The Line that Clegg missed

Brown and Cameron both went hard after Clegg on immigration. They used terms such as "caps" and "controls", most importantly calling his policy "amnesty". If I was Clegg I would have said "This is not the language of a fair open Britain, this the languange of American reactionaries". First, because it is. All of the words are used in the American right-wing lexicon to describe the moderate efforts for immigration reform lead by two crazy lefties named Bush and McCain. Second, Clegg can use this to show that he is the change in politics. But he is actually at the heart of being British. Finally, it could provide hours upon hours of clips comparing lines by Cameron and Brown to those of Rush Limbaugh and Tom Tancredo.

What Now?

Sorry I have not been blogging lately I have been feeling awful lately, I must have had some volcanic ash in my sinuses ;). Well the campaign had a huge shock with the Liberal Democrats making a big push in the poll. So what do each of the parties need to do to win. Conservatives need to focus on grabbing liberal votes. Push to make people look at Clegg like a normal politician. If he can get a 5 or 6 point lead over the LibDems, he can truly make the argument that he is the one who can oust Gordon Brown. Labour needs to trash Cameron, make him seem unbearable to the nation, if they can make him seem so bad, Labour can push themselves as the only party that can stop the CamMonster. LibDems need to find one more thing to keep excitement with his campaign. Cable and Clegg excitement will die soon, I believe a pledge not to support a government under Prime Minister Brown, could be more sure of the possibility of change. My suggestions all have the chance to fail miserably, but if you want power you must be daring.

Has the Cameron project failed?

Much has been made on how Cameron could de-toxify the Tory brand. That he could drive the Tories to a massive majority. He would be for the Conservaitve party what Tony Blair was for the Labour Party. And he is at about 33%. Nearly the same as Michael Howard had in 2005. I doubt that is what the Tories were buying when David Cameron was elected leader. Gains are going to be made off the fall of the Labour vote, but they could also lose seats to the surging Liberal Democrats. If he cannot deliver government to the Conservative party, he will be delivered to the back benches. The debates are now irrelevant unless Cameron can hit Clegg. If not the Cameron project may all be for not

"I agree with Nick"

This was the line that I read was most repeated tonight. So why would Cameron and Brown, especially Brown, do that. Is it because Nick Clegg is the genius and originator of all great British political thought? If it is true I doubt the Tory and Labour leaders believe it. No, the leaders are making a calculation based off statistics. In the last election the LibDems did very well in LAB-CON marginals. Both Brown and Cameron believe that they can squeeze this vote down. The doorstep line can be "Well the LibDems can't win here, and a lot of our policies are like the LibDems." Will it work? We won't know until May 6th.

A Bold Prediction

Take a deep breath.

The Liberal Democrats will not form a majority government.

Ok, everybody, including the Liberal Democrats know that. The point is how have they been so successful with everybody knowing that. Is there a persistant hope that a hung parliament will exist and the Lib Dems will be able to push their agenda in a coalition? A hung parliament has only happened once and even then a coalition was not formed. Is there a distinct ideological basis for the party? It appears to me to be a moderate, pragmatic party, which despite respectable qualities is not solid basis you would expect of a party nowhere near government. Is there a fatal flaw of the two major parties? This may be closer to the answer, but the Democrats and Republicans have been just as, or even more, useless in America. The answer is the Liberal Democrast always seem to get one person or policy that keeps them relevant. In the last election it was the Iraq war. Before it was personalities like Paddy Ashdown or in the alliance days Roy Jenkins. This election it is Vince Cable. At the launch of their party's platform (manifesto) Vince was very prominent, much more than Darling and Osborne. This is because "he gets it" say the media and the people seem to believe it to with the Lib Dems gaining to 23% in some polls. It may be true that he gets it, but it appears the Liberal Democrats will do just fine on May 6. Except for actually being relevant in decision making.