Are We Primed For A Massive Backlash?

[ToraToraTora]

https://news.sky.com/story/trumpism-is-coming-to-britain-and-nigel-farage-is-leading-the-charge-11714025

[ToraToraTora]

"......... they took your country from you, now they've taken your democracy too. And "they" are the elites, those who hate the culture of the people, the values of the people, the democracy of the people." - difficult to argue against that message.

[douglas9401]

Fair play, he manages to get fat, ugly folk out of bed to bark on command.

[ToraToraTora]

as long as he terrifies the Quislings doug...

[jno]

there's already been one; the main beneficiaries were the Lib Dems.

[ToraToraTora]

yes jno, when are they going to drop "democrats" from their name? Clearly now false.

[jno]

the Tories are plainly still Conservative, so that's good.

[jim360]

I'm sure Nigel is thrilled to be in the position where he never has to do anything to back up his empty rhetoric. But still, there's no doubt a huge backlash coming against the two main parties -- from both directions.

[naomi24]

You don't like what he says Jim, but his rhetoric has never been empty.

Yes, I think we are primed for a massive backlash.

[ichkeria]

Farage is a charismatic politician and I don’t dislike him personally. To his credit he’s turned away from the slimier elements of so-called populism.
But his rhetoric is emptier then empty.
Barking from the sidelines is actually very easy to do. In some ways it would be good to see him in some sort of power for I suspect then he’d be found out.

[jim360]

If and when he ever ends up in a role where he actually has to do something to back up what he says, then we'll find out if he was empty or not. But right now all he is doing is cashing in on the -- completely understandable -- anger, so as to get power without responsibility.

[naomi24]

//Barking from the sidelines is actually very easy to do.//

He stood for election several times and is a long-standing MEP. How is that 'barking from the sidelines'?

[naomi24]

Jim, //right now all he is doing is cashing in on the -- completely understandable -- anger, so as to get power without responsibility. //

Nonsense. See above.

[jim360]

He's the MEP with basically the worst voting and attendance record, apart from MEPs who have been chronically ill or who joined late. So no, it's not nonsense. He doesn't take his role as MEP seriously -- which is, to be sure, consistent with his general politics, but also means that the "screaming from the sidelines" claim stands up to scrutiny.

Standing for election without ever winning also helps. As and when Farage actually gets a position of responsibility, as I say, his rhetoric will be exposed for what it truly is.

[Spicerack]

Trump seems to be doing alright despite all the similar predictions aimed at him.

[naomi24]

Haha! He scares the wits out of you!!!

[naomi24]

^That to Jim.

[ToraToraTora]

ok jim/naomi, can we not turn this thread into another slanging match, public warning! thanks

[naomi24]

TTT, what do you want contributors to discuss then, TTT? Isn't this about Farage?

[jim360]

I'm not planning on participating in any slanging match, TTT, but noted.

As it happens, he *does* scare me a lot, but certainly not for the reasons Naomi imagines. Being able to say what you like, with no fear that you'll ever have to justify it, has given Farage the freedom to tap into and exploit anger. That's what scares me. His supporters are being played. But with so many of them it's the country that ends up being played in turn.

Everyone should be scared about that.

[naomi24]

//His supporters are being played. //

His critics are doing their best to do just that.