Mister M   1,605 #37 Posted April 8, 2013 What quality? It was sickening in the last decade I lived there. There was a strike of some sort every day. If it wasnt ASLEF on strike it was the NUR. I used to have travel a lot on the railways to work. They were horrible, dirty, old, never on time when they did manage to run for any lengthy period. Best thing that happened was deregulation  Then there were the overpaid miners. We had a couple of miners lived on our street. Their kids always got stuff at Christmas the rest of us could only dream of. They were as bad as the railway unions. If it wasnt trying to get home on shanks pony from work in the rain because no trains then it was shivering in the dark during brown outs because the miners were out again  You probably dont remember or were alive in those times. Britain today is far and away better than it was back then and much of it is the legacy of Thatcherism  I was alive and I do remember them. They were dark days for many, and I am remembering them today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
gnvqsos   10 #38 Posted April 8, 2013 you will never find any politician anywhere, from any country anywhere in the world, and who actually knew or had business of some sort with Bush, who thought he was stupid. Unlike Reagan, where it seems now, almost all of them - including his big ally Thatcher - really did think he was definitely not the sharpest tool in the box intellectually.  I don't believe a female president would have sat in a school classroom forten minutes when some rapid response was called for.A female president would have left the room making a dignified exit.Have you watched the footage where Bush is stubborn and indecisive-a female would have been flexible and analytical.I hope we get a female in the White House soon,like Eleanor Rosebelt Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Harleyman   12 #39 Posted April 8, 2013 Hardly a very constructive way to engage in debate.Do you mean PMs of European states or presidents-the two roles are not equivalent? ---------- Post added 08-04-2013 at 16:05 ----------   Excellent summary from the authentic voice of the USA.And Johnson even outshone Kennedy when in office.  Kennedy wasn't around long enough to be considered or judged as one of the better or worse Presidents. He certainly inspired a new generation with his speeches and of course if leaders appear on the surface to look as fit and good looking as top draw movie actors and are fathers like Beaver Cleaver's dad then the public just fall for it every time :hihi: Only much later do the real facts come to light  Johnson achieved much during his term. He was a wheeler dealer who knew how to cajole, bully and bribe Congres and Senate members to pass his domestic programs which did great things fo the country's poor and working class. For that he could be called one of the better Presidents.  Vietnam and his decison to continue the polices of Eisenhower and Kennedy towards that country were his downfall as we all know Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
gnvqsos   10 #40 Posted April 8, 2013 Kennedy wasn't around long enough to be considered or judged as one of the better or worse Presidents. He certainly inspired a new generation with his speeches and of course if leaders appear on the surface to look as fit and good looking as top draw movie actors and are fathers like Beaver Cleaver's dad then then the public just fall for it every time :hihi: Only much later do the real facts come to light Johnson achieved much during his term. He was a wheeler dealer who knew how to cajole, bully and bribe Congres and Senate members to pass his domestic programs which did great things fo the country's poor and working class. For that he could be called one of the better Presidents.  Vietnam and his decison to continue the polices of Eisenhower and Kennedy towards that country were his downfall as we all know I think a female would be even more conciliatory than LBJ in deal-breaking/making.I would like to see Merril Streap have a crack-she made a great PM in that film recently. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Harleyman   12 #41 Posted April 8, 2013 I don't believe a female president would have sat in a school classroom forten minutes when some rapid response was called for.A female president would have left the room making a dignified exit.Have you watched the footage where Bush is stubborn and indecisive-a female would have been flexible and analytical.I hope we get a female in the White House soon,like Eleanor Rosebelt  Yeah well be careful what you wish for. It could be Sarah Palin :hihi: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
gnvqsos   10 #42 Posted April 8, 2013 Yeah well be careful what you wish for. It could be Sarah Palin :hihi:  Is she related to Michael Payling of Python fame? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
Harleyman   12 #43 Posted April 8, 2013 I think a female would be even more conciliatory than LBJ in deal-breaking/making.I would like to see Merril Streap have a crack-she made a great PM in that film recently.  She's a great actress no doubt about it.... but a President ? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
callippo   10 #44 Posted April 8, 2013 Hardly a very constructive way to engage in debate.Do you mean PMs of European states or presidents-the two roles are not equivalent?  there were women governors of US states - huge areas in some cases half the size of western Europe at a time when women in the Britain under the age of 30 couldn't even vote. The USA was miles ahead of anywhere in Europe when it came to having women political representatives for decades. It is a bit of a quirk that there has so far not been a female US President. A quirk, because there have been over 30 women governors of states. These are very important political positions and are not in any way cosmetic. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
gnvqsos   10 #45 Posted April 8, 2013 She's a great actress no doubt about it.... but a President ?  Look at Robert Reagan,he was a poor actor and yet was a successful president,serving two terms.  ---------- Post added 08-04-2013 at 16:46 ----------  there were women governors of US states - huge areas in some cases half the size of western Europe at a time when women in the Britain under the age of 30 couldn't even vote. The USA was miles ahead of anywhere in Europe when it came to having women political representatives for decades. It is a bit of a quirk that there has so far not been a female US President. A quirk, because there have been over 30 women governors of states. These are very important political positions and are not in any way cosmetic.  It does not take much to govern large states like Wyoming as they are empty. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
mjw47 Â Â 10 #46 Posted April 8, 2013 How did she allow other countries to overtake us in output? Very simple really, if you recall she made a great deal of capitol out claiming prior to a European summit that she was going to 'handbag' them & return in triumph with a rebate. Well she did get a rebate, but I'm sure you're old enough to realize that no one gets 'owt for nowt'. The quid pro quo for helping her gain credit with the British electorate - which is all politicians care about - was that she agreed to cap industrial output in this country. In the immediate aftermath of that agreement both France & Italy increased their production to fill the void. Germany didn't need to do anything different as they were already beating the crap out of all competition. Where did I say there was a problem with the arms sale to Saudi? My point wasn't about the ethics of arms deals, it was about the ethics of the son of a Prime Minister receiving Millions in consultancy fees from a deal signed by his mother. What specialist knowledge do you think Mark Thatcher possesses that justified that kind of remuneration? Care to comment on that specific point? Â So, any thoughts Harleyman? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
gnvqsos   10 #47 Posted April 8, 2013 So, any thoughts Harleyman?  I think you are replying to your own post? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...
callippo   10 #48 Posted April 8, 2013 It does not take much to govern large states like Wyoming as they are empty.  the point is that American voters were willing to elect women leaders at a time when they were almost unknown in Europe. The USA was just miles ahead here and anybody trying to make out that it is in some way sexist compared to elsewhere, is getting it spectacularly wrong. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites Share this content via...