Liberal Vision

Lib Dem flashmobs – the last chance for Lib Dems to regain election momentum?

I read on LDVthat a whole series of Lib Dem flashmobs are being held all over the UK for Monday Bank holiday (mostly around 3pm) – organised not by the Cowley Street or those clever party strategists – but by those brilliant RATM people.

To be honest, I struggled about whether I should comment on these flashmobs. I actually chatted to a couple of other LV bloggers before posting (something I NEVER do) such was my concern. Because the BRILLIANT thing about the RATM stuff is that it is so very independent – so totally “outside” the mainstream. I have been following it on Facebook for a while – as i am sure many have- …and its been fascinating and brilliant – but should we mention it ???? big dilema…because it, well, somehow sullied it.  But hey the cat is out of the bag as it were…. so here goes…. 

Yo can go to Facebook to get the details and pick up on the discussion threads. It’s simply brilliant reading…(I have listed the main flashmobs below btw).

The planned events are the idea of spontaneous, mad, sleep-deprived individuals using the social network groups to get the word out and create one, then two then half a dozen flashmobs up and down the country. No spin doctors, PR specialists or strategists in sight….

…DIRECT ACTION at its best ?

 How successful will they be? Have to wait and see. Will it get media attention? have to wait and see. Will it make a difference? Have to wait and see. What it does look like is another example of how UK General Elections are changing….

….And how the “high command party strategists” are losing swathes of control of their parties plans with every day that passes in this election  (just look at how they have had to chop and change their message and tactics after every TV debate). The tweeters delivering their verdicts long before the newspapers ever could. And those newspapers (such a useful tool to the party strategists in elections of old) looking increasingly irrelevant, tired, mouthpieces of their masters. Will these flashmobs be one more example of strategists running to catch up? I guess that does depend on just how successful the they are.

But here is the plea to Lib Dem high command….

If you have not done this already, then now…right now… make sure that every single broadcaster, newspaper editor and picture desk from UK media AND international media has the details of where and when they are taking place. Not an official email – its not your gig – but a few calls around a few mates could work wonders…..

Here is a plea to local party organisers

If you are close to one of the flashmobs then send your boys and girls to Trafalgar Square and encourage them to take their mates, mums and dads… Which is really more effective? A few more focus leaflets shoved through peoples doors – convert one more voter on the high street – or national and international TV beaming out pictures of thousands and thousands of people congregating in squares up and down the country to show their unified demand for a real change to our politics for ever?  ITs a no brainer sa far as I am concerned..

And Nick…

Go on Nick… do something different.. brave… out there… a bit ooh a bit aah…. Why not see if you can get yourself along to one of them?  You know you want to…

Here’s the info on where they are at…..

LONDON Flashmob: http://tinyurl.com/35bbwao

NEWCASTLE Flashmob: http://tinyurl.com/34m9lv6

GLASGOW Flashmob: http://tinyurl.com/363k5p2

MANCHESTER Flashmob: http://tinyurl.com/39v6384

DERBY Flashmob: http://tinyurl.com/35at3b3

BRISTOL Flashmob: http://tinyurl.com/33aztyw

UPDATE:

More of these things cropping up all the time. Spotted couple of new ones listed (see below….  ). I just love the madness of this.  

Cardiff: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=103616226349581

Truro, Cornwall: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?invites&eid=117720324924545

Cambridge: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=118909274803214

Tags: general election, Lib Dem Flashmob

A quiet revolution is underway…

…but has the “old media” cottoned on yet ???

Earlier today I linked to a great video that was primarily about people rebelling against the old notion of doing what they are told in an election; casting off the idea that politicians “know best”; rejecting the idea that things can never change. It was a neat, beautifully produced video that summed up how many people feel.

Within a matter of minutes I came across another video – with a similar theme. And then was emailed about another video that also said, pretty much, the same thing. Then another and then another…

This, I think, is the Obama-style theme of this election – bubbling along underneath the General Election coverage we see on TV and read in the newspapers.

People have woken up – at last – to the fact that we have been lied to, robbed, ignored and patronised. Out of a single debate, came the idea that people could do actually do something about it. As the video below states to the politicians in this country….

The  more  you  threaten  us , the stronger we will become.

Talk that makes us fearful will make us braver.

The more you seek to make  us doubt ourselves, the more determined we will become.

The more you tell us we are wrong, the more we will know that we are right.

For times such as this come but once in a lifetime. And we will seize the opportunity to take back that which is ours

This election has ignited peoples imaginations. Whilst the polls may not be saying this, I have a sneaky feeling that a Lib Dem tidal wave is rolling over this country unreported. Hope and empowerment are highly contagious feelings.

It  looks to me that we may well have an epidemic on our hands. 

Tags: A warning to all politicians in this General Election 2010, general election, polls, revolution

Turn things upside down?

We simply LOVE this Youtube video.  It’s simple, effective and oh my goodness does it make the point……. Love it. Love it. Love it.

 

Tags: general election, I agree with Nick, Leadership debate, Liberal Democrats, turn things upside down

A bit of back-slapping…..

Back in July 2009, Mark Littlewood, once of this parish, posted on this website…..

Can the LibDems get more votes than Labour at the next election?

At the time he pointed to the Labour Party’s continuing atrocious polling numbers and Nick Clegg’s increasingly impressive performance as LibDem leader.

He said “If the governing party staggers into the General Election with Brown still at the helm, their campaign could be a Michael Foot -style PR disaster” …and”I’d expect Nick Clegg to have a strong showing in the campaign itself. He is a  capable TV performer (by far the most important communications medium in modern politics) and the British public will like him more as they get to know him more”. 

He went onto say “The implications for LibDem strategy could be huge – perhaps suggesting a shift of resources to nationwide communications rather than funnelling as much money as previously into marginals. It would be controversial too – and probably particularly unpalatable to incumbent MPs”.

Of course – it all looked like such a wild suggestion back then.  Then again, no one had any expectation that Cameron, let alone Brown, would agree to the leaders TV debates. (Well not quite true…there were some strong rumours even back then).

But in so far as the Liberal high-command HAS focused its efforts around national TV;  the public HAS grown to like Nick the more they see him; and the polls suggest that Liberals MAY WELL get more votes that Labour at the election…

…then we have to say not a bad bit of crystal ball gazing Mr Littlewood. Not bad.

Tags: general election, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Mark Littlewood, predictions

“I agree with Nick” T-shirts…everywhere

So I went on-line this morning thinking that I should buy myself an ” I agree with Nick” T-shirt – if such a thing existed…..How foolish I was. The worldwide web appears to have spawned some form of virus since there appear to be hundreds of “I agree with Nick” T-shirts. Dont you just love free enterprise????

Two questions.

1. Which Tshirts ensure at least some of the of the money gets to Lib Dem coffers

2. Which is the best ? I think the orange one but suggestions welcome.

Tags: general election, I agree with Nick