Americans: imagine, if you will, a third-party liberal candidate, perhaps Michael Bloomberg if he erred towards the less fiscally-conservative side of things. Imagine he gains enough support to make it an interesting race: he kills in the debates, presenting the promise of real, institutional change; he pledges support for students struggling with tuition fees; he speaks out against Iraq; he commits to cutting worthless defence spending; he swears to uphold and protect your robust public health service (this part's stretching your imaginations, I know). He seems to capture the nation's mood.
Come polling day, this third party grabs enough house and senate seats to make things interesting. The Republicans are ahead, but both major parties lack a majority and can only gain one by forming a coalition with Bloomberg and his group. And then, in a move of stunning betrayal, Bloomberg sides with the right, claiming that to do otherwise is to go against the will of the people because of the slight Republican lead. He wangles himself the vice presidential position and a coalition government is born. Then, in the six months following, he proceeds to abandon every major pledge he made in the build-up to the election. Tuition fees? Skyrocketed. NHS? Gutted and reformed into a body that kowtows to the private sector. Benefits? Hacked and slashed.
This, ladies and gents, is Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, the man I voted for last May, and the biggest disappointment in British politics in recent memory. A cowardly, power-hungry rich-boy who has sold out his base in order to get his name in the history books. Forgive me for the rant, but Goddamn, when I see you guys complaining about Obama, I just wish you could get a taste of this.
