Politics Alternate Universe Watch
posted by on October 5 at 9:12 AM
Can you guess who said these things in a speech yesterday?
There’s something special about marriage. It’s not about religion. It’s not about morality. It’s about commitment…. Pledging yourself to another means doing something brave and important. You are making a commitment. You are publicly saying: it’s not just about me, me me anymore. It is about we—together, the two of us, through thick and thin. That really matters.And by the way, it means something whether you’re a man and a woman, a woman and a woman or a man and another man.
Can you guess? I’ll give you another hint: It was the same guy who said this…
There is a price for progress in tackling climate change. Yes of course low-energy lightbulbs, hybrid cars - even a windmill on your roof…can make a difference and also save money.But these things are not enough. Government must show leadership by setting the right framework. Binding targets for carbon reduction, year on year. That would create a price for carbon in our economy.
What does that mean?
It means that things which produce more carbon will get more expensive. Going green is not some fashionable, pain-free option. It will place a responsibility on business. It will place a responsibility on all of us.
So who said those things? Al Gore? Barak Obama? Nancy Pelosi? No, no, and no. It was the new leader of the British conservatives. You can read his entire speech—and fantasize about one day having a similar conservative leader right here in the United States—by clicking here.
Via Sullivan.
Yeah, but have you seen The Queen with Helen Mirren yet? Oh yeah, probably hasn't opened in Seattle yet--I'm in New York--but she's fantastic and so is the movie.
If American voters wanted what British voters wanted, we'd have better Republicans. Ultimately Republicans are monsters because there's a constituency for bigotry and warmongering. We need better Americans.
Did you notice the Conservatives logo? They replaced a blue torch with a green tree.
Is this politician on the campaign trail, by chance?
Can we trade our conservative leaders for theirs?
It's an interesting situation in the UK, with Cameron tacking to the left and Blair continuing to tack to the right, so that in many ways Cameron has appeared more progressive than Blair. It's a tricky game, as he's in danger of losing the far-right of the party to UKIP. There's been a lot of Tory grumbling at this conference, apparently. But Cameron has been admirably blunt to the Tory old guard, telling them that they can't have tax cuts and that there will be no return to Thatcher politics.
Also, I think that Cameron really doesn't have a choice but to try to appeal to the left, because of the way that Labour has staked out such a wide swath of the electorate, from the center-left to the center-right. Labour can always expect union support as well as support from lifelong Labour voters who would be loyal no matter what, and that allowed them to swing right as far as foreign policy and privatisation (e.g. the NHS). The Tories can't criticize Labour for foreign policy because they went lock-step on Iraq, so it doesn't leave them with a lot of options to emphasize -- environmental issues, the NHS, and a fresh young leader who isn't Scottish.
Yeah, I saw The Queen with Helen Mirren in it last night - really good. And, for those who are/were British/Canadian/French, you'll have a nice cry too.
Loved the stag scenes.
oh, and the little dig at Tony Blair at the end - priceless! "This too will happen to you, Mr. Blair, someday." or words to that effect ...
The Queen is opening here on the 20th of October.
Some Labor MPs may still swoon over Tony, but the rank and file and backbenchers clearly have had it.
Tony's approval ratings are around 27%, and the Conservatives are on the rise, so "Kiss You Off" seems to be the message.
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