Dave vs. Dave
The Tories have a new leader, and it turns out that the younger, less grizzled Dave has come out on top in the Dave vs. Dave deathmatch. Yes, David Cameron has the pleasure of being named the next sacrificial lamb- sorry, Tory Leader to face down Tony Blair and the Labour juggernaut- (that even I have to admit is looking a bit creaky nowadays). Cameron's margin of victory: 134,446 votes to 64,398 for David Davis. Reaction and the basics from the BBC, more thoughts from the Independent (Gordon Brown, Labour's Heir Apparent is getting his mojo working already, taking potshots at the new guy...) and check this out from the Independent as well- talk about a wise bet:
The Guardian weighs in, as does the Times and the Telegraph.
My thoughts: I think they've finally done it. I think they've managed to pull their heads out of their asses and pick someone sensible for once. Not only is David Cameron young and telegenic (at 39), but he's had a relatively quick rise that means he probably won't be able to pinned with the usual Labour potshots about what so and so did when they were in such and such a position during the last Conservative government. So I think the Tories have probably taken a great step forward in shaking the image of them being the party of pensioners and old people with this choice. I'm not sure yet how much they'll be able to appeal to the hip and cool crowd in the British electorate, but at least now they sort of have a valid case to make.
Cameron is also starting with one hell of a mountain to climb. In many ways (but not all) the Tories are in sort of the same position that the Democrats are. Their ideology and their ideas were dominant in British politics for most of the last century, and then suddenly they ran out of gas and were thrown out on their ear by a resurgent opposition that had ideas and teeth. (Of course, the Democrats have more problems than just a lack of new ideas, but I don't want to get sidetracked here, otherwise I'll be here all day.) Dave is speaking a great deal about 'compassionate conservatism', which had better mean something a lot different in the UK than it does here- but I think that with Dave's election to the job of Tory leader, there's been a sort of realization that as a party, they need an image makeover (and with a young, dynamic, telegenic leader they might have that in spades) and they also need to reinvent and redefine conservatism in Britain for the twenty-first century if they are ever to have a realistic shot at getting back into power. And given Cameron's ties to the more moderate leftish set of the so-called 'Notting Hill Modernizers' he may be the leader to do just that.
But, all in all I'd say a good choice and a very good move on the part of the Tories. Mr. Cameron will have to find his footing a bit, but we'll see how things go. (His first Prime Minister's Questions is tomorrow! But given the fact that the roomie is sleeping on the couch now to preserve the health of his back, I'll probably have to wait until Sunday to catch the replay on C-SPAN, as I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate being rousted out of bed at 6 am, just so I can catch it live.)
* Mr Cameron's triumph was worth £208,000 to a Windsor-based Irish businessman customer of bookmakers William Hill, who staked £200,000 a fortnight ago when Mr Cameron was 1/25 favourite. Before the Conservative Party Conference, he was a 12/1 outsider.
The Guardian weighs in, as does the Times and the Telegraph.
My thoughts: I think they've finally done it. I think they've managed to pull their heads out of their asses and pick someone sensible for once. Not only is David Cameron young and telegenic (at 39), but he's had a relatively quick rise that means he probably won't be able to pinned with the usual Labour potshots about what so and so did when they were in such and such a position during the last Conservative government. So I think the Tories have probably taken a great step forward in shaking the image of them being the party of pensioners and old people with this choice. I'm not sure yet how much they'll be able to appeal to the hip and cool crowd in the British electorate, but at least now they sort of have a valid case to make.
Cameron is also starting with one hell of a mountain to climb. In many ways (but not all) the Tories are in sort of the same position that the Democrats are. Their ideology and their ideas were dominant in British politics for most of the last century, and then suddenly they ran out of gas and were thrown out on their ear by a resurgent opposition that had ideas and teeth. (Of course, the Democrats have more problems than just a lack of new ideas, but I don't want to get sidetracked here, otherwise I'll be here all day.) Dave is speaking a great deal about 'compassionate conservatism', which had better mean something a lot different in the UK than it does here- but I think that with Dave's election to the job of Tory leader, there's been a sort of realization that as a party, they need an image makeover (and with a young, dynamic, telegenic leader they might have that in spades) and they also need to reinvent and redefine conservatism in Britain for the twenty-first century if they are ever to have a realistic shot at getting back into power. And given Cameron's ties to the more moderate leftish set of the so-called 'Notting Hill Modernizers' he may be the leader to do just that.
But, all in all I'd say a good choice and a very good move on the part of the Tories. Mr. Cameron will have to find his footing a bit, but we'll see how things go. (His first Prime Minister's Questions is tomorrow! But given the fact that the roomie is sleeping on the couch now to preserve the health of his back, I'll probably have to wait until Sunday to catch the replay on C-SPAN, as I'm sure he wouldn't appreciate being rousted out of bed at 6 am, just so I can catch it live.)
posted by Tom @ 5:02 PM
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