Definitely not a "Big Fucking Deal" although the MSM will be gushing about it

The Conservative Party will emerge the largest party in parlimentary elections in the UK.

Here are the latest results

Conservative . . . . 9,545,482. . . 36.4. . . +3.9
Labour . . . . . . .7,510,775. . . 28.6. . . -6.4
Liberal Democrat , . 5,970,212. . . 22.8. . . +1.0


The media will be gushing about the Conservative Party's win as a foreshadowing of the fall elections. You will have to either watch TV with a barf bag or turn it off altogether.

It is not a big fucking deal for the following reasons:

1) The Conservative Party really isn't affiliated with the Republican Party. It strongly supports nationalized health care and other basic government services and would never consider many of the 'red meat' issues of the US Republican Party like: Prayer in schools, outlawing abortion, less integration with the UN or the European Union.

2) The Republican Party is much closer in ideology to the UK Indpendent Party which doubts the effects of global warming, supports school vouchers and embrasses a wide range of nativist policies that would be welcomed in Arizona.

The UK Independence Party captured 3.1% of the popular vote

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_Independence_Party

3) Even if you accept the analogy of the Conservative Party being a cousin to the Republican Party it only received 36% of the vote. If you add in the UK Independence Party they would come in at 40%

4) The Conservative Party ran against two liberal parties.

5) The UK doesn't have proportional representation but with the current results the Liberal Democrats are in an excellent position to demand that as a precondition to join a coalition government. If that is secured you will find a generally weakining of the Conservative Party and a likely increase in the liberal parties, including the Green Party.



Again the party that is most closely aligned with the American Republican Party with its whacko anti science, anti immigration, anti equality, anti fairness, macho militarism and 'ginning' up confrontation with Islamic countries, that party failed to get 4% in the UK.

Not that relevent facts have ever really mattered much to the MSM when trying to understand something happening outside the US.

because as you say- it'll be pigeonholed, misrepresented and distorted both to suit agendas and to "explain" it to the lowest common denominator in a limited amount of time.

Who knew that Tivo could lower blood pressure.

spelling it out clearly. I certainly wish the M$M would.

is actually equivalent to to our liberal

And as far back as I've looked, at least to the civil war of 1688, they always have been.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7119359.ece


Mr Clegg was quick to respond, reminding reporters that he had consistently argued that it was the party with the most seats and votes that should get first tilt at government rather than the incumbent.

"I stick to that view," he added. "It seems this morning that it is the Conservative Party which has more votes and more seats - although not an absolute majority - which is why I now think that it is the Conservative Party which should seek to govern in the national interest."

Clegg made a statement of principle before the election stating that as a matter of course the largest vote getter should be the one that has first bite of the apple.

If for example they do not agree on his key conditions then he is free to try to negotiate with the Labor party.

Thanks for the clarification. I've been trying to follow along and it is helpful to have someone explain things for those of us across the pond. :)