Comments on: Was age or lack of charisma the reason Ming quit? http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/ MCIPR, PRESS CONSULTANT, JOURNALIST, POLITICAL AND PR BLOGGER. Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:00:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Cheezy http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46873 Cheezy Thu, 18 Oct 2007 08:07:53 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46873 That's a fair point (although McCain is a scary guy, I think). That’s a fair point (although McCain is a scary guy, I think).

]]> By: Ellee http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46870 Ellee Thu, 18 Oct 2007 07:07:36 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46870 U.S.Senator John McCain, 71, doesn't think he is too old to throw his hat in the presidential race, and takes his 95-year-old mother campaigning with him. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7049982.stm U.S.Senator John McCain, 71, doesn’t think he is too old to throw his hat in the presidential race, and takes his 95-year-old mother campaigning with him.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7049982.stm

]]> By: Welshcakes Limoncello http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46824 Welshcakes Limoncello Wed, 17 Oct 2007 14:47:01 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46824 I think you're a bit hard on him, Ellee. He was just too much of a gentleman for the job. As for Bruce, it's a pity he wasn't more gentlemanly to his first wife! I think you’re a bit hard on him, Ellee. He was just too much of a gentleman for the job. As for Bruce, it’s a pity he wasn’t more gentlemanly to his first wife!

]]> By: Cheezy http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46803 Cheezy Wed, 17 Oct 2007 08:03:29 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46803 Bearing in mind that most of the candidates for the leadership of the Lib Dems (back when Kennedy was ousted) turned out to have some kind of sexual skeleton in the closet, they must have thought they were taking the safe option by opting for someone of Ming's advancing years! Well, I guess it <i>was</i> safe, but it wasn't successful. In a way it was quite sad to see someone so commanding in one role (as a forthright and articulate Shadow Foreign Secretary) become so toothless and floundering once he's stepped up to the leadership. Some of the remarks about Ming's age (especially in the House) were pretty cheap and tawdry though. Par for the political course then. Bearing in mind that most of the candidates for the leadership of the Lib Dems (back when Kennedy was ousted) turned out to have some kind of sexual skeleton in the closet, they must have thought they were taking the safe option by opting for someone of Ming’s advancing years!

Well, I guess it was safe, but it wasn’t successful.

In a way it was quite sad to see someone so commanding in one role (as a forthright and articulate Shadow Foreign Secretary) become so toothless and floundering once he’s stepped up to the leadership.

Some of the remarks about Ming’s age (especially in the House) were pretty cheap and tawdry though. Par for the political course then.

]]> By: Jean-Luc Picard http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46770 Jean-Luc Picard Tue, 16 Oct 2007 19:56:53 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46770 Are you saying that Brucie ought to be leader of the Lib Dems! Are you saying that Brucie ought to be leader of the Lib Dems!

]]> By: Quasar9 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46765 Quasar9 Tue, 16 Oct 2007 18:32:33 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46765 It really does seem the mean acerage political life expentancy of an opposition (conservative or liberal) leader is less than that of some premier league football managers. Sad to see Min (Menzies Campbell) go, he added a bit of Age if not gravitas to the british political spectrum - but the liberals aren't really sufficient in numbers to risk a debate of whether they are to the centre left or centre right. At best all they can do is help to keep Labour out as during the Thatcher year, and keep Conservatives out during the Blair years. As to what their effect will be in the Gordon years remains to be seen. Hope David Cameron lasts longer than the grey guy, and William Hague or Ian Duncan Smith. If anything because you really have no one else as well known as Gordon he's been in the public eye for 12 years 'shadowing' Blair, and has the gravitas from having been Chancellor of the Exchequer for Ten. The Conservatives need to build One Man, no matter what happens at the next general election, and give him time to develop his public profile and a conservative agenda. Else the conservatives will become as inarticulate, indecisive and wishy-washy as the LibDems, with Gordon Brown steaming ahead full throttle like a juggernaut, with no opposition able to stand in his way. And failing some major blunder, disaster or scandal - that's the way the next general election is looking. Not because it is the Will of God, not because of any definite Brown Legacy or Socialist Ideals, but thru the total chaos and confusion evident in the ranks of the opposition. It really does seem the mean acerage political life expentancy of an opposition (conservative or liberal) leader is less than that of some premier league football managers.

Sad to see Min (Menzies Campbell) go, he added a bit of Age if not gravitas to the british political spectrum – but the liberals aren’t really sufficient in numbers to risk a debate of whether they are to the centre left or centre right. At best all they can do is help to keep Labour out as during the Thatcher year, and keep Conservatives out during the Blair years. As to what their effect will be in the Gordon years remains to be seen.

Hope David Cameron lasts longer than the grey guy, and William Hague or Ian Duncan Smith. If anything because you really have no one else as well known as Gordon he’s been in the public eye for 12 years ’shadowing’ Blair, and has the gravitas from having been Chancellor of the Exchequer for Ten.

The Conservatives need to build One Man, no matter what happens at the next general election, and give him time to develop his public profile and a conservative agenda. Else the conservatives will become as inarticulate, indecisive and wishy-washy as the LibDems, with Gordon Brown steaming ahead full throttle like a juggernaut, with no opposition able to stand in his way. And failing some major blunder, disaster or scandal – that’s the way the next general election is looking. Not because it is the Will of God, not because of any definite Brown Legacy or Socialist Ideals, but thru the total chaos and confusion evident in the ranks of the opposition.

]]> By: Catriona Mackenzie http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46759 Catriona Mackenzie Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:53:26 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46759 It's an ageist society Ellee. It's a damn shame I feel really sorry for the bloke. He has basically been bullied into resigning by the press and by significant members of his own party. I think this kind of thuggish behaviour should be exposed. I think actually Ming did have charisma, he was just an old school politcian. It's really sad. The people within his own party who started this campaign should be exposed and humilated - flogging!! In public, throw a bunch of wet LIBDEM rosettes at their faces. I am actually rather pissed off about the fact that other parties did not come out and support him, because he was a victim of ageism and bullying. Really, not on. It’s an ageist society Ellee. It’s a damn shame I feel really sorry for the bloke. He has basically been bullied into resigning by the press and by significant members of his own party.

I think this kind of thuggish behaviour should be exposed. I think actually Ming did have charisma, he was just an old school politcian. It’s really sad. The people within his own party who started this campaign should be exposed and humilated – flogging!! In public, throw a bunch of wet LIBDEM rosettes at their faces.

I am actually rather pissed off about the fact that other parties did not come out and support him, because he was a victim of ageism and bullying. Really, not on.

]]> By: The Curmudgeon http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46758 The Curmudgeon Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:38:26 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46758 At age 73, campaigning for reelection, President Ronald Reagan said this in a televised debate with Walter Mondale: "I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent's youth and inexperience." (Source: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ronald_Reagan#1984_presidential_campaign" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia</a> There are ways to turn the issue around... if it shouldn't be an issue. At age 73, campaigning for reelection, President Ronald Reagan said this in a televised debate with Walter Mondale: “I will not make age an issue of this campaign. I am not going to exploit, for political purposes, my opponent’s youth and inexperience.” (Source: Wikipedia

There are ways to turn the issue around… if it shouldn’t be an issue.

]]> By: Liz http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46748 Liz Tue, 16 Oct 2007 14:27:51 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46748 Are you suggesting Brucie for PM? Now that would be different! Are you suggesting Brucie for PM? Now that would be different!

]]> By: Mountjoy http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/comment-page-1/#comment-46735 Mountjoy Tue, 16 Oct 2007 11:49:17 +0000 http://elleeseymour.com/2007/10/16/was-age-or-lack-of-charisma-the-reason-ming-quit/#comment-46735 The ageism used against Ming by the media was not very nice, considering how much of the electorate over 65 actually votes (over 80%, I believe). As worrying, Ellee, and totally off topic but relevant to one of your earlier posts, I cannot seem to buy a Banana Java Chip Frappuccino in any Starbucks as they say it was 'seasonal'. What, they still believe there are still seasons in the UK? After the wet summer and so-far-reasonably-pleasant autumn? The ageism used against Ming by the media was not very nice, considering how much of the electorate over 65 actually votes (over 80%, I believe).

As worrying, Ellee, and totally off topic but relevant to one of your earlier posts, I cannot seem to buy a Banana Java Chip Frappuccino in any Starbucks as they say it was ’seasonal’. What, they still believe there are still seasons in the UK? After the wet summer and so-far-reasonably-pleasant autumn?

]]>