Anyone watch that Clegg/Farage debate?

[LDB]

I actually ended up feeling bad for Clegg, he's such an empty suit it was quite cringeworthy at times. You could easily make a drinking game out of every time he used the term "isolation" or made reference to turning a clock back. He perfectly demonstrated the arrogance of the political class, all he thought he had to do was parrot a few vague buzzwords and tell a couple of lies. Whatever you think of Farage or UKIP he absolutely wiped the floor with that featherweight. Just a shit Tony Blair.

[QuartzGooner]

No.

I just did not see any point.

The thing I want has never seemed available - which is a clear balance sheet of what EU membership earns the country, and how that would change if we either re-negotiated terms or left entirely.

One side produces one set of figures, the other side produces another set of figures.

[LDB]

No.

I just did not see any point.

The thing I want has never seemed available - which is a clear balance sheet of what EU membership earns the country, and how that would change if we either re-negotiated terms or left entirely.

One side produces one set of figures, the other side produces another set of figures.

What about democracy?

Incidentally it's hilarious that the Scots want "independence" and yet continue to allow 50% of their laws to be made by people even less accountable than Westminster.

[DB10GOONER]

I watched it and it just brought home how appallingly shit the Clegg/Cameron entity is that a vapid xenophobic piece of shit like Farage is actually looking like a serious alternative to alot of people. Appalling really...

But then again, all politicians are cuntpigs.

[DB10GOONER]

I watched it and it just brought home how appallingly shit the Clegg/Cameron entity is that a vapid xenophobic piece of shit like Farage is actually looking like a serious alternative to alot of people. Appalling really...

But then again, all politicians are cuntpigs.

Should also add I find UKIP's grovelling love of your German/Greek tax dodgers (or The Royal Family as they might also be known) appalling too.

Have I mentioned I find alot of this "appalling"?

[goonersid]

Have to say I agree with Farage's immigration policy, regarding benefits etc, that apart he is in my mind a racist.

[Bradywasking]

I watched it and it just brought home how appallingly shit the Clegg/Cameron entity is that a vapid xenophobic piece of shit like Farage is actually looking like a serious alternative to alot of people. Appalling really...

But then again, all politicians are cuntpigs.

How can you say that when all politicians on our island are currently covering themselves in glory. ???

[DB10GOONER]

I watched it and it just brought home how appallingly shit the Clegg/Cameron entity is that a vapid xenophobic piece of shit like Farage is actually looking like a serious alternative to alot of people. Appalling really...

But then again, all politicians are cuntpigs.

How can you say that when all politicians on our island are currently covering themselves in glory. ???

We certainly got the pick of the bunch, huh?

Uber Cuntpigs every single dirty thieving lying bastard one of them.

"Glory" is a euphemism for "other people's money", right?

[Bradywasking]

I watched it and it just brought home how appallingly shit the Clegg/Cameron entity is that a vapid xenophobic piece of shit like Farage is actually looking like a serious alternative to alot of people. Appalling really...

But then again, all politicians are cuntpigs.

How can you say that when all politicians on our island are currently covering themselves in glory. ???

We certainly got the pick of the bunch, huh?

Uber Cuntpigs every single dirty thieving lying bastard one of them.

"Glory" is a euphemism for "other people's money", right?

They are all playing the game, often thought the easiest job in the world must be a politician in opposition. sit there make stupid comments, turn everything into a political football and then get into power. once in power repeat the mistakes of the previous shower but try convince the world that you are doing it differently, meanwhile the previous shower sit and make stupid comments like you did when they were in power. easy as...
Tedious, mind numbing

[QuartzGooner]

No.

I just did not see any point.

The thing I want has never seemed available - which is a clear balance sheet of what EU membership earns the country, and how that would change if we either re-negotiated terms or left entirely.

One side produces one set of figures, the other side produces another set of figures.

What about democracy?

Incidentally it's hilarious that the Scots want "independence" and yet continue to allow 50% of their laws to be made by people even less accountable than Westminster.

Too busy dealing with my own life to get caught up in whether laws are made by Westminster or Brussels, either way it is not me who is making or enforcing those laws.
My heart says Westminster but I would give that up if EU membership makes our economy better.

My concern is how Europe affects the economy, and as I said, I cannot work out how it does or does not.

[northbank123]

Whatever you might think of Farage his populist views and charisma meant he was always going to wipe the floor with Clegg there. Clegg is a monumentally unimpressive man and frankly a bit of a laughing stock in the eyes of the British public. All sensible debate was inevitably going to be washed aside when it came to reviewing the contest and writing the headlines and I doubt Clegg won many people over.

It's a measure of the current state of the Lib Dem party that Clegg would even entertain the idea of this debate. Just a desperate attempt to distance himself from David Cameron and try and remind people that they exist as an independent party. Also perhaps they took the view that despite the publicity for Farage they wouldn't really lose any of their electoral support and the electoral damage would be far greater to the Tories and Labour. Also they can't realistically now hold the pre-election debate without Farage and you can bet Farage will be far more interested in going after the big two, possibly leaving the way for the Lib Dems to be seen as the only standing sensible option (like after the first debate in 2010) although probably clutching at straws.

I am far from a big fan of the EU but I reluctantly believe that it's in our best interests. I think a massive amount is made of the impact of EU law (which is mostly mundane regulations that don't really affect the UK) and stems from the fact that the overwhelming majority of people you meet do not know the difference between the European Court of Justice/EU and the European Court of Human Rights. I regularly hear people talk about the EU overstepping its boundaries legislatively, followed by an example based on a fundamental freedom (the pillars the EU is explicitly built upon) or a law stemming from the European Convention on Human Rights (which is nothing at all to do with them). How many laws could you name off the top of your head that the EU have passed that are grossly unjust or inconvenient? Far fewer than Westminster equivalents!

All this talk about renegotiating our treaty etc is rubbish - aside from the fact we lack the will for such negotiations there is no way we are getting EU-wide support for any favourable renegotiations at all. It's either stay in, or walk away and hope to be able to negotiate some form of useful

[Rosie_titters]

loss all respect for Clegg, when the weasel sold his soul to the tories, just Cameron's bitch

I thought Farage made a lot of sense, but his party will always be compared to the BNP, and fellow politican's will go on about them being homophobic, racist, etc, etc

I just think the country is fed up with Cameron and Clegg, no one really believes that dozy fucker Milliband will make any difference.

So people are tagging on to Good Ol Nige

[northbank123]

UKIP are not going to pose a serious threat in Westminster elections in the foreseeable future. Scratch beneath the surface and the party is filled with border-line lunatics. As I said they will be involved far more in the coverage for this election (including the debates imo) and I'm sure they'll try and diversify but they are a one-issue/protest vote at the moment.

[LDB]

How many laws could you name off the top of your head that the EU have passed that are grossly unjust or inconvenient? Far fewer than Westminster equivalents!

Not many because there is next to no reporting on what the European establishment actually does. The laws that the EU passes down are then rubber stamped in our Parliament which makes them look like products of our democracy when we actually have no choice but to adopt them. There are some fantastic politicians like Daniel Hannan who expose this racket for what it is but at the end of the day he has no audience and also comes up against attitudes like Quartz's. Don't care about who rules you until suddenly you have no power to change it. The EU has been steadily eroding our democracy for 60 years and yet nobody gives a shit? Maybe we get the politicians we deserve..

[LDB]

UKIP are not going to pose a serious threat in Westminster elections in the foreseeable future. Scratch beneath the surface and the party is filled with border-line lunatics.

Could be quite true but the party has the most important starting point and that's a leader. Attempts to smear Farage as racist have always been desperately pathetic and really shows how far our politics has fallen. But then I'm sure there are people who think the Tory party is racist so there's not much you can do against that level of childishness. UKIP needs more right-minded people behind Farage but the only way that's going to change is if people get off their arses, join the party and sideline the lunatics. Unfortunately I'm in a profession where it's best for me not to get politically involved but good luck to him, have always been impressed with Farage long before these debates.