how high is the bar?

Is it just me?

As a Tory I was (am) pleased that the LibDems joined the coalition for the good of the country, to help counter the situation we faced which was, as Lliam Byrne, Labour Chief Secretary to the Treasury said: 'I'm afraid there is no money'.  Labour, far from ending 'boom and bust' had just effectively created the biggest 'bust' in history: yes there were other factors at play but the main problems of debt were created not on the world stage, but in London. We were not victim, but architect of this massive problem for the world. And to their credit the LibDems recognised this. It seems to me that during the negotiations the fact that Labour were not interested in forming a coalition and would rather be in opposition, knowing that they had effectively fucked the country, was also a factor.  LibDems being keen to have any kind of influence at long last, and I don't blame them for that at all.  They had a win-win situation.

OK we now know that they had to 'swallow' some of their previously-held principles such as student fees (which were introduced by Labour by the way) and that they took a major kicking for that.  They singularly failed to communicate that as the minor partner, they could not get everything they wanted in order to deflect that criticism but that they could bring some of their more popular issues to the fore instead. That was good for the Tories, they could do what they needed to do and put the blame on the LIBDems. Not in an obvious way - we're supposedly partners in this - but that's what happened and the public as usual completely missed that point - see local election results.

So the cuts will be happening soon and the LIbDems are being blamed for them, almost universally.  That is an amazing gain for the Tories - the LibDems are being decimated in the country in terms of votes and supporters while the Tories do what needs to be done and are largely blameless. wow!

All of which browsing brings me to my point: Is it just me, or whilst the reputation, make up and motivation of the LIbDems seems to be reasonably and perhaps selflessly good in theory, is the actual make-up of the party flawed?

Forget about policy and belief and principle. I'm talking about the reality of the people in the party. They can bumble along as the third party, saying what they want because they will never have to deliver on their uncosted and not-real-world policies. They can get good media coverage for populist but completely unrealistc views. They can say almost what they like as a party, get good copy and not be held responsible as individuals, as people. There is no spotlight on the people, the individuals behind the rhetoric. It's an easy life, taking pot shots at the Government without any danger of being held accountable.  Until now.

Now they are having to put their heads above the parapet. stand up an be counted as people rather than anonymous shadows. And in my humble opinion, they are being found wanting. Does it go back as far a Jeremy Thorpe? perhaps it does but I would not want to kick them for that. But the eyes of the world are normally averted from the LibDems and, therefore, they are not used to scrutiny.

And when the spotlight is unusually focused on them what do we find? Simon Hughes (it's never talked about but it's there). David Lawes (a similar issue - and I'm not in any way anti gay, but anti cover up). Cable thinking he can 'chat up and impress' a pretty girl rather than being professional - stupid old man at best. Huhne thinking he is above the law (he will have to go eventually, kicking and screaming into jail I think).Lembit Opec.  Twat.

Tories are not exempt from this scrutiny and many have failed, but in my opinion the majority of them 'got over the bar' in terms of quality and I am just not sure that members of the LibDems party have done so. Now that they are being focused upon. Shame really.