tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post7265223279433297624..comments2024-03-04T17:54:32.559+00:00Comments on Iain Dale's Diary: If Brown Is Ill He Deserves Our Compassion, Not Our InsultsIain Dalehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03270146219458384372noreply@blogger.comBlogger129125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-6402193969943327192009-09-28T05:20:08.283+01:002009-09-28T05:20:08.283+01:00Facsinatingly, John Ward posits that Brown is on h...Facsinatingly, John Ward posits that Brown is on highly powerful anti-depressants based on a "long list of foods" which a civil servant says Brown is not meant to be served. Interestingly, only two of these foods have been listed by Ward: "cheese and chianti". Which of us haven't had to avoid either cheese or alcohol at one point or the other? Could one have the temerity, before this blows up into a full scale constitutional crisis, to ask what other foods are on this "long list of foods"?Paul Walterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00525444717679391831noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-51141029984467225072009-09-14T20:24:02.283+01:002009-09-14T20:24:02.283+01:00There are some ludicrous arguments on this thread....There are some ludicrous arguments on this thread. <br /><br />Do people really believe that (and I'm speaking generally not particularly here)as a matter of 'high principle' we should sit back with a mentally unbalanced Prime Minister and let him do whatever his demons instruct him to do because a) Churchill suffered occasional depression and b) we have to show compassion.<br /><br />What a load of utter, utter nonsense.<br /><br />If someone is incapable of doing a job because of ill-health, particularly in a job as important as the Prime Minister of a country, then they should be removed from that job.<br /><br />In fact Iain it was a dreadful post.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03548952483363828857noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-3505410161007517872009-09-14T17:46:34.261+01:002009-09-14T17:46:34.261+01:00If he's mentally ill, and he certainly exhibit...If he's mentally ill, and he certainly exhibits most if not all of the signs, then he shouldn't be in No 10. QED50 Calibrehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04949487484030980699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-8613791282483525922009-09-13T21:51:48.166+01:002009-09-13T21:51:48.166+01:00Reason seems to have parted company with this disc...Reason seems to have parted company with this discussion. People who are ill, physically or mentally, need to be looked after, treated and helped to get better. When people are sick, they are often partially or completely incapacitated, and sometimes have to stop working, temporarily or permanently. Of all the jobs in the country, that of prime minister requires sound judgement, and by definition, a mental health problem will adversly affect one's judgement. It is simply ludicrous to suggest that a severely depressed person, perhaps propped up with the most potent available drugs, is in a fit condition to be the first minister of Her Majesty's government. <br /><br />To take the counter-argument to its logical conclusion, if it's a reasonable thing for a prime minister to have mental health problems, perhaps we should go the whole hog and elect a paranoid schizophrenic.Chasnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-21289191700370911822009-09-13T17:45:30.368+01:002009-09-13T17:45:30.368+01:00Very well said Mr Dale. After reading your thought...Very well said Mr Dale. After reading your thoughtful and compassionate blog I went to the Guido Fawkes blog on the same matter and posted<br /><br />'This rumour has been floating about for a wee while and should be flushed away with assistance, like so many floaters in the bowl.<br /><br />I have no idea as to the state of Brown’s mental health. As it happens, some of the most effective and humane politicians I’ve come across have often seemed rather troubled individuals, but surely the key thing is that Brown seems to be neither conspicuously humane or effective.<br /><br />This is an ignoble smear campaign, a whispering campaign that has got louder as its proponents have got braver, and is oddly reminiscent of the SNP whispers against Margo MacDonald a few years ago ‘ ‘She’s not in good health, you know’; ‘Poor Margo, I don’t know if you’ve heard. . .’<br /><br />The fact is that Margo is worth the rest of the Holyrood pack put together, despite her very real illness, and Brown is not really worth anything, whatever may or be not be wrong with him.'<br /><br />And damn it finished by saying <br /><br />'Publishing this was an error of judgement, Mr Dale.'<br /><br />I immediately corrected the 'Mr Dale' to 'Guido' - sorry!Edwin Moorehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05317173893948248954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-34938674978538200382009-09-13T07:09:59.729+01:002009-09-13T07:09:59.729+01:00Alan Douglas
"All school mass murderers are ...Alan Douglas<br /><br />"All school mass murderers are on Prozac does NOT equal all people on Prozac are mass murderers."<br /><br />Then why, in the context of this thread, did you feel the need to bring it up? Unless you were trying to plant the idea that just because Gordon Brown might be on similar medication he is a danger due to that medication. It was an irrelevant and nasty aside from you that covers all of us who are on medication like this.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-52375939115261101302009-09-12T19:22:17.597+01:002009-09-12T19:22:17.597+01:00Good piece Iain.
These people who dehumanise Brow...Good piece Iain.<br /><br />These people who dehumanise Brown and other politicians like this (just because they don't agree with) them are demeaning political debate. <br /><br />Ironic how it's a series of nasty nutjobs who withhold any compassion for mental health problems ;-)<br /><br />Anyway, how has Brown ruined anyone's life? What ridiculous projection. He's just one local politician in a worldwide credit crunch in which -if we're honest- we've landed softly compared to 1992.<br /><br />If your life is ruined, look to yourself to do something about it, not some bloke with very little actual power who you've never metAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-81586556863292376782009-09-12T17:10:51.375+01:002009-09-12T17:10:51.375+01:00Compassion, why? This individual, with others is d...Compassion, why? This individual, with others is destroying this country from within!<br /><br />The quicker this liar departs the better! The trouble is we will have another treasonous Tory liar next!English Firsthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13423078454157177708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-36641643901208314652009-09-12T14:03:59.219+01:002009-09-12T14:03:59.219+01:00The tragedy for Gordon Brown is that he became Pri...The tragedy for Gordon Brown is that he became Prime Minister.The tragedy for the Labour Party is that they allowed him to become Prime Minister.The tragedy for the country is that we have Gordon Brown as Prime MinisterA Tragedy for everyonenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-39121980966649984982009-09-12T12:29:38.457+01:002009-09-12T12:29:38.457+01:00Gordon Brown is an anti-English traitor, may he ro...Gordon Brown is an anti-English traitor, may he rot in hell along with his equally inept and anti-English predecessor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-3014191922671033152009-09-12T10:54:40.985+01:002009-09-12T10:54:40.985+01:00fear? whose hand is on the nuclear trigger ?fear? whose hand is on the nuclear trigger ?Tapestryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17267094484651413428noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-10915481955483067532009-09-12T09:37:58.107+01:002009-09-12T09:37:58.107+01:00@ Anon 11:10 PM
'The right thing to do'. ...@ Anon 11:10 PM<br /><br />'The right thing to do'. I congratulate you for your honourable behaviour and hope that you never suffer a recurrence.<br /><br />The pity is that although Brown and his henchpersons repeatedly use this phrase it actually means nothing to them. In reality they would not know what is 'right' and what is 'wrong'. All they do know is what is 'Right' and what is 'Left'. <br /><br />That has led us to where we now are - a morally bankrupt Government and an economically bankrupt nation.Unsworthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08307116169498533047noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47757443243159697002009-09-12T08:45:04.087+01:002009-09-12T08:45:04.087+01:00Iain, the problem is that he doesn't cope - he...Iain, the problem is that he <i>doesn't</i> cope - he doesn't compare with the others. His psychology is integral to his utter failure in this role. <br /><br />It's been apparent since Brown became Prime Minister, he has been facing a life-shattering reckoning. This between the man he thinks he is - and parades in speeches with endless references to strategic integrity, courage, morality and his father - and the man he actually is, a dithering, calculating bully and coward. <br /><br />This <i>cognitive dissonance</i> has been kept at bay in his career so far - at the Treasury he was able to remain aloof and controlling, exposing himself only in set piece speeches and carefully choreographed appearances. Now as Prime Minister, he simply can't do that and the differences between what he thinks he is and what he actually is are in his face every day. <br /><br />I submit that this unravelling of the psychological defences he used to manage this dissonance is the cause of his depression, and further that the Prime Minister's exit will not be resignation or at the ballot box, it will be a mental health emergency.<br /><br />Have a look at this argument made in April 2008 <a href="http://brown-out.blogspot.com/2008/04/cracking-up.html" rel="nofollow">here</a> and on the prophetic <a href="http://brown-out.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">Brown-out blog</a> more generally, which focussed on Brown's psychology as the basis for his failure and inevitable demise.<br /><br />Can I claim the Derek Draper prize for psychotherapy now?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-8378942394156063572009-09-12T08:36:44.106+01:002009-09-12T08:36:44.106+01:00Socialism is a mental illness.The only antidote is...Socialism is a mental illness.The only antidote is Capitalism. If your whole ideology is hatred of the achievers and a desire to rob them of the fruits of their labour to give to worthless mediocrities then your slef esteem would be zero and you would have recourse to a chemical cosh to reduce your awarness of your awful depraved mental state.niconoclasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11346612911422614130noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-34027524894633644922009-09-12T06:37:57.645+01:002009-09-12T06:37:57.645+01:00I hope he is miserable and suffering like he has m...I hope he is miserable and suffering like he has made my life!<br />He has brought nothing but bad to us all, any my fellow countrymen.<br />The padded cell awaits, one hopes!<br />Any illness can happen at any time,<br />but this is self inflicted, sticking his nose in everybodies affairs, governing every aspect of life making living in thiss U.K. a toil, an existece not a life.<br />Killing my hobbies, killing my fun, killing my life.<br />I want to emigrate, but no due to illness, no country will let me in on the long term, living in freedom would make my life better, but no I / we have this sctizoid causing problems for us all.FireForcehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17272793024367993465noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-30486110628905435872009-09-12T01:28:01.957+01:002009-09-12T01:28:01.957+01:00Great.
So we have a figurehead cheating, lying, in...Great.<br />So we have a figurehead cheating, lying, incompetent, amoral PM, on anti-depression medication, whilst the real power lies with an (allegedly) sane, cheating, lying, incompetent, amoral arch political manipulator.<br /><br />We are the ones who deserve 'compassion'.Dimotonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-83962206894785852662009-09-12T00:32:28.749+01:002009-09-12T00:32:28.749+01:00Anon 9.31
All school mass murderers are on Prozac...Anon 9.31<br /><br />All school mass murderers are on Prozac does NOT equal all people on Prozac are mass murderers.<br /><br />I commend Anon 11.10's reply to you, he was very sensible.<br /><br />ALan DouglasAlan Douglashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071898364060640779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-22148959339995831562009-09-12T00:15:57.660+01:002009-09-12T00:15:57.660+01:00Mr Brown - if he is ill - deserved compassion and ...Mr Brown - if he is ill - deserved compassion and understanding. We are, after all, a civilised and decent people. <br /><br />Mr Brown - regardless of illness or otherwise - deserves our unreserved opposition and opprobium as a result of his coup d'état, his hatred and contempt for the democratic process (who voted for Mr Brown outside Fife? Who voted for someone else to lead Labour? Who voted for him in the Commons to be Prime Minister? Why does he continually slap the face of the people by appointing Ministers who are so despised they cannot win a seat in Parliament?).<br /><br />Mr Brown can have any illness he wishes and gain our sympathy. But it simply does not take away from the fact that he is an illegitimate Prime Minister with no democratic mandate.Tommy Ballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13809486706075373708noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-1946658863159936142009-09-12T00:09:47.031+01:002009-09-12T00:09:47.031+01:00"It would be interesting to know how Brown go..."It would be interesting to know how Brown got elected as rector of Edinburgh University because apart from a shoe-in as MP thats the only election he has had to fight."<br /><br /><br />His father was rector at Kirkaldy's 425 year old school. His mother was a director of the company that owned half of Insch. His uncle was Mayor of Insch and his family were a large chunk of the local Conservative Association.Auntie Flo'noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-6756962410048634142009-09-12T00:00:53.216+01:002009-09-12T00:00:53.216+01:00Can't believe you wrote this Iain. The only co...Can't believe you wrote this Iain. The only compassion I'm showing that England hating wretch is to cry my eyes out the day he's sacked.Auntie Flo'noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-88301800758067040822009-09-11T23:10:41.319+01:002009-09-11T23:10:41.319+01:00I have suffered serious depression and on diagnosi...I have suffered serious depression and on diagnosis I immediately stepped down from my responsibilities as the Chairman of a reasonable sized Group on my own initiative until I and my fellow Directors were comfortable that I was able to operate within the normal emotional parameters required for good judgement. In part this was because it was the right thing to do and in part it was also in my best interests as a major shareholder not to have someone in the throws of depression at the helm of the ship. <br /><br />I have subsequently returned to post and indeed I have reorganised my life to eliminate some of the aggravating factors that caused the depression in the first place. Had I held on I wouldn't have had the space to look after myself and I probably would have trashed the business attempting to drive it through a fog of rage and misery.<br /><br />If anyone cared about Gordon Brown they would recommend he steps aside whilst he addresses this very personal issue. He won't get better clinging to the mast the way he is, and the country is in no position to risk leaving him at the helm. <br /><br />There is nothing to stop him taking a leave of absence whilst a deputy stands in. Please don't let it be Harman or Mandleson.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-34026143745445460232009-09-11T23:03:03.832+01:002009-09-11T23:03:03.832+01:00Looks like Mr B may well be a sick man - and might...Looks like Mr B may well be a sick man - and might be lining up to do a Macmillan, once the party rally is over.<br /><br />But if he goes, whatever will Cameron do?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-2371364220158643522009-09-11T22:57:03.887+01:002009-09-11T22:57:03.887+01:00What is all this compassion drivel. McMental shoul...What is all this compassion drivel. McMental should be sued for making a mess of the UK's finances and have all his personal assets seized and auctioned towards paying off the deficit.Jabba the Cathttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08378736389976858775noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-47421722562686847362009-09-11T22:52:36.099+01:002009-09-11T22:52:36.099+01:00A massive number of replies (to which I am adding ...A massive number of replies (to which I am adding my third!) - interesting.<br /><br />"The MAOI anti-depressants are seldom used" according to Mr Anon. Thats why I am extremely dubious about the story.<br /><br />All Browns chickens have come home to roost and are biting back (!!). That is the source of his difficulties with the public. He cannot admit to that.<br /><br />It would be interesting to know how Brown got elected as rector of Edinburgh University because apart from a shoe-in as MP thats the only election he has had to fight.<br /><br />Smith dying must have been a massive blow to Brown as he was clearly aiming to follow on Smiths coat tails towards the Labour leadership without a serious public fight.<br />He did not have the heart to fight Blair for Labours leadership and we must assume that he has no relish for the forthcoming election.<br />Which is funny really since because Blair was despised by his own party in 2005 it was Brown who went everywhere with him to deflect the anger.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6214838.post-17842932141031963082009-09-11T21:31:34.016+01:002009-09-11T21:31:34.016+01:00Alan Douglas
"I understand that ALL the mass...Alan Douglas<br /><br />"I understand that ALL the mass school killers in the USA and elsewhere were on Prozac or similar." <br /><br />Thanks for letting me know I'm a potential mass murderer, Alan. Strangely that's not in the list of possible side effects of my medication.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com