# Michael Howard Speech - Pukefest. (mainly his kid's part) **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [March 12, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238 "2005-03-12T21:25:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/1 "2005-03-12T21:25:51Z")
_My dad is so great_ ugh. What a sickly wooden fraudulent mess of dad-congratulation. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/2 "2005-03-12T21:29:37Z")
Sorry for the lack of substance, but I only saw the bit with his daugher and son speaking. I couldn’t believe how false it all was “My dad has an irritating ability to give me perfect advice” (paraphrased from bad memory) Nothing wrong with liking your dad, but that was just so… false. ---
**Author:** ![Busy\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/d78d45/32.png) [@Busy\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Busy_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/3 "2005-03-12T22:51:03Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Sorry for the lack of substance, but I only saw the bit with his daugher and son speaking. I couldn’t believe how false it all was “My dad has an irritating ability to give me perfect advice” (paraphrased from bad memory) > > Nothing wrong with liking your dad, but that was just so… false. Didn’t see the speech, but would imagine that it was cringeworthy. He’s terrible when he tries to connect with the man on the clapham omnibus. Fairly strong parlimentarian though, he seemed to be giving a good account of himself in the marathon session they had the other day on the “terror bill” or somesuch. Its a shame that parliament is such a sideshow nowadays. Whilst I’m here, can you believe the Tories coming out with this pussified cant on how they’re going to lose respectably this time, but return victorious in 2009?! :dubious: This is a nadir for labour! If you can’t show Tony the door right now, what on earth is it going to take for you to win an election? Famine, pestilence, strife??? ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2005, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/4 "2005-03-12T23:34:15Z")
Talk about a lame counter-measure against the Blair “family man, women’s vote” initiative. Michael Howard. You shall know him by his work. - “Section 28”. Gays are taking over our schools and local councils! Something must be done! - Poll Tax. 'nuff said. - Immigrants. Foreigners are taking over our country! Something must be done! The man is an evil, scape-goating, oily toad. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/5 "2005-03-13T00:01:51Z")
Can you provide some backstory for us non-UKers? Specifically, how old are these kids? ---
**Author:** ![violacrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c57346/32.png) [@violacrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/violacrane)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/6 "2005-03-13T01:02:21Z")
[According to **The Scotsman**](http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4247168) > [@](#): > > Michael Howard’s children today paid tribute to the man they hope will become Prime Minister. > > The Tory leader’s adult son and daughter Nick and Larissa and step-son Sholto Douglas-Home introduced Mr Howard at the party’s spring conference in Brighton. > Miss Howard, 27, told of her father’s “fantastic ability” to offer clear advice. > > She said of the Tory leader: “I think he doing rather a good job.” > > Son Nick, 29, who is training to be a vicar, spoke of Mr Howard’s honesty and straightforwardness. > > “It’s an aspect of his character which personally I appreciate,” he said. > > “I always know where I am with him because all my life he has meant what he has said to me. His word is trustworthy. And that, it seems to me, is a great characteristic for a future Prime Minister.” > > Mr Douglas-Home, 42, said he was convinced Mr Howard “has got what it takes to be the next Prime Minister”. So the kids are adults, it still falls under the “Well they would say that” rule. Apparently assorted grandchildren were also present, with non speaking roles. Now that they have supported him in public they are even more exposed to the to the scrutiny – ie muckraking – of the press. He must be pretty confident they can stand up to that. I don’t think much of this tactic either. Seeing Howard on the news just now he’s gone all in with this campaign. He said > [@](#): > > “One day you will be able to tell your children and grandchildren as I will tell mine, ‘I was there. I did my bit. I played my part. I helped to win that famous election - the election that transformed our country for the better’.” . If he loses the election there’s no coming back from that. However he is the scariest leader the Tories have had since Thatcher which seems to give him a better chance. ---
**Author:** ![violacrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c57346/32.png) [@violacrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/violacrane)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/7 "2005-03-13T01:12:13Z")
Interesting side note re UK political connections, Sholto Douglas-Home is a great nephew of former Prime Minister Alec Douglas-Home (pronounced hume as in hyume). His father was Robin Douglas-Home, a jazz pianist. ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/8 "2005-03-13T01:48:03Z")
I see. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [March 13, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/9 "2005-03-13T20:05:15Z")
Is Sholto a common name? I’ve never come across a Sholto before. ---
**Author:** ![violacrane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/c57346/32.png) [@violacrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/violacrane)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/10 "2005-03-14T01:55:17Z")
It’s a posh Scottish name, apparently meaning a teal duck. Google gives quite a few Sholtos with “Douglas” in their name so i suspect it’s a family name. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/11 "2005-03-14T05:53:53Z")
Is having a candidate’s family members give ridiculous speeches of support a rare occurance in the UK? I can’t imagine a political campaign here in the US that didn’t include endorsements from family members; they’re usually quite silly but nothing to get all worked up about. Is it different in the UK? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 6:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/12 "2005-03-14T06:22:39Z")
> [@cheddarsnax](#): > > Is having a candidate’s family members give ridiculous speeches of support a rare occurance in the UK? Up until now they were a very rare thing, and would have been viewed as embarrasingly gauche. I imagine Howard is resorting to this to try to create some sort of human face for himself, a man who his own party has described as having “something of the night about him”. I’d imagine though that now one of the bastards has done it, they’ll all start doing it. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 7:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/13 "2005-03-14T07:18:46Z")
> [@Futile Gesture](#): > > The man is an evil, scape-goating, oily toad. But that applies to every male MP. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/14 "2005-03-14T07:33:24Z")
> [@Gary Kumquat](#): > > “something of the night about him”. I hope this wasn’t a racial comment. Assuming it wasn’t, all this is par for the course in American politics. A politician over here is expected to have his family behind him all the way, and they are expected to be in public to some extent stumping for him. It’s a cheap photo op for the press and it obviates the need for anyone to say anything substantive. As if they were going to anyway. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/15 "2005-03-14T07:39:34Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > I hope this wasn’t a racial comment. No: he could easily make a good vampire. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/16 "2005-03-14T10:51:47Z")
It’s all part of the growing infantilism of British politics - If I had to blame someone for starting it I would blame Kinnock. Remember “Kinnock the movie” PPB? Within the party it’s felt that Sandra Howard is an electoral asset (particularly when held up against Cherie). Also there is clearly an attempt to get Howard away from his “something of the night” image - we’ve even seen him playing ping-pong. Frankly I could do without it. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/17 "2005-03-14T11:53:02Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > I hope this wasn’t a racial comment. Not at all. “Something of the night” as in a creature of the night, a vampire or similar. ---
**Author:** ![Kal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/9de053/32.png) [@Kal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kal)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/18 "2005-03-14T12:05:01Z")
> [@Gary Kumquat](#): > > Not at all. “Something of the night” as in a creature of the night, a vampire or similar. Fuck you! Vampires are people too, you bigot! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Kumquat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4491bb/32.png) [@Gary\_Kumquat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Kumquat)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/19 "2005-03-14T12:23:19Z")
> [@Kal](#): > > Fuck you! Vampires are people too, you bigot! I must state categorically that the quote was not my own, and in no way did I intend to cause offence to any undead by comparing them to Michael Howard. I strongly believe that Britains living dead population is a key, vibrant part of our great nation, who contribute greatly to our culture and way of life. Only by standing together can we overcome these antisocial, parasitical scum who are such a threat to this fair country - politicians. ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [March 14, 2005, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238/20 "2005-03-14T12:58:53Z")
I believe that Michael Howard’s ancestors are in fact from Transylvania (really). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/michael-howard-speech-pukefest-mainly-his-kids-part/294238.md?page=2)