Jeremy Corbyn

[poliphilo]

I don't get it.

We'd like our politicians to show a little more conviction, right? That's what we've been saying, anyway.

So along comes this chap who fits the bill- beard, floppy cap, a set of robust left-wing principles (tax the rich, renationalise the railways, cancel Trident- all excellent policies to my way of thinking) plus a history of refusing to toe the party line-  and everyone (by which I mean the media- including the supposedly left-wing media) is going "He's a clown/idiot/dinosaur/Stalinist. We don't want him. He's unelectable. Give us a clone of George Osborne in a red tie!"

No I don't get it, I really don't.

Comments

[matrixmann]

That's because they want people only dressed in a red dress, not really being red. Red people are those clowns which fight fascists with a gun too and not try to garb them in a rainbow-colored ballon chain.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

We don't much like this boat we're in, but if you rock it we'll tip you overboard.

[matrixmann]

It would be soothing to be certain that this will be going to happen, but... currently, I don't know how realistic that would be. As long as you have the attitude "we always want to solve it with peaceful means under all unfavorable circumstances" as the common mindset, I don't guess that is going to happen.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

I've been wandering the Internet like the Ancient Mariner trying to get people to explain it to me, but so far I've failed to find anyone who can. The "critiques" in the Press never amount to more than what you've said above - basically just insults [ETA: e.g. the_jubjub_bird provides a typical example below] and dark warnings that he will consign Labour to oblivion. There's simply no engagement with his actual policies. And the fact that he appeals to younger voters (and, significantly, non-voters), rather than being seen as a plus, is simply used as an excuse to berate them for their naivete.

This weekend I asked my mother (90 years old, and mostly a Labour/SDP/LD voter) and my brother (not very political at all) what they thought, and they were both fans. "A breath of fresh air," said my brother. "His policies seem very sensible to me," said my mother. I really doubt they're atypical.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

You an' me both.

Latest news has 'them' wanting to postpone the leadership election because people might vote for the 'wrong' candidate at least in their eyes).

How dare they?!

[the-jubjub-bird.livejournal.com]

Corbyn would perfectly fit into Soviet Politburo or North Korea.

[glitzfrau.livejournal.com]

Let's not forgetting the massive immigrant-hating, selfish vote that propelled the Tories to power two months ago. They haven't gone away you know.

[steepholm.livejournal.com]

That's true, but there's still the other 75% of the electorate to be won over (including some Kippers).

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I've just been listening to Graham Stringer (I think that's the name) arguing the case for a postponement on Radio 4.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't think so. His nonconformity would get him shot or sent to the gulag in short order.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I've got to say the concerted response to his candidature
not only bewilders but distresses and frightens me. Has the British state and its media really become so monolithically neoliberal?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

But are they likely to vote for a Labour party that's marketing a slightly less deep blue version of Toryism? Why would they go for an imitation when they can have the real thing?

I think Labour is screwed right now- and its only chance of reinventing itself is to become a proper party of the left. Such a party might be unelectable now, but who knows what's going to happen down the line...

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I don't know, but I sincerely hope not!

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

Right now, I would settle for a proper party of the left in opposition. A party who actually, you know... oppose what the Tories are doing. I haven't heard a peep out of the current Labour front bench or any alternate policies.

[howlin-wolf-66.livejournal.com]

The lack of support from the left baffles me...

[the-jubjub-bird.livejournal.com]

At a later stage probably. But at first he would gladly participate in extermination of "Zionist bourgeoisie" and purges of less hard-left "comrades" as a man of solid principles.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

The current Labour front bench are pitiful.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Me too...

[puddleshark.livejournal.com]

I think we've reached a stage of free market capitalism where big business controls the media and has a fairly firm grip on government. Most New Labour politicians understand this and hope to be able to do a little to aid their poorer constituents while trying not to antagonise the media or the market. They're pragmatic, and power - albeit power to do the just thing - is more important than principles.

The problem is that most of the people who are natural Labour party supporters think it's the Labour Party's job to put people first and take a stand against big business and media control.

As an idealist, I would support Corbyn. He hasn't a hope of winning an election, but he would at least speak up in opposition. Someone needs to speak up - at the moment it doesn't feel like I'm living in a democracy.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't think Labour stand much chance of winning an election any time soon- no matter who their leader is- so they might as well put their backs into being a decent opposition.

And wait for the wind to turn- as I believe it eventually will.

[veronica-milvus.livejournal.com]

Just about to add something on this subject to my own LJ.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Going across to see what you have to say....