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Typical Parochial Welsh Politicians putting their own personal political ambitions before the country's.

What this all shows is that we in this island are not used to coalitions and how they work. We are blinded by the two party first-past-the-post system. Most European countries, including Ireland, use proportional representation and the voters are fully aware that they will probably end up with a coalition government. They have generally more than two parties to contend with and this seems to me to be a good thing. We on the other hand have always gone with the two main party system, just like the USA, and the result is often a government of one party with too much power that does its best to ignore the wishes of the people - take the poll tax and Iraq as two prime examples! A coalition government by its very nature is more multifaceted and it's about time we accept this style of a more embracing government rather than the more traditional authoritarian type! A balanced coalition is the only answer for Wales just as in many other countries.

Maybe someone should tell IWJ that there never was a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - just an illusion.

If the "Hug a Tory" Plaid think the voters will forgive the deception they attempted to pull by voting for them next time they will be sadly mistaken.

It is now time for a realigned left to be formed in wales!

Now is also the time for a tired, passed his sell by date, Rhodri Morgan to stand aside and a contest betwen Carwyn Jones and Jane Davidson to see who should lead Labour

Jane Davidson, you are having a laugh, a less competent person would have been hard to propose.

On emerging from a dominant party state there will be some difficulties and as has been said we are not used to this position. The grassroots are just that the verdant landscape on which political development is founded. We are learning and will develop. Now is the time when the three parties need to keep the objective in sight i.e. the well being of the communities and citizens in Wales without a single dominant party. Some more patience and await the outcome of a grassroots conference. Did anyone think it was going to be easy? The reward from this process can/will be immense but it will be hard work. Not all politicians are in it for personal gain and some compromise has already surfaced at Party level. What most people want now is Community politics not party politics.

Mike German,
Nick Bourne
or
Ieaun Wyn Jones

There you are G Evans three for the price of one

It must be blindingly obvious that any party that went into alliance with the Tories would see their local council members obliterated at the elections next year "Vote Plaid/Lib Dem and get a Tory" The only fair solution is for Rhodri to soldier on with his unique but independant style for a couple of years at least. Perhaps some of the socialists of ability in Plaid might consider how their talents might best be employed in Wales. I can think of two at least who could walk straight into any Labour Cabinet.(And probably sit on the Left!)

I wonder what Nick Clegg would make of this ? He may already be planning to jump ship to the 'big tent' Tories under David Cameron, as the chance of LibDem co-operation with the Tories or Labour under a hung parliament may well have disappeared after this farce.

So Plaid claim the Lib Dems are showing contempt to the Welsh electorate? Is this the same Plaid that called Lib Dems political prostitutes when they formed a deal with Labour in 2001? Plaid should be rejoicing that the Lib Dems have saved them from implosion through IWJ's desperation to lead the Assembly at all costs and preparing to sell his sole to the Conservative & Unionists! Is it also true that activists of both Plaid and Lib Dems are quietly discussing electoral pacts and cooperation on constitutional goals in order to break the pro-establishment Labour/Tory stranglehold establishment on UK politics? Interesting times indeed and NOT 'only in Wales' either Betsan!

I have to agree with SmallTree, this is a process that really needs longer than the 28 days set in GOWA because we have a new poltical senario for Wales. However, the ultimate goal of solid consensual politics away from a one party state should not be consigned to the history books for academics to chat about in years to come. It is still there and negotiations can still be worked on with time. We all know Rhodri is a deadman walking. Let him and Jane Hutt have their moment in the sun. The key issue is that through the alliance document, there is now real substance on the table rather than just hypothication.

To be fair, at least Plaid have tried to talk to everybody. IWJ may not be everyone's favourite for First Minister, but he's shown more sense than the others over the last few weeks.
I think Labour should go it alone. It'll work as long as they're prepared to enter into some consensus politics. Unfortunately they don't have any experience of it. They've dominated Wales for so long!

Now which minority party was threatening a lible action if Welsh Labour continued to point out that the Nationalists were going to form a coalition with the Tories ?

Ah yes the Nationalists !

"Plaid lied, and democracy died"

Gareth

One good thing to come out of this is that people are at least engaged in politics. (Although most people are having difficulty keeping up with events) it has provided an opportunity for serious political debate and it has been a talking point.

As others have said if Mc Guinees and Paisley are able to work together for the common good we can at least be civil with each other. Whilst working with the Tories may be an anathema to a lot of people in Wales we have to grow up an appreciate that we are working in a system which is based on consensus.

The rainbow coalition would have been bad news for Wales in the immediate future. However, it would have been good for all of the parties because they would be forced to wake up and acknowledge that government decisions are difficult and it is so easy to be in opposition. This maturity is badly needed, particularly with the debate about hospital reconfiguration which has been politicised at the patients expense
The Liberal Democrats have demonstrated that they are an irrelevant party and they have nothing to contribute to Welsh politics. The party that supports PR have shown that it cannot operate under PR.

The Rachel Hunter joke was rubbish.

This is likely to be the new form of consensual politics.Takes a little getting used to though.I'd expect to see this in Westminster in the near future,hopefully protecting Britain from the horrors of one party domination,and being forced into a pointless war by a power mad labour party.

What the Lib Dems did was stupid it was a golden opportunity for them to be in power and set the scene for a return of real liberal values in Wales and indeed the UK. It would have shown the other parties that the values they hold are not just words, but policy direction for a country increasingly out of touch with the electorate.
Wales deserved nothing less than total recognition as a sovereign state by Europe, Westminster is outdated and increasingly corrupt, as it tries all ways to reduce access to information, scrutiny and accountability.
Vote down Rhodri... why? because he lacks the courage to lead Wales where it needs to be! Instead he is waiting for his elevation to the Lords. Perhaps he thinks he is another Lord Carrington, or Paddy Ashdown.. Yeh rite! dream on!