h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

A Liberal Democrat election broadcast, using the parallel of the above fable with Blair's search for WMDs. It's quite clever, if you ask me, and almost induced a smile.

'The boy (who wears a red tie) showed the evidence to Howie (who wears a blue tie...understand?), the boy across the street'. The evidence is a photograph of a flock of sheep. "Now, these may look like sheep, but what do we know about wolves," says the boy. "They dress up in sheep's clothing!". &c. This isn't an accurate transcript, and you have to see it to laugh at it, really.

But the real point is, don't you think this is going on a bit? Yes, Blair has got himself into a right mess, but, as Blair himself said (to get himself out of the mess), are the other parties focussing on Iraq because they haven't got anything to say about the issues that matter? The issues that will affect the country directly are surely more important, and although the 'boy who cried wolf' parallel is mildly amusing, I find myself wondering whether the other parties cannot find a better use of their time.

It's no wonder there is such apathy among the electorate when all the parties just keep on and on about the same thing. I thought at the time that going into Iraq was a bad decision and I still do, but this happend two years ago - lets move on!

with respect - the decision to go to war in Iraq may have taken place two years ago, but the consequences of it are still taking place today.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/4505047.stm

I'll move on when those responsible are held to account.

I entirely agree that the effects are still being felt (and will continue to be felt for at least the next 20 years) but my point is that we can't go back and change the past and keep going on and on about it isn't going to fix it. If the politicians must talk about Iraq, how about coming up with a solution to the mess we are already in?

I have to say I enjoyed the "boy who cried wolf" PPB up to a point - ie. the bit where Charles Kennedy came on to explain it all for us - did he really need to? Surely if the bit at the beginning was so good - it wouldn't need explaining!

IMHO it was the worst PPB in living memory narrated by that most irritating Sandy Toxic Stick whoever and whatever she is. So far the Lib Dems have conducted a mature, reasoned campaign but in a single bound they raise the image of tree hugging, sandal wearing, happy clappy right on brother ageing hippies. It was enough to convince me to spoil my ballot paper.

Are these the same Lib/Dems who promised us no negative campaigning?