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This is an election leaflet from President Kibaki. The constant refrain is "you know I'll deliver". There are some pretty brazen promises, including doubling the size of the economy in five years. Well that's one he won't be able to keep as foreign companies are hardly likely to invest in a country that now appears on the verge of inter-tribal warfare. When I read the leaflet, it occurred to me that there aren't many British politicians who could use the phrase "you know I'll deliver" and keep a straight face - Gordon Brown being the most obvious example.
This reminds me of Pete Tyler in the new-style Doctor Who: "You can trust me on this!"
ReplyDeleteIt was such a good quote that I even used it in a recent one of my monthly Jottings columns.
Perhaps in a similar parallel universe Kibaki might also succeed, as Pete did...
Thatcher could have done.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's more a question of exactly what he'll deliver, isn't it?
ReplyDeleteI'm sure that there's the odd politician who could use "Sexual predation? You know I'll deliver..."
ReplyDeleteAnd after the next election, there'll be quite a few Labour MP's who will be able to say: "Pizza? You know I'll deliver..."
British living standards will exceed the US this year. That's down to the conduct of the Chancellor of the past ten years. Gordon Brown has delivered sustainable economic growth with low inflation, something no other post-war government has managed - and definitely something no Conservative government came close to. Gordon Brown has delivered prosperity.
ReplyDeleteDavid, you really are becoming the comical Ali of this blog. I read that article too. You conveniently left out the bit which said it's down to the exchange rate, which is more due to the weakness of the US economy and low exchange rates there, and the high interest rates here.
ReplyDeleteRead Tom Bower's book on Gordon Brown. It might wipe some of those cobwebs away from your eyes.
Iain,
ReplyDeleteWhy no comment on Brown's interview with sycophant Marr? Lie after lie after lie.
It would be so easy for a knowledgeable person such as yourself to tear his responses to shreds.......even on a Sunday!
Wake up....America and Kenya are all very interesting, but the front line is here in the UK where a second-hand prime minister has stolen his position. Get on to it please!
Well I guess you were kidding when you posted this.
ReplyDeleteNo Conservative government has delivered sustainable economic growth with low inflation. Gordon Brown has. Can you bring yourself to acknowledge that unquestioned, unqualified, unparalleled and unchallengeable success?
I didn't watch it. I decided my time would be spent better have a lie in.
ReplyDeleteIf it was that bad I might watch it again on their website.
African Entropy - at some point South Africa will follow.
ReplyDeleteYou know he'll deliver? well, better service than the post office then!
ReplyDeleteWhat do you mean appears?
ReplyDeleteWhat planet does David Boothroyd come from ? David, it is a certainty that your "wonderful" Gordon "Chicken" Brown will go down as the worst ever Chancellor. The country will be suffering for his incompetence for generations to come !
ReplyDeleteThe third pledge on the poster seems to imply that he will personally be delivering babies!
ReplyDeleteNow that Gordon has spoken personally to Kibaki and Odinga the problem in Kenya should be resolved any day soon. And why must be people be so ungrateful to Gordon when he has given many wondrous gifts to our nation? Rejoice, rejoice!
ReplyDelete'I promise to grow our economy to twice the current size in the next five years. You know I will deliver.'
ReplyDeleteWhilst, of course, it's easier for less developed countries to grow faster as they're starting from a lower-base and catching up rather than inventing, doubling an economy in five years would require a growth rate of roughly fourteen percent. Which is just ludicrous.
So run it by me again. Is he the one that won or not?
ReplyDeleteNice to know that he promises to uphold the rule of law.
ReplyDeleteDavid Boothroyd at 5.25. What on earth are you talking about? I genuinely do not understand the point you are making.
ReplyDeleteWhat it is about is that, if I make a controversial comment that you do not agree with, I expect you to argue against the point. I do not expect you to come up with an insulting characterisation. I expect comments based on the contents of what I write, not comments based on insulting me.
ReplyDeleteYour comment was impolite, unprovoked and insulting. That's what I meant.
Well get a thicker skin then. If you couldn't tell that there was a touch of humour in that comment then I despair. Your sense of humour has obviously disappeared. I did indeed address your comments. Just because you dont agree with them don't get so touchy!
ReplyDeleteI did not say I was offended. But you can't on the one hand make a pious post saying commenters should avoid personal insults, and then wade in with an insult to lead off your comments. I don't insult you, after all. And as you know plenty of other commenters, usually anonymous, post nothing but insults.
ReplyDeleteDoesn't his last bullet point sound painfully similar to 'sharing the proceeds of growth'?
ReplyDeleteI feel ill.
Apparently Kenya a growth rate of 5.7% http://www.geographyiq.com/ranking/ranking_GDP_real_growth_rate_dall.htm
ReplyDeletewhich equates to doubling the economy in about 13 years. Thus he is clearly lying about 5 years (though not by any greater extent than Scottish labour leader jack McConnell's promise to make growth his "number one prioity) & is only just above the world average. On the other hand this is more than double our growth & general evidence that, despite European snootiness about Africa etc it is us who are doing so badly.
What we would all give for Cameron or Brown to be even willing to talk about how to achieve such a growth rate here rather than following Zac & Gumgums in saying how we should look forward to zero growth.
Is he related to Wa Kibaki?
ReplyDelete