As the biggest topic of today is THE Speaker……that set me off thinking who are the greatest speakers of all time.  Not Speakers of the House of Commons…but orators.

Oratory is a gift…the ability to grab hold of an audience and emotionally connect them to your words, to inspire them, to laugh, to cry…but most of all to believe.  The best orators can bring a nation with them….through good and bad times.

Remember, when reviewing this list…it’s the power of oratory that is important….this is not reviewing the content / text of speeches….

10     Roosevelt / Gandhi   / Abraham Lincoln /Margaret Thatcher

It was tough leaving some out of the top 10, hence a wider inclusion.  Margaret Thatcher was not a natural public speaker at the start of her time in power but through experience and coaching, developed into an accomplished orator, (her performance in the No Confidence debate post her resigning is the stuff of legend).  Gandhi, through his skill inspired not only a nation but the world.

9  Charles de Gaulle

De Gaulle was a powerful orator.  His speeches to the French people to rally them against the invading German troops are testament to the finest oratory of all time. 

8   Tony Blair

Tony’s greatest asset was his gifted oratory.  Against the monotone John Major, he was always going to come across stronger.  This BBC montage of Tony Blair shows his mastery of the media and ability to craft and deliver a powerful soundbite……

7  Ronald Reagan

Of course it helped that Reagan was a former actor but the guy was gifted at making public speeches.  Perhaps his finest speech was early on……take a listen to an excerpt of ‘A Time for Choosing’.  

6  Barack Obama

For me, Obama is already in the top ten speakers in history.  One of his best speeches…..so far……..was at the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Founders Day Gala on Feb. 16. This is the last 10 minutes of speech, perhaps the best part. “Don’t tell me that words don’t matter,” Obama said, his voice rising with indignation and scorn.  “I have a dream. JUST WORDS.”  “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. JUST WORDS.”  “We have nothing to fear but fear itself. JUST WORDS.”

 5   Bill Clinton

Bill may have been a Lothario….but he was also a great public speaker.  Here we see Bill addressing the National Democratic Convention.  Check the way he taps into the audience and wins their hearts & minds.

 4  Winston Churchill

In 1940 Winston Churchill made, what would be the defining speech of WW2′.  A powerful piece of oratory, which inspired and gave the Great British people a sense of belief, a sense of purpose and motivated a nation in War.  This speech was of course captured by the words…’we shall fight them on the beaches’……

 
3   John F Kennedy

JFK’s life was cut all too short.  He was a gifted public speaker who was ‘believable’, ‘honest’, ‘man of the people’ and inspirational.  He gave many memorable speeches including  ‘Ich Bin Ein Berliner’.  Arguably, the best was his Inaugural Address in which he asked:  ‘Ask not what your country can do for you…..’

2 Adolf Hitler

There is no doubt Hitler was a tyrant.  A mass murderer, a despicable figure that caused many many deaths across the world through his insane plans for world domination.  But this list details the best orators and there is no doubting in Hitler’s ability to inspire a crowd….to move them in ways that many speakers have been unable to achieve in History.  Yes, his elevation to power was due to a mixture of economic depression and the bullying of his opponents, but look at this video.  The sheer emotion generated—the body language in full ‘audience grabbing mode’.  The content may be disgusting but Hitler was a gifted orator.

1    Martin Luther King

I am sure many of you would agree and place MLK at number 1.  A brilliant orator.  His ‘I have a Dream’ speech still raises hairs on the back of the neck today.

Who is missing?  Agree or disagree with this list?

Whose been a cheeky cheeky boy then!!!

There is nothing TBB likes more than waking up in the morning to the radiant smile of Kate Garraway on GMTV.  She is an national asset.

As the fallout continues from Smeargate, Derek Draper’s lovely wife has been suffering in the aftershocks from her husband’s involvement.

This has involved scheduled media appearances, including a planned appearance with Derek on the family game show, ‘Mr & Mrs’, where contestants have to see how much they know about their partner.  TBB regrets that they pulled out from this show as it would have been great to hear the question, ‘Now Kate, how well do you know Derek…..what is the biggest secret Derek has kept from you?  Is it a)  He is a secret lemonade drinker  b)  He loves Bagpuss  C) He has set up a political blog and communicates with officers inside NO.10 to smear leading Conservative Politicians’ ? 

But Smeargate seems to have hit closer to Kate’s core career at GMTV.  Since the issue Kate has been noticeably less involved with political interviews on the show, with Ben Sheppard and Penny Smith taking the lion’s share.  Smeargate led some to question, rightly or wrongly, of her neutrality when dealing with Senior Politicians.

This follows on from some commentators criticising Kate for treating Senior Labour figures lightly, including a recent interview with Gordon Brown, pre-smear gate when she asked a question about payperviewgate and asked whether he would put a bath plug on expenses.  She then changed the question to one about Obama must put a lot on his expenses.  Hardly a drill down or tough probing interview…and this caused an outcry for being too soft.

Kate is a quality act.  Unfortunately through no fault of her own, could backstage whispering have damaged her standing at GMTV and her progression on GMTV to the lead role she so coverts, (GMTV made Emma & her joint lead presenters). 

Lets hope that the time she takes off for maternity, helps stop the whispering against her, lets her rebuild her reputation and that her husband Derek keeps out of politics.  Kate is too nice to be damaged by smeargate.

Speaker Michael Martin has just announced that he is going to give a statement tomorrow on MP’s expenses.  Rumours are circulating Westminster like wildfire that he will announce that he will step down at the next election. 

However, is this enough?  Given the growing calls for him to go, the disrespect & contempt people hold for him, the Great Office of the Speaker is being damaged.  The centuries old tradition of not criticising Speakers has been broken, with a Leader of a Major Political Party, Nick Clegg, calling for his head.

Given the sheer hostility people feel towards politicians and the expenses scandal, the House of Commons needs to be seen to react.  It is not enough to sit and wait for the Chris Kelly report for late this year. 

As previously blogged, Speaker Martin has had a bad few months, be it over the Damien Green issue or MP’s Expenses and the way he has been slow to grasp the severity of this issue…or indeed his disrespectful remarks to MP’s in the House last week, including Kate Hoey….shows that the Office of the Speaker is being dragged down by Martin’s actions.

Speaker Martin should announce that he is going with immediate effect after an election for a new Speaker.

That is the first step of many to show the House of Commons wants to regain the public’s trust.

For the sake of Parliament, for the sake of the Honourable history of the Office of the Speaker.. Michael Martin….GO NOW.

If he refuses to then MP’s should vote with a clear conscience and support Douglas Cardwell’s motion tomorrow.  But let’s hope that Martin decides to go down with dignity that scrapping like an alley cat.

• Did the Telegraph go soft on Ed Balls? Great insight from Iain Dale today…take a look at http://tinyurl.com/323z7l #
• @Wossy Love mini golf. Hey wossy. Set up a new political blog site called http://www.trueblueblood.com. Be great to get your support and follow in reply to Wossy #
• @aplusk Hey legend. I spent the weekend setting up a new political blog site http://www.trueblueblood.com. Be great to get your support or follow in reply to aplusk #
• @torybear Tell us more about your heavy weekend in reply to torybear #
• S***. I’ve been caught fiddling my expenses….what an MP should do next….the essential toolkit from TBB http://tiny.cc/L85mV #
• Back from a days canvassing. No rotten eggs thrown. No violence. Plenty of moat cleaning jokes…..will blog shortly on my day #
• Have a great weekend all. Off canvassing now. Expecting a rough ride. Will blog later on my day and level of support for other parties #
• Have I got News for You. We need an independent body to look into MP’s expenses…..the Fraud squad!!! #
• Off campaigning again tomorrow. Do I need a suit of armour. It’s hostile out there!!!! #
• Currently, such revulsion at Politics, UKIP are benefiting on the doorstep amongst Tory known voters. #
• Back from canvassing. Views on the ground want blood over expenses. Much Bitterness. Many want Morley arrested by the Police for fraud. #
• Elliot Morley suspended. Why not Jacqui Smith? Why not Hazel Blears? Brown going for easy backbencher! #
• Funny hearing Brown campaigning on the failures of the 1990′s. Gordon, you have been in power for the past decade. Sell vision not slur #
• Elliot Morley suspended from the Parl Labour Party. Finally Labour find some balls…..oh he will be tomorrow with Yvette Cooper in the DT #
• Lab Fabian Hamilton just named—claimed mums house as main home, over claimed expenses, refurnished house, then ‘flipped’ to new home.Shame #
• LOL Hazel Blears attempts to impress Gordon brown by saying twice in a press conference she worked till 2am left Gordon looking unimpressed #
• Last thought….what’s the youngest age a PPC should be? Too young = no life experience to take to the House…? Blog later #
• Hhhhmmm been reviewing the latest list of PPC’s….interesting reading. Will blog later on it….. #
• It’s feeling like its Ed Balls/Yvette Cooper’s time in the spotlight tomorrow. Surely they wouldn’t double claim for a 2nd home allowance? #
• Must be time for Gordon to start putting on his make up for PMQ’s at midday. Don’t forget the blusher Gordon. Maybe a little bronzing!!! #
• But when will the DT post the Ed Balls & Yvette Cooper expenses story? Saving the best for last? Or posting it when he is Chancellor? #
• Finally the Lib Dems come under the spotlight. Their poll boosted by focus on Lab & Cons will now burst…..but who bought a rocking chair? #
• Gutted that Ferrari have announced that they are pulling out of Formula 1 next season over new technical regulations. A huge loss. #
• Harriet ‘I am loyal to my colleagues’ Harman just knifed Hazel Blears live on the BBC. As Iain Dale says..beware wounded chipmunks! #
• Where is David Miliband? For the past 2 months he has been invisible. No interviews. No public support of boss. Waiting to pounce David? #
• Speaker Martin has shown over the Damien Green arrest and MP’s expenses he should not bear the honourable robes of the Speaker. Go now. #
• Thanks for all your emails and support on the blog article highlighting the shameful Public Sector expenditure. http://tiny.cc/vdUqy #

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Gordon, it’s a rainy Sunday.  A good time to kick back and think about the future.

The polls don’t look good do they?  I am sure you have already cast the European and County elections to one side as a catastrophe for Labour.  Has your best buddy Ed Balls prepared your briefing documents listing your excuses for the bad results…best check?

You know your colleagues are getting nervous.  They are worried they will lose their seats next May and are becoming more rebellious, briefing the media both on and off the record.  Losing the Gurkha’s vote was just the start.  The next challenge is that wretched Post Office legislation….and you need the support of David Cameron to get that through!  How dare your colleagues rebel against your authority and key policies. 

You hope that a reshuffle immediately after the elections will restore your authority and give the party a fresh face.  But you know that your electoral success next year depends on the economy turning round and people starting to feel more positive about their wellbeing.  But people like that wretched Mervyn King from the Bank of England keep warning of a deep recession and a slow recovery.  That does not help.

So, now is the time to think.  All polls point to a huge electoral loss.  That means your Party will want and need to replace you……’time for a change’ to use a vogue phrase. 

As you face electoral meltdown.   Do you really want to stay around the next Parliament and sit on the backbenches?  Vilified by your own Party.  Blamed for past mistakes.  You know this is natural as the Party will need to reinvent itself and hence distance itself from you.

5 long years on the Back Benches.  Watching David Cameron lead the country forward and gain mass recognition & popularity reversing your policies and decisions.

You will try you hand at the lecture circuit but quickly get frustrated as the scoundrel Blair will out-earn you and command bigger audiences.  Heart of hearts you know you are a poor orator. 

Maybe, the best course of action is to walk after the Euro elections.  Point to some good economic data and say that you have done what you wanted to achieve ie sow the seeds for economic recovery.  As you have worked night and day to try and turn things around it has taken it’s toll on you and now you want to spend more time with your family and leave a new leader to move forward.

Hows does a quiet life as Lord Brown of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenheath  appeal?  Maybe, just maybe, you will get appointed to the board on some of those nice Banks you saved…..? 

Dont’ worry Gordon……..you have options…Lord Brown of Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath

On yer bike Hazel………

The moment an MP dreads…the Daily Telegraph is investigating you and will reveal your expenses in the next edition…what to do?

TrueBlueBlood to the rescue with a toolkit :

-  Do not under ANY circumstances admit you were wrong

-  First say you are very sorry and express your dedication to serving the public.  State the reasons why you came into politics…to champion democracy and help people in society. Come across as a true public servant.

-  Next use character references…point to your friends and say that ‘my friends and family swear to my honesty and integrity’, then claim real shock as to the accusation.

-  Next—this is the most important part.  Place the blame.  This is imperative to improve your personal brand reputation.  Pick from the following list to blame and stick rigidly to it……

EXCUSES TOOLKIT:  MEMORIZE THOROUGHLY

       -  The system      It is broken, doesn’t work and is at fault.  It needs correcting.  Importantly say that you have been saying this for some time.  But no one else listened.  (This comes across even better with a violin playing behind you).  Claim you warned of this impending crisis and come across as a champion for reform.

       -  The rules          Were not clear.  You thought you were in the right.  How can anyone understand such rules.  They were never enforced and hence un-understandable.

       -  Signed off          This is very popular.  Don’t overuse this one.  All expenses were signed off by the expenses office.  Therefore they must be right.  Blame the office.  It is important to state you wrote to the office several times to clarify that the expenses were valid to be claimed.  Increases your legitimacy in this argument. 

       -  Poor Pay           This may not get sympathy.  Whilst true MP’s are on poor salaries, won’t get public sympathy.  Best to avoid.

       -  The Telegraph   Blame the newspaper.  Sensationalist journalism.  Claim the DT favours your political opponents and this is part of a smear campaign.

       -  Debate the facts   Find a flaw in the DT’s journalism and then turn a big spotlight on that flaw and seek to claim their journalism does not hold up.  Undermine their story.

        -  Blame your PA    Classic excuse.  Claim your PA / Researcher puts in all expenses and you were not aware they did this and are shocked.  because you are too busy serving the country you did not check their submission.

       -  Tears    The public love emotion.  start crying.  bring up personal tragedy.  This may win sympathy.  Maybe say that you were worried for public safety as a dirty moat may attract crocodiles, so you cleaned it for public safety!

       – Deflect   A classic tactic.  Deflect attention from yourself onto your colleagues.  A great way to do this is….’I am sorry for my small indiscretion which in no way compares to the Honourable member for *****’.  Then add some colour.  ‘I would never ever bring myself to claim for cleaning a moat/buying a chandelier/flipping my home’—delete as appropriate…..this makes your offence look smaller in comparison.

       -  Pay Back    Just say ooopppsss and that you have paid back the amount in full.  Then say story over.  Thank you for raising to my attention.  then turn the issue onto something else eg ‘Let’s look at the big issues facing us…like the economy’…….

       -  Forgot    Play on your memory.  Your forgot.  Must be your age.  Make light, laugh….and hope the public will just think you are plain stupid and not a greedy pig!

       -  Be aggressive   When challenged just be aggressive back.  So what is a great response.  If accused of taking money for a £1,500 Home Entertainment system, just say, ‘I was entitled to it’, …’what’s the issue’?  Interviewer will back down.

       -  Call No.10    If a Labour Cabinet Minister, immediately call the No.10 smear Unit and they will put pressure on the newspaper and threaten that they will never get access to exclusive Gordon and No.10 interviews again.  Paper will back down.

       -  Look Honourable    When told of the accusation say ‘when this matter was first brought to my attention, my first reaction was that the right thing to do was speak with…..and step down, whilst I clear my name in the pending investigation…which will clear my name 100% guv!’

       -  Hide  Yes run and hide and hope that the issue blows over.  The paper will publish your story and will be moving on to others the next day.  Hide away and the situation may just go away.

       – The Speaker     Again a popular one.  Blame the Speaker.  He is in all sorts of trouble.  Pile on the pressure and hope that the Speaker gets a bigger headline than you!!! 

       -  The Public     Come across as a people person and side with the general public.  Say something like: ‘I have heard absolutely the outrage and the anger that the public feel about what is going on.  I would never let down anyone or the public that I represent, that is why I am repaying my money today’

       – Play the hero   Say that you have done nothing wrong and are happy with your actions but that you will be repaying some money because you want to ensure the public gets the right message.

       -  Apologise for all.  Don’t just speak for yourself.  Speak for all parties and politicians.  Say something like:  ‘I want to apologise on behalf of politicians, on behalf of all parties, for what has happened’.  You look saintly.  Great to use if a leader.

       – Take action   Quickly publish all your recently made expenses online and conveniently forget all previous claims.  When questioned point to your transparency and keep to the future line when questioned.  Look like someone solving the issue. 

       -  Claim harassment   If you are female, ethnic, Muslim, disabled, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, from Birmingham, fat, have ginger hair, been with Jordan…claim immediate harassment.  Journalist will back down because scared of a massive legal case.

       -  ‘They’   Always—ALWAYS—use the word ‘They’…blame ‘them’.  It allows you to shift attention onto others who are unspecified.

         -  End quote.  Come up with a classic quote to end the story eg  ‘I am as straight as they come’, is a perfect quote.

Shahid Malik….’I am as straight as they come’

………………class.

Nice work David. A Statesman’s broadcast. Constructive, to the point and apologetic. Striking the tone that the Nation wants.

I hope that Gordon reappraises his election strategy moving forward.