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I had to check that this is an electoral alliance with the Ulster Unionists, rather than a 180-degree-turn on trade unions...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 03:30:07 AM EST
[ Parent ]

...and I don't know if it is just me, but I think the guy looks scarier with that smile...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 03:33:20 AM EST
[ Parent ]

it's the sort of smile you'd come up with at gunpoint.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 07:57:14 AM EST
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That was one of the errors - it's soft indoor lighting Photoshopped into an outdoor setting, and it looks slightly strange.

But also - it's a good idea not to make your candidate look like a used car salesman.

(Those teeth! Run away!)

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 05:46:33 AM EST
[ Parent ]

It's the teeth, but also the eyelids and the way he bends his head; the lighting only enhances the scary effect.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 06:18:04 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Care to submit it to Photoshop Disasters?

Have you seen a truly awful piece of Photoshop work? Clumsy manipulation, senseless comping, lazy cloning and thoughtless retouching are our bread and butter. And yes, deep down, we love Photoshop.

You're clearly a dangerous pinko commie pragmatist.

by Vagulus on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 05:02:56 PM EST
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Re: Poster Spotting (4.00 / 3)

Another from the UK: UKIP

I had a scoot around the major approach roads to the city centre after work. I found five political posters in total: four of them were this one.

I expect most people know that the figure in the picture is Winston Churchill, Prime Minister during WWII, making his trademark V for Victory salute. So, a subtext so unsubtle it can't really be called sub. We need to be protected from invasion.

by Sassafras on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 01:16:21 PM EST
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I just had another UKIP flyer through my letterbox. I didn't see any posters in London on the tube or around Tottenham Court Road. Haven't seen any in Cardiff so far.

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 01:23:38 PM EST
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I'll tell you what else I haven't seen-the Vote Labour/Conservative/Lib Dem posters in party colours that appear in windows and on lawns in the run up to national and local elections. Nary a one, in fact.

by Sassafras on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 01:29:45 PM EST
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Worryingly, i've seen more BNP ones than the rest of the parties put together.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 01:31:38 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Then again, the far-right everywhere tries to make up for lack in numbers with the level of public appearance and the volume of noise.

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 01:36:36 PM EST
[ Parent ]

yes, but you'd expect a few houses with lots and some scattered around. but I have kept seeing them in far too many peoples windows. (In more youthfull times that would have been an invitation for a brick)

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 01:47:27 PM EST
[ Parent ]

This could be why - the banner from their website:

Brutal and lacking finesse, but an effective pick up from the expenses ~~distraction~~ story. And effective because this is what people actually feel about democracy in the UK.

They have a similar go at the UKIP, which is great news - if they worked out how to work with the UKIP, that would be very bad.

Now obviously BNP MPs and MEPs would be a model of probity, and it would never cross their minds to abuse their expenses.

But elections are usually lost, not won, and after some timely and effective stirring, this is shaping up to be a loser for everyone.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 05:07:03 PM EST
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UKIP flyers have used the expenses crisis as well. So too have the lib dems.

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Tue Jun 2nd, 2009 at 05:46:37 AM EST
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Me neither. But internal party stuff isn't at the level it would be for MP or local council elections. Members usually get sent a poster and asked to put it up - I don't remember seeing one this time. We've done leafletting rounds every weekend for the last 3 months but it was based on local stuff and raising Welsh Labour's local profile - an ongoing thing that we've finally got our act together on.

These last few weeks party members have been out knocking on the doors for the Euro elections. I live in a block of flats so the doorstep stuff doesn't reach me so I don't know if other parties are doing the same.

But we've had Eddie Izzard parading up and down Queen St, and MP's and celebs visiting places with our candidates.

I've seen UKIP flags on a car or cars that keeps popping up everywhere. Loads of BNP literature but there have also been anti-far right rallies organised by unions and searchlight etc.

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 04:25:15 PM EST
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It is also hilarious. The voter may think, do these people run with a dead man leading the list?...

_{*Lunatic*, n.

One whose delusions are out of fashion.}

by DoDo on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 01:29:16 PM EST
[ Parent ]

It's the sort of thing that could backfire [/optimist]. Admittedly, my visceral reaction is bound to be influenced by my distaste for UKIP, but I find putting words in the mouths of/claiming the political support of the dead a bit sick. And I'm not even a Winston worshipper.

by Sassafras on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 01:45:35 PM EST
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Anyone potentially that stupid won't have a clue what the 'list' is anyway!

by In Wales (inwales aaat eurotrib.com) on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 04:26:00 PM EST
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UKIP - what is that colour? I suppose it's memorable, but - er - dayglo pink and yellow, for libertarians?

The 'To help, call...' flash is good. They're recruiting, and you can get involved. It's interesting how most of the other parties have missed that minor point.

They seem to have found someone professional to do their media for them. The website isn't bad and it even has a flash video on it. With music, and stuff.

But something very depressing is happening - between the UKIP, the BNP and the other nationalist parties, the election has been turned into a de facto referendum on EU membership.

Where's the EU to present a positive case? It's Ireland all over again - the pro-vote isn't even visible, while the anti-vote is engaged, passionate (albeit cynically) and reasonably well funded.

by ThatBritGuy (thatbritguy (at) googlemail.com) on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 05:21:02 PM EST
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I'm starting to suspect the lack of subtlety in some advertisements is more subtle than it appears. A deliberate appeal to voters sick of slick politicians.

And I guess everyone else has noticed the similarity of the victory salute to a certain rude Anglo gesture.

by Sassafras on Mon Jun 1st, 2009 at 05:32:40 PM EST
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