The sock thing has completely sold me already!!! GO LOONIES!!!

What were peoples opinions on the TV debate?

I thought Clegg came across quite well once again, Brown and Cameron were shown up once or twice.

Hate the Lib Dems. Swore loudly at the TV when Clegg spouted about hugging young burglars rather than locking them up. This is indicative of them and I think any power they were to achieve in a hung parliament would be dangerous. That said, nothing can match my hatred for the Tories. Brown is handicapped in this debate format by his awkward demeanour, if he were as polished as the other two I think he'd streak ahead.

That first debate actually really turned me off all of them even more. ITV's Alistair Stewart was probably the single most annoying thing about it, constantly interrupting the politicians just to remind us all who was the host that evening. But him aside, I thought Clegg was given slightly preferential treatment and ended up with more mic-time than anyone else. Not bad for him really, it'll probably result in a boost for Lib-Dem votes now that his face and voice have been heard above Brown and Cameron but you get the feeling still that he can say whatever he likes without too much criticism, he'll never have to back-up his promises. Brown did OK for me and answered his questions fairly well, he certainly didn't do himself any harm anyway. Cameron came off the worst by far, constantly referring to 'some bloke I spoke to the other day' when an issue came up so he could attempt to come across as a man of the people. Instead he looked like a creep. I hate him with a passion, he makes me want to go and burn down Eton right now!!

Im still not 100% sure how I feel about the idea of a TV debate. On the one hand I see it for what it is, a mass PR exercise that only serves to plaster these guys voices and faces everywhere. It's not as if we really learnt much as a result of the debate, other than Clegg has trouble straighening his tie for TV. On the other hand though, and I say this as an apathetic non-voter (at the moment), if it gets more people like me to take even a marginally greater interest in the election process and possibly even go out and vote when they ordinarily wouldn't bother then that can only be a good thing. It got over 9 million viewers by the end of the programme which tells you something. I did feel that an hour and a half was probably a bit too long though.

Personally I've enjoyed both debates. I agree Clegg has come across well but as others have said its pretty easy, he can promise what he likes. Also the other two didn't attack him much because they only care about each other.

There were a few more rehearsed soundbites this week, like comparing two of them to children squabbling at bath time.

I'm going to vote for the party I feelm best represents my interests and the country's interests, the debates haven't changed that.

I'm taking the same stance. I'm too young to remember the last time Conservative were in power and I was too young to vote when Labour were elected so instead of thinking about how the parties used to run things I'm looking at how they say they are going to run things. At the moment I'm leaning towards Labour (not because they're red) because at the moment they are more suited for my lifestyle. Maybe at the next election when I'm earning more I will vote Conservative but not yet.

I won't be voting Lib Dems, thats for certain. I know he is coming across well but you have to take his inexperiance to hand. I think if the Lib Dems won they would brick it, I don't think they would know where to start because they have made all these promises they had no intention of keeping because they knew they would never win.

In general though I'm enjoying it all. I love how different newspapers and media sources have already chosen who they want to support and are trying to brainwash their readership. I also love how every time I go and visit relatives we end up debating over things that don't really concern us at all.

My first General election, would describe my instincts as to the left though with a streak of traditionalism. Live in a Tory area with a hard working MP which makes any non Tory vote pointless but will vote anyway, wish I could keep the MP but not his party.

On the debates, watched all three (one chancellor debate, two leader debates), tended to record them and watch with my sister the next sister, enjoyed them a lot, hopefully will attract voters. With the exception of the chancellor debate, would say they have been poorly run, Alistair Stewart lost all control and Sky wasted the opportunity to do a foreign policy debate (which it was supposed to), chose some awful questions (Brown asked better questions) and saw it's integrity questioned afterwords. That the debates have been so enjoyable is down to the three candidates, articulate and intelligent. Of course, half the fun is reading the press afterwords and wondering what debates they were possibly watching as it clearly wasn't the same one as me

Credit to Clegg, Cable gave him a platform of sorts and the debates were going to be a boost to the ignored Lib Dems anyway but he has certainly seized the opportunity. Would say he won the first debate, though not as brilliantly as the hype said, and a narrow second in this weeks one, looks the most comfortable in debates when he gets over his early nerves. Don't quite understand Cameron's good results in the debate polls, he has done well (aside from hammering he got over EU) in them but had him as third in both, maybe there is just something that I'm missing. Brown was overly cautious in first debate when he could have swatted away a few of the attacks on him but very impressive in the second, which I think he narrowly won.

Has it changed my intended vote? No, the debates are fun and interesting but Clegg being a good orator does not mean I like his policies anymore then I did when he first came out with them.

I've added a poll. It's only a bit of fun but I thought we could have our own A-L election.

UKIP, BNP?

Am I eligible to vote as a citizen of Arsenal Land?

I'm voting Green. I live in Brighton which is a marginal constituency. The greens are currently odds on favourite to win, with the Tories in second place. So it's a win-win as far as I'm concerned- They're the party who's policies i agree with most and i fucking HATE the Tories. Plus Caroline Lucas (Green candidate) is an amazing women with an impeccable record regarding civil/animal rights.

Apparently, if the Tories are going to win an outright majority then the Brighton Pavilion seat is a key one. Nothing would give me greater satisfaction to fuck their campaign up

What Election?

edit: oh right, did not know that. I vote for Blair because I think John Major just doesn't cut it as a Prime Minister and Ashdown is not credible.

No.

I am eligible to delete your posts as a moderator of Arsenal Land though.

There are of course a lot of reports about the General Election in Germany as well, and I follow them pretty closely. The fact I like most is that your president is dating a singer and former model.