Half of Lib-Dem shadow cabinet have "no confidence" in him

[Jografer]

Does this mean he has been lying through his teeth all this time

..when you're a LibDem this is known as leading from the front...

 

[girasol]

Magneze posting ... grrr

Does this mean he has been lying through his teeth all this time about not having a problem? Or is this medical treatment a very recent thing?

Yep, he admitted as much. I'd say that this is the end for him as leader. A sad way to end it really, but good luck to him with his drink problem.

 

[magneze]

Mark Oaten & Lembit Opik have said that they won't stand ... I wonder who will ...

 

[articul8]

Yep, he admitted as much. I'd say that this is the end for him as leader. A sad way to end it really, but good luck to him with his drink problem.

I wouldn't rush to that judgement - I reckon that the reaction of most people will be sympathy and admiration for the man's courage in publically admitting his problem. (I don't you can fairly describe the denials of an alcoholic as 'lies' - everyone knows that the refusal to acknowledge a problem is symptomatic of alcoholism as a condition).

What's more, CK seems fairly popular with the membership of the lib dems, as opposed to the parliamentary party, (whilst its not saying much), his political judgement compares pretty favourably to the other party leaders.

 

[articul8]

Mark Oaten & Lembit Opik have said that they won't stand ... I wonder who will ...

maybe there won't even be a contest - I think this very possible, unless he falls off the wagon.

 

[magneze]

I wouldn't rush to that judgement - I reckon that the reaction of most people will be sympathy and admiration for the man's courage in publically admitting his problem. (I don't you can fairly describe the denials of an alcoholic as 'lies' - everyone knows that the refusal to acknowledge a problem is symptomatic of alcoholism as a condition).

Well, he hadn't "lied" more "mislead" really. It's just a fancy way of lying really IMO.

What's more, CK seems fairly popular with the membership of the lib dems, as opposed to the parliamentary party, (whilst its not saying much), his political judgement compares pretty favourably to the other party leaders.

Whilst that's true, the above admission after avoiding the issue for so long and the fact that almost 1/2 the shadow cabinet think he should go mean that the members should really get the message - CK getting back in again won't help the LibDems one bit - he will be seen as damaged goods, no matter how unfair or unjust that is.

 

[articul8]

CK getting back in again won't help the LibDems one bit - he will be seen as damaged goods, no matter how unfair or unjust that is.

I'm not so sure - if a footballer or an actor admits to a drink problem, quits, and returns to something like his best performance no-one says, "well i can't like him any more". Why should politics be any different? (that's assuming he really has overcome his problem - obviously if staggers into the chamber and spews at PMQ's his career might be affected a bit )

And people are always complaining that politicians don't seem like 'rea'l people...people might respect him for coming through a drink problem.

 

[magneze]

I know what you mean, but I think it's a naive point of view. There is a great difference between being a footballer and potentially running the country. Giving up the leadership may well help him recover too - think of the stress relief!

 

[rebel warrior]

Simon Hughes and Ming Campbell are standing against him I think...

 

[butchersapron]

Any thoughts on galloways imminent appearance on Celebrity Big Brother RW?

 

[rebel warrior]

Dont believe everything you read on Harry's Place...

[but in case it is true - how long is this celebrity thing going on for?]

 

[butchersapron]

I've never been on harrys place in my life - it was on R5 and in the east london advertiser or whatever his local paper is.

 

[magneze]

Any thoughts on galloways imminent appearance on Celebrity Big Brother RW?

Why don't they stick all the LibDem candidates in there? That'd make the contest far more fun!

 

[rebel warrior]

It looks like GG may well be on it then...

Apparently it lasts three weeks. My feelings about it are mixed.

Plus side: Respect has to fight a media blackout - we need media coverage and GG on Celebrity Big Brother will hopefully make sure there is noone in GB who does not know who Respect are or roughly what we are about by the end of it - that has to be a good thing.

Minus side: He could be in there for three weeks - thats three weeks Respect is without an MP effectively - and three weeks where his constituents dont have representation.

Also BB will edit him to fuck - he could make lots of sound points but this wont be broadcast while they will focus on him picking his nose or whatever.

Hmmm...

 

[marty21]

clever move by chuckle bum, flush out the challengers, go to the membership where he's probably more popular, shades of major, put up or shut up, forcing a liberal dem to do something they're not great at, putting the boot in

 

[TAE]

Does this mean he has been lying through his teeth all this time about not having a problem? Or is this medical treatment a very recent thing?

That to me is a far bigger issue than him having had a problem with alcohol.

 

[magneze]

That to me is a far bigger issue than him having had a problem with alcohol.

Indeed. Look here at some of the quotes ...

18 December 05 his office issued a statement rebutting Paul Marsden story in Mail on Sunday
"Paul Marsden is claiming that Charles Kennedy had a drink problem, which Charles Kennedy strenuously denies. The Mail on Sunday made clear that we dispute his 'facts' and his allegations."

On Dimbleby, ITV1, 18 December 05
Dimbleby asked: "Has it been a battle to stay off the booze, have you had to have medical support in any way at all?"
"No, no, no, that is not the case, it is a matter on all fronts - if there's something my doctor really wants me to do over this holiday period as a matter of fact, is give up smoking and I think he's right," said Mr Kennedy."

 

[articul8]

how many alcoholics do you know of that have never - at one point or other -denied they have had a problem/needed help to deal with it?

 

[tobyjug]

how many alcoholics do you know of that have never - at one point or other -denied they have had a problem/needed help to deal with it?

More to the point if all the alcoholic politicians had been kicked out of office over the last few hundred years we would be in really deep shit now.

 

[TAE]

So now we are expected to just let them lie to us and not complain? No thank you.

Many people have (had) a problem with alcohol, and everyone who struggles with any form of addiction has my sympathies, but when that addiction leads to the telling of lies (by a person in a position of public trust) then that is a very serious situation.

 

[Combustible]

- and three weeks where his constituents dont have representation.

Well they've managed for the past 7 months.

 

[William of Walworth]

On Dimbleby, ITV1, 18 December 05
Dimbleby asked: "Has it been a battle to stay off the booze, have you had to have medical support in any way at all?"
"No, no, no, that is not the case, it is a matter on all fronts - if there's something my doctor really wants me to do over this holiday period as a matter of fact, is give up smoking and I think he's right," said Mr Kennedy."

What on earth does the bit in bold mean???

 

[TAE]

I think he was saying that his health issues were a battle on all fronts, i.e. he was not having specific alcohol related treatment but just a general lifestyle improvement which included drinking less alcoholic drinks.

 

[William of Walworth]

Implying rather than saying then ....

 

[Mickey2star]

I think Charlie's going for the sympathy vote...

Clever strategy (in the short term) but I think politics will have its way in the end ...

 

[lewislewis]

He hasn't done the business, the LibDems should be making hay over Iraq and they aren't.

But the LibDems don't have policies, that's why they're the LibDems

Precisely. This is what I tell people when i'm out leafleting.

 

[Kid_Eternity]

This really aint a surprise…all the three leaders are on or have been on something:

Cameron: coke
Charley: booze
Blair: valium

Political leaders and substance abuse/dependency go hand in hand.

 

[Christo]

from BBC website... "Frontbencher Sandra Gidley, who signed the letter, said: "Charles must think hard about whether he has the personal strength to fight the triple demons of the Labour Party, the Conservative Party and the drink problem."

have to say have a lot of respect for Kennedy comin' out like this, fair enough he maybe isn't tough enough to get through this, but he's being hounded out by a bunch of soul-less wannabe's..

 

[magneze]

Excellent statement to a LibDem bloke from Krishnan on Channel 4 news: "He did more for you drunk than any of the rest of you did sober"

I shouldn't laugh, I know ...

 

[Kid_Eternity]

have to say have a lot of respect for Kennedy comin' out like this, fair enough he maybe isn't tough enough to get through this, but he's being hounded out by a bunch of soul-less wannabe's..

I think your view is the gamble him and his advisors are making with this. They were pretty much forced into "revealing" (it's a well known fact for a long time now just not uttered explicitly in the news) this and it makes sense they have to find a good angle to spin it along...