Comments for Strange Thoughts

Comment on Luton Liberal Democrats website refreshed by Andy Strange

Andy Strange — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 09:28:01 +0000

Thanks Mat. I will be making the theme available for others to use shortly.

I’ve not tried to make it look like a PRAI site. What I’ve tried to do is make it mirror the style of the national Lib Dem website. If you compare the two side by side you will see the similarities. I am afraid any website with 3 columns and Lib Dem styling will have the air of familiarity about it!

Also keep in mind that the Luton site is only one implementation of the theme (and I admit currently a pretty dull one at that) and that the theme should be flexible enough to include other elements that create a different look.

Comment on Luton Liberal Democrats website refreshed by MatGB

MatGB — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 17:05:05 +0000

OK, a WP theme designed for LD local sites is something I’m very interesting as every attempt I’ve made at building one stalls at teh “I need to code something” stage. So this is a good project.

But, really, making it look like a PRAI site when they acknowledge the look of their sites needs a major overhaul?

Some very nice ideas and tricks in there, I especially like the splkit up topnav for the different constituencies, but I think the styling needs work. I personally hate 3-column with the text in the centre as well, that’s a personal thing, but it’s shared by a lot of people.

Comment on My new personal website by Jennie

Jennie — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 02:12:56 +0000

Bwahahahahahahahahaha the fez! Fezzes are cool

Comment on My new personal website by MatGB

MatGB — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 21:06:04 +0000

It are very purty. Bit too much whitespace on full screen for my tastes (currently at 1280 wide, the CRT isn’t quite up to 1400).

Very cunning use of CSS to resize those hat images dynamically. I may copy that, so many tricks with CSS.

Comment on Luton man jailed for throwing egg at Tory peer by paul barker

paul barker — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 17:26:53 +0000

Two points here, when you see an object heading fast for your head, thers a moment when you dont know if its a stone or a lump of concrete. Frightening people is also a form of violence. Secondly, as a rule I dont comment on court cases because thers always a lot more evidence that isnt reported.

Comment on Special Conference by Greenfield

Greenfield — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 10:40:43 +0000

You MISSED Simons speach????? It was the best political speach I have ever heard in person. One because of its contents & delivery -but also the historic point in our Partys history.
I am foremost a Liberal & secondly anti Tory (- against vested power & privilage) and yes I feel uncomfortable working with those I have much uncommon with…….but life demands we work/co-operate with those we wouldnt want to spent an evening with together down the pub.
We must look at our situation as half full not half empty, if we as a party (& for the good of our country & people) have to try & show we can work with others. Times will get tough & no dont some flakely members will leave, but in ten years time I’m sure we will look but & mostly agree – yes it was the right course of action for the country & our party.

Comment on Why I would back Farron for Deputy Leader by Duncan

Duncan — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 18:58:29 +0000

There’s the thought that it might become like a sort of leader of the 1922 committee; that’s how it functioned during the last coalition.

Incidentally another good quote on the vice Presidency; “I do not intend to be buried until I am dead.” – Daniel Webster

Comment on An enforced pause by Mark Pack

Mark Pack — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:22:21 +0000

Excellent. Glad to hear you’re wanting to keep blogging.

Comment on Why I will support this extraordinary coalition government by Jennie

Jennie — Thu, 13 May 2010 10:45:45 +0000

I agree with this post (see what I posted myself a few minutes ago before seeing this LOL)

Comment on Why I will support this extraordinary coalition government by Duncan

Duncan — Thu, 13 May 2010 04:30:37 +0000

I’ve started copying and pasting some of my comments because I don’t have the time to write 1000 word explanations for why people should support Nick and the Lib Dem leadership afresh each time. As for why you should support AV, a commentator at Norfolk Blogger has articulated the point rather well;

http://norfolkblogger.blogspot.com/2010/05/read-read.html

We tried for and could not get STV. We did on the other hand get (a referendum for) AV, and AV is a massive step towards STV especially as (so long as too many activists don’t go mental and leave the party in its moment of moderate triumph) if the next election is fought with AV we’ll hopefully be in a stronger position to deal with another party to get full STV.

Comment on Why I would support a deal with the Tories by Why I will support this extraordinary coalition government « Strange Thoughts

Wed, 12 May 2010 21:59:12 +0000

[...] wrote on Monday lunchtime about rational reasons why I could support a deal with the Tories. But I surprised myself during the period between then and the making of the deal with how [...]

Comment on Reasons to be cheerful: those second places by Nic

Nic — Mon, 10 May 2010 17:38:48 +0000

Appreciated – thanks Andy.

Comment on Why I would support a deal with the Tories by Jennie

Jennie — Mon, 10 May 2010 16:54:47 +0000

* applause *

Comment on Why I would support a deal with the Tories by Bernard Salmon

Bernard Salmon — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:20:50 +0000

Applause – my feelings exactly. I’m not a fan of either the Tories or Labour and would prefer not to have to work with either. But in the situation we’re in, the only realistic arrangement is some sort of understanding between the Lib Dems and Tories. A deal with Labour wouldn’t even have a majority in the HoC, even ignoring the fact that Labour can’t be trusted to deliver a referendum on PR.

Comment on Why I would support a deal with the Tories by Richard Parker

Richard Parker — Mon, 10 May 2010 13:07:35 +0000

Like Andy I’m older enough to have seen experienced the less attractive sides of those we might believe to have be our closer political allies. Given that I’m an idealist too, in the current situation it would seem more appropriate, even with that past knowledge and experience, that in the end we would be better to place our support with that grouping.
However lets look at the fact. As Lib Dems our first priority is to help create a strong and stable government and that cannot be done by throwing our lot in with Labour and can only be done by working with the Tories, and yes it does come very very hard to stomach this but some things in life just have to be done for the greater good. Furthermore I believe with a passion that the electorate will never forgive us if we are seen act only in our interest rather than countries .
Secondly I am long enough in the tooth and experienced enough in negotiations to know that ones favoured position cannot always be gained in the first instance but that it does take time and patience to achieve all that sets out to do.
As for caveats it is imperative that in return for our support we ensure we protect those less able to cope in an economic hard times and the term of office runs for a whole parliamentary term and not a 12-18 month wonder . To do less would quite properly invite the same kind of scorn upon us that we have readily placed on others .