tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post1443179212766235265..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: Sorry Seems to be Gordon's Hardest WordIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-119154321115361182009-04-14T17:12:00.000+01:002009-04-14T17:12:00.000+01:00I think that Gordon Brown may genuinely have large...I think that Gordon Brown may genuinely have large psychological barriers in the way of him saying sorry.<br /><br />There's a surprisingly large academic body of work on the psychology of apologising. Perhaps less surprisingly, there is almost nothing on the psychology of politicians apologising.<br /><br />One article I read recently though is quite perceptive in identifying the structural reasons why it is difficult for political leaders to apologise. It's by a former lobbyist turned adjunct professor of law: <br />http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=1322130andrewhahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18033907326386770212noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-70861961902522499262009-04-14T16:18:00.000+01:002009-04-14T16:18:00.000+01:00Perhaps Gordon Brown is copying the example set by...Perhaps Gordon Brown is copying the example set by the Conservatives and David Cameron over the criminal conviction of their parliamentary candidate Ian Oakley for harassment and criminal damage against political opponents.<br /><br />This was:<br /><br />1. Refuse to comment on the grounds that Oakley had resigned and was nothing to do with them.<br /><br />2. Decline to hold any kind of inquiry or investigation into the Oakley affair.<br /><br />3. Maintain a stony silence for several months without even a word of sympathy for Oakley's victims.<br /><br />4. Several months after Oakley's conviction Cameron expresses 'regret', but does not directly apologise to the victims, and only then after he was put on the spot over the matter so he had little alternative but to comment.<br /><br />I hold no brief for McBride, Draper etc. or the way the government have handled this. But after the Conservative party's behaviour over Oakley, they are in no position to moralise.Iain Sharpehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07249331216466329232noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-16938057980593724842009-04-14T12:13:00.000+01:002009-04-14T12:13:00.000+01:00I have been looking forward to the Dorries apology...I have been looking forward to the Dorries apology to all women for her appalling behaviour during the Abortion Debate. And hell will freeze over.Simon Gardnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17189501697856123305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-23612042111961070692009-04-14T10:45:00.000+01:002009-04-14T10:45:00.000+01:00Javelin @07:45
Brown may be autistic, but I don'...Javelin @07:45<br /><br /><br />Brown may be autistic, but I don't think this explains his behaviour on this occasion. To me this is the act of a Sociopath.Roger Thornhillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03591327286533118901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-66978918280107645482009-04-14T10:35:00.000+01:002009-04-14T10:35:00.000+01:00To be fair, the murky world of political blogging ...To be fair, the murky world of political blogging has been under question for many years. <br /><br />And to be fair, the entire genre is tory invented. For years, guys like Guido Fawkes and Iain Dale have used the unregulated nature of the internet, from their offshore hideouts, to slander, smear, and spread rumour.<br /><br />They claim to be independent. I really doubt Ian Dale and Guido Fawkes are any more independent than the recently proposed Red Rag, in which the aim was to COUNTER the murky things that go on in tory political blogging in the first place.<br /><br />It was only last year that Mr. Fawke’s (who’s e-mail address has recently been linked to a Tory HQ server) was claiming John Prescott had had numerous affairs in the last decade. Speculation, he felt no need to apologise for.<br /><br />If you live by the word, mr Dale, you die by the sword.<br /><br />Mr Cameron and Viscount Osborne can hardly complain that their private lives (STDs, blacking up, cross dressing) is now being gossiped about in public.<br /><br />And you can hardly criticise it. You basically invented the genre of poking and prodding rival MPs, from your offshore haven. Probably on the payroll of Cameron himselfMr. Musicologyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09256668127348511450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-15782944379571209802009-04-14T09:54:00.000+01:002009-04-14T09:54:00.000+01:00Ah, the lovely Mr Piper manifests himself.
What...Ah, the lovely Mr Piper manifests himself. <br /><br />What does he think of this action by one of Brown's closest aides? What does he think is reasonable and honourable behaviour by MPs? What does etc etc<br /><br />Nope, his sole contribution here is to proffer personal insult. Standard NuLab tactics - Man not Ball. Despicable - but entirely predictable.<br /><br />What he should understand is that the public have, finally, rumbled him and his colleagues. The public now see them for what they are - devious, manipulative, amoral, unprincipled scum.Unsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307116169498533047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-40357246509317183312009-04-14T09:48:00.000+01:002009-04-14T09:48:00.000+01:00Attacks on Tom Watson implicate Gordon. Here's wha...Attacks on Tom Watson implicate Gordon. Here's what one cabinet minister said about Watson (and his mate Ian Austin) at the time of the plot to oust Blair in September 2006:<br /><br />"These are the type of guys that don't get out of bed in the morning and break wind without first checking with Gordon whether it's okay".Oscar Millerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09423019456579337438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-28479758220358377152009-04-14T09:43:00.000+01:002009-04-14T09:43:00.000+01:00He's incapable of sarry "Sorry" which is why this ...He's incapable of sarry "Sorry" which is why this Smeargate Scandal will run and run.<br /><br />Tom Watson is surely toast!<br /><br /><A HREF="http://therantingkingpenguin.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">The Penguin</A>Hacked Offhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08016667577546745576noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-6521486353946152972009-04-14T09:26:00.000+01:002009-04-14T09:26:00.000+01:00Yesterday Alan Johnson was on the radio defending ...Yesterday Alan Johnson was on the radio defending Brown’s refusal to apologise (why?) with the lame excuse that if he were to apologise for every little incident it would “devalue the worth of apologies”. Good grief! <br /><br />It would be a first if Brown were to apologise for <I>anything</I>.Windsor Tripehoundhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16923036087016324862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-49826380143821824822009-04-14T09:11:00.000+01:002009-04-14T09:11:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.strapworldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18228784526399929300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-335342219017779042009-04-14T09:10:00.000+01:002009-04-14T09:10:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.strapworldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18228784526399929300noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-5354846198724789222009-04-14T08:41:00.000+01:002009-04-14T08:41:00.000+01:00And can anyone -say 20 years ago- have imagined th...And can anyone -say 20 years ago- have imagined the Daily Telegraph becoming such a partisan and fawning supporter of the Labour government? And such a repressive one at that?<br /><br /><A HREF="http://thatsnews.blogspot.com/2009/04/smeargatedrapergate-this-story-will-run.html" REL="nofollow">'I'm Backing Labour' says Telegraph</A>Martin Shttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04148241391183658112noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39912506967822122472009-04-14T08:33:00.000+01:002009-04-14T08:33:00.000+01:00Has anyone apart from me notice that Our Beloved l...Has anyone apart from me notice that Our Beloved leader is becoming to look more and more like Ronny Kray as every day passes.repossessed house investorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16424689825336760638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-73569175978957264862009-04-14T08:28:00.000+01:002009-04-14T08:28:00.000+01:00Did Phil Spector produce 'sorry seems to be the ha...Did Phil Spector produce 'sorry seems to be the hardest word'?Dick the Prickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02683095612320513712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-60427661184769971952009-04-14T08:19:00.000+01:002009-04-14T08:19:00.000+01:00I must be very naive, but I can't understand why G...I must be very naive, but I can't understand why Gordon Brown hasn't resigned, let alone apologised.<br /><br />He hasn't even had the bottle to be interviewed in person but has just pushed forward his henchmen, who obviously say it's not his fault.<br /><br />We have had resignations from heads of banks and large public companies, from heads of NHS trusts, government departments and also heads of large councils and their departments. <br /><br />These people do not know everyone working under them, they don't know every action that their employees are taking, but they resigned. When "baby P" dies there was rightly an outcry and the head of childrens services had to resign. She didn't control all the social workers directly, but as head of the department the buck stopped with her.<br /><br />Gordon Brown is head of the government and is in charge of the number 10"machine". That being the case, the buck stops with him and he should resign.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-72063765312480566612009-04-14T08:01:00.000+01:002009-04-14T08:01:00.000+01:00Order-order is downOrder-order is downjavelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04685858339910528013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-25540608734980448132009-04-14T07:45:00.000+01:002009-04-14T07:45:00.000+01:00Martin day - that's a good point. Brown will have ...Martin day - that's a good point. Brown will have been told he is not popular with women. Simply because women recognize how far along the AUTISTIC spectrum he is [ not wishing to offend autistic kids and under stand the autistic spectrum is from Cambridge and has a negative effect on research - but women do tend to use it as a reference point ]. Autism also ties in with his lack of ability to apologize - which is basically looking somebody in thehe eye and contacting with them at a social level.javelinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04685858339910528013noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-89590875998559605682009-04-14T07:34:00.000+01:002009-04-14T07:34:00.000+01:00He's not the only one is he? How long till you apo...He's not the only one is he? How long till you apologise for alleging that Tom Watson "either tacitly or overtly encouraged McBride to send more" emails?<br /><br />Like the attack on you - but unlike the other disgraceful McBride slurs, this one was published - and is still there on your blog.Mike Hobdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897975575435975984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-43281133091863610122009-04-14T07:32:00.000+01:002009-04-14T07:32:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by the author.Mike Hobdayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05897975575435975984noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-34632073563327486022009-04-14T04:11:00.000+01:002009-04-14T04:11:00.000+01:00Iain,
You are indeed owed an apology - by one or ...Iain,<br /><br />You are indeed owed an apology - by one or two unhappy commenters on this blog! <br /><br />Yes the apology you refer to would be from Draper not Brown. I don't think the likes of Bob Piper get that.<br /><br />You clearly now have much more influence as a blogger than you ever would as an MP. Keep up the good work.Patrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05577562096155323258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-14654935002033171722009-04-14T03:28:00.000+01:002009-04-14T03:28:00.000+01:00Bob Piper,
We are all owed an apology. Well all y...Bob Piper,<br /><br />We are all owed an apology. Well all you UK residents who funded McBride's smear activities through your taxes.Dual Citizenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05688872768973943522noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-53011225913652116802009-04-14T03:10:00.000+01:002009-04-14T03:10:00.000+01:00This is very simple. Brown is a bully. We've all...This is very simple. Brown is a bully. We've all known bullies - we've all (in one way or another) had the experience of being bullied. Iain is experiencing it right now.<br /><br />Serious bullies, like Brown, are very disturbed people. They erect massive shields - using good old cognitive dissonance - to protect themselves from the reality of what they are doing. (e.g. "I'm not a bully, I'm just imposing some much needed discipline.")<br /><br />Brown/Stalin really has convinced himself that there's nothing wrong with any of this. He believes, deep down that it's for the good if those who threaten his hold on power are neutralised. The son of the manse really does see himself as our saviour.<br /><br />Scary, isn't it?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-13189556774888203682009-04-14T01:58:00.000+01:002009-04-14T01:58:00.000+01:00I find the response of Alan Johnson to all this so...I find the response of Alan Johnson to all this somewhat confusing…<br /><br />The argument he seems to have been told to peddle is that Gordon Brown has no need to apologise for this because he is not personally responsible for it. This is a really strange line of reasoning for me. Gordon Brown is surely responsible for the people who work in his office in much the same way that Richard Branson is responsible for employees of Virgin Airways. If Virgin Airways loose my luggage (which they frequently do), then I might get a nice letter from a manager saying sorry, even though he had nothing to do with it. If it is a particularly bad experience, then some drone might write a letter and stamp it with Beardy Branson’s signature. <br /><br />I think the same applies here. I don’t think Gordon Brown knew anything about these emails. However, they were sent by employees who he has direct responsibility for. They were part of Gordon Brown Inc if you will. If he comes out and says sorry for the fact these emails were sent by Gordon Brown Inc, it would do him the world of good. By refusing to say sorry, it only heightens the suspicion that he might have knew about them in some way. I put it to that bloke from the Mirror (whatever his name is) that this is the real thing real people are talking about down the pubs…John Moorcrafthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08371423149892555902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-78297514886140442162009-04-14T01:38:00.000+01:002009-04-14T01:38:00.000+01:00This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36820775805174446102009-04-14T01:16:00.000+01:002009-04-14T01:16:00.000+01:00Typical lying Gorgon Brown putting the cart before...Typical lying Gorgon Brown putting the cart before the horse: it's because politics is damaged that this happened; it isn't that this damaged politics.James Dowdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11058389162481491681noreply@blogger.com