Obamacare

President Obama's flagship healthcare policy has been causing him a few problems.

This problems have been technical where users had problems logging unto the website and operational where some Americans had lost their previous health plan.

However these problems have been overly highlighted by the Republians who are vehemently against the Affordable Healthcare Act, they have named Obamacare.

 

These problems have even started to affect President Obama's poll numbers and although the Republicans are desperate to repel Obamacare. 

I would say that like most roll outs it is natural for it to have its  problems in the early stages. 

But ultimately it will be defining piece of legislation that I think more and more Americans will come to appreciate in the coming years. 

Prime Minister's Questions 27 November 2013

Todays Prime Minister's questions was bit of a mix bag. Now bearing in mind that the election is eighteen months away. 

A good performance at PMQ's is important for both David Cameron and Ed Miliband. 

Today Ed focused his questions around the cost of living and  the uturn the government recently made on payday loans. 

In my opinion Ed Miliband asked the right questions and David Cameron gave weak and feeble answers.   

I would not say that it is the best PMQ's I have watched. But what makes it entertaining is watching David Cameron in "flashman mode".

So Ed got the better of the exchanges between them and he just needs to keep the momentum going for as long as possible.

18 months to the next general election

Countdown to the next general election has started and it seems that all of the political parties are setting the stage.

The Tories are focusing on Labour's relationship with unions and plus any scandals they can throw Labour's way.

The Labour Party are focusing on reminding people that the Tory policies have failed and they offer a better alternative. 

The Liberal Democrats are in deep trouble they are struggling in the polls and could have suffer very bad losses at the general election.

UKIP could steal votes from all the main political parties and get MPs for the first time. 

UKIP will be reminding voters that European Union interference is damaging the UK socially, politically, legally and economically.

 

It promises to be a very nasty election campaign with lots of muck racking. However I think social media will have a huge influence votes and voters!

I will be giving a monthly update on what each of the parties are doing so for a different perspective on the general election don't forget to subscribe to my blog:)

Prime Minister's Questions

Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions was entertaining to say the least. Ed Miliband tried to focus on the cost of living crises. 

However David Cameron was more interested in bringing up the conduct of Reverend Flowers and link him to the current Labour Party.   

In the end this weeks PMQ's was a bit of a farce and it looked and sounded like a bit of electioneering was going on from both sides. 

But I did find it particularly galling that David Cameron was constantly trying to link Ed Miliband to Reverend Flowers without a shred of evidence. 

I also noted that yougov's daily tracker still puts Labour Party at least seven points ahead of the Tories.

Therefore the whole right wing strategy of linking  Reverend Flowers is having little impact. 

However if they did find some damming evidence of a genuine link that would change everything.

At the moment it is just a lot of hear say which is not moving the polls in any significant direction. 

Prime Minister's Questions - 6th November 2013- Podcast

VR Online Service: 2013-11-11 08_32_26

USA and the availability of guns

As I stated in my previous blog, it is always difficult as a Brit to understand the need to be a gun owner. 

Yesterday, in New Jersey a gunman went on the rampage but thankfully caused no loss of life other than to himself.  

From a political viewpoint there is not much President Obama can do. 

As the powerful gun lobbyist NRA are not prepared to comprise on the availability of guns.

 So sadly the shootings or the threats of shooting will go on. 

NSA fallout

The NSA spying fallout doesn't seem to be dying down anytime soon.

It has gone from citizens around the world being concerned about the USA government outreach. To upsetting world leaders like Angela Merkel. 

The more we learn about the murky world of spying the more intrusive and outrageous it sounds. 

However I am from the view point that it is a necessary evil to counteract terrorism. 

But there clearly needs to be boundaries and the NSA have clearly over reached these boundaries. 

So it is very important to protect our civil liberties but at the same being to protect the public from potential terrorist attacks. 

The political fallout has been messy with the White House failing to control the narrative or reassure the public that spying is neccessary tool to use.

President Obama needs direct the narrative and this will help gain more public support. 

The fact is nobody likes to feel like they are being watched, but a better control of the narrative can go a long way.