Moaning Minnies
I have an admission to make.
I don't understand the Liberal Democrats - or some of them at least.
The party has been in coalitions with other political parties for years - Labour, Tories, SNP and so on.
So what's all the whingeing and hand wringing about?
The Lib Dems didn't win the general election - as everyone knows.
In fact they came a distant third - after flattering to deceive during the election campaign and party leader debates.
Labour as well as the Tories tried to woo the Lib Dems into a coalition - as Gordon Brown tried desperately to cling on as Prime Minister.
Before finally accepting that as an unelected Labour leader he was a 'busted flush' and that the political arithmetic - just didn't add up.
So the Lib Dems threw their lot in with the Tories and - to be fair - they had an arguable reason for doing so - given the terrible state of the economy then and now.
Politics is about being in power - not opposition.
Although just like the Labour party - some Lib Dems find the 'hot seat' uncomfortable - and prefer being outside the tent where they try to be all things to all people.
But the Lib Dems need no lessons on standing by their principles - from their political rivals at least.
Labour in South Lanarkshire Council is in power only because of a 'grubby' deal done with local Tories in 2007 - which the Labour administration likes to play down - of course.
Labour and the Lib Dems were in coalition in the Scottish Parliament for eight years - Labour were even sharing power with the nationalists Plaid Cymru in Wales until recently.
Nick Clegg and Co. just need to get on with it - and stop complaining about their fate.
OK they made complete fools of themselves over student fees - but so what - get over it, move on - and take control of policy areas where Lib Dems believe they can make a real difference in government.
Politics is a rough old business sometimes - and voters don't take kindly to moaning minnies.
I don't understand the Liberal Democrats - or some of them at least.
The party has been in coalitions with other political parties for years - Labour, Tories, SNP and so on.
So what's all the whingeing and hand wringing about?
The Lib Dems didn't win the general election - as everyone knows.
In fact they came a distant third - after flattering to deceive during the election campaign and party leader debates.
Labour as well as the Tories tried to woo the Lib Dems into a coalition - as Gordon Brown tried desperately to cling on as Prime Minister.
Before finally accepting that as an unelected Labour leader he was a 'busted flush' and that the political arithmetic - just didn't add up.
So the Lib Dems threw their lot in with the Tories and - to be fair - they had an arguable reason for doing so - given the terrible state of the economy then and now.
Politics is about being in power - not opposition.
Although just like the Labour party - some Lib Dems find the 'hot seat' uncomfortable - and prefer being outside the tent where they try to be all things to all people.
But the Lib Dems need no lessons on standing by their principles - from their political rivals at least.
Labour in South Lanarkshire Council is in power only because of a 'grubby' deal done with local Tories in 2007 - which the Labour administration likes to play down - of course.
Labour and the Lib Dems were in coalition in the Scottish Parliament for eight years - Labour were even sharing power with the nationalists Plaid Cymru in Wales until recently.
Nick Clegg and Co. just need to get on with it - and stop complaining about their fate.
OK they made complete fools of themselves over student fees - but so what - get over it, move on - and take control of policy areas where Lib Dems believe they can make a real difference in government.
Politics is a rough old business sometimes - and voters don't take kindly to moaning minnies.
