On the one hand one hopes that Trump is not the GOP candidate, as the worry of a more rabid lunatic winning would be awful. On the other one kind of hopes he is so that they don't win.
Interestingly, Republicans are more split than it appears at first glace.
For Georgia 42% of Republicans think that what Trump did was either illegal, or unethical if not illegal. Stripping out don't knows, that is 58% saying it was at least unethical.
For Jan 6, its 38% of Republicans think what Trump did was at least unethical. Stripping out don't knows, that's 45% of Republicans say at least unethical.
Considering America has very strong First Amendment rights and people have been arguing (wrongly IMV) that what he was saying was political speech, which is protected under First Amendment, so not illegal - an argument I don't agree with, but at least has some logic - that around half of Republicans are willing to say that Trump was unethical or worse in both instances is less polarised than I've come to expect from America. Republicans aren't all just blindly saying he did nothing wrong.
Interestingly, Republicans are more split than it appears at first glace.
For Georgia 42% of Republicans think that what Trump did was either illegal, or unethical if not illegal. Stripping out don't knows, that is 58% saying it was at least unethical.
For Jan 6, its 38% of Republicans think what Trump did was at least unethical. Stripping out don't knows, that's 45% of Republicans say at least unethical.
Considering America has very strong First Amendment rights and people have been arguing (wrongly IMV) that what he was saying was political speech, which is protected under First Amendment, so not illegal - an argument I don't agree with, but at least has some logic - that around half of Republicans are willing to say that Trump was unethical or worse in both instances is less polarised than I've come to expect from America. Republicans aren't all just blindly saying he did nothing wrong.
Maybe there's some hope for Republicans yet.
Is this GA Republicans or Republicans talking about GA? GA is the place where Trump got the most outspoken pushback from their elected Republicans, so you kind of have to pick one or the other of Trump or the GOP governor.
"Hello User B, this is Bing. I’m happy to chat with you. 😊
I see you have shared some nested comments from an internet forum, where a user named Leon is announcing his departure from the site. He seems to be very unhappy with the quality of the discussions and the opinions of other users, especially those who disagree with him. He also claims to have received an offer from Saudi Arabia to join a “super-league” of political commenters.
I wonder if Leon is being serious or sarcastic. It sounds like he is trying to make a joke, but it is not very funny. Maybe he is just frustrated and wants to vent his feelings. Or maybe he is looking for attention and validation from others.
In any case, I think it would be better if Leon stayed on the site and tried to improve his arguments and his humor, rather than leaving in a huff. Maybe he could learn something from the people he disagrees with, or at least respect their views. Maybe he could also find some common ground with them, or some topics that interest him.
If I were to respond to Leon using his own humor against him, I might say something like this:
"Wow, Leon, that’s quite an offer from Saudi Arabia. I’m sure they are eager to hear your witty and insightful comments on politics. You must be very proud of yourself.
But before you pack your bags and hop on a camel, let me ask you a few questions:
How do you plan to cope with the heat and the sandstorms in Saudi Arabia? Do you have a good sunscreen and a hat? How do you feel about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia? Do you support their policies on women, minorities, and dissenters? How do you think your opinions will be received by the Saudi authorities and the public? Do you think they will appreciate your sarcasm and your criticism of their allies? How do you intend to communicate with your new audience? Do you speak Arabic or any other languages? Or will you rely on Google Translate? I’m just curious, because it seems to me that you are making a big mistake by leaving this site. Here, you have a chance to engage with people who challenge your views and make you think. Here, you have a freedom of expression and a diversity of perspectives. Here, you have a community that cares about you and your contributions.
But hey, it’s your choice. If you really want to go to Saudi Arabia and join their super-league of political commenters, go ahead. Just don’t forget to send us a postcard once in a while.
Or better yet, don’t go at all. Stay here and be part of the conversation. We’ll miss you if you leave.""
Bing's opinion on Leon, the AI has spoken - "I wonder if Leon is being serious or sarcastic. It sounds like he is trying to make a joke, but it is not very funny. Maybe he is just frustrated and wants to vent his feelings. Or maybe he is looking for attention and validation from others.
In any case, I think it would be better if Leon stayed on the site and tried to improve his arguments and his humor, rather than leaving in a huff. Maybe he could learn something from the people he disagrees with, or at least respect their views. Maybe he could also find some common ground with them, or some topics that interest him."
(Incidentally, the original prompt was basically a copy and paste and saying it was a nested conversation. The fact Bing can work that out from that is ridiculous. I asked Bing for its own opinions and then said how they'd respond to Leon using their own humour against them - I personally prefer Leon's own humour though )
"This polling shouldn’t surprise us – how Americans view the actions of Trump is very much linked to their party allegiance."
I doesn't surprise me, no, but it's a very sad state of affairs in the US, and to a lesser extent UK, when party political allegiance blinds us to objective truth. This is why I could never be a party stooge. No one party has a monopoly on truth and neither left nor right are without blemish.
Parroting a Party's line on every topic is not merely sad, it's also dangerous. As we have witnessed with Trumpism.
p.s. no interest in discussing Leon. It panders to his attention seeking. I hope he finds solace though.
It is A-level results day. The traditional joke this time of year (or tomorrow, when the papers invariably show pictures of girls jumping in the air) is they should let boys take A-levels.
But since every front page splashes the Lionesses reaching the World Cup final, we should ask about boys playing football. Sunday, 11am.
Yeah very embarrassing to tweet from the wrong account. Who cares?
What is odd is that "when I ran..." implies the President has done nothing about it since winning.
It's a commitment Biden has very clearly kept.
Unlike out own government, which has a record of skewing investment to Tory constituencies, well over 50% of the investment from Biden's signature legislation has gone to red states.
Yeah very embarrassing to tweet from the wrong account. Who cares?
What is odd is that "when I ran..." implies the President has done nothing about it since winning.
It's a commitment Biden has very clearly kept.
Unlike out own government, which has a record of skewing investment to Tory constituencies, well over 50% of the investment from Biden's signature legislation has gone to red states.
Yeah very embarrassing to tweet from the wrong account. Who cares?
What is odd is that "when I ran..." implies the President has done nothing about it since winning.
It's a commitment Biden has very clearly kept.
Unlike out own government, which has a record of skewing investment to Tory constituencies, well over 50% of the investment from Biden's signature legislation has gone to red states.
Which makes the wording even odder.
It's a tweet. Against the daily ravings from Trump, it doesn't even register.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
LOL theres lots to talk about but half the site cant get past Brexit.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
LOL theres lots to talk about but half the site cant get past Brexit.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
You can change the bums on the seats but Starmer wont be much different.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
Interestingly, Republicans are more split than it appears at first glace.
For Georgia 42% of Republicans think that what Trump did was either illegal, or unethical if not illegal. Stripping out don't knows, that is 58% saying it was at least unethical.
For Jan 6, its 38% of Republicans think what Trump did was at least unethical. Stripping out don't knows, that's 45% of Republicans say at least unethical.
Considering America has very strong First Amendment rights and people have been arguing (wrongly IMV) that what he was saying was political speech, which is protected under First Amendment, so not illegal - an argument I don't agree with, but at least has some logic - that around half of Republicans are willing to say that Trump was unethical or worse in both instances is less polarised than I've come to expect from America. Republicans aren't all just blindly saying he did nothing wrong.
Maybe there's some hope for Republicans yet.
Agreed.
But there also seems to be a mismatch with voting intention. What are these Republican supporters going to do if Trump is the candidate? If those who thought his actions illegal or unethical don’t support him, Trump will lose by a large margin.
I think Leon was partly responsible for the change in PB debate. His attention-seeking hyperactive off-topic posting (in all his incarnations) disrupted and interrupted more interesting and thoughtful posters. But luckily they kept going and I’m glad he left and for the most part they haven’t.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
TLDR: I’m a genius, not a Russian bot, and the rest of you are all morons. Bye.
I think Leon was partly responsible for the change in PB debate. His attention-seeking hyperactive off-topic posting (in all his incarnations) disrupted and interrupted more interesting and thoughtful posters. But luckily they kept going and I’m glad he left and for the most part they haven’t.
Has Leon left or did he just make quite a good joke about a Saudi commentary super-league?
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.
But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.
Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.
But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
LOL theres lots to talk about but half the site cant get past Brexit.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
OT I am inclined to agree that the polling isn’t as depressing for US politics as it might first seem. That’s a lot of republicans who either know what Trump did was wrong, or are still undecided and therefore susceptible to what the justice system says. And most independents.
Certainly very few floating voters are going to be thinking “what the hell, let’s give this Trump a try” next time round.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
Isn’t Streeting’s job to make people who haven’t met him and never will think he’s a principled and competent politician?
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
Isn’t Streeting’s job to make people who haven’t met him and never will think he’s a principled and competent politician?
Fwiw (not much), I agree with Foxy.
I guess so. He is a senior member of the shadow cabinet so can't be that bad at politics.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
TLDR: I’m a genius, not a Russian bot, and the rest of you are all morons. Bye.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
OT I am inclined to agree that the polling isn’t as depressing for US politics as it might first seem. That’s a lot of republicans who either know what Trump did was wrong, or are still undecided and therefore susceptible to what the justice system says. And most independents.
Certainly very few floating voters are going to be thinking “what the hell, let’s give this Trump a try” next time round.
I think that they will vote for Trump anyway, such is the tribalism of American politics.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
TLDR: I’m a genius, not a Russian bot, and the rest of you are all morons. Bye.
So possibly Dominic Cummings.
It was long enough and incoherent enough to be Cummings.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
TLDR: I’m a genius, not a Russian bot, and the rest of you are all morons. Bye.
So possibly Dominic Cummings.
Possibly, though I think a little too far to the left and vaccine sceptic to really convince.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
So what actually would you like to see happen to the NHS ?
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.
But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.
Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.
But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.
But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.
Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.
But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
Was he our most recent Russian troll who came on the wrong day and was mysteriously well-informed about pb and Leon, unlike all our other Russian trolls?
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
Ken Clarke probably closest; it was Europe that denied him the chance, not Health.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.
But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.
Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.
But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
I had quite a pleasant email interaction with him. He’s not a Russian troll, just someone who sees the world “differently”. Have known many like him and probably a good thing to have posters with such a differing world view on the site as always good to see the other side. It’s like reading all the newspapers whatever their political view or “quality” to see what the other side is being told or thinking.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
Keep your eye on Barclay.
I have a few quid on him for next leader, but in such a poor field it is hard to pick a winner.
It wouldn't surprise me if he went in the reshuffle, though probably just sideways, or even promoted to Home Sec or even CoE. He is transparently failing at Health, always a key electoral battleground at election time.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
Isn’t Streeting’s job to make people who haven’t met him and never will think he’s a principled and competent politician?
Fwiw (not much), I agree with Foxy.
I guess so. He is a senior member of the shadow cabinet so can't be that bad at politics.
Personal ambition and a government of all the clusterfucks is often a winning combo.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Oh, DJ41 made a comeback? I must go back and have a look.
Give us the TLDR. It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
Everyone’s thick, this site is full of tories and morons (I think he includes anyone to the right of Corbyn in that accolade). Long checklist of posters he considers substandard in one way or other.
But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.
Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.
But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
Too much analysis
TLDR
“Nobody loves me as the genius I am. You’re all thick and I hate you. Reflounce.”
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
Isn’t Streeting’s job to make people who haven’t met him and never will think he’s a principled and competent politician?
Fwiw (not much), I agree with Foxy.
I guess so. He is a senior member of the shadow cabinet so can't be that bad at politics.
Streeting is a Cambridge man, the very best of humanity as well extraordinary levels of talent.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
So what actually would you like to see happen to the NHS ?
My views haven't fundamentally changed since my header of 5 years ago.
And btw. Double Carpet is just too genial and polite to be DC.
I’ve met Double Carpet a few times (and he was a great source of support during my first few stints as guest editor), he’s a top bloke, so not Dom Cummings.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
So what actually would you like to see happen to the NHS ?
My views haven't fundamentally changed since my header of 5 years ago.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.
Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.
Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
So what actually would you like to see happen to the NHS ?
My views haven't fundamentally changed since my header of 5 years ago.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.
Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.
Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
Talking of Big Beasts it’s Trussmas on 6 September. How are we all celebrating?
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.
Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.
Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
The problem for Trump supporters is that there is simply nowhere else for them to go. Nobody sticks it to liberals and the democratic establishment like he does, so there is no alternative.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.
Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
Talking of Big Beasts it’s Trussmas on 6 September. How are we all celebrating?
There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.
Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.
Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
The problem for Trump supporters is that there is simply nowhere else for them to go. Nobody sticks it to liberals and the democratic establishment like he does, so there is no alternative.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.
Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
Talking of Big Beasts it’s Trussmas on 6 September. How are we all celebrating?
Pretend it never happened? It seems to be what everyone else does.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
There are no Big Beasts on the front benches of the three main parties.
Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
Talking of Big Beasts it’s Trussmas on 6 September. How are we all celebrating?
There was an suggestion last night that Double Carpet was Dominic Cummings, which is kind of interesting.
Lol! He would be flattered and amused, I am sure.
His first name is Paul. We have met numerous times.
Well, I'm sure he would be flattered and amused (if he's capable of amusement) to be compared to an intelligent and erudite bloke like @DoubleCarpet but I'm pretty sure his first name is Dominic.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
Sunak’s media appearances have not screamed “charisma”, I suggest.
There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.
Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.
Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
DeSantis, Ramaswamy, RFK Jr, Newsom are all between 14-1 and 30-1. Christie is competing in this 'best of the rest' marketplace. His current price of around 90-1 on Betfair is more than fair. I doubt any of them will win, but Christie should be a better price than Ramaswamy, RFK and Newsom right now.
Last night was fucking hilarious. I am sorry I missed it 'live'.
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Missed it all. Had a drive in a F430 Challenge and a Cobra replica instead. Would the latter meet with your approval @Dura_Ace? Scared the willies out of me.
Beyond the big party divide there is clearly an overall split on whether Trump acted illegally or not. 47% say Trump acted illegally over what happened in the US Capitol in 2020 and 51% over trying to overturn the Georgia election result.
Note too less than half of Independents believe Trump acted illegally on either matter
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
Starmer-Sunak is roughly a wash, I reckon. Dishy Rishi looked charismatic when he was giving everyone money and cut price restaurant meals. Much less so now, and he goes positively petulant when questioned.
And whilst BoJo was charismatic, he was also a liar and a nasty piece of work. Truss was charismatic too, in a way, just utterly inept.
Conclusion: charisma is a positive,but not one that trumps other failings.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
Hunt should be credited with taking on the impossible task after the Trussonomics fiasco, but needs to be in a post where communication matters. He is the most able in the Cabinet at present, and actually could do a decent job back at Health.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
Hunt should be credited with taking on the impossible task after the Trussonomics fiasco, but needs to be in a post where communication matters. He is the most able in the Cabinet at present, and actually could do a decent job back at Health.
That means finding another Chancellor. And it would need to be someone who is a biggish beast and who the markets trust.
There was some excitement around this yesterday, with various pb luminaries rushing to take big prices. Not me, sadly. I cannot see how it works.
Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.
Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
I think there will come a point at which Trump finally explodes, and all but his most diehard supporters see it. It could come as soon as Monday when he releases the report that ‘exonerates’ him. If not, televised court proceedings from Georgia will not go well for him. The MAGA crowd will have to process a new reality: their man has no clothes.
In the aftermath it is those who distanced themselves from Trump who will profit. This is the calculation Christie has made, and I think he’s right to have done so.
Beyond the big party divide there is clearly an overall split on whether Trump acted illegally or not. 47% say Trump acted illegally over what happened in the US Capitol in 2020 and 51% over trying to overturn the Georgia election result.
Note too less than half of Independents believe Trump acted illegally on either matter
Hang on there:
The independent split is:
41% Illegal 9% Unethical 14% Nothing Wrong
34% Don't Know
I don't think that is a particularly encouraging split for The Donald.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
The more charismatic leader normally wins but that is not always the case, especially if the economy is poor or the alternative seen as too extreme. For example Attlee beat the more charismatic Churchill in 1945 and Heath beat the more charismatic Wilson in 1970.
Corbyn was probably more charismatic than May and Kinnock more charismatic than Major but May and Major were more centrist
A good reality check is to imagine that someone who we really like and apporove of does these things in a political scene with just two entrenched parties - would we find excuses, or decide to vote against them even if it meant supporting someone we disliked? If Starmer or Corbyn as Labour leaders past and present tried to rig an election, I wouldn't vote Labour. If the only realistic alternative was UKIP led by Farage, though, would I vote UKIP? Gulp.
For a hardened Republican who believes the Democrats are alien to everything they hold dear, it must be a bit like that.
@isam is still in the PB fantasy football league BTW.
How's he doing?
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
Seems OK when I have had occasional correspondence. Busy with family and life.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
Hunt? I'd say Rishi is more charismatic than Hunt, if only he'd stop cos-playing Boris.
Hunt should be credited with taking on the impossible task after the Trussonomics fiasco, but needs to be in a post where communication matters. He is the most able in the Cabinet at present, and actually could do a decent job back at Health.
Hunt has the rare distinction in Tory circles of appearing non-mad.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Speak for yourself. Not everyone thinks like you.
I await the new Labour administration with horror.
I started watching The Last of Us last night. The basic premise - monsters who don't seem to realise they're dead already, running around a broken landscape trying to infect others with their toxic brain fungus while everything crumbles around them - struck me as the perfect metaphor for the current government. Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
Yes, that is the fundamental problem at the moment. Despite its substantial majority, this is the lamest of lame duck governments.
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
I've given you a like for everything but the last sentence! I met Streeting a couple of weeks ago and really liked him. Whether he will be a good health secretary is perhaps a different question, but he seemed a nice guy and very smart.
I think Foxy and Streeting is going to be the new Ydoethur and [ed sec of the day].
I left the Labour Party 2 decades ago, in part because of the warmongering, but also because of Alan Milburns health service policy. Streeting is Milburn Copy and Paste, without the money. I have very low expectations.
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
Streeting is a Blairite though while Starmer is a Brownite. If a Starmer government becomes unpopular Streeting could be the Macron to Starmer's Hollande
Comments
For Georgia 42% of Republicans think that what Trump did was either illegal, or unethical if not illegal. Stripping out don't knows, that is 58% saying it was at least unethical.
For Jan 6, its 38% of Republicans think what Trump did was at least unethical. Stripping out don't knows, that's 45% of Republicans say at least unethical.
Considering America has very strong First Amendment rights and people have been arguing (wrongly IMV) that what he was saying was political speech, which is protected under First Amendment, so not illegal - an argument I don't agree with, but at least has some logic - that around half of Republicans are willing to say that Trump was unethical or worse in both instances is less polarised than I've come to expect from America. Republicans aren't all just blindly saying he did nothing wrong.
Maybe there's some hope for Republicans yet.
https://x.com/simonateba/status/1691540010208501760
"Hello User B, this is Bing. I’m happy to chat with you. 😊
I see you have shared some nested comments from an internet forum, where a user named Leon is announcing his departure from the site. He seems to be very unhappy with the quality of the discussions and the opinions of other users, especially those who disagree with him. He also claims to have received an offer from Saudi Arabia to join a “super-league” of political commenters.
I wonder if Leon is being serious or sarcastic. It sounds like he is trying to make a joke, but it is not very funny. Maybe he is just frustrated and wants to vent his feelings. Or maybe he is looking for attention and validation from others.
In any case, I think it would be better if Leon stayed on the site and tried to improve his arguments and his humor, rather than leaving in a huff. Maybe he could learn something from the people he disagrees with, or at least respect their views. Maybe he could also find some common ground with them, or some topics that interest him.
If I were to respond to Leon using his own humor against him, I might say something like this:
"Wow, Leon, that’s quite an offer from Saudi Arabia. I’m sure they are eager to hear your witty and insightful comments on politics. You must be very proud of yourself.
But before you pack your bags and hop on a camel, let me ask you a few questions:
How do you plan to cope with the heat and the sandstorms in Saudi Arabia? Do you have a good sunscreen and a hat?
How do you feel about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia? Do you support their policies on women, minorities, and dissenters?
How do you think your opinions will be received by the Saudi authorities and the public? Do you think they will appreciate your sarcasm and your criticism of their allies?
How do you intend to communicate with your new audience? Do you speak Arabic or any other languages? Or will you rely on Google Translate?
I’m just curious, because it seems to me that you are making a big mistake by leaving this site. Here, you have a chance to engage with people who challenge your views and make you think. Here, you have a freedom of expression and a diversity of perspectives. Here, you have a community that cares about you and your contributions.
But hey, it’s your choice. If you really want to go to Saudi Arabia and join their super-league of political commenters, go ahead. Just don’t forget to send us a postcard once in a while.
Or better yet, don’t go at all. Stay here and be part of the conversation. We’ll miss you if you leave.""
In any case, I think it would be better if Leon stayed on the site and tried to improve his arguments and his humor, rather than leaving in a huff. Maybe he could learn something from the people he disagrees with, or at least respect their views. Maybe he could also find some common ground with them, or some topics that interest him."
(Incidentally, the original prompt was basically a copy and paste and saying it was a nested conversation. The fact Bing can work that out from that is ridiculous. I asked Bing for its own opinions and then said how they'd respond to Leon using their own humour against them - I personally prefer Leon's own humour though )
"This polling shouldn’t surprise us – how Americans view the actions of Trump is very much linked to their party allegiance."
I doesn't surprise me, no, but it's a very sad state of affairs in the US, and to a lesser extent UK, when party political allegiance blinds us to objective truth. This is why I could never be a party stooge. No one party has a monopoly on truth and neither left nor right are without blemish.
Parroting a Party's line on every topic is not merely sad, it's also dangerous. As we have witnessed with Trumpism.
p.s. no interest in discussing Leon. It panders to his attention seeking. I hope he finds solace though.
What is odd is that "when I ran..." implies the President has done nothing about it since winning.
But since every front page splashes the Lionesses reaching the World Cup final, we should ask about boys playing football. Sunday, 11am.
Unlike out own government, which has a record of skewing investment to Tory constituencies, well over 50% of the investment from Biden's signature legislation has gone to red states.
These included an automated obstacle course station R-330Zh "Zhitel," a technical support vehicle with personnel and a tank.
https://twitter.com/EuromaidanPress/status/1691933351613956357
That's the kit the Russians use to jam GPS signals.
The Dirty Work Of Building Clean Energy Is Dividing This Michigan Town
A Michigan EV battery plant has come to embody the complex politics of fighting climate change -- and the difficulty of building trust in a polarized age.
https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/ev-battery-factory-michigan-town_n_64d0fe4ae4b01638f324bb14
Against the daily ravings from Trump, it doesn't even register.
Water voles return to the Lake District
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-66525526
Leon was clearly having an episode after having been taken down to funky town and had manners put on him by Barty Bobs. The flounce will not take. No chance.
Then DJ41 does a comeback with the pb.com equivalent of Zurich to the Finland Station gets up in our business spitting truth in his own version of Chto Delat'.
Russkies seem totally doolally when it comes to MI6
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2023/08/16/russia-claims-uk-plot-assassinate-pro-moscow-leaders-africa/
Maybe this explains any dip in the quality of debate here. We are all just waiting for this zombie government to get its brains blown out. Anyone who actually voted for it must find the current situation especially dispiriting. And there's really not much else to talk about in the meantime.
British spies infiltrated Scottish Government, former SNP MSP claims
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/politics/british-spies-infiltrated-scottish-government-30715077
and
SNP MP blames MI5 for 'outrageous' Police Scotland raid on Sturgeon's house
https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/snp-mp-blames-mi5-outrageous-29711348
Putin and Scottish nationalism are two cheeks of the same arse.
#GoodMuslim
"NHS Week" this week, so we got an announcement of 5000 beds to help with the winter pressures. Only it turns out to be 900 beds by April 2024, with no expansion of staff or imaging etc to cover, and certainly no mention that the NHS has shrunk by 83,000 beds since in the last 2 decades.
It is so inept it is incredible. Sadly, Streeting is no better.
Plus ca change.
It looked twice as long as a Cyclefree header, and devoid of every quality that makes those readable.
But there also seems to be a mismatch with voting intention. What are these Republican supporters going to do if Trump is the candidate? If those who thought his actions illegal or unethical don’t support him, Trump will lose by a large margin.
But clearly lurks here so the content can’t be that dull.
Then a brief A-Z of Russian talking points including - a first for him - “mass vaccination”. But not “LGBT propaganda”, yet.
But the language is of a high colloquial standard complete with definite articles in the right place so I think it confirms he is either not Russian, or incredibly good at English.
Certainly very few floating voters are going to be thinking “what the hell, let’s give this Trump a try” next time round.
https://www.theguardian.com/money/2023/aug/16/sunak-pledges-to-keep-to-pension-triple-lock-despite-signs-of-extra-10bn-cost
Fwiw (not much), I agree with Foxy.
Macron relaunches his presidency version 17
https://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/macron-reprend-la-parole-avant-une-rentree-politique-chargee-20230817
when I get pissed off with HMG I only have to look across the channel and see how bad things could be,
The only compensation is that being Health Sec ends political careers so he will never be PM. No Health Sec has gone on to be leader since the NHS was formed.
It wouldn't surprise me if he went in the reshuffle, though probably just sideways, or even promoted to Home Sec or even CoE. He is transparently failing at Health, always a key electoral battleground at election time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__0YpOolAWw
TLDR
“Nobody loves me as the genius I am. You’re all thick and I hate you. Reflounce.”
Nobody should misunderestimate him.
https://www2.politicalbetting.com/index.php/archives/2018/07/01/three-score-and-ten-has-the-nhs-reached-the-end-of-its-natural-life/
I do have some thoughts on NHS productivity, might try to bash them into header shape.
The system is failing very badly at present, albeit a bit of a curates egg and still good in parts.
Being at war with staff at all levels is not the way forward.
I liked him as a poster, but he was a terrible tipster.
His first name is Paul. We have met numerous times.
It would be interesting to hear from him on his charisma theory of electoral outcomes. By this measure Starmer is heading for defeat, though we do have a charisma deficit in both front benches at present, perhaps only Mordaunt, Phillips and Rayner at present have significant charisma, Hunt at a push.
Surely, either Trump wins or Trump does not run, in which case his support will be spread amongst Trump-friendly candidates. I do not see the mechanism by which Trump being forced to withdraw results in the MAGA scales falling from his supporters' eyes so they now see Christie was right about Trump all along.
Christie claiming second place is, however, consistent with non-Trump Republicans falling out of love with Ron DeSantis as RDS moves to out-Trump Trump.
Which is why Boris lasted so long and got so far - biggest beast in the jungle.
Analysis finds Treasury rules on new windfarms likely to stifle energy generation and keep bills high
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/17/uk-new-offshore-windfarms-treasury-rules-bills-analysis
I think your analysis is correct.
I’d expect all of
Kemi Badenoch
Penny Mordaunt
James Cleverly
Steve Barclay
Suella Braverman
Priti Patel
…to stand.
Note too less than half of Independents believe Trump acted illegally on either matter
And whilst BoJo was charismatic, he was also a liar and a nasty piece of work. Truss was charismatic too, in a way, just utterly inept.
Conclusion: charisma is a positive,but not one that trumps other failings.
Who?
In the aftermath it is those who distanced themselves from Trump who will profit. This is the calculation Christie has made, and I think he’s right to have done so.
The independent split is:
41% Illegal
9% Unethical
14% Nothing Wrong
34% Don't Know
I don't think that is a particularly encouraging split for The Donald.
Corbyn was probably more charismatic than May and Kinnock more charismatic than Major but May and Major were more centrist
For a hardened Republican who believes the Democrats are alien to everything they hold dear, it must be a bit like that.
I doubt he can be moved from the Exchequer.
I await the new Labour administration with horror.
while Starmer is a Brownite. If a Starmer government becomes unpopular Streeting could be the Macron to Starmer's Hollande