Ashford: Should he stay or should he go?

[WTF]

49 minutes ago, Gladys said:

Unbelievable perhaps?

incredulous ??

[Roger Mexico]

4 minutes ago, Passing Time said:

These people are the very reason idiots keep getting voted back in...

There's a sort of person who believes because a politician helped them personally with a problem, then they can do no wrong (of course the MHK is literally only do what they are paid for).  But clientelism isn't as strong in the Isle of Man as you might expect (compared to somewhere like Ireland or Malta say) and there aren't as many of these people as you might think.

Ashford had a very impressive-looking result in 2021, but he was flattered by having probably the weakest opposition of any constituency.  I'm sure the Manx Labour Party would have got a seat with a half-decent candidate for example.   But you only have to compare the result that say Boot and Harmer got in 2021 compared to 2016 to see decent opposition can deflate such a result.

Ashford also had the advantage  of having received so much coverage over the previous 18 months - and anyone's going to look good standing next to Quayle all the time.  He got a pretty easy ride from the media except Moulton (and us).  None of this will apply in future.

I think people also have to remember that Facebook can flatter support.  Because people mostly post under their own name, an early and vociferous outpouring from backers of a particular position will mean that a lot who disagree won't say anything so as not to offend the backers.  But silence doesn't always mean consent and I don't get the impression of a massive wave of support for Ashford from those I've spoken to.

[Ghost Ship]

1 hour ago, WTF said:

incredulous ??

I think Chris Thomas (and a lot of MF posters) are incredulous at Mr Ashford's incredible achievements.

[Non-Believer]

Thomas urging Ashford to take a "period of reflection" (MR News)

[quilp]

Ah, but will Walter be able to see himself?

 

Seriously. It takes humility to admit to one's mistakes, does he have the EI to do it..? 

[Jarndyce]

EI?  EI…oh!

[Gladys]

What does EI mean? 

[Augustus]

Emotional Intelligence 

[Gladys]

8 minutes ago, Augustus said:

Emotional Intelligence 

Thank you.  I thought it may be equivalent to cajones! 😉

[John Wright]

24 minutes ago, Gladys said:

Thank you.  I thought it may be equivalent to cajones! 😉

More like a caganer 

[Roger Mexico]

3 minutes ago, John Wright said:

More like a caganer 

Oh I don't know.  Half the time Ashford looks as if that's exactly what he's doing.

[Newsdesk]

2 hours ago, Roger Mexico said:

There's a sort of person who believes because a politician helped them personally with a problem, then they can do no wrong (of course the MHK is literally only do what they are paid for).  But clientelism isn't as strong in the Isle of Man as you might expect (compared to somewhere like Ireland or Malta say) and there aren't as many of these people as you might think.

 

It’s worse than that with Ashy though. There’s still a load of mad old bats out there who think that he literally saved their lives during lockdown such has been the lingering effects of his ridiculous covid briefings. It’s been mentioned before but I think that’s where a lot of his delusions of popularity stem from - a load of pensioners quivering around his Manx Radio broadcasts like it was the Blitz. 

[Gladys]

23 minutes ago, John Wright said:

More like a caganer 

Uncanny. 

[WTF]

30 minutes ago, Gladys said:

Uncanny. 

the shits coming out the wrong end though.

[manxman34]

6 hours ago, Roxanne said:

Did you do that on purpose?

Please say yes. 

Only for the craic...