

As things stand, the EU is an unworkable monstrosity that probably does more to provide funds for organized crime that the rest of the Mafia's operations put together.  But it's impossible to tell, because they've not had their accounts signed off for decades.

Right now the young toff is being courted by the American right-wing media.  He appeared on three FOX News propaganda shows in 48 hours after he gave his 3/24 rebuttal to PM Brown's speech. 

Hannan wrote speeches for conservative MP's and for the Torygraph.  He further ingratiated himself to American right-wingers by saying he would have voted for Ron Paul.

I confess I don't know nearly enough about the politics of the EU to offer much in the way of critique of Hannan; however, Hannan did compare President of the European Parliament Hans-Gert Potter to Hitler by saying Potter was a decent man and he wouldn't compare his changes to parliamentary rules to the Enabling Act of 1933.

It's like saying, "Listen mate, I'm not gonna call you an asshole because you're a nice guy, but..."

I dunno, I guess I'm a little skeptical of the affinity certain Britons on this board have for Hannan.  I can understand frustration with the bureaucratic bumbling of the EU and Hannan is charismatic and seems commonsensical.  There are many times I have agreed with American far right politicos such as Pat Buchanan and Ron Paul, but then I always have to pull the reins and say, "Whoahhh!"

Of course, Buchanan and Paul have always been on the outside looking in, whereas Hannan seems to be entrenched in the machine itself.

Of course, Buchanan and Paul have always been on the outside looking in, whereas Hannan seems to be entrenched in the machine itself.
Not really: MEPs aren't really establishment sorts of figures, especially Eurosceptic Tory ones... being a Eurosceptic MEP must leave a guy with psychological problems, though: you're basically trying to argue yourself out of a job... a very well-paid expenses-rich sinecure of a job.

.. being a Eurosceptic MEP must leave a guy with psychological problems, though: you're basically trying to argue yourself out of a job... a very well-paid expenses-rich sinecure of a job.


One knocked on my door a few years back when the Euro-elections were in swing...

Once he told me who he represented and why, I had trouble taking the poor bloke seriously!

(Mind you, this day and age, I find it difficult in taking any politician seriously!)

Not really: MEPs aren't really establishment sorts of figures, especially Eurosceptic Tory ones... being a Eurosceptic MEP must leave a guy with psychological problems, though: you're basically trying to argue yourself out of a job... a very well-paid expenses-rich sinecure of a job.


So Hannan's trying to get his 15 minutes of fame?
???

So Hannan's trying to get his 15 minutes of fame?
???


Well, cynical old me is thinking along the lines of...

'Yikes! I'm up for re-election in June! I'd better say some things that the plebby electorate want to hear!'  ::)

Well, cynical old me is thinking along the lines of...

'Yikes! I'm up for re-election in June! I'd better say some things that the plebby electorate want to hear!'  ::)


I might have thought the same thing, except that when you make a speech in the European Parliament, you usually don't expect anyone to ever hear it unless they too are MEPs. The fact that this video went viral was beyond his control. It was a fluke. But you are right about one thing: people did want to hear what he had to say, hence the enormous success of the video. 

Well, cynical old me is thinking along the lines of...

'Yikes! I'm up for re-election in June! I'd better say some things that the plebby electorate want to hear!'  ::)


He knows if he doesn't get re-elected, he'll wind up on the dole and read romance novels all day!
:D

He knows if he doesn't get re-elected, he'll wind up on the dole and read romance novels all day!
:D

European elections in the UK are done via a party list system, so we don't even get to choose the people who represent us in Europe. He doesn't have to appeal to the electorate to make sure he's returned to the European Parliament, he needs to appeal to the party hierarchy. :(

He was on the tube again tonight warning us Yanks about the evils of socialism. 

If Hannan loses his seat, he can move over here to NYC and FOX News will give him a job!
::)