Yeah hate to be a spoilsport but there's a touch of wow look how clever the natives are at playing sophisticated western music.
Marvellous example of a comment that says everything about the commenter and nothing about what he is trying to comment on.
Marvellous example of a comment that says everything about the commenter and nothing about what he is trying to comment on.
Twat.
No, really. If something evokes something poisonous in your own head, just keep quiet about it.
Above, all, don't attribute the poison to other people and start abusing them.
Twat x2.
Same question to you - what exactly is so joyous about the clip?
The people in it seem to be having a lot of fun?
England players' reaction on winning the Euros is a similarly joyous clip (or indeed Messi's on winning the world cup) and, I guess, less open to your interpretation.*
*unless they have a touch of 'wow look how clever the women are at playing manly games' etc
ETA: Be careful, btw. Don't too many twats make a Twitter? We don't want that!
The more pertinent question: Leon and his various incarnations prior have spent years trying to alarm us all, usually to almost zero effect, about the imminence of various imagined catastrophes that will supposedly wipe out our species from the planet, or similar.
Yet he’s trying to uplift us now? Should he check his meds?
Frankly, now you point that out, I'm pretty worried!
The age-fraud crisis to engulf Cameroon’s Under-17 team has intensified after more players failed medical tests ordered by Samuel Eto’o, the president of the country’s football association.
Another 11 players are said to have been caught by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) screening that initially saw 21 of the country’s original 30-strong squad for this month’s regional African Cup of Nations qualifiers sent home.
Those MRIs took place late last month at the insistence of former Chelsea and Barcelona striker Eto’o as part of a pledge to stamp out age fraud within Cameroon’s youth teams.
Governing body Fecafoot announced the results in a statement in which it said steps had been immediately taken to replace those caught by the testing.
But 11 new players failed tests carried out on Tuesday, giving manager Jean Pierre Fiala barely a week to bring in further reinforcements.
Cameroon host Congo, Chad, DR Congo and Central African Republic for the Central African Football Federations’ Union (UNIFFAC) qualifiers between January 12 and 24, with two teams progressing to April’s Under-17 Nations Cup in Algeria.
On topic: "But in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes to take the gavel.
I am mildly skeptical, because there are so many holdouts. On the other hand, most of the holdouts may recognize this isn't helping them with the voters.
Too much power has been concentrated in the Speaker's office. That can work when the Speaker is a Democrat, since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss.
But it will always cause disatisfaction among Republicans.)
The last Republican speaker of any note turned out to be a real, actual and convicted paedophile.
I learned today.
Paul Ryan is a paedophile? Are you sure? That's news to me.
On topic: "But in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes to take the gavel.
I am mildly skeptical, because there are so many holdouts. On the other hand, most of the holdouts may recognize this isn't helping them with the voters.
Too much power has been concentrated in the Speaker's office. That can work when the Speaker is a Democrat, since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss.
But it will always cause disatisfaction among Republicans.)
I am not wholly convinced because it seems a decent number will just hold out for anyone but McCarthy.
If (let’s say) he gets a few more on side with the new offer, we then probably find ourself in a position where we’re waiting for whichever side is the first to crack. The remainder of the GOP, who must be fed up of how this is looking, and the Boebert crew, who are bat**** bonkers.
I wouldn’t put money on Boebert and the like blinking first.
And many - most? - Brexit voters, ISTR, did not vote for Brexit for economic reasons but in order to retain some level of democratic control over their destiny. That's real, and has happened. You might argue our democratic control is weak, but that is a step up from nonexistent. You might argue that we haven't used our post-Brexit freedoms terribly well yet. But that doesn't mean the exercise was pointless.
We have less democratic control than before.
We used to be able to vote Dan Hannan out of office.
Now he has a job in our legislature for life.
Even by your standards this is idiotic. We can vote him out of office by electing a government to abolish the Lords.
This is like your argument that the SNP should win enough English seats to win a majority in Westminster to get Independence. That was also nonsense. Hannan could be ejected directly by the electorate (albeit with difficulty with the silly list system) while a member of the EU parliament. He can not be ejected directly by the electorate while in the Lords. In both cases he is a member of a parliament.
It is very different.
The objection to MEPs was not that they were not elected.
?
Never said it was.
I'm talking about the nonsense of stating that we can vote him out of the Lords by voting in a Govt that abolishes the Lords. That is not voting him out at all by any stretch of the imagination. We have no vote to actually get rid of him. Whereas when he was an MEP we could directly vote him out (albeit with difficulty, but it was an actual election).
And as pointed out that is as daft as your suggestion that the SNP should try and win a majority at Westminster to get Independence. Another ridiculous suggestion.
Yes, but, your objection to one specific Lord is irrelevant. We can no more nor less remove a lord than we could before Brexit. The fact that there is now one who you personally obhect to is neither here nor there.
On topic: "But in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes to take the gavel.
I am mildly skeptical, because there are so many holdouts. On the other hand, most of the holdouts may recognize this isn't helping them with the voters.
Too much power has been concentrated in the Speaker's office. That can work when the Speaker is a Democrat, since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss.
But it will always cause disatisfaction among Republicans.)
I am not wholly convinced because it seems a decent number will just hold out for anyone but McCarthy.
If (let’s say) he gets a few more on side with the new offer, we then probably find ourself in a position where we’re waiting for whichever side is the first to crack. The remainder of the GOP, who must be fed up of how this is looking, and the Boebert crew, who are bat**** bonkers.
I wouldn’t put money on Boebert and the like blinking first.
I always write my season greetings on terrorists with small feet.
Ho. Ho. Ho.
Yes. It was a pain to find material for a while. Then the under butler suggested that one of the tradesmen knew an a chap. Estranged son of a rather odd immigrant family. Anyway, apparently he is rather into terrorist hunting and has piles of them - no idea what to do with them. Bit like the grouse, I suppose.
On topic: "But in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes to take the gavel.
I am mildly skeptical, because there are so many holdouts. On the other hand, most of the holdouts may recognize this isn't helping them with the voters.
Too much power has been concentrated in the Speaker's office. That can work when the Speaker is a Democrat, since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss.
But it will always cause disatisfaction among Republicans.)
I am not wholly convinced because it seems a decent number will just hold out for anyone but McCarthy.
If (let’s say) he gets a few more on side with the new offer, we then probably find ourself in a position where we’re waiting for whichever side is the first to crack. The remainder of the GOP, who must be fed up of how this is looking, and the Boebert crew, who are bat**** bonkers.
I wouldn’t put money on Boebert and the like blinking first.
In an hour and a half, we may find out….
My favourite part of the day. The roll call is very soothing to have on as background noise.
I always write my season greetings on terrorists with small feet.
Ho. Ho. Ho.
Yes. It was a pain to find material for a while. Then the under butler suggested that one of the tradesmen knew an a chap. Estranged son of a rather odd immigrant family. Anyway, apparently he is rather into terrorist hunting and has piles of them - no idea what to do with them. Bit like the grouse, I suppose.
All sounds thoroughly unpheasant.
All (a) game to you?
Yes deer.
No fawning on him, please.
Doe!
Re
Rey! REY! REY!!
It was ultimately a case with that series of 'the garbage wouldn't do.'
On topic: "But in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes to take the gavel.
I am mildly skeptical, because there are so many holdouts. On the other hand, most of the holdouts may recognize this isn't helping them with the voters.
Too much power has been concentrated in the Speaker's office. That can work when the Speaker is a Democrat, since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss.
But it will always cause disatisfaction among Republicans.)
I am not wholly convinced because it seems a decent number will just hold out for anyone but McCarthy.
If (let’s say) he gets a few more on side with the new offer, we then probably find ourself in a position where we’re waiting for whichever side is the first to crack. The remainder of the GOP, who must be fed up of how this is looking, and the Boebert crew, who are bat**** bonkers.
I wouldn’t put money on Boebert and the like blinking first.
Boebert not at all affected by almost losing her safe seat. Apparently there are five members who will never vote for Kevin - and he can only lose four. I guess they may vote 'Present'?
I always write my season greetings on terrorists with small feet.
Ho. Ho. Ho.
Yes. It was a pain to find material for a while. Then the under butler suggested that one of the tradesmen knew an a chap. Estranged son of a rather odd immigrant family. Anyway, apparently he is rather into terrorist hunting and has piles of them - no idea what to do with them. Bit like the grouse, I suppose.
On topic: "But in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes to take the gavel.
I am mildly skeptical, because there are so many holdouts. On the other hand, most of the holdouts may recognize this isn't helping them with the voters.
Too much power has been concentrated in the Speaker's office. That can work when the Speaker is a Democrat, since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss.
But it will always cause disatisfaction among Republicans.)
The last Republican speaker of any note turned out to be a real, actual and convicted paedophile.
Gardenwalker said: "The last Republican speaker of any note turned out to be a real, actual and convicted paedophile.
I learned today."
The last Republican speaker of note is Paul Ryan. If he had been convicted of a felony, I think I would have heard of it. There is no mention of any crimes in his Wikipedia biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ryan
(Ryan has political beliefs similar to the late Jack Kemp's. Ryan believes that the best way to help poor families is to cut their taxes, and open up markets. You can argue about those ideas, but I wouldn't question his sincerity.)
On topic: "But in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes to take the gavel.
I am mildly skeptical, because there are so many holdouts. On the other hand, most of the holdouts may recognize this isn't helping them with the voters.
Too much power has been concentrated in the Speaker's office. That can work when the Speaker is a Democrat, since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss.
But it will always cause disatisfaction among Republicans.)
"since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss."
Are you stuck in a time warp, Jim? These days, "machine politics" (21st-century style) is WAY more a Republican thing than a Democratic thing.
For example, try describing say King County Democrats as a "machine"? Can hear Boss Tweed & Mayor Daley laughing hysterically from their crypts.
Gardenwalker said: "The last Republican speaker of any note turned out to be a real, actual and convicted paedophile.
I learned today."
The last Republican speaker of note is Paul Ryan. If he had been convicted of a felony, I think I would have heard of it. There is no mention of any crimes in his Wikipedia biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ryan
(Ryan has political beliefs similar to the late Jack Kemp's. Ryan believes that the best way to help poor families is to cut their taxes, and open up markets. You can argue about those ideas, but I wouldn't question his sincerity.)
I've always liked Ryan, and it is a crying shame he was driven out of today's Republican Party.
“Surrounded by boozers, misfits and losers” should be adopted as the PB theme song.
Puts me in mind of Stuck in the Middle with You, which would also have been a great Lib Dem campaign song for GE 2019, if only they hadn't elected their own figure of fun as leader
On topic: "But in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes to take the gavel.
I am mildly skeptical, because there are so many holdouts. On the other hand, most of the holdouts may recognize this isn't helping them with the voters.
Too much power has been concentrated in the Speaker's office. That can work when the Speaker is a Democrat, since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss.
But it will always cause disatisfaction among Republicans.)
I am not wholly convinced because it seems a decent number will just hold out for anyone but McCarthy.
If (let’s say) he gets a few more on side with the new offer, we then probably find ourself in a position where we’re waiting for whichever side is the first to crack. The remainder of the GOP, who must be fed up of how this is looking, and the Boebert crew, who are bat**** bonkers.
I wouldn’t put money on Boebert and the like blinking first.
In an hour and a half, we may find out….
My favourite part of the day. The roll call is very soothing to have on as background noise.
”The honourable gentleman from California is recognised….
via NPR - Whip notice just sent to House Democrats: "Members are further advised that they should be prepared to stay in Washington, D.C. until a Speaker is elected."
When the UK had EEA Freedom of Movement it didn't get the most Freedom of Movement immigrants. Not in absolute terms, and not per capita.
It would be interesting to see the stats on this.
There are so many different ways of measuring it that I'm sure you can get whatever answer you like.
Given that the census apparently revealed an extra million EU citizens in the UK, hitherto unsuspected - or possibly one million fewer, no one is sure - I suggest ANY firm statement on this topic is unreliable
On topic: "But in a sign of progress, some Republicans are approaching a deal that could help Republican leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) get closer to clinching the necessary 218 votes to take the gavel.
I am mildly skeptical, because there are so many holdouts. On the other hand, most of the holdouts may recognize this isn't helping them with the voters.
Too much power has been concentrated in the Speaker's office. That can work when the Speaker is a Democrat, since so many Democrats come out of the same machine politics that Pelosi did. Her father, as I assume many of you know, was a Baltmore boss.
But it will always cause disatisfaction among Republicans.)
I am not wholly convinced because it seems a decent number will just hold out for anyone but McCarthy.
If (let’s say) he gets a few more on side with the new offer, we then probably find ourself in a position where we’re waiting for whichever side is the first to crack. The remainder of the GOP, who must be fed up of how this is looking, and the Boebert crew, who are bat**** bonkers.
I wouldn’t put money on Boebert and the like blinking first.
In an hour and a half, we may find out….
My favourite part of the day. The roll call is very soothing to have on as background noise.
”The honourable gentleman from California is recognised….
Where did this “recognised” business come from, anyway? They’re all sitting in there and in time will know who each others are. Why do you need to be recognised before you can say anything?
NPR.org - Meet Cheryl Johnson, the clerk running the House this week
The speaker is usually the person running things in the House of Representatives.
But in the absence of a speaker, that job has fallen to House Clerk Cheryl Johnson.
Johnson has calmly guided proceedings, including doing the time-consuming and repetitive work of calling on lawmakers to make nomination speeches and cast their votes.
She also reminded them on Thursday to maintain decorum and order, including by refraining "from engaging in personalities toward other members-elect," in brief remarks that were met with a massive round of applause.
She has drawn praise from both sides of the aisle this week for making sure the voting process remains respectful and orderly — despite the fact that the House hasn't even been able to pass rules for its newest session.
When Arkansas Rep. French Hill rose on Thursday to nominate Rep. Kevin McCarthy, he began his speech by thanking Johnson.
"First let me express my deep appreciation, and appreciation of everybody in this room, for the work you're doing, Madame Clerk," he said, prompting a standing ovation from many lawmakers and at least one cry of "Johnson for speaker!"
What is the role of the House clerk?
The Office of the House Clerk says it is responsible for performing administrative functions for the House.
Those include creating and retaining the House Journal, calling new members to order, tracking questions of order and managing the offices of retired or deceased representatives.
Lawmakers vote to elect a House clerk — and other House officers — when a new Congress gathers every two years. That usually happens right after the speaker election — meaning even once the House chooses its speaker, it may go on to nominate and potentially elect a different clerk.
Who is Cheryl Johnson?
Johnson has held the role since 2019, serving in both the 116th and 117th Congress.
The New Orleans native studied journalism and communications at the University of Iowa, holds a law degree from Howard University and completed the senior management program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
She worked in the House for nearly 20 years — serving as counsel for its committee on education and the workforce as well as its subcommittee on libraries and memorials — before spending a decade at the Smithsonian Institution, most recently as the director of the Smithsonian's Office of Government Relations.
Johnson is the fourth woman and second Black person to hold the role of House clerk.
And she's seen plenty of historic moments in her role over the last four years, including two presidential impeachments (she hand-delivered articles of impeachment against former President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2021) and the Jan. 6 insurrection. . . .
In the House of Commons is the father/mother of the House who conducts proceedings when a speaker hasn't been elected. This isn't the oldest MP, it's the one who's been there the longest.
When the UK had EEA Freedom of Movement it didn't get the most Freedom of Movement immigrants. Not in absolute terms, and not per capita.
It would be interesting to see the stats on this.
Don't have them right now, but from memory, several small countries (Norway, Luxembourg etc) had higher EEA immigrants per capita, and Germany had more in absolute terms. UK had highest per capita of the big countries.
But it's also a different mentality being an island. Nobody thinks twice about crossing the (effectively non-exisent) border to the Netherlands or Belgium (an hour's drive or less from a big chunk of Germany's population), or going to work across a border. If you want to go to a beach, the nearest are in the Netherlands. The thought of making any of this in any way slightly more difficult just seems crazy to most people around here.
And a lot of people appreciate the ease with which they can find relatively cheap Eastern Europeans to take care of elderly relatives. FoM is popular. Not universally of course.
The Remain campaign in the UK did mostly fail to make a positive case, and at most made out that it was a "price worth paying" for other benefits of EU membership.
SeaShanty Irish2 said: "Are you stuck in a time warp, Jim? These days, "machine politics" (21st-century style) is WAY more a Republican thing than a Democratic thing.
For example, try describing say King County Democrats as a "machine"? Can hear Boss Tweed & Mayor Daley laughing hysterically from their crypts."
There are still machines in American politics, though they are fewer and weaker than they once were. And there are politicians who came out of those backgrounds, like Pelosi.
I have found that I can predict at least 80 percent of what she would do, just by having read Mike Royko's "Boss", and "The Last Hurrah".
(For the record: I have never said King County (Washington) Democrats are a machine.)
In the House of Commons is the father/mother of the House who conducts proceedings when a speaker hasn't been elected. This isn't the oldest MP, it's the one who's been there the longest.
Always been the Father of the House up to now. No woman has ever been longest serving MP.
Although Beckett is the member of the House elected earliest, as you note that doesn't count as she was out of the house for four years.
In the House of Commons is the father/mother of the House who conducts proceedings when a speaker hasn't been elected. This isn't the oldest MP, it's the one who's been there the longest.
Who does it in the US, I've not been following it that closely.
When the UK had EEA Freedom of Movement it didn't get the most Freedom of Movement immigrants. Not in absolute terms, and not per capita.
It would be interesting to see the stats on this.
There are so many different ways of measuring it that I'm sure you can get whatever answer you like.
I was at least hoping to see the stats behind this claim.
FWIW, I would be very surprised if the UK had been number one on gross, per capita basis (i.e. total number of new immigrants from the EU relative to population), as I suspect somewhere like Luxembourg, with lots of coming and going would be *way* ahead of the UK.
On the other hand, if you did net and total (i.e. not per capita), then I think it is quite likely the UK would have been number one for a number of years post the Eurozone crisis.
In the House of Commons is the father/mother of the House who conducts proceedings when a speaker hasn't been elected. This isn't the oldest MP, it's the one who's been there the longest.
Who does it in the US, I've not been following it that closely.
When the UK had EEA Freedom of Movement it didn't get the most Freedom of Movement immigrants. Not in absolute terms, and not per capita.
It would be interesting to see the stats on this.
Don't have them right now, but from memory, several small countries (Norway, Luxembourg etc) had higher EEA immigrants per capita, and Germany had more in absolute terms. UK had highest per capita of the big countries.
But it's also a different mentality being an island. Nobody thinks twice about crossing the (effectively non-exisent) border to the Netherlands or Belgium (an hour's drive or less from a big chunk of Germany's population), or going to work across a border. If you want to go to a beach, the nearest are in the Netherlands. The thought of making any of this in any way slightly more difficult just seems crazy to most people around here.
And a lot of people appreciate the ease with which they can find relatively cheap Eastern Europeans to take care of elderly relatives. FoM is popular. Not universally of course.
The Remain campaign in the UK did mostly fail to make a positive case, and at most made out that it was a "price worth paying" for other benefits of EU membership.
Yes, FoM is, for most people in the UK, such a marginal issue to them that it's very hard to make a positive case. As island dwellers (setting aside the Northern Irish for now) we don't habitually cross borders. The vast majority of us do so no more than twice a year; and when we do, we do so in a way that is such a hassle anyway (i.e. a ferry or an aeroplane) that we hardly notice an extra few minutes queueing. Of course it would be a different matter if there were international borders on the island of Great Britain. No freedom of movement between England, Wales and Scotland would seem odd and you could in that case start to make a positive case for it.
Got quite excited there to hear about "Slow Horses" - Spy drama with a Jagger song, what a combo! - but oh no Google tells me it's Apple.
I think you can get it via Sky, at least I think that’s what I did unless I’ve inadvertently signed up to Apple TV (not beyond the realms of possibility).
In the House of Commons is the father/mother of the House who conducts proceedings when a speaker hasn't been elected. This isn't the oldest MP, it's the one who's been there the longest.
Always been the Father of the House up to now. No woman has ever been longest serving MP.
Although Beckett is the member of the House elected earliest, as you note that doesn't count as she was out of the house for four years.
I have a vague memory that it was Gwyneth Dunwoody a few years back?
Obviously I could look this up and find out either way. But I never miss an opportunity to raise a memory of Gwyneth Dunwoody.
According to today's Census info, I reckon I may be in the 'gayest' area in the country. Over 20% LGBO. Mind you, I thought it might be higher. We are, I think, the only straights on our street.
SeaShanty Irish2 said: "Are you stuck in a time warp, Jim? These days, "machine politics" (21st-century style) is WAY more a Republican thing than a Democratic thing.
For example, try describing say King County Democrats as a "machine"? Can hear Boss Tweed & Mayor Daley laughing hysterically from their crypts."
There are still machines in American politics, though they are fewer and weaker than they once were. And there are politicians who came out of those backgrounds, like Pelosi.
I have found that I can predict at least 80 percent of what she would do, just by having read Mike Royko's "Boss", and "The Last Hurrah".
(For the record: I have never said King County (Washington) Democrats are a machine.)
"I have found that I can predict at least 80 percent of what [Nancy Pelosi] would do, just by having read Mike Royko's "Boss", and "The Last Hurrah"."
SSI - That's because she's a smart cookie (nod to our Cookie!) politically speaking. NOT because she's in the mold of Tammy Hall. Or even her daddy.
AND what evidence is there, that Mayor D'Alesandro operated a classic political machine? Not much.
In the House of Commons is the father/mother of the House who conducts proceedings when a speaker hasn't been elected. This isn't the oldest MP, it's the one who's been there the longest.
Always been the Father of the House up to now. No woman has ever been longest serving MP.
Although Beckett is the member of the House elected earliest, as you note that doesn't count as she was out of the house for four years.
I have a vague memory that it was Gwyneth Dunwoody a few years back?
Obviously I could look this up and find out either way. But I never miss an opportunity to raise a memory of Gwyneth Dunwoody.
Just looked it up. Andy_JS is, of course, correct. It's currently Peter Bottomley, which I had forgotten. He feels very much like someone from another era. Which is kind of the job description, I suppose.
Also found this out about Gwyneth Dunwoody: "She suffered from financial problems in the late 1980s, with a house in her constituency being repossessed due to mortgage arrears, was threatened with eviction from her London flat, and had furniture seized by bailiffs to meet rent arrears.[4] She was sued by Barclays Bank due to an unpaid loan."
In the House of Commons is the father/mother of the House who conducts proceedings when a speaker hasn't been elected. This isn't the oldest MP, it's the one who's been there the longest.
Always been the Father of the House up to now. No woman has ever been longest serving MP.
Although Beckett is the member of the House elected earliest, as you note that doesn't count as she was out of the house for four years.
I have a vague memory that it was Gwyneth Dunwoody a few years back?
Obviously I could look this up and find out either way. But I never miss an opportunity to raise a memory of Gwyneth Dunwoody.
No. Tam Dalyell and Alan Williams were both ahead of her.
Gardenwalker said: "The last Republican speaker of any note turned out to be a real, actual and convicted paedophile.
I learned today."
The last Republican speaker of note is Paul Ryan. If he had been convicted of a felony, I think I would have heard of it. There is no mention of any crimes in his Wikipedia biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ryan
(Ryan has political beliefs similar to the late Jack Kemp's. Ryan believes that the best way to help poor families is to cut their taxes, and open up markets. You can argue about those ideas, but I wouldn't question his sincerity.)
Gardenwalker said: "The last Republican speaker of any note turned out to be a real, actual and convicted paedophile.
I learned today."
The last Republican speaker of note is Paul Ryan. If he had been convicted of a felony, I think I would have heard of it. There is no mention of any crimes in his Wikipedia biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ryan
(Ryan has political beliefs similar to the late Jack Kemp's. Ryan believes that the best way to help poor families is to cut their taxes, and open up markets. You can argue about those ideas, but I wouldn't question his sincerity.)
According to today's Census info, I reckon I may be in the 'gayest' area in the country. Over 20% LGBO. Mind you, I thought it might be higher. We are, I think, the only straights on our street.
According to today's Census info, I reckon I may be in the 'gayest' area in the country. Over 20% LGBO. Mind you, I thought it might be higher. We are, I think, the only straights on our street.
Comments
Here's a SEARCHABLE map of all the live sewage discharge locations in the Thames Water area
What's your nearest poo-nami?
Mine is Horseferry Road, SW1 [insert political nerd joke]
https://www.thameswater.co.uk/edm-map
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiRNzIUkDuk
If (let’s say) he gets a few more on side with the new offer, we then probably find ourself in a position where we’re waiting for whichever side is the first to crack. The remainder of the GOP, who must be fed up of how this is looking, and the Boebert crew, who are bat**** bonkers.
I wouldn’t put money on Boebert and the like blinking first.
Apparently there are five members who will never vote for Kevin - and he can only lose four.
I guess they may vote 'Present'?
https://www.1776again.com/2016/12/05/dennis-hastert-speaker-of-the-us-house-of-representatives-pedophile/
I learned today."
The last Republican speaker of note is Paul Ryan. If he had been convicted of a felony, I think I would have heard of it. There is no mention of any crimes in his Wikipedia biography: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Ryan
(Ryan has political beliefs similar to the late Jack Kemp's. Ryan believes that the best way to help poor families is to cut their taxes, and open up markets. You can argue about those ideas, but I wouldn't question his sincerity.)
The Roper character is the hero, right?
Are you stuck in a time warp, Jim? These days, "machine politics" (21st-century style) is WAY more a Republican thing than a Democratic thing.
For example, try describing say King County Democrats as a "machine"? Can hear Boss Tweed & Mayor Daley laughing hysterically from their crypts.
via NPR - Whip notice just sent to House Democrats: "Members are further advised that they should be prepared to stay in Washington, D.C. until a Speaker is elected."
https://migrationobservatory.ox.ac.uk/press/euromillions-census-shows-fewer-eu-citizens-in-england-and-wales-than-expected/
The speaker is usually the person running things in the House of Representatives.
But in the absence of a speaker, that job has fallen to House Clerk Cheryl Johnson.
Johnson has calmly guided proceedings, including doing the time-consuming and repetitive work of calling on lawmakers to make nomination speeches and cast their votes.
She also reminded them on Thursday to maintain decorum and order, including by refraining "from engaging in personalities toward other members-elect," in brief remarks that were met with a massive round of applause.
She has drawn praise from both sides of the aisle this week for making sure the voting process remains respectful and orderly — despite the fact that the House hasn't even been able to pass rules for its newest session.
When Arkansas Rep. French Hill rose on Thursday to nominate Rep. Kevin McCarthy, he began his speech by thanking Johnson.
"First let me express my deep appreciation, and appreciation of everybody in this room, for the work you're doing, Madame Clerk," he said, prompting a standing ovation from many lawmakers and at least one cry of "Johnson for speaker!"
What is the role of the House clerk?
The Office of the House Clerk says it is responsible for performing administrative functions for the House.
Those include creating and retaining the House Journal, calling new members to order, tracking questions of order and managing the offices of retired or deceased representatives.
Lawmakers vote to elect a House clerk — and other House officers — when a new Congress gathers every two years. That usually happens right after the speaker election — meaning even once the House chooses its speaker, it may go on to nominate and potentially elect a different clerk.
Who is Cheryl Johnson?
Johnson has held the role since 2019, serving in both the 116th and 117th Congress.
The New Orleans native studied journalism and communications at the University of Iowa, holds a law degree from Howard University and completed the senior management program at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.
She worked in the House for nearly 20 years — serving as counsel for its committee on education and the workforce as well as its subcommittee on libraries and memorials — before spending a decade at the Smithsonian Institution, most recently as the director of the Smithsonian's Office of Government Relations.
Johnson is the fourth woman and second Black person to hold the role of House clerk.
And she's seen plenty of historic moments in her role over the last four years, including two presidential impeachments (she hand-delivered articles of impeachment against former President Donald Trump in 2020 and 2021) and the Jan. 6 insurrection. . . .
https://www.npr.org/live-updates/kevin-mccarthy-speaker-house-vote-day-4
But it's also a different mentality being an island. Nobody thinks twice about crossing the (effectively non-exisent) border to the Netherlands or Belgium (an hour's drive or less from a big chunk of Germany's population), or going to work across a border. If you want to go to a beach, the nearest are in the Netherlands. The thought of making any of this in any way slightly more difficult just seems crazy to most people around here.
And a lot of people appreciate the ease with which they can find relatively cheap Eastern Europeans to take care of elderly relatives. FoM is popular. Not universally of course.
The Remain campaign in the UK did mostly fail to make a positive case, and at most made out that it was a "price worth paying" for other benefits of EU membership.
For example, try describing say King County Democrats as a "machine"? Can hear Boss Tweed & Mayor Daley laughing hysterically from their crypts."
There are still machines in American politics, though they are fewer and weaker than they once were. And there are politicians who came out of those backgrounds, like Pelosi.
I have found that I can predict at least 80 percent of what she would do, just by having read Mike Royko's "Boss", and "The Last Hurrah".
(For the record: I have never said King County (Washington) Democrats are a machine.)
Although Beckett is the member of the House elected earliest, as you note that doesn't count as she was out of the house for four years.
On the other hand, if you did net and total (i.e. not per capita), then I think it is quite likely the UK would have been number one for a number of years post the Eurozone crisis.
https://twitter.com/tseofpb/status/1611390247203475458?s=46&t=Nae80qy0bUzHP2jm8LSXUg
Me: Write this sentence in Greek and Sumerian
ChatGPT:
Δώστε μου αυτό το πράγμα παρακαλώ (Greek)
𒆳 𒆳 𒆳 𒈨 𒆳 𒋢 𒈾 𒀭 𒈾 (Sumerian)
Of course it would be a different matter if there were international borders on the island of Great Britain. No freedom of movement between England, Wales and Scotland would seem odd and you could in that case start to make a positive case for it.
New thread
Obviously I could look this up and find out either way. But I never miss an opportunity to raise a memory of Gwyneth Dunwoody.
SSI - That's because she's a smart cookie (nod to our Cookie!) politically speaking. NOT because she's in the mold of Tammy Hall. Or even her daddy.
AND what evidence is there, that Mayor D'Alesandro operated a classic political machine? Not much.
https://www.baltimoresun.com/politics/bs-md-pol-dalesandro-family-20191021-w5ftn3ue2zdhfhzvvjr6fmu644-story.html
Also found this out about Gwyneth Dunwoody:
"She suffered from financial problems in the late 1980s, with a house in her constituency being repossessed due to mortgage arrears, was threatened with eviction from her London flat, and had furniture seized by bailiffs to meet rent arrears.[4] She was sued by Barclays Bank due to an unpaid loan."
The convicted child molester is, of course:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Hastert
Hastert sounds like a right charmer all around.