Remember Clement Atlee!

[On the Road]

I want to nail Bush on Iraq as much as anyone. Just remember that elections are won on domestic issues.

In 1945, Winston Churchill was a national war hero. People saw him as a pillar of strength who had almost singlehandedly saved England from a catastrophic defeat to the Nazi.

So what happened? He got booted out. Voters elected Clement Atlee, the target of the following Churchillian insults:

A modest man, who has much to be modest about.
A sheep in sheep's clothing.
Today I saw him emerge from an empty cab.

Why? People were financially and emotionally drained because of the war, and wanted a more socialist government. It didn't matter that Atlee was a nebbish.

Take heart -- who cares if some fools think of Bush as a war hero? People for vote for the candidate who will care for the economy.

[KittyWampus]

1. Favorite Post O'The Day

:)

[On the Road]

3. Thank You, CryingShame!

Actually, I posted this partly because I like Churchill, even if I disagree with his politics.

Here are a couple of quotation links:

http://quotations.about.com/cs/winstonchurchill/a/bls_churchill.htm

http://www.insultmonger.com/politics/winston_churchill.htm

Some of his political insults can be taken right off the shelf and used today:

I remember when I was a child, being taken to the celebrated Barnum's Circus, which contained an exhibition of freaks and monstrosities, but the exhibit on the program which I most desired to see was the one described as "The Boneless Wonder". My parents judged that the spectacle would be too demoralizing and revolting for my youthful eye and I have waited fifty years, to see the The Boneless Wonder sitting on the Treasury Bench.

A curious mixture of geniality and venom.

He delivers his speech with an expression of wounded guilt.

An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last.

He is one of those orators of whom it was well said. Before they get up, they do not know what they are going to say; when they are speaking, they do not know what they are saying; and when they have sat down, they do not know what they have said.

And my two favorite insults:

Winston, you are drunk!
- Bessie Braddock to Winston Churchill

Bessie, you're ugly. But tomorrow morning, I shall be sober.
- Winston Churchill, in reply

And:

Winston, if you were my husband I would flavor your coffee with poison.
- Lady Astor to Winston Churchill

Madam, if I were your husband, I should drink it.
- Winston Churchill, in reply

Must stop. Too tempting.

[Kolesar]

2. At the end of that war, Britons wanted nothing of militarism & aggression

They were so weary of the war that they established a government that was as far from fascism as they could get. Their liberal government led to socialising industries and creating a welfare state.

They even shamed "Bomber Harris" who directed the carpet bombing campaigns on German cities by fleets of RAF Lancaster bombers. He was the only man of his rank who did not get the highest royal commendation. (I don't recall what it was called).

(That is how I recall it from a history show).

[On the Road]

4. I Didn't Know That!

The bombing of Dresden was a war crime. I'm sure there were others. I didn't realize the British public revolted. That's a sign of hope.

[On the Road]

5. OK,

One self-promoting kick for the Saturday noon crowd.

:kick: