Elections
The waning authority of the Iranian regime
Reuel Marc Gerecht, a former CIA Middle East hand, has an interesting analysis of the huge news from Iran, the Association of Researchers and Teachers of Qum have declared the… Continue reading
3 CommentsLacking in boldness
David Miliband is right that political parties need to adapt if they are to survive. Membership of all the main parties are down and the number of activists they can… Continue reading
7 CommentsMassive development in Iran, Qum begins to turn against the regime
The situation in Iran might have been knocked off the front pages in recent days and the regime does seem to have regained control of the streets. But things are… Continue reading
14 CommentsMore worrying news from Iran
I’m just catching up with the latest New Yorker over brunch, and would recommend that CoffeeHousers read their eyewitness account of the Tehran protests: it captures the scale and sweep… Continue reading
1 CommentThe View from the North
Away from the BNP and the Woes of Brown (which sounds like an Aberfeldy tea-room or something) the other notable european result came in Scotland where the SNP’s handsome victory… Continue reading
4 CommentsWhat to make of the BNP’s success?
What to make of the BNP’s success in Northern England last night? Regrettable, even infuriating for sure. A consequence of this government’s failure and, it might as well be said,… Continue reading
21 CommentsTo vote or not to vote?
I’d been thinking that I might as well vote today but Chris Dillow makes a pretty good case for not bothering to endorse any of the parties seeking one’s support.… Continue reading
12 CommentsWild Times
It’s all getting very strange, isn’t it? Now that Esther Rantzen has thrown her hat into the ring, anything is possible. Among the twitterati everyone and his dog is discussing… Continue reading
7 CommentsPollsters Go To War
I sometimes wonder about pollsters and political consultants. That is, I wonder if they are rather like the financial Masters of the Universe whose mastery turns out, it seems, to… Continue reading
1 CommentThe PR Problem
Reacting to the Israeli election result, Patrick Hennessy plays out a scenario in which Britain adopted the Israeli electoral system. He suggests it would all end badly and that the… Continue reading
10 CommentsThe Opening Salvo
What I am about to do makes me more nervous than any other piece of writing I have embarked on since my first forays into journalism in the late 1980s.… Continue reading
33 CommentsMeanwhile, in Virginia…
As voting gets underway across the United States, have a look at this TV ad from a Congressional race in Virginia. I do wish we had stuff like this in… Continue reading
0 CommentsPolitical Advertising 23
What do you do when your candidate has a funny name folk don’t know how to pronounce? Why, you release an ad like this one for Adlai Stevenson in 1952:
0 CommentsPolitical Advertising 22
Reagan vs Mondale, 1984. Reaganomics vs Mondalenomics. It has to be said that not all the claims in this ad were proven correct by subsequent events.
0 CommentsPolitical Advertising 20
From 1980, here’s Nancy Reagan striding in to bat for her husband.
0 CommentsPresidential Advertising 19
A classic theme from Ronald Reagan in 1984. And, of course, an ad designed to drive trades union members into an apopleptic fit.
0 CommentsPolitical Advertising 18
Is this the most famous presidential ad of all? Perhaps! Anyway, we’re back in 1964 and LBJ wanrs that Barry Goldwater will end up incinerating your children. Tough stuff.
1 CommentObama-McCain Round Two
Who won? Well, Obama of course. That's not just my impression. Or yours. It's also the view of the lads* at Election Debates where grizzled debating veterans from Australia, the… Continue reading
2 CommentsPolitical Advertising 17
Frank Sinatra cuts an ad for Hubert Humphrey in 1968 and they don’t even ask him to sing? And what’s with the Mafia Don setting? Strange.
0 CommentsPolitical Advertising 16
Divided loyalties? JFK reassures voters in 1960 that they need not fear a Roman Catholic in the Oval Office.
4 Comments